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I <br /> San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors <br /> April 10,2017 j <br /> Page 6 <br /> F. THE INITIAL STUDY FAILS TO DISCUSS AND MITIGATE IMPACTS FROM <br /> VECTORS <br /> Testimony from the public,including Mr. Reedy,identifies the potentially <br /> significant impacts resulting from rodents and vectors. The testimony discusses the <br /> rodent and vector impacts from the existing operations. Expanding the size and scope of <br /> the operation may lead to additional impacts. Moreover,the Initial Study does not <br /> provide adequate mitigation measures to reduce the impacts from rodents and other <br /> vector problems associated with the Project. <br /> IV. THE MND'S RELIANCE UPON DEFERRED MITIGATION MEASURES VIOLATES <br /> CEQA <br /> The IS/MND improperly relies upon deferred mitigation measures without <br /> adequate performance standards. CEQA Guidelines,section 15126.4(a) requires that <br /> "mitigation measures must be fully enforceable through permit conditions,agreements, j <br /> or other legally-binding instruments." CEQA "permits a lead agency to defer specifically <br /> detailing mitigation measures as along as the lead agency commits itself to mitigation <br /> and to specific performance standards." (Gray v. County of Madera(2008) 167 <br /> Cal.App.4`h 1099, 1118; see also Communities for a Better Environment v.City of <br /> Richmond(2010) 184 Cal.App.4`h 70,94;Sacramento Old City Association v. City <br /> Council(1991)229 Cal App.3d 1011, 1028-1029.) <br /> In San Joaquin Raptor Rescue Center v. County of Merced(2007) 149 Cal.App.4`h <br /> 645,the court held a mitigation measure which required "a management plan'to be <br /> prepared"by a qualified biologist to"maintain the integrity and mosaic of the vernal pool <br /> habitat violated CEQA because it merely included a"generalized goal of maintaining the <br /> integrity of the vernal pool habitats," placing the onus of mitigation to the future plan and <br /> leaving the public"in the dark about what land management steps will be taken,or what <br /> specific criteria or performance standard will be met . . ." (Id.at 670.) <br /> In the present matter,the County recognizes that the Project may have potential <br /> significant impacts to air quality in the terms of noxious odors resulting from the <br /> expansion of the Project. The Initial Study provides for the applicant to monitor odors on <br /> a daily basis and take steps if objectionable odors are detected.(See Staff Report at p.4.) <br /> The Initial Study and Mitigation Measure Monitoring Plan simply state that the applicant <br /> must prepare a revised Odor Impact Management Plan. However,neither the staff report <br /> nor the Initial Study set performance standards for the GIMP. The Staff Report simply <br /> states that the OIMP includes requirements to monitor odors on a daily basis and take <br /> steps if objectionable odors are detected. Nothing in the documents identify what steps <br /> must be taken,when they must be taken,what constitutes a significant reduction in the <br /> odors. Thus,without performance standards for the OIMP the mitigation measure is not <br /> fully enforceable and violates CEQA. <br />