Laserfiche WebLink
III. Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigations <br /> J. Geology, Soils and Seismicity <br /> Impact J.2. Excavation and landfilling on the project site would permanently convert <br /> prime agricultural land to non-agricultural use. (SIGNIFICANT) <br /> TheJro osed project would result in the direct loss of approximately 218.5 acres of prime <br /> P P P <br /> agricultural soils from future production. Much of the proposed horizontal expansion areas have <br /> soil series that are designated Prime Farmland soils by the SCS,and as Prime Farmland or <br /> Farmland of Statewide importance by the California Farmlands Mapping and Monitoring <br /> Program. <br /> Mitigation Measure J.2. <br /> Identified by this EIREIR <br /> (a) Require the project sponsor to enter into an agreement to be established in coordination <br /> with the County,such as a transfer of development rights,or purchase of development <br /> rights program,conservation easement,or farmland trust that would permanently preserve <br /> an equal area of agricultural land of similar or better quality as the project site. <br /> Implementation of this mitigation measure would reduce this impact to a less-than-significant <br /> level. <br /> Impact J.3. Over the life of the project,soils on the project site may be determined to be of <br /> inadequate supply and/or quality for use as daily,intermediate or final cover,and soil <br /> import could be required. (SIGNIFICANT) <br /> The proposed project soil balance assumes that the quality and quantity of soil in the proposed <br /> borrow areas would be adequate to meet the project needs (see Table III.J.3). It is possible that, <br /> over the life of the project the on-site soil supply would be insufficient in quality or quantity to <br /> meet cover requirements and off-site import would be required. It is also possible that this <br /> impact would not occur,dependent on the measurable properties of the soils as excavated and the <br /> potential for alternative cover materials to be approved and acceptable to the RWQCB. If off-site <br /> soil import were to be required,it could produce an adverse effect on mineral resources(clay)of <br /> the off-site borrow area. <br /> Due to the uncertainty over both the soil properties and the possible changes in regulations <br /> regarding alternative covers,this impact would be potentially significant. <br /> III.J.11 <br />