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4 Environmental Analysis 4.16 Tribal Cultural Resources 4.16 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES This section identifies and evaluates issues related to tribal cultural resources in the context of the Griffith Energy Storage Project (Project). It includes the physical and regulatory setting, the criteria used to evaluate the significance of potential impacts, the methods used in evaluating these impacts, and the results of the impact assessment. 4.16.1 Existing Conditions The Project is within the northwestern ancestral lands of the Northern Valley Yokuts (see discussion in Section 4.5.1.2). An ethnographic review of tribal cultural resources was performed via the Northwest Information Center (NWIC) record search, Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) sacred lines file (SLF) search, and review of available ethnographic documents (see Section 4.5, Cultural Resources). San Joaquin County, as the lead California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA)agency, invited the following Native American Tribes to consult on the Project: Buena Vista Rancheria, California Tribal TANF Partnership, California Valley Miwok Tribe, North Valley Yokuts Tribe, and United Auburn Indian Community (as specified by PRC Section 21080.31 and as amended by Assembly Bill (AB) 52; see Sections 4.16.2 and 4.16.4 below). The original Project consultation letter was sent to Tribes on September 21, 2022; no responses have been received to date.As responsible agency, Alameda County does not formally consult with tribes as part of the CEQA process. 4.16.2 Regulatory Setting A project with an effect that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource may have a significant effect on the environment (Public Resource Code [PRC] 21084.2). As specified in the PRC Section 21080.31, as amended by AB 52, a lead agency is required to consult with any California Native American tribe that requests consultation and is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of a proposed project. Consultations must include discussing the type of environmental review necessary, the significance of tribal cultural resources, the significance of the project's impacts on the tribal cultural resources, and alternatives and mitigation measures recommended by the tribe (PRC 21080.3.1 (a) and 20184.3(b)(a), and Government Code 65352.4). That consultation must take place prior to the determination of whether a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or EIR is required for a project. PRC Section 21074 defines tribal resources as follows: (a)"Tribal cultural resources"are either of the following: (1) Sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, and objects with cultural value to a California Native American tribe that are either of the following: (A) Included or determined to be eligible for inclusion in the California Register of Historical Resources. (8) Included in a local register of historical resources as defined in subdivision (k) of Section 5020.1. Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.16-1 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023