2016-012 - California Environmental Quality Act

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Statement of Facts and Findings In addition, there are a number of prehistoric and historic -period archaeological resources recorded in the project vicinity. Hence, it is possible that subsurface earthwork activities could encounter previously undiscovered archaeological resources. Mitigation Measures CUL -1 and CUL -2 are provided to protect archaeological materials if any are encountered during the course of grading or construction of the project. Implementation of cultural resource Mitigation Measures CUL -1 and CUL -2 would reduce potential impacts to archaeological resources to a less than significant level. 2. The project has the potential to directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature. The project site may be underlain by areas of alder Quaternary Alluvium deposits that are known to contain vertebrate fossils, and fossils in older Quaternary Alluvium deposits have been found five miles southwest of the site project site and elsewhere on the Tustin Plain. Thus, the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum considers the project area to have a moderate paleontological sensitivity. Excavations exceeding a depth of ten feet into older Quaternary Alluvium sediments may uncover fossils and result in impacts to paleontological resources. Therefore, Mitigation Measures CUL -2 and CUL -3 have been included to reduce this potential impact to a less than significant level, 3. Due to identified resources in the proj cot vicinity, previously unknown and unrecorded resources could exist within the project site and could be unearthed during excavation activities of both the proposed project and cumulative projects in the area. As a result, Mitigation Measures CUL -I through CUL -3 have been included to ensure that potential resources would not be impacted. With implementation of the mitigation, the project would not result in impacts that could combine with other existing, future, or foreseeable projects. B. Findings The City finds that: The mitigation measures listed below have been required for, and incorporated into the proj act, to ensure that the project's potential construction related air quality impacts remain less than significant. Mitigation Measures Mitigation Measure CUL -1; Prior to issuance of any Grading Permit, the City Engineer and the Building Safety Manager shall confirm that the Building Plans and specifications stipulate that the project operator shall retain a qualified archaeologist and paleontologist, defined as an archaeologist meeting the Secretary of the Lnterior's Standards for professional archaeology (US, Department of the Interior, 2015) and defined as a paleontologist meeting the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology standards (SVP, 2015), who shall conduct a Cultural Resources Sensitivity Training for all construction personnel prior to the start of any ground disturbing activities. The training shall include an overview of potential cultural resources that could be encountered during ground disturbing activities to facilitate worker recognition, avoidance, and subsequent immediate notification to the qualified archaeologist for further evaluation and action, The Heritage Mixed Use Project 27 ESA 1140730 statement of rams end Findings September 2015