2014-060 - Adopting Findings Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

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Saxlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residential Development Project OEQA Findings preserved, and recorded. As a result, impacts are considered less than significant. (EIR, p. 5 -41, 5 -42.) 2. Impact: Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? Finding: Less Than Significant, With Mitigation Incorporated. (January 2014 EIR Attachment, p. 6; FIR pp. 5 -42, 5 -43.) Analysis: A paleontological records review was conducted at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and indicated that no fossil localities have been previously recorded for the site. (EIR, p. 4 -14.) Therefore, there is no expected disturbance of paleontological resources. However the project includes ground disturbing activities and therefore there is a potential for impacts to unknown paleontological resources. With the incorporation of the following mitigation measures, this impact is reduced to a level of less than significant: CULT -4: If prehistoric or historic artifacts or deposits are uncovered, the Orange County certified Archaeologist shall temporarily halt construction activities for the immediate area until the archaeologist can evaluate the significance of the find. The archaeologist would immediately contact the field manager and project personnel. Implementation of a recovery program would follow, if the artifacts are determined potentially eligible for the California Register. PALEO-1: During grading activities, a qualified paleontologist shall be retained to conduct part time monitoring to observe and retrieve any significant specimen that may be uncovered in the older Quaternary sediments. PALED -2: If vertebrate fossils or buried deposits are uncovered, the paleontological monitor shall temporarily halt construction activities for the immediate area until the monitor can evaluate the significance of the find. The monitor would immediately contact the field manager and project personnel. Implementation of a recovery program would follow, if the fossils are determined significant. PALEO -3: Any recovered fossils shall be properly collected with photographs, field notes, and locations plotted on a USGS topographic quadrangle map. Fossils will be identified and catalogued, and stabilized for curation. Any recovered fossils shall be offered, in a first right of refusal basis to a repository with a retrievable collection system and an educational and research interest in the materials. PALED -4: A final monitoring report, including an itemized inventory and pertinent field data, shall be sent to the Lead Agency as well as copies of the report to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and to the Orange County Curation Facility in Santa Ana. Implementation of the above measures will ensure that any unknown and unexpected paleontological resources discovered during construction activities are properly retrieved, 27 "Exhibit A"