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SECTION I INTRODUCTION A. PURPOSE .OF AN EIR San Joaquin County has determined that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required to study a request to amend the Land Use/Circulation Element Map of the San Joaquin County General Plan from Agricultural to Rural Residential , and change the zoning from GA-40 to RR-65 ( Rural Residential ; 65, 000 square foot minimum),. The underlying project is a 39-lot single-family rural residential subdivision. In addition, County staff expanded the ! study area to include parcels bounded by Foppiano Lane and Canepa Road as well as parcels abutting the Central California Traction Railroad and Hildreth Lane. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA ) ( Public Resources Code section 21000 et. seq. ) , and the CEQA Guidelines ( 14 California Administrative Code Section 15000 et. seq . ) , the purpose of an EIR is to provide objective information to public decision makers and the general public regarding potential environmental effects resulting from project implementation . B. EIR REQUIREMENT The request for a General Plan Amendment, Rezoning and � underlying project to develop a 39-lot subdivision is considered a t , "project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines (Section 15378) . The Guidelines require preparation of an ETR when a lead agency determines that there is substantial evidence on the record that a project may have ' @ significant effect on the environment (Section 15064 ) . C. SCOPE OF EIR r � As Lead Agency, San Joaquin County planning staff prepared an r Initial Study ( see Appendix A) and a Notice of Preparation of an + EIR that were circulated to local , state, and regional agencies and other interested parties . The Initial Study determined that an EIR would be required for , the proposed project and identified the major environmental issues to be addressed. These issues include: loss of agricultural land, land use conflicts, hazards and constraints to drainage and water quality, increased traffic and circulation conflicts, provision of services and utilities, and consistency with County planning policy. Cumulative and growth inducing effects are addressed in the context of the specific project application as well as potential development of the expanded study area . The Initial Study determined that the project would have a negligible impact or no impact on the following: aesthetics, cultural resources, geology/soils, biotics, noise, air quality and energy . A site reconnaissance, interviews with staff and interested parties, and review of relevant planning policy were utilized in the completion of this report. 1