SU0008578 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5.ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST MOUNTAIN HOUSE NEIGHBORHOODS K AND L INITIAL STUDY 5.CULTURAL RESOURCES Discussion Regarding Neighborhoods K and L a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5? The Neighborhoods K and L development would not affect historical resources. As discussed in the"Setting"section above, none of the historical resources that were assessed was found eligible for listing in the California Register. As with any surface inspection,there is always a remote possibility that previous activities(both natural and cultural) have obscured prehistoric or historic period artifacts or habitation areas, leaving no surface evidence to identify the resources. If,during construction activities, artifacts or non-native stone (obsidian,fine-grained silicates, basalt)are exposed,or if unusual amounts of bone or shell are observed, or if areas that contain dark-colored sediment that do not appear to have been created through natural processes are discovered,then work should cease in the immediate area of the discovery and a professionally qualified archaeologist should be contacted immediately for an on-site inspection of the discovery. If any bone is uncovered that appears to be human,then state law requires that the San Joaquin County Coroner be contacted. If the coroner determines that the bone most likely represents a Native American interment, then he or she must contact the Native American Heritage Commission in Sacramento so that they can identify the most likely descendants. The above mitigation measure is addressed in the County's Development Title, Section 9-1053.8M and 9-1053.9% Therefore, no additional mitigation measures are considered necessary. While Peak&Associates recommended the presence of an archaeological monitor for any subsurface excavations below 5 feet,this depth of excavation would not occur in the area studied because the area would be filled to bring the elevation of the project site above the 100-year floodplain. Thus, no monitor is considered necessary. b) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5? Refer to the discussion under Item(a)above. c) Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? Unique geologic features and paleontological resources have not been identified within the Neighborhoods K and L project site, and there is no evidence that paleontological resources exist at the site. The County's Development Title, Section 9-1053.9M,would provide mitigation should as-yet unknown paleontological resources be uncovered during construction. Paleontological resources were not addressed in the 1994 MSIR. paiii) 5-70