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4 Environmental Analysis
<br /> 4.18 Wildfire
<br /> significant impact related to the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure that may
<br /> exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment.
<br /> Mitigation: None required.
<br /> IMPACT 4.18-4: Would the project expose people or structures to significant risks, including
<br /> downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability,
<br /> or drainage changes? (Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated)
<br /> The Project is entirely located within a High FHSZ within the SRA and the nearest Very High
<br /> FHSZ is located approximately 3.5 miles southwest of the Project site (Figure 4.18-1). The Project
<br /> site is in an area with some rolling hills, and development of the Project could potentially affect
<br /> runoff and drainage patterns due to site preparation, which would require cut and fill to create a
<br /> single terrace on which the batteries would be installed. However, no grading that may obstruct,
<br /> impede, or interfere with the natural flow of storm waters would occur. The site drainage is
<br /> designed to follow the natural drainage pattern of the site. The Project would include swales and
<br /> armored outlets to direct stormwater, as shown in the preliminary grading and site plan provided
<br /> as Figure 2-2 of Chapter 2, Project Description, and in accordance with San Joaquin County and
<br /> State of California standards. Additionally, as discussed in Section 4.7, Geology, Soils, and
<br /> Paleontological Resources, of this Draft EIR, there are no mapped landslides on or around the
<br /> Project site or the gen-tie corridor (DOC 2022). Accordingly, flooding or landslides due to runoff,
<br /> slope instability, or drainage would be adequately managed during Project operation through
<br /> proper site design.
<br /> Site preparation and construction activities would be performed in accordance with a Stormwater
<br /> Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that incorporates stormwater best management practices
<br /> (BMP) to reduce the adverse effects of erosion and sedimentation, as required by Mitigation
<br /> Measure GEO-1. The SWPPP would apply to the entire Project, including the BESS located
<br /> within San Joaquin County, and the gen-tie line and PG&E Tesla Substation tie-in located within
<br /> Alameda County. Such practices would include, for example, the use of water trucks to manage
<br /> dust; silt fencing, straw wattles, temporary catch basins, and inlet filters to control stormwater;
<br /> and truck tire muck shakers or similar devices to prevent mud and debris from being carried onto
<br /> roadways. Similar measures would be implemented during Project decommissioning. Finally, as
<br /> discussed in Section 4.10, Hydrology and Water Quality, impacts associated with runoff and
<br /> erosion due to water flows would be less than significant. Thus, the Project would not result in
<br /> changes to runoff, slope instability, or drainage patterns that have the potential to exacerbate
<br /> downslope or downstream flooding or landslides and thereby expose people or structures to
<br /> associated risks.
<br /> Regarding the exposure of people or structures to wildfire risks, the Project would not result in the
<br /> exposure of construction, operation, or decommissioning workers to significant wildfire risks, as
<br /> discussed under the previous Impacts 4.18-1, 4.18-2, and 4.18-3 above. Additionally, potential
<br /> fire risk of Project structures would be low, including from transformers, inverters, electric
<br /> transmission line (including the gen-tie line), substations, maintenance vehicles, gas/electric-
<br /> powered machinery, and batteries. All battery components for the BESS would be installed on
<br /> concrete pads and contained within an enclosure to minimize the potential for sparks or ignition.
<br /> Fire detection measures would be incorporated in the Project design in accordance with NFPA
<br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.18-17 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675
<br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023
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