ARCHIVED REPORTS_DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

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School).All of these properties were considered to have limited architectural or historical value, and were not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP or considered a historical resource for the purposes of CEQA. However, all of the houses and the school(P-39-4188,P-39-4189,P-39-4190,P-39-4191, and P-39-4192) are listed in the Historic Property Data File for San Joaquin County; each marked to be reviewed for historic restoration.None of these properties are situated directly within the project area. Survey Findings Many of the above-mentioned prehistoric and historic-era cultural resources identified in previous studies are present along roadways that would be used in the construction of the wastewater collection system pipelines proposed for the current project. However,none of them are within the project area because sewer line construction, staging, and access would take place within existing paved roads. Because of limited ground visibility(<5%)within fields currently planted in corn, a portion(totaling approximately 3.35 miles of the pipeline route for the proposed wastewater collection system) could not be surveyed because of the heavy crop cover. These 3.35 miles included 2.05 miles in the southwestern portion of the project area near the intersection of Peach Avenue and Airport Way, and approximately 1.3 miles in the center of the western portion of the project area between Yosemite and Louise Avenues, and west of Airport Way. In addition, a portion of the pipeline alignment for the recycled-water distribution system(totaling approximately 1.5 miles)was also not surveyed. These 1.5 miles included 0.96 mile in the central portion of the project area between Swanson Road and West Center Street north of Yosemite Avenue, and 0.54 mile in the southwestern portion of the project area south of Woodward Avenue. REGULATORY SETTING Federal Plans, Policies, Regulations, and Laws No federal plans,policies, regulations, or laws are applicable to the proposed project. State Plans, Policies, Regulations, and Laws The most frequently applied legislation to protect cultural resources in California consists of the provisions of CEQA that provide for the documentation and protection of significant prehistoric and historic resources. Before the approval of discretionary projects and the commencement of agency undertakings,the potential impacts of the project on archaeological and historical resources must be considered(Public Resources Code [PRC] Sections 21083.2 and 21084.1 and the State CEQA Guidelines [Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15064.5]). CEQA uses a broad definition of what constitutes a cultural resource,which is outlined in Title 14, Section 4852 of the California Code of Regulations. Cultural resources can include traces of prehistoric habitation and activities,historic-era sites and materials, and places used for traditional Native American observances or places with special cultural significance. In general, any trace of human activity more than 50 years in age is required to be treated as a potential cultural resource. However, as projects can extend over a period of years from planning to implementation stages,the minimum age generally accepted for resources to be considered historic for the purposes of CEQA is 45 years. The significance of an archaeological or historic resource as per the State CEQA Guidelines is an important consideration in terms of their management. Listing, or eligibility for listing, on the CRHR is the primary consideration in whether or not a resource is subjected to further research and documentation. CEQA states that if a project would result in significant impacts on important historical resources,then alternative plans or mitigation measures must be considered. However, only significant historical resources need to be addressed. The State CEQA Guidelines define a significant historical resource as"a resource listed or eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources"(PRC Section 5024.1).As a matter of policy,public agencies should Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR EDAW City of Manteca 4.12-7 Cultural Resources