Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for PacifiCorp Lassen Substation Project 5 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST AND DISCUSSION This Initial Study includes analyses of the 17 environmental issue areas listed below by section number. These issue areas incorporate the topics presented in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Checklist (14 CCR 15000 et seq., Appendix G). 5.1 Aesthetics 5.10 Land Use and Planning 5.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources 5.11 Mineral Resources 5.3 Air Quality 5.12 Noise 5.4 Biological Resources 5.13 Population and Housing 5.5 Cultural Resources 5.14 Public Services 5.6 Geology and Soils 5.15 Recreation 5.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 5.16 Transportation and Traffic 5.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials 5.17 Utilities and Service Systems 5.9 Hydrology and Water Quality Explanations for the checklist findings, as well as existing conditions, are provided for each environmental issue area. Environmental Setting The Environmental Setting sections present a description of the physical environment for each of the 17 environmental parameters analyzed for the South of Palermo 115-kilovolt (kV) Power Line Reinforcement Project (proposed project). The discussion of environmental setting varies among the parameters. The content and level of detail of the Environmental Setting section is relative to the parameter discussed and the extent of the potential impacts that could occur from project activities. Regulatory Setting Current regulatory settings are presented in the Regulatory Setting sections of the 17 environmental parameter sections. Federal, state, regional, and local regulations applicable to the project are identified. Applicant Proposed Measures PacifiCorp, the proposed project applicant (applicant), has proposed project design features to be integrated into the proposed project. These features are elements of the project design, 9264 5.1-1 May 2017 Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for PacifiCorp Lassen Substation Project construction, and operation that are specifically designed to avoid and minimize impacts to environmental resources. These are referred to as applicant proposed measures (APMs) and are numbered and provided in full in this section of each environmental parameter discussion. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation The results of the environmental analyses conducted for the proposed project are presented in these portions of Sections 5.1 through 5.17. Each of the environmental analysis discussions presents the following: Significance criteria Impact discussion Levels of significance Mitigation measures The significance criteria are a benchmark for determining whether a project would result in significant environmental impacts when evaluated against the baseline (i.e., existing conditions). Each of the environmental analysis sections presents discussions about the potential effects of the proposed project on the environment. Analyses are presented for each CEQA Environmental Checklist question, accompanied by a determination made as to whether or not the proposed project would result in a significant environmental impact based on the established thresholds of significance. Mitigation measures are identified, if warranted, that could reduce the impact to a less than significant level. The impact analyses are divided into the basic phases of the project (i.e., construction, operation, and maintenance) and further divided by component if warranted by the environmental parameter, significance criterion, or impact analysis. 9264 5.1-2 May 2017 Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for PacifiCorp Lassen Substation Project 5.1 Aesthetics Less Than Potentially Significant with Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incorporated Impact No Impact AESTHETICS – Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? b) Substantially damage scenic resources including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? 5.1.1 Environmental Setting Scenic Vistas Although the Siskiyou County (County) and City of Mount Shasta (City) General Plan do not identify or formally designate scenic vistas in the County or City, the segment of Interstate 5 (I-5) within the proposed project area is part of the 500-mile-long Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway and is an eligible state scenic highway. The segment of I-5 between U.S. Route 97 (US-97) and State Route 89 (SR-89) is a County-designated scenic freeway. In addition to occasional open meadows and pastures that are interrupted by tall stands of pine trees in the freeway right-of-way, coniferous forest and oak woodland-covered hills; the tall, conical form of Black Butte; and the rugged terrain of the snowcapped Mount Shasta and satellite cones are visible in middleground and background views from I-5 as it traverses the project area. Figure 5.1-1, Existing Views Available from I-5 through the Project Area, is representative of existing views of the surrounding landscape available to northbound I-5 motorists as they pass through the Mount Shasta area. In addition to interstate motorists, the area’s scenic resources are also visible from surface roadways and Mount Shasta area residences. Figure 5.1-2, Existing Views Available from Hatchery Lane, depicts existing views to area scenic resources from Hatchery Lane, a local public road. Given the scenic designations associated with I-5 through the project area and the visibility of scenic resources (i.e., vegetation and terrain) that are characteristic of the local landscape, scenic vistas are available in the project area. 9264 5.1-3 May 2017 Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for PacifiCorp Lassen Substation Project Scenic Highways In the proposed project area, the approximately 10-mile-long segment of I-5 between US-97 near the City of Weed and SR-89 near the City of Mount Shasta is part of the 500-mile-long Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a congressionally recognized roadway designated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as an “All-American Road.” The same segment of I-5 is an eligible state scenic highway (and a component of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)-managed State Scenic Highway Program) and a County-designated scenic freeway. According to Siskiyou County, scenic freeways are those that traverse the most efficient route to or between areas of major scenic, cultural, or recreational attractions (Siskiyou County Planning Department 1974). Existing views from I-5 in the project area are dominated by mountainous terrain (including Mount Eddy and the Eddy Range) to the west, Mount Shasta and its satellite cones to the east, and the volcanic Black Butte to the north. Please refer to Section 5.1.2, Regulatory Setting, for information regarding federal, state, and regional/local scenic roadway designations. Existing Visual Character The proposed project is located in and just outside of the City of Mount Shasta’s city limits and within the pastoral landscape of the Strawberry Valley area. In addition to I-5, which features two travel lanes in each direction, a central swale planted with grasses and occasional coniferous trees, and 8-foot-wide shoulders lined by low metal guard railing (see Figure 5.1-1), development in the immediate project area (i.e., west of I-5) is scattered and largely composed of single-story, low-density rural residences, agricultural outbuildings, limited mobile home park development, and electrical distribution and transmission infrastructure. Although the mobile home park development displays an orderly layout, rural residences in the area are generally dispersed throughout the landscape and separated by clusters of tall coniferous trees and undeveloped expanses of golden-hued wet or dry montane meadows managed as grazing pastures or wetland areas. In addition to coniferous forest and meadows, vegetation communities in the project area include non-native grasslands, fen, and riparian scrub. The Strawberry Valley abuts densely forested hills and rugged, volcanic mountainous terrain. Figures 5.1-3 and 5.1-4, Existing Landscape Setting, depict existing views of the project area landscape available from local roadways near the existing Mount Shasta Substation. 9264 5.1-4 May 2017 Existing View from NB I-5 near West Ream Avenue jects\j926401\MAPDOC\DOCUMENT\Figure5-1-1_SitePhotos.mxd Existing View from NB I-5 near West Lake Street SOURCE: Google 2015 FIGURE 5.1-1 Existing Views Available from I-5 through the Project Area Lassen Substation Project Date: 8/24/2016 Last - saved by: rstrobridge Path: - Z:\Pro Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for PacifiCorp Lassen Substation Project INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 9264 5.1-6 May 2017 Existing View from Hatchery Lane looking north jects\j926401\MAPDOC\DOCUMENT\Figure5-1-2_SitePhotos.mxd Existing View from Hatchery Lane right-of-way looking east SOURCE: Dudek 2016 FIGURE 5.1-2 Existing Views Available from Hatchery Lane Lassen Substation Project Date: 8/24/2016 Last - saved by: rstrobridge Path: - Z:\Pro Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for PacifiCorp Lassen Substation Project INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 9264 5.1-8 May 2017 View east from North Old Stage Road across meadow and coniferous forest landscape