ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Conveyance of 38.77 ± Acres of Fee Property to Federal Trust, Resighini Rancheria Tribal Council, Klamath, Del Norte County, California June 2010 Environmental Assessment: Conveyance of 38.77 ± Acres of Fee Property to Federal Trust Resighini Rancheria TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Conveyance of 38.77± Acres of Fee Property to Federal Trust 1.0 SUMMARY.............................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................1 1.2 Project Description .............................................................................................2 1.3 Location and Environmental Setting...................................................................2 1.4 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action.......................................................3 1.5 Summary of the Environmental Review Process ...............................................6 1.6 Environmental Issues Evaluated ........................................................................6 1.6.1 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).......................................................7 1.6.2 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).......................................7 1.6.3 Endangered Species Act...............................................................................7 1.6.4 American Indian Religious Freedom Act .......................................................8 1.6.5 National Historic Preservation Act.................................................................8 1.7 Document Contact Information...........................................................................8 2.0 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................9 2.1 PROPOSED ACTION ........................................................................................9 2.1.1 Land Trust Action and Secretarial Determination..........................................9 2.1.2 Proposed Housing Development.................................................................11 2.2 Alternative Sites Considered (But Discarded): .................................................13 2.3 No Action Alternative:.......................................................................................14 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...............................................19 3.1 LAND RESOURCES ........................................................................................19 3.1.1 Topography .................................................................................................19 3.1.2 Soil Types and Characteristics....................................................................19 3.1.3 Geologic Setting ..........................................................................................19 3.1.4 Seismic Hazards..........................................................................................21 3.1.5 Mineral Resources.......................................................................................21 3.2 WATER RESOURCES.....................................................................................21 3.2.1 Surface Water..............................................................................................22 3.2.2 Groundwater................................................................................................23 3.2.3 Flooding.......................................................................................................23 3.2.4 Wetlands......................................................................................................23 3.2.5 Water Quality...............................................................................................23 3.3 AIR QUALITY ...................................................................................................26 3.3.1 Criteria Air Pollutants...................................................................................26 3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES............................................................................27 3.4.1 Regulatory Involvement...............................................................................27 3.4.2 Habitat Types ..............................................................................................28 3.4.3 Wildlife.........................................................................................................28 3.4.4 Vegetation ...................................................................................................30 3.4.5 Sensitive Species and Habitats...................................................................30 3.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES...............................................................................31 3.5.1 Ethnography and History.............................................................................32 3.5.2 Historic, Cultural, and Religious Properties.................................................35 3.6 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS ..................................................................36 Environmental Assessment: Conveyance of 38.77 ± Acres of Fee Property to Federal Trust Resighini Rancheria TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.6.1 Employment and Income.............................................................................37 3.6.2 Demographic Trends...................................................................................37 3.7 Attitudes, Expectations, Lifestyle, and Cultural Values ....................................37 3.8 Community Infrastructure .................................................................................37 3.8.1 Fire Protection .............................................................................................37 3.8.2 Law Enforcement.........................................................................................37 3.8.3 Schools........................................................................................................38 3.8.4 Solid Waste Disposal...................................................................................38 3.8.5 Gas & Electric Services...............................................................................38 3.8.6 Communications Service.............................................................................38 3.8.7 Water Service..............................................................................................38 3.8.8 Sanitary Sewer Services .............................................................................39 3.9 RESOURCE USE PATTERNS ........................................................................39 3.9.1 Hunting, Fishing, Gathering.........................................................................39 3.9.2 Timber .........................................................................................................39 3.9.3 Agriculture ...................................................................................................39 3.9.4 Mining..........................................................................................................40 3.9.5 Recreation ...................................................................................................40 3.9.6 Transportation Network ...............................................................................40 3.9.7 Land Use Plans ...........................................................................................40 3.10 OTHER VALUES..............................................................................................41 3.10.1 Wilderness...............................................................................................41 3.10.2 Sound and Noise .....................................................................................41 3.10.3 Public Health and Safety .........................................................................41 3.10.4 Aesthetics................................................................................................42 3.10.5 Hazardous and Chemical Wastes ...........................................................42 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ..............................................................43 4.1 LAND RESOURCES ........................................................................................43 4.2 WATER RESOURCES.....................................................................................44 4.3 AIR QUALITY ...................................................................................................47 4.4 LIVING RESOURCES......................................................................................48 4.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES...............................................................................49 4.6 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................50 4.7 TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS ..................................................................53 4.8 SOUND AND NOISE........................................................................................53 4.9 AESTHETIC VALUE ........................................................................................53 4.10 ATTITUDES, EXPECTATIONS AND CULTURAL VALUES............................54 4.11 SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS .........................................................................54 4.12 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ..........................................................................55 4.13 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .................................................................................55