Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Summary for the Transit Mix Project

Introduction

This Environmental Impact Report (EIR) provides an analysis of the environmental impacts associated with Transit Mixed Concrete Company's (TMC), a division of Southdown, Inc., proposed Sand and Gravel Mining Project (Project) in Soledad Canyon, Los Angeles County, (County) California. The EIR provides documentation of potential short- and long-term environmental impacts of the Project and serves as an agency decision-making tool for Project approval. The EIR has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as amended (Public Resources Code §§21000 et seq.; CEQA) and County procedures for implementing CEQA.

The County is the Lead Agency for this Project under CEQA. The discretionary action requiring CEQA review is the County's approval of a surface mining permit for this Project. The majority of the Project site is a "split estate" with the mineral resources owned by the United States of America and administered by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Accordingly, the decision to allow mining of the federal minerals is a "federal action" requiring federal environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (42 USCA [United States Code Annotated] §§4321-4347; NEPA). Because the surface is privately owned and the federally owned subsurface mineral resources are administered by the BLM, the County and BLM are both responsible for analyzing and approving a Mining and Reclamation Plan (1997) in compliance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, as amended (SMARA), and the Code of Federal Regulations. The County has decided to conduct a separate state environmental review process; consequently, the County's EIR complies with CEQA, and the BLM will prepare and process a separate Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that complies with NEPA.

The Project is also subject to the jurisdiction of other federal, state, regional, and local agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), California Department of Conservation Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG), California Regional Water Quality Control Board Los Angeles Region (CRWQCB), State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), various departments within the County, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), and local fire departments. The SWRCB specifically will use the EIR in making a decision to grant a permit to appropriate water for the Project. Other agencies may use the EIR as well in considering subsequent discretionary approvals or permitting decisions. Back to index

RELATED STUDIES

Several related plans, environmental documents, and studies have been prepared or are being prepared that are related to the Project. These are briefly described below.

Environmental Assessment for Sale of Sand and Gravel - The BLM complied with NEPA by preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) and issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the sale of sand and gravel for the Project site (BLM 1989).

Environmental Impact Statement, Soledad Canyon Sand and Gravel Mining Project A Draft EIS assessing BLM's action to approve the Project is in preparation. It is expected that the EIS and the County's EIR. will have similar but not necessarily parallel processing schedules.

Federal Biological Assessment - A federal Biological Assessment relative to the endangered armored threesome stickleback has been prepared and submitted to the USFWS.

Mining and Reclamation Plan - The Applicant has prepared a Draft Mining and Reclamation Plan complying with SMARA and applicable regulations. The Mining and Reclamation Plan has been submitted to the County Department of Public Works, CDMG, and BLM. Review of the Mining and Reclamation Plan is proceeding concurrently with the EIR.Back to index

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The site for the proposed mining operation is located north of the City of Los Angeles in Soledad Canyon in Sections 9 and 16 of Township 4 North, Range 14 West; San Bernardino Base and Meridian. The location is within an unincorporated area of the County north of Soledad Canyon Road, south of the Antelope Valley Freeway, and west of Agua Dulce Canyon. Portions of the site have previously been mined by prior sand and gravel operators since 1968. The County issued a conditional use permit (CUP) for mining sand and gravel in 1972 that expired in 1992.

The Applicant has entered into contracts with the BLM (Federal Contracts) to mine the federally owned minerals on the site pursuant to the Applicant's winning bid submitted in response to a public competitive bid process conducted by the BLM, as required by the federal Minerals Act of 1947. Pursuant to these Federal Contracts, the Applicant plans to mine a total of 83 million tons of material and produce and sell approximately 56.1 million tons of sand and gravel, also known as Portland cement concrete sand and gravel (PCC aggregates), over a 20-year period. The Project includes plans to ship PCC aggregates to markets within the greater Los Angeles area and operate a concrete batch plant to produce and deliver ready-mixed concrete to the local market.

For purposes of analysis, the Project site has been divided into two areas (Areas A and B) based on land use and land ownership. The surface mining operation will be conducted within the 460 acres of Area A, for which the United States holds the mineral ownership. As a "split estate, " the mineral estate is dominant and the mining operator is entitled to occupy as much of the surface as it needs for purposes reasonably incident to mining or related mining activities, and the surface estate owner is precluded from interfering in any way with the mining operation (Federal Stock Raising Homestead Act). The Project processing facilities will be located primarily within the 40 acres of Area B. All proposed mining and operations will be located north of Soledad Canyon Road and the Santa Clara River. Water resources for the Project will

be developed in Area B and southwest of Area B, both owned by the C. A. Rasmussen Company and presently under a nonexclusive lease by TMC.Back to index

Project Purpose and Objectives

The purpose and objectives of the Project are to provide a reliable and economically sound source of construction minerals primarily for the Santa Clarita Valley and greater Los Angeles area, develop construction mineral reserves in the Saugus-Newhall Production-Consumption (P-C) Region in an area designated as a Regionally Significant Construction Aggregate Resource Area by the State of California, develop a source of ready-mixed concrete for the Santa Clarita Valley, mine the Project site to produce 56.1 million tons of PCC aggregates and provide $28 million in royalties to the Federal Government in accordance with the Federal Contracts, and provide for the environmentally sound and economically feasible reclamation of the site.

Existing aggregate reserves for the Los Angeles County P-C Region, which includes the Saugus-Newhall, Palmdale, San Gabriel Valley, and San Fernando Valley P-C Regions, will be depleted over the next several years. When the existing aggregate reserves are depleted, the Los Angeles market will become dependent on reserves from more distant production locations. Limited recycling of aggregate occurs, but recycling does not represent a significant source of construction. material because quality problems with the recycled material preclude its use in many constriction applications. For example, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) specifications forbid the use of recycled aggregate in PCC for its projects (California Department of Conservation 1985, Caltrans Standard Specifications 1996).

Because aggregates are a low value-to-weight commodity, transportation costs determine whether a particular quarry or production location is competitive and/or profitable for a given market. It is generally agreed that as regional reserves are depleted, regional costs of sand and gravel will increase. Because public agencies are the primary purchasers of aggregate products, increased costs associated with bringing materials from distant production locations will be passed on to the taxpayers.

The CDMG monitors consumption of aggregate reserves in six separate aggregate P-C regions within the County. Among the conclusions presented by the CDMG in its 1994 update report are the following:

The CDMG estimates that the current sand and gravel reserves in the County will run out by the year 2016 unless new reserves are permitted. Actual County consumption for the period from 1982 to 1992 exceeded estimates for the period by 24 percent.

In the Saugus-Newhall P-C Region, demand for aggregates was approximately 13.6 million tons for the 1982 to 1994 period. This was nearly 48 percent more than projected. The increase in demand over that projected is attributed to greater-than-anticipated population growth.

The CDMG estimates that the reserves in the San Fernando Valley region will be depleted by the year 2001. As this occurs, the San Fernando Valley region will become increasingly dependent on the Saugus-Newhall and San Gabriel Valley regions to meet its needs. The combined reserves of these three areas is about 543 million tons, and the combined consumption is about 90 percent of the total for the County. Reserves in the Saugus-Newhall and San Gabriel Valley regions could be depleted by the year 2016 and 2009, respectively.

Given the lead time required to bring a new mine on-line (approximately 6 to 9 years), it seems prudent for an agency to maintain at least a 20-year supply of aggregates. The Project will contribute about 56.1 million tons (or about 6.6 percent) of the 845 million tons of aggregates needed to maintain a 20-year supply for years 2015 to 2034.Back to index

Description of Proposed Mining Activities

TMC currently holds Federal Contracts with the BLM to either mine up to 56.1 million tons of product or mine through 20 years. Additional aggregate product would be available from this property at the end of the mining period; however, any additional mining would first require a determination by the Federal Government to sell or otherwise dispose of its mineral resources and also would be subject to County, state, and federal review and/or approval. For purposes of this assessment, the Project will be complete at the end of the 20th year or when 56.1 million tons are produced and shipped from the property.

Based on the maximum mining production (56.1 million tons), the resultant landform modification will result in the lowering of the peak ridgeline elevation from approximately 700 to about 500 feet above Soledad Canyon Road. Several existing ravines on the north side of the ridge will be filled, resulting in a relatively smooth hillside with relief provided to provide a more natural appearance. TMC will recontour and renegotiate disturbed ground surfaces, returning the site to an open space condition. Reclamation of the site for TMC's mining impacts has already been guaranteed by TWC through posting a bond with the BLM and state and County governments.

The principal material to be mined will be the Vasquez Conglomerate, which can be divided into the "lower unit" Tv1 and the "middle unit" Tv2. A higher proportion of good-quality sand and gravel is located in the unit identified as Tv1, which is overlain by unit Tv2. It is estimated that 70 percent of the Tv1 material and 45 percent of the Tv2 material can be sold as product. Therefore, to produce 56.1 million tons of aggregate product, it is estimated that 82.7 million tons of materials will be mined, up to 13.2 million tons of fines will be back-flied into the mined-out areas of the quarry, 12.9 million tons of fines will be stockpiled in the North Fines Storage Area (NFSA), and 0.5 million ton may be trucked offsite in the early years of operation (years 1 to 3).

TMC's general mining plan for the site includes preproduction activities, two phases of mining activity, and reclamation activities, as summarized below.

Mine Pre-production Activities. Pre-production activities will include preparing the site for the commencement of mining activities. Pre-production will involve stabilizing the steep slopes of the existing quarry at the southeast comer of the site and constructing the desilting and debris basins at the base of slopes draining the mining area and NFSA. Where it is reasonably feasible, the mining areas will be pre-stripped with topsoil salvaged as practical. During pre-production, roadways and other site facilities such as aggregate processing areas, batch plant, truck facilities, water facilities, office, and parking facilities will be constructed.

Mining Operations. The Project concept plan of mining cuts (Concept Plan) includes excavation of the deposit in four successive cuts to produce up to 56. 1 million tons of aggregate product. Product will be excavated using periodic blasting and heavy excavation equipment. Material will be transported over the site to processing areas using both off-road trucks and conveyor systems. Material will be processed via onsite rock crushers and screens, and then temporarily stockpiled until transported offsite in trucks as either aggregate product or ready-mixed concrete. The excess fines screened at the primary crusher feed will be temporarily stacked on the operating bench and then loaded into off-road trucks and/or earthmoving equipment and moved to the NFSA. The Project would operate 7 days per week with aggregate processing occurring up to 16 hours per day and product shipping occurring 24 hours a day, depending on demand. However, actual mining of material would occur 6 days per week. Phase 1 of the Project includes the first 10 years of the contract and Phase 2 includes Project years 11 through 20.

This general mining activity will be repeated for Cuts 1 through 4. TMC's current Federal Contracts with the BLM will expire at the end of the 20th year of operation when mining will be on the 2,125foot elevation of Cut 4. At that time, up to 12.9 million tons of excess fines will have been placed in the NFSA on the north side of the site.

Site Reclamation. The Mining and Reclamation Plan for the Project provides measures to minimize adverse environmental effects of surface mining and return the land to a beneficial end use. The plan includes reclamation processes that are concurrent with mining operations to minimize adverse effects of surface mining and occur at the end of mining to return the land to a beneficial use. Revegetation of the NTFSA will be a concurrent permanent reclamation process as the area is filled.

It is the position of TMC and the BIM (the administrator of the Federal Government's mineral rights) that the site will be reclaimed to create an open space environment. The debris basins are not permanent structures and will be removed after reclamation. Back to index

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT

The Federal Government, through a public competitive bidding process and the Federal Contracts, has granted TMC the right to produce 56.1 million tons of sand and gravel in Soledad Canyon. TMC agreed to pay the Federal Government $28,000,000 in royalties. According to a letter written to the Local County Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) by the BLM, 76 percent of these royalties ($21,280,000) will go to a regional fund for projects such as enhancement of wildlife habitats/preserves and recreation. In addition, 4 percent of the royalties ($1,120,000) will go to the State of California, and half of those receipts ($560,000) will be refunded to the County (BLM letter to LAFCO, January 15, 1993).

If approved, the Project will allow TMC to continue manufacturing sand and gravel products within the County after TMC's existing sand and gravel reserves in the City of Azusa are depleted within the next few years. TMC, or its parent company, Southdown, Inc., has employed between 400 and 500 local men and women and has injected $27,000,000 in wages and taxes into the regional economy each year from operation of its aggregate processing and ready-mixed concrete manufacturing plants in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. It is reasonable to assume that, with the approval of the Project, this level of economic activity by Southdown, Inc., will continue.

If TMC's Project is not approved, the immediate economic impact will include the loss of $28,000,000 in royalties to the Federal Government. In addition, the County will experience a substantial reduction of sales and other tax revenues due to the loss of jobs and substantial increases in public works construction costs and probable increases in social services costs. Back to index

CONSISTENCY WITH REGIONAL AND LOCAL PLANNING

Through SMARA, the CDMG designates specific areas as being of statewide or regional significance for mineral development. The Project site has been designated by the State of California a Regionally Significant Construction Aggregate Resource Area. This formal designation of TMC's site by the State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB) has been codified in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, §3550.9. The designation of the mineral resources of the site as "Regionally Significant" extends certain special protections to the resources within the site for the planning and permitting process. All cities and counties are required to incorporate Regionally Significant designation information into their General Plans. Lead Agencies must adopt statements of policy, recognizing the importance of these identified mineral resources, and they must develop implementation procedures known as mineral resource policies. These include imposing conditions on incompatible land uses in and adjacent to designated areas in order to mitigate significant land use conflicts before an agency permits a use that would be incompatible with mineral extraction. Therefore, the state designation means that local planning agencies must assist in managing land use that affects designated areas and emphasize conservation and development of the identified area. In addition, local planning agencies must balance the mineral resource values against alternative land uses and consider the importance of the mineral resources to their market region as a whole. Before permitting a use that would threaten the potential to extract mineral resources in the state-designated area, local planning agencies must prepare a statement specifying the reasons for permitting the proposed use and forward a copy to the State Geologist and the SMGB for review in accordance with SMARA. The County's General Plan specifically requires the protection of known mineral reserves from encroachment by incompatible land uses.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATIONS

The following sections summarize the issues for each environmental resource. The environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and residual impacts for each resource are presented in Table S-1 at the end of this section. Back to index

Geotechnical Resources

Topography of the Project site is characterized by moderate to steep slopes. A portion of the site contains surface disturbance from a previous mining operation. The proposed surface mine and mining fines storage areas will alter the landforms in the Project area. All mining cuts and slopes will be constructed or graded for stability and erosion control. Slope stability analysis has shown that mining cut slopes will achieve a suitable factor of safety, assuming a maximum probable earthquake of 7. 1M along the Mojave segment of the San Andreas Fault. For fin slopes such as the NFSA, slope stability analysis indicated a less-than-acceptable factor of safety. Mitigation measures stipulating final slope configuration, proper surface compaction, and use of specific soil materials will provide a suitable factor of safety. The unreclaimed high walls remaining from the previous mining operation will be stabilized as the Project is established on the site. The proposed mine will be monitored throughout the life of the Project by a California registered civil engineer or certified geologist. The mine operator (TMC) will maintain all records of correspondence, reports, and designs provided by the registered professionals. Mined areas will be reclaimed through grading and revegetation according to the Reclamation Plan designed for the Project. Supplemental slope stability evaluations for the final slope configurations at the end of mining were completed and recommendations for reduced slope angles have been incorporated into the Project. No significant impacts will remain after implementation of the Project Mining and Reclamation Plan. Back to index

Water Resources

The Project proposes to divert water from the underflow of the Santa Clara River. The State of California has enacted a comprehensive regulatory framework in the California Water Code and implemented regulations through which the SWRCB allocates, regulates, and otherwise controls the use of surface water throughout the State, including within the Santa Clara River. The SWRCB has not determined the Santa Clara River to be fully appropriated and thus continues to accept applications to appropriate surface water. TMC has an application to appropriate water pending before the SWRCB that is senior in time and right to any other application pending before the SWRCB in that reach of the river.

The Project is located in the Acton Valley Subunit near the boundary of the Eastern Subunit of the Santa Clara River Valley hydrologic unit. Precipitation is the primary source of water in the Acton Valley Subunit, and although the annual and seasonal precipitation varies, the aquifer recharges quickly regardless of the annual precipitation amount. Water resources are developed from recoverable water retained in stream terraces and the Santa Clara River alluvium. Due to the correlation between known precipitation and actual stream flow, sustained flows during the fall can be predicted based on measured precipitation levels.

The Eastern Subunit comprises a larger area than the Acton Valley Subunit. Water resources in the Eastern Subunit include development of alluvial sediments of the Santa Clara River and development of the Saugus Formation. Neither the Acton Valley Subunit nor the Eastern Subunit is projected to be in danger of overdrafting the respective water resources. The Project is downstream of the communities of Acton and Agua Dulce; therefore, no impacts on water resources to these communities will occur. In the immediate site vicinity, the Santa Clara River flows through a narrow alluvium-filled channel with an underflow occurring even in drier years. Local sensitive ecological habitats occur adjacent to and downstream of the site. No impacts were identified relative to local water users or regional water resources due to the Project's projected water use; however, uncontrolled pumping of subsurface flows would result in significant impacts on local sensitive ecological habitats during the dry months of dry years. Measures to protect the local sensitive ecological habitats include a habitat protection plan and reduction or cessation of pumping, if necessary. All water resource impacts have been mitigated to less than significant. Back to index

Flood

Average rainfall near the Project site is projected to be 14 to 15 inches per year. The site drains to the Santa Clara River. The Project mining operations and facilities are located outside of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Zone A 100-year floodplain of the river and outside of the County Capital Floodway boundary. The potential for erosion and sedimentation from mining areas is a significant adverse impact of the Project. Mitigation of this impact will be accomplished by installing desilting/debris basins, which will exist through the life of the Project to provide control of surface runoff and erosion. The desilting/debris basins will be maintained per specifications in the Project Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Other design measures to control runoff and erosion during premining operations include V-ditches, onsite and specific offsite culverts, drop inlets, and drainage pipes. Impacts from surface runoff from the site will be mitigated to less than significant through these Project mitigation measures.

Water Quality

Both surface and subsurface water quality in the immediate area of the site is considered to be good by the CRWQCB. Three potential sources of water quality impacts may occur onsite: premining and construction activities, mining and processing operations, and mining reclamation.

Three plans have been prepared and will be implemented to mitigate any water quality impacts and assure continued good water quality of the Santa Clara River surface water and groundwater. The Drainage Concept Plan depicts desilting/debris basins to be constructed to avoid and prevent impacts because of increased rates of erosion. The SWPPP describes in detail specific best management practices to reduce pollutants in storm water discharge. The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan (SPCCP) identifies procedures and controls that will be implemented over the life of the Project to prevent the release of petroleum and hazardous materials. These three plans will be implemented to control runoff from the site and mitigate potential impacts that could occur from sedimentation or chemical spills to less-than-significant levels. Back to index

Noise

The Project site is characterized by mountainous terrain; it is surrounded by mountains that essentially shield the site from any developed areas or residents. The closest residence is located approximately 'A mile south. Noise sources at the site include natural sounds and man-made sounds from Soledad Canyon Road, trains, aircraft over flight, and concurrent mining operations. The Project is expected to increase noise in the immediate site vicinity. Short-term construction noise will be most heavily concentrated in the area of pre-production operations, while the long-term noise increase will be due to noise created by periodic blasting, heavy mining equipment, increased traffic from truck deliveries to and from the site, and commuter traffic. The long-term noise from operations is significant because some receptors will be subjected to noise levels in excess of 65 dBA expressed as the community noise equivalent level (CNEL). However, because of distance and intervening topography, no significant noise impact on the town of Agua Dulce is predicted. Mining activities will require periodic low-yield blasting to aid excavation. The impacts of vibration due to blasting are less than significant with respect to potential damage to residential structures near the site; however, blast noise and vibration will be audible and perceptible within about 1/2mile of the blasting location.

To reduce the increased noise to less-than-significant levels, several measures will be implemented. A sound wall will be built near the River's End Trailer Park to reduce noise due to traffic increases. Berms or cut slopes can also be used to reduce noise exposure to the proposed Bee Canyon Mobile Home Park, if constructed. Blasting will be governed by a Blasting Plan approved by the County and incorporating a public awareness program to inform the local population that blasting will take place during specified hours and under appropriate atmospheric conditions. To mitigate noise and vibration impacts, a restriction on the maximum velocity for vibration and air blast overpressure at nearby receptors will be implemented (i.e., 0.5 in/sec particle velocity for vibration and 133 dBL air overpressure based on OSMERE standards), and a monitoring plan for blast-induced ground vibration and air overpressure will be conducted to insure that the performance standards are not exceeded. Back to index

Public Services

Fire protection services are provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and include three engines, a patrol, and a paramedic squad within 30 minutes of the Project site. The County also maintains a mutual aid agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for fire protection. Typical impacts associated with mining operations include sparks from equipment, storage of fuels, and possible use of explosive materials in a high-fire potential area. No explosives will be stored onsite, and explosives will be used only by an authorized outside contractor. Removal of vegetation in active mining areas will reduce the fire hazard onsite. Fire prevention training will be provided to employees, and fire prevention equipment will be available. A 600,000-gallon onsite water tank will be used to fight fires in an emergency; additionally, earthmoving equipment and manpower are available to aid in fire suppression. Any potential impacts will be mitigated to less than significant, and no additional public services will be required by the Project. Back to index

Air Quality

Climate in the Project vicinity is characterized by hot summers and mild winters, infrequent rainfall, moderate afternoon breezes, and generally fair weather. Daily regional airflow brings polluted air from the heavily developed portions of the Los Angeles Basin into the Project area late in the afternoon from late spring to early fall. This condition creates unhealthful air quality and diminishes the scenic vistas of the mountains surrounding Antelope Valley. The Project will generate significant amounts of exhaust emissions and fugitive dust from construction, mining operations, and increased offsite traffic. Nitrogen oxides, reactive organics, and PM-10 exceed SCAQMD thresholds in Phases 1 and 2, and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions exceed thresholds in Phase 2. However, no micro scale CO impacts are projected. Measures will be implemented to minimize air quality impacts. Fugitive dust will be minimized by active watering, appropriate filtering (rock and sand processing), broom-truck sweeping, and dust suppressants. Air pollution increases due to heavy equipment and vehicle travel will be minimized by maintaining equipment in low-emission condition, using low-emission machinery and fuels, and eliminating long idling periods by Turning equipment off During periods of high ambient pollution (i.e., Stage II smog alerts), construction will be curtailed or ceased. However, even after mitigation, impacts on air quality remain significant. Back to index

Biota

The Project would result in the removal of 187 acres of natural vegetation on the 500-acre site over the 20-year life of the Project. The vegetation communities that would be involved include mixtures of coastal sage scrub, desert chaparral, and mixed chaparral. Four sensitive plant species have been found in the NFSA since a 1994 fire. Seeds will be collected and incorporated into the reclamation effort to mitigate any potentially significant impacts on sensitive species to less-than-significant levels. The habitats onsite support a wide variety of wildlife, and the loss of these habitats will be mitigated to the greatest extent possible by reclamation and revegetation. Potential impacts on these species could occur if the species were present onsite in substantial numbers. However, no sensitive wildlife species were observed onsite during surveys conducted between 1990 and 1995. Habitat that could support several sensitive species, including the San Diego coast horned lizard, coast patch-nose snake, and coastal rosy boa, is present mainly outside of the mining area. Moderate potential exists for the coastal western whiptail. to occur onsite, but no individuals were found. Potential impacts on the coastal western whiptail would be mitigated to less-than-significant levels through implementation of the proposed component of the Mining and Reclamation Plan.

Approximately 23 acres of riparian habitat occur adjacent to and downstream of the site in the Santa Clara River channel. This reach of the river is part of the essential habitat of the endangered unarmored three spine stickleback (stickleback) fish. A Federal Biological Assessment (1996) was prepared to analyze the impacts of the Project on biological resources, including the stickleback. Potential impacts on the riparian habitat and the essential habitat of the stickleback could occur from the Project through uncontrolled surface runoff and uncontrolled pumping of the river underflow. Project design measures for controlling surface runoff from the site will mitigate potential impacts from this source. Measures to protect the riparian habitat and the essential stickleback habitat from uncontrolled pumping of the river underflow will include implementation of the Habitat Protection Plan. The plan includes habitat monitoring and action levels that will result in modification to mining operations to reduce or cease pumping of river underflow when necessary. Potential significant impacts on sensitive fish and riparian habitat are mitigated to less-than-significant levels through implementation of the Habitat Protection Plan. Back to index

Cultural Resources

One historic archaeological site (a trash scatter) exists on the site but will not be disturbed by Project activities. This historic archaeological site will be fenced under the direction of an archaeological monitor to assure that the site is not disturbed. Future testing and data recovery may be required if future construction requires site disturbance. Back to index

Visual Qualities

The Project is located mainly on the south side of a visually dominant ridgeline that separates Soledad Canyon from the Antelope Valley Freeway. The landform will be altered significantly by the proposed mining operation because of changes in form, line, color, and texture. Some of the effects of landform change will be reduced by reclamation and revegetation of the engineered slopes and resloped roads immediately after mining activity has ceased in a particular area. The Project will reclaim previously mined areas on the southeastern portion of the site that would otherwise be left in their present disturbed state because no reclamation has occurred. Even so, permanent landform alteration win occur as a result of this Project. Even after recontouring and revegetation of the site, significant impacts will remain to views of the site from the Antelope Valley Freeway, Bee Canyon, and Soledad Canyon Road.

Night-lighting in the processing and operations areas of the site will be provided. No permanent lighting will be provided on the NFSA. The lighting provided will not be a source of annoyance to surrounding properties. However, the amount of lighting provided is less than one-half of the amount provided by street lighting alone for an equivalent acreage of residential development. The Project's source of lighting will add to the amount of indirect light pollution or urban glow that may be observed in rural communities. The Project impact is considered potentially significant although it is incremental. The Project will incorporate modem light systems that direct lighting to specific areas of the site and prevent stray lighting from spilling over onto adjacent properties. Back to index

Traffic

The Project site will be accessed most frequently from the Antelope Valley Freeway by the Soledad Canyon Road interchange and the two-lane, east-westbound Soledad Canyon Road. Traffic impacts of the Project were assessed using the 1997 County Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines. Based on the level of service (LOS) analysis, both Soledad Canyon Road and Agua Dulce Road operate under primarily free-flow conditions where drivers can maintain their desired speeds with little or no delay (LOS A) during a.m. and p.m. peak hours. The Project will generate 754 average daily traffic (ADT) in Phase 1 and 1,284 ADT in Phase 2, the majority of which is truck traffic and no impacts will result.

The County Department of Public Works, Traffic and Lighting Division, using a more conservative methodology concluded that the easternmost segment of Soledad Canyon Road operates at LOS D under existing a.m. peak hour conditions, resulting in a significant cumulative projects impact.

The analysis shows that the TMC Project will not significantly impact study area intersections under Phase 1 or Phase 2. Under both Phases, the Soledad Canyon Road/Antelope Valley Freeway northbound and southbound ramp intersections will be significantly affected with or without the Project if the other cumulative projects are developed. Both northbound and southbound ramps intersections meet signal warrants for Phases 1 and 2 with cumulative projects. Also, potentially significant safety impacts are associated with trucks merging to and from Soledad Canyon Road at the Project entrance.

Mitigation measures are recommended for the easternmost segment of Soledad Canyon Road and the Soledad Canyon Road intersection with the Antelope Valley Freeway north and southbound ramps. Intersection improvements and traffic signal controls will be required to achieve an acceptable LOS with or without the Project if cumulative projects are developed. Based on County guidelines, the Project will contribute its fair share of the costs of the improvements.

Several additional measures will be implemented to reduce traffic hazards to a less-than significant level. The access road to the Project site at Soledad Canyon Road will be designed for safe entry and exiting, including a merge lane for westbound traffic exiting the facility and a turn pocket for eastbound traffic entering the facility. Beginning in Phase 2, and based on a revised Traffic Index analysis, the Applicant will. contribute fair-share costs to add pavement to Soledad Canyon Road affected by cumulative pavement wear. Back to index

Land Use

In addition to local land use policies, activities at the Project site are governed by state and j

federal policies. State regulations governing mining activities at the site include those established by the SMGB as well as those implementing SNIARA. SMARA provides a two tiered process of mineral lands inventory and evaluation termed "classification-designation" that serves as a means of identifying and conserving important mineral resources. In 1987, following a public hearing and environmental review process in which the County participated, the Project site was designated by the state as a "Regionally Significant Construction Aggregate Resource Area." All cities and counties are required to incorporate Regionally Significant designation information into their General Plans. Lead Agencies must adopt statements of policy, recognizing the importance of these identified mineral resources, and they must develop implementation procedures. These procedures may include imposition of conditions upon incompatible land uses in and adjoining designated areas in order to mitigate significant land use conflicts before an agency permits a use that would otherwise be incompatible with mineral extraction. Because the TMC Project site is zoned by the County for heavy manufacturing use, in which mineral extraction is allowed, no potential impacts on land use were identified.

While the County General Plan does specifically identify policies to protect known mineral resource reserves from encroachment of incompatible land uses, the Santa Clarita Valley Area Plan, as updated (1990), allows for consideration of a mobile home park through approval of a Specific Plan in the Bee Canyon area adjacent to the Project site. A proposal currently before the County involves a mobile home park in Bee Canyon that could result in a use that is considered to be incompatible with the adjacent, designated Regionally Significant minerals on the Federal Contracts area.

Because the Project site has been designated as Regionally Significant for mining since 1987; is zoned by the County for heavy manufacturing use in which mineral extraction is allowed; has been subject to a previous mining operation including a previous County-issued CUP for mining, processing, and stockpiling of aggregate; and is surrounded by sites zoned either for heavy manufacturing or agricultural use, no significant adverse impacts on adjacent land use by the Project have been identified. If the Bee Canyon mobile home park project goes forward and that site is eventually rezoned to allow for residential development, an incompatible adjacent use would be created; therefore, potential impact on the designated area would be occur through the rezoning. Back to index

Public Health and Safety

Public health and safety issues are minimized because current access to the Project site is limited by terrain and current mining operations. Potential impacts will be eliminated by implementation of the SPCCP, the Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, Forest Service BMPs, and all applicable County fire codes. No significant impacts will occur with implementation of the stipulated plans. Back to index

UNAVOIDABLE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS

Even after mitigation, residual impacts on two environmental resources will stiff be considered significant. Impacts on regional air quality caused by dust and emissions from mining activities will remain. Visual impact will be significant, even after reclamation of the site, because of lowering the ridgeline and filling several ravines that are in the viewshed of the Antelope Valley Freeway. Back to index

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

Cumulative impacts are the environmental effects that could result from the Project when considering the combined effects from other existing or reasonably foreseeable future projects. CEQA guidelines require a reasonable analysis of impacts that are collectively significant, as well as recommended mitigation measures for the significant cumulative impacts. Many of the mitigation measures focus on general policies; however, TMC's role in implementing mitigations for cumulative impacts is limited to providing mitigation for its own project-specific impacts and adhering to regional plans and procedures.

Regional and local plans and projects incorporated in the cumulative analysis include continuing and planned growth in the area and specific projects planned by other groups. In addition, potential mining of the Project site of up to 7.9 million tons beyond the 56.1 million tons proposed to be mined is included in the cumulative analysis, though it does not constitute a part

of the Project. The primary environmental issues resulting from general growth plans mainly involve the conversion of land from natural open space to developed uses. The cumulative impacts of these projects, including the TMC Project, would affect many environmental resources within the area, potentially including geotechnical issues, water resources, water quality and flood issues, air quality, noise, public services, biota, cultural resources, visual quality, traffic, noise, land use, and public health and safety. The identified mitigation measures for the TMC Project will assist to avoid, reduce, or offset cumulative impacts in the Project area. Back to index

ALTERNATIVES TO PROJECT

CEQA requires an evaluation of the comparative effects of a range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed project that would feasibly attain most of the project's basic objectives (CEQA Guidelines, 15126 [d]). A feasible alternative is one that can be accomplished successfully within a reasonable period of time, talking into account economic, legal, social, and technological factors. Where the requirements or objectives of a project are very specific or limited in scope, the feasible alternatives are similarly limited. Furthermore, the range of alternatives is governed by the "rule of reason" that requires the EIR to set forth only those alternatives necessary to permit a reasoned choice. The discussion of alternatives must focus on those alternatives that are capable of avoiding or lessening significant adverse environmental effects that would be caused by a project. Significant effects of the alternative shall be discussed but in less detail than the significant effects of the project as proposed (CEQA Guidelines, 15126 [d][4]).

The above principles mandate that the range of feasible Project alternatives to be evaluated be determined in relation to the purpose and objectives of the Project that, in this case, are very specific and limited. The purpose and objectives of the TMC Project, as previously defined, are to:

provide a reliable and economically sound source of construction minerals, primarily for the Santa Clarita Valley and greater Los Angeles area, develop construction mineral reserves in the Saugus-Newhall P-C Region in an area designated as a Regionally Significant Construction Aggregate Resource Area by the State of California; develop a source of ready-mixed concrete for the Santa Clarita Valley;

mine the Project site to produce 56.1 million tons of PCC aggregates and provide $28 million in royalties to the Federal Government, in accordance with the Federal Contracts; and provide for the environmentally sound and economically feasible reclamation of the site.

The following describes the formulation of alternatives including the evaluation of mining sites and selection of the Project site, consideration of alternative mining plans, the detailed analysis of alternative Project components, and the determination of the environmentally superior alternative.

Alternatives Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail

The formulation of alternatives began with a regional search for a mining site that would provide a long-term, economically sound source of PCC aggregates primarily to supply the Los Angeles area. Alternative mining sites were examined as possible sources of sand and gravel prior to selecting the Project site in Soledad Canyon. Consideration of alternative sites was in part based on prior information from the following federal and state reports: (1) South Coast Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (BLM 1992), (2) South Coast Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision (BLM 1994), (3) Mineral Land Classification of the Greater Los Angeles Area (CDMG 1979), (4) Mineral Land Classification of the Greater Los Angeles Area, Special Report 143 Part VII (CDMG 1983), and (5) Designation of Regionally Significant Construction Aggregate Resources in the Saugus-Newhall and Palmdale Production-Consumption Regions (CDMG 1985). Together, these documents provide broad based regional planning information used to determine the feasibility of developing mining projects on potential alternative sites. The reasons that these sites were not further considered for mining or further analysis in this EIR include inability to obtain permits, excessive distance from the target market, excessive expense, and land use conflicts as further described below.

Western San Bernardino County. Two potential mining sites north of Redlands in western San Bernardino County were determined to be infeasible primarily because of the inability to obtain permits. The sites are located in the Santa Ana River and Plunge Creek floodplains. Barriers to procurement of permits included the presence of state and federal endangered plant species and sensitive wildlife species in the area to be mined, as well as conflicting land uses. The lands are considered unavailable for mineral extraction because they have been designated by the BLM as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (BLM 1992, 1994).

Northern Riverside County. The sites near Corona in northern Riverside County were rejected because the material quality would not provide for the production of PCC aggregates. Additionally, development of the sites would directly impact the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat. Therefore, these sites would not have provided an economically viable source of PCC aggregate construction materials.

Southern Orange County. Two sites in southern Orange County off the Ortega Highway were rejected as alternatives to the Soledad site because of the questionable quality of the material and the significant distance from the target market. Because the sites are approximately 70 miles from the primary market, they would have high costs resulting from hauling the aggregate material as well as increased air quality impacts. Development of these sites would result in environmental impacts on sensitive habitats including coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, wildlife movement corridors, and cultural resources. Additionally, the aggregate reserves in the Orange County Temescal Valley P-C Region are not sufficient to supply the Los Angeles area and its own needs without greatly accelerating the depletion of available reserves (CDMG 1983).

Antelope Valley. A site near Littlerock in Antelope Valley was considered for the Project; however, this site was determined to be infeasible because of the distance from TMC's primary market. The Littlerock site is approximately 65 miles from the Los Angeles area, and this would result in additional costs to haul the material and increased air quality impacts. Other environmental concerns at the site included impacts on Joshua tree woodland and habitat for the state threatened Mohave ground squirrel, the federally listed endangered desert tortoise, Le Conte's thrasher, and the San Diego coast homed lizard.

Ventura County. A site in Moorpark, which TMC ultimately acquired, was considered as an alternative for the Project. However, the Moorpark site has a high proportion of sand (88 percent) in relation to the gravel (12 percent) content of the aggregate material. In contrast, the Soledad Project site contains approximately 70 percent gravel. To meet the Project objectives to supply the greater Los Angeles area market with construction minerals, the Moorpark site could not produce enough gravel without mining excessive amounts of material. An excessively high production level would not result in a reliable and economically viable source of gravel for the Santa Clarita Valley and the greater Los Angeles area. Additionally, development of this site primarily for the Los Angeles market could accelerate depletion of Ventura County aggregate reserves.

Angeles National Forest. A mining site in the Angeles National Forest was considered as an alternative to the Project site but was determined to be infeasible because the material quality was not proven to provide an adequate supply of PCC aggregates. There was also a lack of access to the general area and the site. Creating access to the site would involve cutting a road through forest land with loss of native habitat. Additionally, the site was not offered for mineral lease by the BLM.

Early in the planning phase of the Project, alternative concepts were considered for extracting the construction material and quantifying the amount of material that could reasonably be extracted from the site. In the original mining concept of the Project, feasibility and environmental factors were considered. This analysis is summarized below.

Original Mining Concept. The original mining concept for the Soledad site consists of mining the entire ridge from the top down and removing up to 170 million tons of product versus the 56.1 million tons of product proposed under the current Project. Under the original concept, mining would consist of five phases over 20 years. This alternative would involve mining over three times the amount of product as compared to the Project. Accordingly, impacts on most resources, except land use, are expected to be incrementally greater. Implementation of mitigation measures similar to those proposed for the Project would also reduce impacts on these resources. However, even after mitigation, significant impacts would remain for air quality and visual resources, and an incremental increase in water usage would have resulted. Back to index

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