ARCHIVED REPORTS LEC APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION

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5.3 CULTURAL RESOURCES As per the latest CEC Rules of Practice and Procedure&Power Plant Site Certification Regulations (CEC,2007),in addition to the plant site and the construction laydown and/or parking area, a 200-foot minimum buffer was also surveyed for cultural resources around these facilities. In addition to the survey of the proposed gas line,a 50-foot minimum buffer was surveyed around the proposed gas line. The survey used linear pedestrian transects spaced at 10 meters and opportunistic examination of exposed soils to examine the survey areas to determine whether archaeological deposits might be present. Exposed soils,consisting mainly of previously disturbed agricultural sediments and road bed material,were inspected carefully,and no evidence of cultural materials was noted. Much of the visibility within the laydown and/or parking areas is impaired by thick vegetation. Some areas have poor visibility,less than 10 percent,therefore any areas with good visibility were surveyed even when they were outside of transects. The laydown area adjacent to the plant site has been graded and extensive earthmoving activities have resulted in the creation of a very large mound of dirt. Concrete pipe pieces have been dumped atop the mound. The eastern laydown area has been graded for parking and gravel has been put down.Additionally,several water lines daylight throughout the easternmost laydown area; eucalyptus trees are present in this area as well. All observed standpipes, waterlines, and spigots appear to be modern. The northernmost laydown area was not particularly disturbed and visibility was fair at approximately 50 percent. Visibility on the eastern end of the proposed gas line along West Armstrong Road was fair at approximately 50 percent.Visibility ranged from excellent along the dirt road south of the Lodi-Kingdon airstrip to poor within fallow agricultural fields between the 1-5 and the start of the paved road. The areas along the paved West Armstrong road are disturbed by two V ditches running adjacent to the road, grading for residences, a parking area for a small dairy, and grapevines. The areas along the dirt road are disturbed by both agricultural activities and grading for the dirt road. Underground water lines exist in the area; several were visible extending into V ditches adjacent to the dirt road. Several sections of ceramic water line have been pulled and dumped along the fields. All observed soils in the surveyed area range from medium to dark brown silty loam with some gravel and fist sized cobbles. The existing WPCF and STIG plant properties,previously used for agriculture,have been subjected to heavy disturbance since the construction of the WPCF in 1966 and the construction of the STIG plant in 1993 (Joe Bittner,2008,personal communication). Both excavation and grading occurred during the WPCF's initial construction in 1966. Excavations to a depth of six feet reportedly occurred during the construction of the STIG plant in the 1980's (Joe Bittner,2008,personal communication). An underground Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) line runs to the STIG plant,through the LEC project area and two of the laydown and/or parking areas,through the WPCF, and continues east. Areas surrounding the WPCF and STIG plant have been excavated to create reservoirs for the WPCF to the north and the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control mosquito abatement ponds to the south. Extensive earthmoving activities were observed within the proposed project area during the survey as well. Additional disturbances include the current use of the proposed plant site as a temporary laydown area,modern trash related to the WPCF,and the dumping of modern concrete pipe fragments. Previously disturbed sediment would not have cultural material in context. Most cultural material would be destroyed by the SACI3713221082330008(LEC_5.3_CULTU RAL.DOC) 5.3-11