UC MERCED DOWNTOWN CENTER PROJECT Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration The following Initial Study has been prepared in compliance with CEQA. SCH NO. 2015041087 Prepared By: University of California, Merced 5200 North Lake Road Merced, CA 95343 June 2015 Contact: Phillip Woods, Director of Physical & Environmental Planning [email protected] Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Initial Study ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Public and Agency Review ......................................................................................................................... 1 Organization of the Initial Study ................................................................................................................ 2 1. PROJECT INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................... 4 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................ 5 2.1 Location ........................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.3 Project Features and Operations .................................................................................................. 5 2.4 Project Need .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.5 Surrounding Land Uses and Environmental Setting .............................................................. 12 2.5 Project Approvals ......................................................................................................................... 12 3. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED ............................................................ 13 4. DETERMINATION .................................................................................................................................... 14 5. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................................. 15 5.1 Aesthetics ...................................................................................................................................... 16 5.2 Agricultural and Forestry Resources ......................................................................................... 18 5.3 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................... 20 5.4 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................... 30 5.5 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 34 5.6 Geology and Soils ......................................................................................................................... 37 5.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ......................................................................................................... 40 5.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................................ 45 5.9 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................................................... 49 5.10 Land Use and Planning ............................................................................................................... 54 5.11 Mineral Resources ........................................................................................................................ 56 5.12 Noise .............................................................................................................................................. 57 5.13 Population and Housing ............................................................................................................. 66 5.14 Public Services .............................................................................................................................. 68 5.15 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................... 72 5.16 Transportation/Traffic ................................................................................................................. 73 5.17 Utilities and Service Systems ...................................................................................................... 79 5.18 Mandatory Findings of Significance .......................................................................................... 83 6. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 85 7. REPORT PREPARERS ............................................................................................................................... 87 Appendices A Mitigated Negative Declaration B Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculations C Archaeological and Historical Resources Documentation D Phase I Environmental Site Assessment E Noise Modeling Data F Traffic Report UC Merced i UC Merced Downtown Center Project Initial Study/MND 0974.006 June 2015 G. Text Changes H. Comments and Responses to Comments I. Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program UC Merced ii UC Merced Downtown Center Project Initial Study/MND 0974.006 June 2015 List of Figures Figure Page Figure 1 Regional Location ........................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2 Project Site and Vicinity ................................................................................................................ 7 Figure 3 Conceptual Ground Floor Plan .................................................................................................... 8 Figure 4 Conceptual Floor Plan ................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 5 Northeast Perspective .................................................................................................................. 10 List of Tables Table Page 1 Ambient Air Quality Standards ............................................................................................................... 21 2 San Joaquin Valley Air Basin Attainment Status ................................................................................... 22 3 SJVAPCD Air Quality Mass Significance Thresholds ........................................................................... 26 4 Estimated Construction Emissions (tons per year) ................................................................................ 27 5 Estimated Operational Emissions ............................................................................................................ 27 6 Construction GHG Emissions ................................................................................................................... 42 7 Operational GHG Emissions ..................................................................................................................... 44 8 Existing Roadway Modeled Noise Levels .............................................................................................. 59 9 Existing Plus Project Roadway Modeled On-Site Noise Levels ........................................................... 61 10 Operational Roadway Noise Levels – Project Conditions .................................................................... 62 11 Operational Roadway Noise Levels – Cumulative Conditions ........................................................... 64 12 Intersection Levels of Service – Existing Conditions ............................................................................. 74 13 Intersection Levels of Service – 2017 (Opening Day) with Project ...................................................... 77 14 Intersection Levels of Service – Cumulative Conditions ...................................................................... 78 UC Merced iii UC Merced Downtown Center Project Initial Study/MND 0974.006 June 2015 INTRODUCTION Initial Study Pursuant to Section 15063 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 15000 et seq.), an Initial Study is a preliminary environmental analysis that is used by the lead agency (the public agency principally responsible for approving or carrying out the proposed project) as a basis for determining whether an Environmental Impact Report, a Mitigated Negative Declaration, or a Negative Declaration is required for a project. The State CEQA Guidelines require that an Initial Study contain a project description, description of environmental setting, identification of environmental effects by checklist or other similar form, explanation of environmental effects, discussion of mitigation for significant environmental effects, evaluation of the project’s consistency with