DRAFT INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION IP 16-213 SADDLEBACK GATEWAY INTERIM OPERATIONS PLAN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: COUNTY OF ORANGE OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES OC PARKS 13042 Old Myford Road, Bldg. 5 Irvine, California 92602 Prepared by: CHAMBERS GROUP, INC. 5 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 750 Santa Ana, California 92707 (949) 261-5414 January 2017 Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for Saddleback Gateway Interim Operations Plan IP 16-213 Orange County, California TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION 1.0 – INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 PROJECT PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 PROPOSED PROJECT LAND USE AND IMPROVEMENTS ................................................................ 3 1.3.1 Open Field ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.2 Upper Meadow ................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.3 Oak Woodland Trail Area ................................................................................................. 3 1.3.4 Trailhead and Trail Staging Area ...................................................................................... 3 1.3.5 Public Vehicular Access, Parking and Staging .................................................................. 4 1.3.6 Signage ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3.7 Fencing and Gates ............................................................................................................ 4 1.3.8 Waste Receptacles ........................................................................................................... 5 1.4 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................... 5 1.4.1 Staffing ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.4.2 Equipment and Supplies .................................................................................................. 5 1.4.3 Law and Ordinance Enforcement .................................................................................... 5 1.4.4 Fire Prevention/Control ................................................................................................... 6 1.4.5 Emergency Operations ..................................................................................................... 6 1.5 PUBLIC OUTREACH ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 PURPOSE OF THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT AND INITIAL STUDY ......................................... 7 1.7 PROJECT LOCATION AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................................ 7 1.7.1 Location ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.8 REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS.......................................................................................... 9 1.8.1 Lead Agency Approval ...................................................................................................... 9 1.8.2 Reviewing Agencies .......................................................................................................... 9 SECTION 2.0 – ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION ........................................................................... 11 2.1 DETERMINATION ........................................................................................................................ 11 SECTION 3.0 – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ....................................................................................... 12 3.1 ORGANIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ....................................................................... 12 3.2 TERMINOLOGY USED IN THIS ANALYSIS ..................................................................................... 12 3.3 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................................ 12 3.3.1 Aesthetics ....................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.2 Agricultural and Forestry Resources .............................................................................. 16 3.3.3 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................... 17 3.3.4 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................... 25 3.3.5 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 35 3.3.6 Geology .......................................................................................................................... 40 Chambers Group, Inc. ii 20921 Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for Saddleback Gateway Interim Operations Plan IP 16-213 Orange County, California 3.3.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................................ 43 3.3.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................................. 44 3.3.9 Hydrology and Water Quality ........................................................................................ 48 3.3.10 Land Use Planning .......................................................................................................... 52 3.3.11 Mineral Resources ......................................................................................................... 53 3.3.12 Noise .............................................................................................................................. 53 3.3.13 Population and Housing ................................................................................................. 58 3.3.14 Public Services ................................................................................................................ 59 3.3.15 Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 61 3.3.16 Transportation/Traffic ................................................................................................... 62 3.3.17 Utilities and Service Systems ......................................................................................... 64 3.3.18 Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................................................................... 66 SECTION 4.0 – REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 68 APPENDIXES APPENDIX A – TRAFFIC AND PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN APPENDIX B – AIR QUALITY AND NOISE CALCULATIONS APPENDIX C – BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES EVALUATION ATTACHMENTS APPENDIX D - CULTURAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT Chambers Group, Inc. iii 20921 Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for Saddleback Gateway Interim Operations Plan IP 16-213 Orange County, California LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1: Project Vicinity Map ....................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Existing Features of the Former Silverado Elementary School ...................................................... 8 Figure 3: Proposed Project Land Use .......................................................................................................... 10 Figure 4: Biological Survey Area .................................................................................................................. 26 Figure 5: Vegetation Communities Map ..................................................................................................... 28 Figure 6: Hazardous Materials Sites Locations ........................................................................................... 46 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Regional Thresholds of Significance .............................................................................................. 21 Table 2: Local Thresholds of Significance .................................................................................................... 22 Table 3: Short-term Regional Emissions from Construction of the Proposed Project ............................... 22 Table 4: Short-term Local Emissions at the Nearest Sensitive Receptor .................................................... 23 Table 5: Long-term Emissions from Operation of the Proposed Project .................................................... 24 Table 6: Existing Noise Level Measurements .............................................................................................. 54 Table 7: Construction Equipment Emissions and Usage Factors ................................................................ 57 Table 8: Proposed Project Construction Noise Levels ...............................................................................