Laserfiche WebLink
City of Santa Ana <br />Environmental Checklist <br />b. Caitse a stibstatitial advel se chatige iii the significance of all archaeological resow ce piiisuant <br />to Section 15064.5? <br />Less - than - Significant Impact. As described above, the project site was previously used for a <br />hospital and medical office. These structures have been demolished and the site is currently vacant. <br />A portion of the project area was previously surveyed for cultural resources by Petra Resources, Inc, <br />in 1997 and Brandman Associates in 2002. The surveys did not identify any cultural resources on or <br />near the project site, but did not encompass the entire project parcel. A cultural resources records <br />search at the South Central Coastal information Center did not identify any archaeological resources <br />within the project area or within a 0.5- mile- radius of the project area. An archaeological survey was <br />not conducted for this project because the project parcel is covered in asphalt, concrete, and <br />ornamental landscaping from previous development. The project area is located approximately 500 <br />feet west of the now- channelized Santa Ana River. This suggests the project area may have a <br />moderate sensitivity for prehistoric archaeological resources. <br />However, the Geotechnical Exploration Report (Appendix B) that was prepared for the proposed <br />project identified 3 to 5 feet of fill material dining a sub - surface investigation on site. Because the <br />site contains this fill material, it is unlikely that any archaeological resources exist within 3 to 5 feet <br />of the ground surface. Further, as described in Chapter 2, "Project Description; the proposed project <br />would require minimal grading and a maximum excavation depth of 5 feet below the existing grade. <br />Therefore, because archaeological resources have not been previously identified within the project <br />vicinity during previous surveys and construction and grading activities would largely occur within <br />the fill material, there is a low likelihood that archaeological resources would be encountered during <br />construction. As a result, project impacts related to the adverse change in the significance of an <br />archaeological resource are less than significant. <br />c. Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic <br />feature? <br />Less - than - Significant Impact. As described above, the project area has previously been surveyed <br />and does not contain any documented cultural resources. In a letter to ICF International, the Natural <br />History Museum of Los Angeles County (Museum) states a thorough search of the Museum's <br />paleontology collection records revealed no reports of vertebrate fossil localities within the project <br />boundaries. Likewise, development surrounding the project site has not resulted in any documented <br />paleontological resources. <br />The Museum's analysis indicates that the project soils consist of 3 -5 feet of fill that is underlain by <br />young terrestrial Quaternary Alluvium, derived primarily as flood deposits from the Santa Ana River <br />that flows approximately 500 feet east of the project area, and that older terrestrial Quaternary <br />sediments occur at various depths beneath this young surficial alluvium. These young terrestrial <br />Quaternary Alluvium deposits typically do not contain significant vertebrate fossils. Furthermore, <br />the Museum estimates that the upper 6 feet of sediment in the Project area is unlikely to contain <br />significant fossil remains (McLeod pees. comm.). <br />However, there are fossil localities near the project area from the same older terrestrial Quaternary <br />sediments units that occur as subsurface deposits in the proposed project area. One vertebrate fossil <br />locality from these deposits was reported on the western side of the Santa Ana River (LACM 1652) <br />north - northeast of the proposed project area along Rio Vista Avenue south of Lincoln Avenue, which <br />produced a fossil specimen of sheep at shallow, but unstated, depth. The closest vertebrate fossil <br />locality in older Quaternary sediments is (LACM 4943) north - northeast of the proposed project area <br />The Academy Charter High School 3 34 June 2012 <br />initial Study /Mitigated Negative Declaration iCF 06914.11 <br />'J <br />