3 - The Bowery_PUBLIC COMMENT_RAMSEY

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2.0 Environmental Setting Avion Project SEIR Page 2-3 None of the material identified during the 2013 survey was at, or immediately adjacent to, the mapped locations of either CA-SDI-18428 or CA-SDI-18429. The 2017 survey did find seven flakes within 15 meters of the mapped location of SDI-18428. RDS-3 and the flakes adjacent to SDI-18428 have been included in an expanded boundary for this site for recording purposes. 2.3.5 Biological Resources Four vegetation communities and one land cover type occur on the project site. Southern mixed chaparral comprises the majority of the site with lesser acreages of coastal sage scrub, non-native grassland, and freshwater marsh patches. The single land cover type occurring on the project site consists of disturbed land. Coastal sage scrub, southern mixed chaparral, non-native grassland, and freshwater marsh are all considered sensitive vegetation types by the City (City of San Diego 2012). Coastal sage scrub is ranked as a Tier II habitat, southern mixed chaparral as a Tier IIIA habitat, non-native grassland as a Tier IIIB habitat, and freshwater marsh as a wetland habitat. No sensitive plant species were observed on the project site and none are expected to occur due to lack of appropriate habitat and/or soil conditions. Two sensitive animal species (cooper’s hawk and San Diego desert woodrat) were observed on-site, while four other sensitive animal species (Belding’s orange-throated whiptail, coastal whiptail, coastal California gnatcatcher, and southern California rufous-crowned sparrow) have a moderate potential to occur on the project site due to the habitat conditions. 2.3.6 Air Quality The project site is within the San Diego Air Basin (SDAB), as defined by the California Air Resources Board and San Diego Air Pollution Control District. The eastern portion of the SDAB is surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and south. These mountains tend to restrict airflow and concentrate pollutants in the valleys and low-lying areas below. The SDAB is currently classified as a federal and state non-attainment area for ozone and a state non-attainment area for particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), and ozone. Air pollutants transported into the basin from the adjacent South Coast Air Basin contribute to the nonattainment conditions in the SDAB. 2.4 Planning Context Development projects in the City are generally guided by the City’s General Plan, and more specifically by the applicable community plan. In addition, various other City, regional, and state plans, programs, and ordinances regulate the development of land within San Diego. A brief description of plans relevant to the project is provided below. A detailed evaluation of the project’s consistency with relevant plans and ordinances was completed in conjunction with the 1998 Environmental Impact Report. This Supplemental Environmental Impact Report includes a consistency analysis with relevant City ordinances in Chapter 5.1.