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Based on this, development of the site as proposed may have a potentially significant impact on the Swainson's hawk, as the project would remove approximately 38 acres of potential foraging habitat for the hawk. B. Land Use: The facility will be developed in a reclaimed gravel pit that is approximately 30 to 35 feet deep. Land use in the area includes agricultural uses such as orchards, two residences approximately 600 feet northeast of the site and one to the south, and existing quarry operations to the west and northwest (RMC Lone Star Industries and Teichert Aggregates, respectively). The Royster tire dump is also located west of the project site. The proposed use may be conditionally permitted in the AG zone with an approved Use Permit. In making the decision on whether or not to approve the proposed facility, the Planning Commission will consider the facility's likely impacts on surrounding properties and uses. Thus, a critical element of this EIR will be to document and discuss potential land use impacts and suggest appropriate mitigation measures where necessary. Land use impacts relative to the following will be included in the EIR: noise, odor, visual impacts, litter, and increased truck and vehicle traffic. C. Traffic and Circulation: The project site is located on the west side of MacArthur Road, south of Linne Road. Access to the facility will be off of MacArthur Drive via other County roads. On-site circulation will be provided via two-way roadways. Traffic levels in the area are anticipated to increase as a result of garbage trucks bringing refuse to the site, trucks hauling materials from the site to the County's landfill, trucks hauling recyclable materials off the site, and individuals hauling their own refuse to the facility. The EIR will include an analysis of traffic impacts that will include existing conditions, existing plus project, and existing plus project plus cumulative conditions. Traffic will be analyzed by types of vehicles, hours of operation, and travel routes. The street and road network will also be reviewed for substandard conditions and safety hazards and the potential for heavy garbage trucks to cause significant degradation to the roadways. D. Air Quality: San Joaquin County is currently a nonattainment area for carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate levels (PM -10). The proposed facility will be subject to the regulations specified by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. Potentially significant air quality impacts relative to the following are anticipated: construction activities; vehicular emissions from employee trips, self -haul vehicles, refuse collection vehicles, and long-haul disposal trucks; mobile emissions from transfer equipment on the site; and potentially obnoxious odors from the refuse and composting operations on the site. E. Visual: The facility will be constructed in a pit approximately 30 to 35 feet below MacArthur Drive. The facility is planned to have six separate functional areas. The main functional area will consist of an approximately 40,000 -square -foot material processing and transfer building. Other functional areas include a wood storage area, a composting area, a truck parking and storage area, a recovered materials storage area, and an administrative/maintenance building. The project will be evaluated for its visual impact on adjacent property as well as those driving past the facility. The project will also be evaluated for the potential impact of exterior lighting and glare to surrounding property. Notice of Preparation - 2 - ER -93-1