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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures Development Department Agricultural Resources,Land Use,and Planning Impacts and Mitigation Measures Impact LU-1: The Project will not Permanently Convert More than 40 Acres of Prime Farmland not Designated for Development in the General Plan (Less than Significant) The project site is identified for agricultural land uses in the County General Plan and is classified as Prime Farmland(DOC 2001). The proposed project would +� affect approximately 165 acres of Prime Farmland during active mining and reclamation operations(approximately 155 acres would be mined and 10 acres would be developed as a plant and materials stockpile area). The landowners aw propose to actively farm the portions of the site not currently under active mining operations(see Figure 2-6 for mining and reclamation sequence)and the Project (i.e.,excavation)has been designed to accommodate the continued farming of the later stages of the Project concurrent with mining activities. Therefore,the discussion of the conversion of Prime Farmlands is divided into temporary impacts and permanent impacts. Temporary Impacts As described above,the existing orchard would not be completely removed at the onset of the Project;rather,the areas identified as later stages would continue to a. be farmed while excavation takes place on other areas of the site. As site operations progress through the(conceptual)project stages,the previously mined areas would be reclaimed to support agricultural uses. Further, the Applicant proposes a reclamation plan that is designed to support agricultural land uses following the conclusion of mining and reclamation activities at the site. The reclamation plan includes a number of project design features to avoid or reduce r impacts on Prime Farmland soils during mining operations. These features, include stockpiling of topsoil and implementing erosion control measures to reduce the erosion of topsoil stockpiles(see"Environmental Commitments— r, Agriculture and Topsoil Protection" in Chapter 2, "Project Description"). Although project operations would disturb agricultural activities on Prime Farmlands,these impacts are considered temporary and would cease on completion of mining and reclamation activities at each mining stage. Permanent Impacts As described above,reclamation of the site would occur in stages. Under the ` mining plan, it is proposed to mine up to 155 acres of the site,depending on geologic factors encountered during excavation and mining economics. Excavation and reclamation would occur in two pit areas,the South Pit (approximately 40 acres)and the North Pit(approximately 115 acres)(Figure 2- 6). The North Pit area will be comprised of two separately excavated pits that would be mined in three sequential stages(Stages I, II, and III). Upon .. reclamation, the approximately 40-acre South Pit would be backfilled to its pre- mining elevation(i.e., existing grade)and entirely reclaimed for agricultural uses. Upon reclamation,Stages I and II of the North Pit would be backfilled to 15 feet above groundwater level(approximately 60 feet AMSL). The reclaimed slopes of these stages would be 1.51I:I V and would have 15-foot-wide benches every DeSilva Gates Quarry Project Draft Environmental Impact Report g.g-g AS05106,M r