ARCHIVED REPORTS LEC APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION

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5.4 GEOLOGIC HAZARDS AND RESOURCES 5.4.1.5.6 Expansive Soils Expansive soils shrink and swell with wetting and drying. The shrink-swell capacity of expansive soils can result in differential movement beneath foundations.According to the San Joaquin County General Plan,the project site lies in an area mapped where the potential for expansive soils to be present is high (San Joaquin County,1992). The recent geotechnical feasibility study also indicated that expansive soils may be present at the site (Carlton,2008). 5.4.1.5.7 Flooding The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains a collection of flood insurance rate maps,which cover the entire United States. These maps identify those areas that may be subjected to 100-year floods. Based on review of the map for the LEC site (map ID 0602990260C), the project site lies with the mapped 100-year flood plain (FEMA,2008). The potential for a 100-year flood event to impact the site is medium to high. Although the LEC project area is protected by levees,many of the Delta levees were crudely constructed, are potentially unstable,and may fail during severe storms or during a significant seismic event. Delta levees as a whole are currently being evaluated by the State of California and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 5.4.1.6 Geologic Resources of Recreational, Commercial, or Scientific Value There are no known geologic resources that provide a significant scientific or recreational value near the site. According to online maps of the State of California Division of Oil,Gas and Geothermal Resources (CDOGGR,2008),the LEC is in an area where oil and gas exploration has occurred. Gas fields of potential value are present within 5 miles of the project site. Although several wells have been drilled within 2 miles of the LEC,most were labeled as"plugged and abandoned- dry hole' according to the CDOGGR maps.The nearest known active gas field is the King Island Gas field, approximately 2 miles to the west-southwest. One active well, "Piacentine" was identified. The Lodi Airport Gas field, approximately 2.5 miles to the southeast, is present,but this field contains no completed wells. The abandoned Harte Gas field is approximately 3 miles to the south-southwest. 5.4.2 Environmental Analysis The potential environmental effects from construction and operation of the LEC on geologic resources and risks to life and property from geologic hazards are presented in the following sections. 5.4.2.1 Significance Criteria According to Appendix G of the California Environmental Quality Act statues,the project would have a significant environmental impact in terms of geologic hazards and resources if it would do the following: • Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss,injury, or death involving: - Rupture of a known earthquake fault (Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone) - Strong seismic ground shaking - Seismic-related ground failure,including liquefaction 5.4-8 SAC/371322/082330011(LEC_5.4_GEOLOGIC HAZARDS AND RESOURCES.DOC)