SECTION 4.0

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION

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PROPOSED PROJECT

4.1      INTRODUCTION

Sections 4.2 through 4.15 of this Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) present assessments of the potential environmental effects that could result from implementation of the proposed Trans Bay Cable Project (Project). This section also presents mitigation measures, where appropriate, to avoid or minimize potential environmental effects associated with the Project. The primary Project components that are assessed in this Draft EIR are:

• Proposed Project
  
  
• San Francisco HWC Converter Station/Onshore AC Cable Route/Laydown Areas
  
  
• Pittsburg Standard Oil Converter Station/Onshore AC/DC Cable Routes/Laydown Area/Access Roads
  
  
• Offshore Submarine DC Cable Route (between San Francisco and Pittsburg)

Each issue area section provides an overview of existing conditions, a summary discussion of the applicable regulatory framework, an assessment of the type and magnitude of Project impacts, feasible mitigation measures to reduce or avoid potentially significant environmental effects, and identification of residual impacts following mitigation. The threshold criteria that were used to determine impact significance are also specified for each resource area.

Alternative converter station locations, including associated Project components (e.g., onshore cable routes and construction laydown areas), are addressed in Section 5.0 of this Draft EIR. A comparison of Project alternatives, including the proposed Project, is presented in Section 6.0.

4.1.1    Scope of the Environmental Analysis

The potential environmental effects of the proposed Project are analyzed in subsequent sections (as indicated) for the following environmental issue areas:

• 4.2 – Air Quality

• 4.3 – Geologic Resources and Soils
  
  
• 4.4 – Water Resources and Quality
  
  
• 4.5 – Terrestrial Biological Resources
  
  
• 4.6 – Marine Biological Resources
  
  
• 4.7 – Cultural Resources
  
  
• 4.8 – Land Use and Recreation
  
  
• 4.9 – Marine Transportation and Commercial Fishing

• 4.10 – Traffic and Transportation
  
  
• 4.11 – Noise and Vibration<
  
  
• 4.12 – Public Services and Utilities
  
  
• 4.13 – Visual Resources/Aesthetics
  
  
• 4.14 – Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
  
  
• 4.15 – Paleontological Resources
  
  

The cumulative impact analysis is presented in Section 7.0.

4.1.2    Format of the Environmental Analysis

4.1.2.1    Overview

In general, the individual resource analyses presented in this Draft EIR are organized as follows:

• Environmental Setting
  
  
• San Francisco HWC Converter Station
  
  
• Pittsburg Standard Oil Converter Station
  
  
• Offshore DC Cable Route
  
  
• Regulatory Setting
  
  
• Federal
  
  
• State
  
  
• Local
  
  
• Environmental Impacts (including mitigation measures and residual impact determinations)
  
  
• San Francisco HWC Converter Station
  
  
• Pittsburg Standard Oil Converter Station
  
  
• Offshore DC Cable Route

The impact assessments by individual environmental discipline/resource topic follow.

4.1.2.2    Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program

Section 21081.6 of the California Public Resources Code requires that the City of Pittsburg adopt a reporting and monitoring program regarding mitigation measures that would be made a condition of Project approval. The mitigation reporting and monitoring program would contain all mitigation measures in the EIR that were specified as conditions of Project approval. The mitigation monitoring and reporting program would:

• Briefly describe the potential impact addressed by each mitigation measure
  
  
• Describe details of the mitigation measure
  
  
• Indicate the level of significance of the impact after mitigation
  
  
• Identify the person(s) or agency(ies) responsible for implementing each mitigation measure
  
  
• Identify the person(s) or agency(ies) responsible for verification of the implementation of each mitigation measure
  
  
• Specify when the mitigation measures should be implemented
  
  
• Provide a standardized format for "sign-off" for verification of the implementation of each mitigation measure by authorized persons or agency representatives

All mitigation measures would be implemented after approval of the Trans Bay Cable Project. For this reason, the timing of mitigation measures is presented in terms of the permits and project review process, not dates (i.e., prior to issuance of a building permit). Furthermore, all mitigation measures would be made a condition of approval of the Project.

4.1.2.2.1    Implementation of the Program. The City of Pittsburg (City) Planning Director (Director) shall be responsible for ensuring full compliance with the provisions of the mitigation monitoring and reporting program. The Director may delegate duties and responsibilities to City staff, other departments, the Project proponent, the qualified consultants, or individuals as necessary. The Director shall also ensure that monitoring reports are filed on a timely basis and, when identified, that plan violations are corrected.

Other City staff may assist the Director in administering the program. The Director shall ensure compliance with those portions of mitigation related to project design, construction, and operations phase activities. City staff may be responsible for responding to and reporting on complaints and violations related to approved plans, including monitoring and reporting on issues related to traffic and parking. The Director may also delegate specific responsibilities for monitoring and reporting to the Project proponent or qualified consultants, and may coordinate with responsible agencies and other local jurisdictions. For example, the Director may coordinate with appropriate departments of the City and County of San Francisco as to construction activities within San Francisco.

4.1.2.2.2    Reporting. The progress toward completion of the required mitigation monitoring and reporting program, or violation thereof, shall be reported by the Project proponent to the Director on a biweekly basis until completion of the project, or through the designated implementation period. The reports shall be prepared using approved forms or an acceptable format. All reports shall be filed in the Project file in the Planning Department. These reports shall be available for public review at any time.

4.1.2.2.3    Compliance. Reports that indicate progress is being made on the implementation of mitigation measures shall be reviewed and filed appropriately. Reports that indicate completion of the mitigation monitoring and reporting program also shall be filed. The Director shall notify the Project proponent in writing of such within 5 working days of receipt of such a report.

4.1.2.2.4    Violations. If a report identifies one or more violations of the program, the Director shall, within 5 working days of receipt of such a report:

• Directly notify the Project proponent or representative in writing of the violation and attempt to obtain voluntary compliance
  
  
• Notify the Project proponent or designated representative by telephone of the violation and attempt to obtain voluntary compliance
  
  
• Request an appropriate City staff person to conduct a field inspection

·      Refer the violation to the appropriate regulatory agency