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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT The County of San Joaquin has prepared this Draft Environmental Impact Report(EIR)to provide the public and Responsible and Trustee Agencies with information about the potential environmental effects of the proposed RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project(generally referred to in this Draft EIR as the Proposed Project). This Draft EIR was prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the CEQA Guidelines(California Code of Regulations,Title 14). As described in r CEQA Guidelines Section 15121(a), an EIR is a public informational document that assesses potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Project and identifies mitigation measures and alternatives to the Proposed Project that could minimize or avoid adverse environmental impacts. r. CEQA requires that state and local government agencies consider the environmental consequences of projects over which they have discretionary authority. The EIR is an informational document used in the planning and decision-making process. It is not the purpose or intent of an EIR to recommend either approval or denial of a project. CEQA requires that a Lead Agency neither approve nor carry out a project as proposed unless the +� significant environmental effects have been reduced to an acceptable level, or unless specific findings are made attesting to the infeasibility of altering the project to reduce or avoid environmental impacts(CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15091 and 15092). An acceptable level is defined as eliminating,avoiding, or substantially lessening the significant effects. CEQA also requires that decision-makers balance the benefits of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks. If environmental impacts are identified as significant and unavoidable,the ~ project may still be approved if it is demonstrated that social,economic, or other benefits outweigh the unavoidable impacts. The Lead Agency would then be required to state in writing the specific reasons for approving the project based on information presented in the EIR,as well as other information in the record. This process is defined as a"Statement of Overriding Considerations"by the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15093. 1.2 TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT �. The CEQA Guidelines identify several types of EIRs,each applicable to different project circumstances. This EIR is prepared as a Project EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15161. The scope of this project-level EIR has been focused to only address issues identified by San Joaquin County to pose a potentially significant effect on the environment. This RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Pmjecl 1-1 FSA/203015 Administlative Dmft F,a2 Match 2004