2015-004 - Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project

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Santa Ana — Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project Findings and Facts in Support of Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations The assessment shall be prepared by a Registered Environmental Assessor. The assessment shall be prepared in accordance with State standards /guidelines to evaluate whether the site or the surrounding area is contaminated with hazardous substances from the potential past and current uses including storage, transport, generation, and disposal of toxic and hazardous waste or materials. If hazardous materials are identified in the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment would be completed to identify the extent of contamination and the procedures for remediation. The Phase II Environmental Site Assessment shall be approved by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. C. Noise (Project Operation) (page 3 -152 of the EA/DEIR) Potential Impact: Project - related noise levels would exceed the significance thresholds at five Noise Sensitive Areas (NSA). Therefore, without mitigation, a significant impact related to operational noise levels would occur. Finding: Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the proposed project which would mitigate or avoid the significant effects on the environment as identified in the REA/FEIR. Facts in Support of Finding: Significant noise impacts at sensitive receptors NSA -4 (Spurgeon Intermediate School), NSA -6 (seven housing units), NSA -7 (five housing units), and NSA -8 (two housing units) would result from sounding of a warning horn and audible warning devices at gate crossings. Significant noise impact at NSA -9 (five housing units) would result from operation of the O & M Facility. Mitigation Measure N1 would reduce noise impacts associated with warning horns, Mitigation Measure N2 would reduce noise impacts associated with streetcar pass -by noise, and Mitigation Measure N3 would reduce noise impacts at NSA -9 by 5 dBA and NSA -10 by 4 dBA. Implementation of Mitigation Measures N1 through N3 would reduce impacts related to operational noise to less than significant. Mitiaation Measure N1 The City of Santa Ana shall request a horn - sounding exemption from the California Public Utilities Commission for the crossing at 5th and Fairview Streets. The exemption shall provide justification and demonstrate that safety would not be compromised. In lieu of the warning horn, supplemental safety measures (e.g., four -quad gates, roadway median barriers on grade crossing approaches, and pedestrian gates) would be implemented. If a horn sounding exemption is approved and established, warning horns would not be sounded except under an emergency situation. 20 January 2015