CITY OF IRVINE CEQA MANUAL Volume 2: Technical Guidelines FINAL May 2012 Table of Contents Section Page 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 FRAMEWORK/PURPOSE OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES FOR IRVINE ............................... 1-1 1.1.1 Irvine CEQA Guidelines ............................................................................................. 1-1 1.1.2 How to Use Irvine’s CEQA Guidelines ...................................................................... 1-1 1.2 GENERAL APPROACH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ............................................... 1-2 1.3 SOURCES OF INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 1-9 1.4 PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS .................................................................................. 1-9 1.5 IRVINE STANDARD CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ............................................................. 1-9 1.6 SENATE BILL 226 – CEQA STREAMLING FOR INFILL PROJECTS ................................... 1-9 2. Environmental Review Process ....................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS ....................................... 2-1 2.2 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS ...................................................................... 2-2 2.2.1 Statutory Exemptions ................................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.2 Categorical Exemptions ............................................................................................. 2-3 2.2.3 Initial Study ................................................................................................................ 2-3 2.2.4 Negative Declaration ................................................................................................. 2-3 2.2.5 Environmental Impact Report .................................................................................... 2-4 2.2.6 Types of EIRs ............................................................................................................ 2-5 2.3 PROCESSING PROJECTS PURSUANT TO A CERTIFIED PROGRAM EIR ....................... 2-7 3. Environmental Impact Categories ................................................................................................. 3.1-1 3.1 AESTHETICS ...................................................................................................................... 3.1-1 3.1.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.1-15 3.1.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.1-15 3.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES .............................................................. 3.2-1 3.2.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.2-7 3.2.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.2-7 3.3 AIR QUALITY ...................................................................................................................... 3.3-1 3.3.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.3-1 3.3.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.3-1 3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................... 3.4-1 3.4.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.4-11 3.4.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.4-11 3.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................. 3.5-1 3.5.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.5-4 3.5.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.5-7 3.6 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ....................................................................................................... 3.6-1 3.6.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.6-7 3.6.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.6-8 3.7 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ..................................................................................... 3.7-1 3.7.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.7-2 3.7.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.7-3 3.8 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ...................................................................... 3.8-1 3.8.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.8-5 3.8.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.8-5 3.9 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY ............................................................................... 3.9-1 3.9.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ................................ 3.9-6 3.9.2 Determining Significance ........................................................................................ 3.9-7 Irvine CEQA Manual Page i Table of Contents Section Page 3.10 LAND USE AND PLANNING ............................................................................................. 3.10-1 3.10.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.10-1 3.10.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.10-2 3.11 MINERAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................... 3.11-1 3.11.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.11-2 3.11.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.11-2 3.12 NOISE ................................................................................................................................ 3.12-1 3.12.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.12-1 3.12.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.12-2 3.13 POPULATION AND HOUSING ......................................................................................... 3.13-1 3.13.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.13-2 3.13.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.13-3 3.14 PUBLIC SERVICES........................................................................................................... 3.14-1 3.14.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines ............................ 3.14-13 3.14.2 Determining Significance .................................................................................... 3.14-13 3.15 TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC ................................................................................. 3.15-1 3.15.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.15-3 3.15.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.15-4 3.16 RECREATION ................................................................................................................... 3.16-1 3.16.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.16-6 3.16.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.16-6 3.17 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS .............................................................................. 3.17-1 3.17.1 Initial Study Checklist – Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines .............................. 3.17-4 3.17.2 Determining Significance ...................................................................................... 3.17-5 APPENDIX A. ACRONYMS APPENDIX B. SOURCES OF INFORMATION APPENDIX C. PLANS POLICIES AND PROGRAMS APPENDIX D. EXAMPLE MITIGATION MEASURES APPENDIX E. IRVINE STANDARD CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL APPENDIX F. REGULATORY INFORMATION APPENDIX G. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION FORM & ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST APPENDIX H. COMMON RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES FOR PROJECTS IN IRVINE APPENDIX I. SB 226 – CEQA STREAMLINING FOR INFILL PROJECTS APPENDIX J. SAMPLE ENERGY GENERATION FACTORS APPENDIX K. TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS GUIDELINES Page ii The City of Irvine April 2012 List of Figures Figure Page Figure 2-1 City of Irvine Planning Areas ..................................................................................... 2-9 Figure 3.1-1 Dedication/ Development Program Implementation Districts ................................. 3.1-3 Figure 3.1-2 Visual Resources in the City of Irvine ..................................................................... 3.1-9 Figure