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• • • Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.F-25 Forward Inc. Landfill 2018 Expansion Project • • "beneficial uses" associated with waters of the State.53 In most cases,the RWQCB seeks to • protect these beneficial uses by requiring the integration water quality control measures into • projects that could result in discharge into waters of the State. • Under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Acts", the RWQCB is authorized to regulate • the discharge of waste that could affect the quality of the State's waters. "Waste"is broadly • defined by the Porter-Cologne Act to include "sewage and any and all other waste substances, • liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, associated with human habitation, or of human or animal origin, or from any producing, manufacturing, or processing operation of whatever • nature...."". Concentrated silt or sediment associated with human habitation and harmful to • the aquatic environment is"waste" under this section. In addition, the California Attorney • General has interpreted this definition to include extraction of sand, gravel or other minerals • from a streambed,because it may cause an increase in turbidity and silt in the waters of the stream downstream from the operations. Therefore, even if a project does not require a federal • permit(i.e., a Nationwide Permit from the USACE), it may nevertheless require review by and • approval of the RWQCB. Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures • Criteria of Significance CEQA Guidelines" establish certain "mandatory findings of significance" that function as significance thresholds affecting certain biological resources. Pursuant to that section, a project • is deemed to have a significant environmental effect if the project would: • • Substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species; • • Cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels; • • Threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community;or • • Substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of an endangered, rare or threatened • species. • In addition, based upon the checklist in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, implementation of • the proposed project would have a significant impact if it were to cause: • A substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any special- status species identified as a candidate, sensitive,or special-status species in local or • regional plans, policies or regulations, or by the CDFW or USFWS; • 53 Waters of the State are defined as"any surface water or groundwater,including saline waters,within • the boundaries of the state." (California Water Code Section 13050(e).)These waters include nearly every • and all surface or ground water in the state, or tributaries thereto,and include drainage features outside • USACE jurisdiction(e.g., dry and ephemeral/seasonal stream beds and channels, etc.,isolated wetlands such as vernal pools,seeps,springs and other groundwater-supplied wetlands,etc.,and storm drains and • flood control channels. • 54 Cal.Water Code Sections 13000-14920 • ss Cal.Water Code Section 13050 56 Section 15065 • • • •