ARCHIVED REPORTS_DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

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sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations, or conflict with air quality planning efforts.Although emissions from other reasonably foreseeable future projects in the SJVAB as a whole,would continue to contribute to long-term increases in emissions that would exacerbate existing and projected nonattainment conditions,the project's emissions of ozone precursors(i.e.,ROG and NOx)and PM would not result in a considerable contribution to any regional criteria air pollutants or ozone precursor impacts. 5.3.4 NOISE Construction activities occurring during daytime hours are exempt from the provisions of the city's noise ordinance if all construction equipment is fitted with factory installed muffling devices and maintained in good working order. The noise impact analysis conducted in this DEIR(see Section 4.4, "Noise")determined that adherence to these noise regulations and implementation of Mitigation Measure 4.4-1 would be sufficient to avoid significant construction noise impacts. Construction noise sources associated with related projects would also be considered exempt during daytime hours,but there is no guarantee that all construction equipment associated with related projects would incorporate similar noise restricting devices. Therefore, cumulatively significant noise impacts associated with construction noise sources could occur. However,the project would not result in significant construction noise impacts and would not contribute to any cumulatively significant noise impacts because all noise from project-related construction activities would be consistent with the city's noise ordinance. Transportation related noise has the potential to extend beyond project areas along existing roadways and result in less-than-significant traffic noise impacts to sensitive land uses (i.e.,residential) located along these roadways. As described under Impact 4.4-2, "Long-Term Increases in Traffic Source Noise Levels,"project implementation would not result in a noticeable change in the traffic noise contours of area roadways and long-term increases in traffic source noise levels would not result in the exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of applicable standards or create a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels at existing noise-sensitive receptors. This is considered a less-than-significant cumulative traffic noise impact and the project's contribution would not be cumulatively considerable. Construction-related temporary ground vibration associated with the project and related projects could potentially result in exceeding FTA's maximum-acceptable vibration standard of 80 VdB with respect to human response for residential uses (i.e., annoyance) at vibration-sensitive land uses. However,mitigation is recommended to reduce the project's ground vibration impacts to a less-than-significant level by limiting activities that would generate vibrational noise within 60 feet of occupied residences. Ground vibration originating from related project construction areas would likely be required to implement similar mitigation to reduce the effects of ground vibration. Therefore,this would be a less-than-significant cumulative ground vibration impact and the project's contribution would not be cumulatively considerable. 5.3.5 TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES Most of the native vegetation in the project area and the larger region has been lost over the past 150 years, primarily as a result of conversion to agricultural and urban land uses. This habitat conversion has substantially affected numerous plant and wildlife species,resulting in various species being listed as threatened or endangered under the California and federal Endangered Species Acts; although, some species that use agricultural habitats and others that can thrive in developed areas have benefited. Future conversions of open space lands in San Joaquin County would primarily consist of converting agricultural lands to residential and urban development. The SJMSCP anticipates conversion of up to approximately 109,000 acres of open space land to nonopen space uses in the County between 2001 and 2051. The proposed project and related projects in the city would contribute to this countywide conversion. The SJMSCP was developed to minimize and mitigate impacts on plant and wildlife habitat(and associated species)resulting from this regional loss of open space lands. The SJMSCP relies, in part, on compensation for such conversion through preservation of agricultural lands and preservation and creation of natural habitats to be managed in perpetuity through the establishment of conservation easements and EDAW Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR Cumulative Impacts 5-14 City of Manteca