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1 <br /> zoned AG, the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program's soil classification for the area to be <br /> excavated is neither Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Significance, nor Unique Farmland. The <br /> portion of the KRC site to be excavated is within MRZ-2 (Mineral Resources Zone), as designated by the <br /> State Department of Mines and Geology, and none of the soil within the area of excavation is Prime <br /> Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Significance, or Unique Farmland. Soil on the site is characterized as <br /> being non-prime and is shown on the San Joaquin County Important Farmland Map as "grazing land.,, <br /> Williamson Act: <br /> The parcels composing the project site are currently under Williamson Act contracts. According to the <br /> Development Title (Section 9-1810.3(b)(1)(w)), property under contract may be used for quarry operations, <br /> provided the sites are rehabilitated for agricultural uses. Based on the County's terms for Williamson Act <br /> contracts, project uses would be consistent with the Williamson Act, and neither nonrenewal nor <br /> cancellation of existing project site contracts would be required for project approval. <br /> Recent State legislation, Assembly Bill No. 2663, further codified requirements for uses to be considered <br /> as'compatible" on contracted land. The Department of Conservation has typically viewed a permanent <br /> or temporary activity or use that significantly impairs the agricultural viability of a contracted parcel as <br /> being incompatible. Assembly Bill No. 2663 adds Section 51238.2, which specifically addresses mineral <br /> extraction. This section states that mineral extraction may be approved as compatible if the board or <br /> council is able to document that the underlying contractual commitment to preserve prime land or the <br /> underlying contractual commitment to preserve nonprime land for open space use will not be significantly <br /> impaired. This section further stipulates that conditions imposed on mineral extraction as a compatible <br /> use of contracted land shall include compliance with the reclamation standards adopted by the Mining <br /> and Geology Board pursuant to Section 2773 of the Public Resources Code. <br /> Soils and Geology: <br /> Excavation will occur in two main areas of the project site; one area comprises the central portion of the <br /> site and includes most of Phase I, Phases Ii through IV, and a small portion of Phase V. The second area, <br /> located in the northeastern corner of the site, contains the balance of Phase V. The proposed quarry has <br /> been designed to contain all runoff from disturbed areas on the site. All excavation boundaries will be <br /> sloped back into the active pit to avoid contamination of runoff entering natural drainages that exit the <br /> property. Each of the two pit areas will be graded to slope gently toward the west, with a finished slope <br /> of approximately 1 percent. Two storm water retention ponds are proposed in the western portion of the <br /> large central pit, and one pond is proposed in the western portion of the pit located in the northeastern <br /> portion of the site. These ponds will collect drainage water from the working faces of the areas under <br /> excavation and will remain after excavation concludes as stockponds and possibly wildlife habitat. <br /> As excavation of each of the five phases concludes, reclamation of each phase will commence. Disturbed <br /> areas will be reclaimed with overburden and topsoil. The applicants are proposing to respread topsoil <br /> approximately 8 inches deep. After topsoil is respread,the phase will be revegetated with annual grasses <br /> and blue oaks to establish a natural looking landscape. The endwall slopes around the perimeter of each <br /> disturbed pit area are proposed to be no steeper than two feet horizontal to one foot vertical (2:1). As <br /> mentioned above, the floor of the pit areas will be gently sloped to conform to surrounding topography, <br /> with a grade of approximately 1 percent. <br /> The EIR evaluated the potential impacts the quarry expansion may have on soil erosion. The EIR <br /> concluded that, based on the proposed slopes, proposed reclamation and revegetation, and <br /> implementation of the requirements contained in Section 9-1415.3 of the Development Title, no significant <br /> impacts relative to erosion are anticipated. <br /> San Joaquin County QX-94-2/KRC Aggregate <br /> Community Development Page 8 <br />