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

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Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard Residentlal Development Project CEQA Findings preserved, and recorded. As a result, impacts are considered less than significant. (EIR, p. 5 -41, 5 -42, 5 -43.) 3. Impact: Would the project disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? Finding: Less Than Significant, With Mitigation Incorporated. (January 2014 EIR Attachment, p. 6; EIR pp. 5 -41.) Analysis; There are no known formal cemeteries on the project site and no human remains were discovered during field surveys. However, the project may involve ground disturbing activities such as grading for construction and excavation, As such, the project has the potential to disturb or destroy undocumented, undiscovered remains. With the following mitigation measure, this impact is considered less than significant: CULT -3: If human remains are found during the excavation, the Native American Graves Protection Act Guidelines and State law require that construction personnel halt the work in the immediate area, leave the remains in place, and contact the manager, project personnel, and the Orange County Coroner. If the Coroner determined the remains are prehistoric, the Coroner will contact the Native American Heritage Commission and the most likely descendent from the Native American community will be informed. As a result of CULT -3, unknown and undocumented human remains will be protected and preserved, and this impact will be mitigated to less than significant. (EIR, pp. 5 -41 through 5 -43.) E. GEOLOGY AND SOILS 1. Impact: Would the Project expose people or structures to potential adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury or death involving: (i) rupture of a known earthquake fault; (ii) strong seismic ground shaking; (iii) seismic - related ground failure, including liquefaction; or (iv) landslides? Finding: Less Than Significant, With Mitigation. (EIR, p. 5 -44, 5 -45.) Analysis: As with all areas in Southern California, the project site is subject to seismically inducted ground movements, and nearby fault zones include the San Andreas, Elsinore, and San Jacinto Fault zones. However, the project site does not include active or potentially active faults. Due to the fact that groundwater depth is not shallow, impacts posed by liquefaction and landslides are negligible, However, because there may be seismic ground shaking at the project site, the following mitigation measure will reduce the potential for impact to less than significant: GEO -1: The project shall comply with all applicable standard engineering practices, grading ordinances of the City of Santa Ana, County of Orange and applicable federal state, and regional regulations, including the California Building Code. 28 "Exhibit A"