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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 .r 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). r. 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 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. CEQA requires that state and local government agencies consider the environmental consequences of projects over which they have discretionary approval 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 cavy out a project for which an EIR has been certified unless the lead agency finds that: (1)changes or alternations have been required that avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the EIR; (2) such changes are within the jurisdiction of another public agency, and that such other agency has adopted the changes or can and should adopt the changes; or(3) specific economic, legal, social,technological, or other considerations, make infeasible the mitigation measures or project alternatives identified in the final EIR(CEQA Guidelines,Sections 15091, 15092, and 15093). 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 r. 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. — RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 1-1 ESA/203015 Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2006