Mandarin and English Dual-Language Immersion Elementary School Project EIR Los Angeles Unified School District March 26, 2015 Volume I Draft Environmental Impact Report Mandarin and English Dual-Language Immersion Elementary School Project Volume I Prepared for: Los Angeles Unified School District Office of Environmental Health and Safety 333 South Beaudry Avenue, 28th Floor Los Angeles, California 90017 Contact: Mr. Edward Paek, CEQA Project Manager Prepared by: Sapphos Environmental, Inc. 430 North Halstead Street Pasadena, California 91107 Contact: Ms. Laura Male March 26, 2015 Table of Contents Executive Summary Chapter 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Environmental Impact Report ....................................................... 1-1 1.2 Scope of the EIR .................................................................................................. 1-2 1.3 EIR Organization ................................................................................................. 1-4 1.4 Availability of the Draft EIR .................................................................................. 1-5 1.5 Public Meetings and Hearings ............................................................................. 1-6 1.6 Agency Comments .............................................................................................. 1-6 Chapter 2.0 Project Description and Environmental Setting 2.1 Project Background and Objectives ..................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Project Background .................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.2 Project Objectives ................................................................................... 2-3 2.2 Project Description .............................................................................................. 2-4 2.2.1 Project Components ................................................................................ 2-4 2.2.2 Project Location and Site Characteristics .................................................. 2-6 2.2.3 Construction Schedule ........................................................................... 2-10 2.3 Project Design Features ..................................................................................... 2-10 2.4 Required Permits and Approvals ........................................................................ 2-17 2.4.1 Lead Agency Approval ........................................................................... 2-17 2.4.2 Required Permits and Approvals ............................................................ 2-18 2.4.3 Reviewing Agencies ............................................................................... 2-18 2.5 Cumulative Scenario ......................................................................................... 2-20 Chapter 3.0 Environmental Analysis 3.1 Environmental Issues Addressed .......................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Organization of Environmental Analysis .............................................................. 3-2 3.3 Terminology Used in this Analysis ....................................................................... 3-3 Subchapter 3A Aesthetics 3A.1 Regulatory Framework ..................................................................... 3A-1 3A.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................... 3A-3 3A.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................... 3A-6 3A.4 Impact Analysis ................................................................................ 3A-6 3A.5 Cumulative Impacts ......................................................................... 3A-8 3A.6 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................... 3A-8 3A.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation ................................................ 3A-8 Subchapter 3B Agriculture and Forestry Resources 3B.1 Regulatory Framework ..................................................................... 3B-2 3B.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................... 3B-3 3B.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................... 3B-5 3B.4 Impact Analysis ................................................................................ 3B-6 3B.5 Cumulative Impacts ......................................................................... 3B-8 3B.6 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................... 3B-8 3B.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation ................................................ 3B-8 Los Angeles Unified School District March 26, 2015 Proposed Mandarin and English Dual-Language Immersion Elementary School Project Page i Draft EIR Table of Contents Subchapter 3C Air Quality 3C.1 Regulatory Framework ..................................................................... 3C-2 3C.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................... 3C-6 3C.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................. 3C-16 3C.4 Impact Analysis .............................................................................. 3C-18 3C.5 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................... 3C-22 3C.6 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................... 3C-22 3C.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation .............................................. 3C-22 Subchapter 3D Biological Resources 3D.1 Regulatory Framework .................................................................... 3D-2 3D.2 Existing Conditions ......................................................................... 3D-5 3D.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................ 3D-14 3D.4 Impact Analysis ............................................................................. 3D-15 3D.5 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................... 3D-17 3D.6 Mitigation Measures ...................................................................... 3D-17 3D.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation ............................................. 3D-18 Subchapter 3E Cultural Resources 3E.1 Regulatory Framework ..................................................................... 3E-3 3E.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................... 3E-9 3E.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................. 3E-18 3E.4 Impact Analysis .............................................................................. 3E-19 3E.5 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................... 3E-21 3E.6 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................... 3E-22 3E.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation .............................................. 3E-22 Subchapter 3F Geology and Soils 3F.1 Regulatory Framework ..................................................................... 3F-3 3F.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................... 3F-6 3F.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................... 3F-9 3F.4 Impact Analysis .............................................................................. 3F-10 3F.5 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................... 3F-13 3F.6 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................... 3F-14 3F.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation .............................................. 3F-14 Subchapter 3G Greenhouse Gas Emissions 3G.1 Regulatory Framework .................................................................... 3G-4 3G.2 Existing Conditions ......................................................................... 3G-7 3G.3 Thresholds of Significance .............................................................. 3G-8 3G.4 Impact Analysis ............................................................................... 3G-8 3G.5 Cumulative Impacts ........................................................................ 3G-9 3G.6 Mitigation Measures ...................................................................... 3G-10 3G.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation ............................................. 3G-10 Subchapter 3H Hazards and Hazardous Materials 3H.1 Regulatory Framework .................................................................... 3H-2 3H.2 Existing Conditions ......................................................................... 3H-6 3H.3 Thresholds of Significance ............................................................ 3H-12 Los Angeles Unified School District March 26, 2015 Proposed Mandarin and English Dual-Language Immersion Elementary School Project Page ii Draft EIR Table of Contents 3H.4 Impact Analysis ............................................................................. 3H-13 3H.5 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................... 3H-17 3H.6 Mitigation Measures ...................................................................... 3H-17 3H.7 Level of Significance after Mitigation ............................................. 3H-17 Subchapter 3I Hydrology and Water Quality