Monterey County Chapter 3.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials 1 Chapter 3.6 2 Hazards and Hazardous Materials 3 Introduction 4 This chapter provides a discussion of the hazards and hazardous materials issues related to the 5 Proposed Project in the Carmel Valley. The chapter includes a definition of hazardous materials and 6 waste, an overview of existing conditions based on available literature, a summary of local, state, 7 and federal policies and regulations related to hazards and hazardous materials that are applicable 8 to the project area, and an analysis of the environmental impacts that could result from the Project. 9 Where feasible, mitigation measures are recommended to reduce the level of impacts. 10 Impact Summary 11 Table 3.6-1 below provides a summary of the potential environmental impacts of the Project. As 12 shown in Table 3.6-1, the Proposed Project would have some significant adverse impacts related to 13 hazards and hazardous materials within the project area. However, implementation of the 14 mitigation measures described in this Second Revised Draft EIR, would reduce the impacts to less- 15 than-significant levels. 16 Table 3.6-1. Hazardous Materials Impact Summary Level of Significance Level of after Impact Significance Mitigation Measure Mitigation A. Public Exposure HAZ-1: Upset and Accident Potentially HAZ-1: Follow the Cypress Fire LTS Conditions Involving the Release of Significant Protection District and Other Guidelines Hazardous Materials into the for Storage and Handling of Hazardous Environment Materials HAZ-2: Immediately Contain Spills, Excavate Spill-Contaminated Soil, and Dispose of Contaminated Soil at an Approved Facility HAZ-3: Develop and Implement Plans to Reduce Exposure of People and the Environment to Hazardous Conditions During Construction Activities PSU-2: Coordinate with Appropriate Utility Service Providers and Related Agencies to Reduce Service Interruptions Rancho Cañada Village Project April 2021 3.6-1 Second Final Environmental Impact Report Monterey County Chapter 3.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials Level of Significance Level of after Impact Significance Mitigation Measure Mitigation HAZ-2: Routine Transport, Use, or Potentially HAZ-4: Participate in the Local LTS Disposal of Hazardous Materials Significant Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program HAZ-3: Hazardous Emissions or Potentially HAZ-1 through HAZ-4 [see above] LTS Hazardous Materials, Substances, Significant or Waste Handling Within One- Quarter Mile of a School HAZ-4: Location of the Project on a LTS None Required – Known Hazardous Material Site B. Airport Vicinity HAZ-5: Potential Exposure of LTS None Required – Hazardous Materials in the Vicinity of an Airport or Airstrip LTS = Less than Significant 1 Environmental Setting 2 The following sections describe existing conditions in the Project study area with regard to hazards 3 and hazardous materials. Information in the following sections was derived from sources in the 4 published hazardous materials literature, 2014 searches of the State Water Resources Control 5 Board’s (State Water Board) GeoTracker, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 6 NEPAssist database, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC’s) 7 Envirostor database, and from the prior phase one site assessment reports prepared for the Project. 8 No additional fieldwork was performed for this Second Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report 9 (EIR). 10 Research Methods 11 The following literature was reviewed to assess the hazard and hazardous material conditions found 12 in the project area. 13 ENGEO. 2004. Phase One Environmental Site Assessment, Rancho Cañada Golf Club 4860 Carmel 14 Valley Road, Carmel Valley California. Submitted to Lombardo Land Group-1. Monterey, CA. 15 Project No. 6023.3.001.01. March 2. 16 ENGEO. 2006. Phase One Environmental Site Assessment Update, Rancho Cañada Village, Carmel 17 Valley California. Prepared for Rancho Cañada Community Partners, LLC. Monterey, CA. Project 18 No. 6023.3.004.01. July 31. 19 This section describes general environmental conditions in terms of potential sources of hazardous 20 materials in soil or groundwater in the project area. 21 The environmental conditions documented in the phase one site assessment reports provide a 22 historical background and overview of the project area to assess general types of potential impacts 23 and the likelihood of their occurrence. Information on historical land use was obtained from a Rancho Cañada Village Project April 2021 3.6-2 Second Final Environmental Impact Report Monterey County Chapter 3.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials 1 review of historical topographic maps (dating from 1913 to 1997) and historical aerial photographs 2 (dating from 1956 to 1981). A search for historical fire insurance maps (Sanborn maps) was 3 conducted, although none were located that pertained to the project site or adjacent properties. 4 Information on the remaining potential sources of hazardous materials was obtained from a review 5 of federal and state environmental databases and local agency records including additional searches 6 conducted in 2014 to examine potential for additional hazardous conditions not found in the earlier 7 reports. 8 Definitions 9 Hazardous materials and hazardous wastes are defined in the California Code of Regulations (CCR) 10 Title 22, Sections 66260 through 66261.10. As defined in Title 22, hazardous materials are grouped 11 into four general categories. 12 Toxic (causes human health effects). 13 Ignitable (has the ability to burn). 14 Corrosive (causes severe burns or damages materials). 15 Reactive (causes explosions or generates toxic gasses). 16 Hazardous materials are generally considered to be substances with certain chemical or physical 17 properties that may pose a substantial present or future hazard to human health or the environment 18 when improperly handled, stored, disposed, or otherwise managed. In general, discarded, 19 abandoned, or inherently waste-like hazardous materials are referred to as hazardous wastes. A 20 hazardous material or waste can be present in liquid, semi-solid, solid, or gaseous form. 21 Existing Conditions in the Project Area 22 The 2004 Phase One Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and subsequent 2006 Phase One ESA 23 update reports were prepared for Assessor Parcel Numbers (APNs) 015-162-016, 015-162-017, 24 015-162-025, 015-162-026, 015-162-037, 015-162-039, and 015-162-040. These reports include 25 the West Course of the Rancho Cañada Golf Club. Some areas of the project site are not covered by 26 the Phase One ESA report and subsequent update report. These reports are based on data gathered 27 through record searches of the area, including environmental record databases, historical 28 photographs, maps, and through field reconnaissance. Additional environmental databases were 29 reviewed in 2014. None of the environmental databases searched produced records of chemical 30 storage, spills, or contamination on the APNs listed in the reports as being within the project area 31 boundaries. 32 Historically, the project area had been undeveloped open space until 1976. Since From 1976 to 33 2016, the project site has supported a commercial golf course with one small restroom on the 34 southwest corner of the site and a mobile office. It is conceivable that persistent agrichemicals may 35 have been applied to the property. Chemical usage associated with former golf course landscaping 36 may have resulted in on-site contamination to soil and groundwater. 37 According to the Phase One ESA, sampling and testing of 40-near surface (3- to 9-inches below the 38 surface) soil samples showed organochlorine pesticides at trace levels, which were below the EPA’s 39 Region 9 Preliminary Remedial Goals (PRGs) for residential soils. Organophosphorus pesticides 40 were not detected. Rancho Cañada Village Project April 2021 3.6-3 Second Final Environmental Impact Report Monterey County Chapter 3.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials 1 While the Hatton Parcel, a 3-acre parcel in the northwest corner of the project site, was not included 2 in the soil sample testing of the report, it has historically remained undeveloped and presently 3 remains mostly undeveloped as an entryway into the former golf course. These past and present 4 land uses are not associated with usage of chemicals that would have caused contamination on the 5 site. 6 An irrigation water supply well and a groundwater monitoring well were observed on the property. 7 One pad-mounted transformer was observed next to the irrigation water supply well. There was no 8 obvious leaking or staining observed at or near the transformer. 9 Portions of the periphery of the project site were not included in the Phase One ESA; therefore, the 10 potential presence of hazardous materials in the soil is unknown in these areas. However, the 2014 11 search of state and federal databases did not indicate any known hazardous sites on the project site. 12 Existing Conditions in Adjacent Areas 13 Adjacent parcels consist of a middle school and school bus maintenance facility, the remainder of the 14 former Rancho Cañada Golf Course with a clubhouse (now used for Monterey Peninsula Regional 15 Park District offices and visitor center), the Carmel River, a church, and low- and high-density 16 residential development. As shown in Table 3.6-2, the environmental database search of these off- 17 site parcels listed the following parcels within the appropriate American Society for Testing and 18 Materials (ASTM) search distance of the subject property. 19 None of the facilities identified in the database search are expected to affect the project area given 20 the database information, topographic gradient, regional direction of groundwater flow and the 21 distance from the subject property. 22 The Carmel Middle School was reported in the Facility Index System (FINDS), which contains both 23 facility information and references to other sources of information that contain more detail. Listing 24 in FINDS is not indicative of chemical contamination.