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5 LESS -THAN -SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS <br />WITH MITIGATION INCORPORATED <br />investigation in support of the final design plans. Therefore, impacts to expansive soils would be <br />less than significant with mitigation incorporated. <br />Threshold G-6: The Project would not directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological <br />resource or site or unique geologic feature, with the implementation of <br />mitiaation. <br />Findings: The City finds that changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, <br />the Project, which avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified <br />in the Final Supplemental EIR. Specifically, the City finds that the following mitigation measures <br />shall be implemented to reduce potentially significant paleontological impacts resulting from the <br />Project (Draft Supplemental EIR, p. 4.4-20 — 4.4-21): <br />GPU PER MM GEO-2: Prior to issuance of a grading permit for projects involving ground <br />disturbance in previously undisturbed areas mapped with "low -to -high" paleontological <br />sensitivity, the project applicant shall consult with a geologist or paleontologist to confirm <br />whether the grading would occur at depths that could encounter highly sensitive sediments <br />for paleontological resources. If confirmed that underlying sediments may have high <br />sensitivity, construction activity shall be monitored by a qualified paleontologist. The <br />paleontologist shall have the authority to halt construction during construction activity as <br />outlined in Mitigation Measure GEO-3. <br />GPU PER MM GEO-3: In the event of any fossil discovery, regardless of depth or geologic <br />formation, construction work shall halt within a 50-foot radius of the find until its <br />significance can be determined by a qualified paleontologist. Significant fossils shall be <br />recovered, prepared to the point of curation, identified by qualified experts, listed in a <br />database to facilitate analysis, and deposited in a designated paleontological curation <br />facility in accordance with the standards of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2010). <br />The most likely repository is the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The <br />repository shall be identified and a curatorial arrangement shall be signed prior to <br />collection of the fossils. <br />Project -Specific MM G-3: The project applicant shall retain a qualified professional <br />paleontologist to monitor or supervise full-time monitoring should excavation occur into <br />native Pleistocene -age soil and bedrock greater than 4 feet in depth. Ground disturbance <br />refers to activities that would impact subsurface geologic deposits, such as grading, <br />excavation, boring, etc. Activities taking place in current topsoil or within previously <br />disturbed fill sediments, e.g., clearing, grubbing, pavement rehabilitation, do not require <br />paleontological monitoring. Bedrock can occur at varying depths depending on the portion <br />of the project area. <br />If no significant fossils have been recovered after 50 percent of excavation has been <br />completed, full-time monitoring may be modified to weekly spot-check monitoring at the <br />discretion of the qualified professional paleontologist. If the qualified professional <br />paleontologist determines during the course of excavations that project excavations are <br />City of Santa Ana The Village Santa Ana Specific Plan Project <br />August 2025 CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations <br />5-11 <br />