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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems Project Impacts West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR Utilities and Service Systems Michael Brandman Associates 5.12-1 H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc 5.12 - Utilities and Service Systems 5.12.1 - Introduction This section provides baseline information on, and evaluates the impacts to utilities and service systems, including water services, sewer services, stormwater, and solid waste disposal. Information in this section is based upon the following: • Public Services Report, McIntosh and Associates, September 14, 2005, and revised August 24, 2006. and revised August 24, 2006. The complete report is contained in Appendix K of the Technical Appendices of the Draft EIR. • SB221/SB610 Water Assessment Report, Provost and Pritchard, August 2006 (Revision 6).. The complete report is contained in Appendix M of the Technical Appendices of the Draft EIR. • West Ming Specific Plan, Bakersfield, California, April 2006. 5.12.2 - Environmental Setting Water Services The physical supply of water to residents and businesses throughout Metropolitan Bakersfield is provided by a series of water districts and private water supply companies. There are four water purveyors within the city limits which include: California Water Service Company, City of Bakersfield, East Niles Community Service District, and Vaughn Mutual Water Company. Notably, the city water system derives 100 percent of its supply from groundwater wells located throughout the service area. The majority of the City of Bakersfield (City) is served by the California Water Service Company (CWSC), a privately held public utility that is the largest municipal water supplier in the Metropolitan Bakersfield area. The CWSC’s water supply is obtained principally from 187 wells and supplemented by the Kern County Water Agency’s Improvement District No. 4 (ID 4) - treated State Water Project surface supply water. Approximately 20 percent of the water used by CWSC is surface water purchased from ID 4. Furthermore, the CWSC operates the city’s water system under contract with the City of Bakersfield. Accordingly, CWSC is contracted to serve the area east of Coffee Road in the city; whereas the City of Bakersfield - Water Resources Department serves the area west of Coffee Road. The City of Bakersfield - Water Resources Department (Department) oversees the divisions of Agricultural Water and Domestic Water. In general, the Department provides for the regulation, distribution, water banking and record keeping operations on the Kern River. The Domestic Water division oversees and administers the Ashe, Riverlakes and Fairhaven domestic water systems that provide drinking water to over 85,000 residents and local businesses in Bakersfield. Accordingly, the water balance of the incorporated City is principally served by the City of Bakersfield’s Ashe Water Project Impacts Utilities and Service Systems West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR 5.12-2 Michael Brandman Associates H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Company, with supplies obtained from groundwater of 47 wells. Additional wells are continually in development. Furthermore, the City has acquired water rights for Kern River flows for approximately 140,000 acre- feet per year. Together with appropriate storage rights in Isabella reservoir; it currently sub-contracts to provide water for irrigation to five agricultural water districts a major portion of these rights, utilizing the balance for groundwater recharge. The City also operates the 2,800 acres of recharge ponds along the Kern River on the west side of the City. This spreading area provides groundwater recharge for Kern River flows utilizing both its own water rights and agreements with other water agencies for “banking” their water in the underground aquifer. This banking system is an important reliability feature in the City’s water supply system. The future use of this water for municipal and industrial purposes is a key factor in the long-range adequacy of the urban water supply of the planning area. Potential Domestic Water Service According to the Public Services Report, the City of Bakersfield is identified as the water purveyor who will supply the proposed project with domestic water. The City of Bakersfield has several water wells located within the project site. Existing Crop Water Demand Since landowner records for water diversions were not available for this area, existing crop water demand was calculated from available historical data. Existing crop area totals were published in the 1990 and 1998 Department of Water Resources (DWR) Crop Survey. Crop evapotranspiration estimates were obtained from reports published by the University of California Experimental Station. Crop data was used from both the 1990 and 1998 DWR Crop Survey reports in order to develop a range of existing irrigation demands. The 1990 DWR Crop Survey report states that existing agricultural uses included field crops, grain, hay, native vegetation, semi-agricultural, urban industrial and pasture. Total area for these uses was approximately 2,106 acres. Crop area totals presented in this report can vary significantly between years because of changing agricultural market conditions and crop selection. The estimated annual consumptive use for lands, as determined in the SB221/SB610 Water Assessment Report for West Ming Specific Plan, for 1990 and 1998 was 6,393 and 4,326 acre-feet, respectively. Existing Water Facilities Currently, the existing water facilities include a 30-inch water line located along the Kern River Canal, 16-inch waterlines located in the southeastern portion of the project site, and eight (8) water wells located throughout the project site. Specifically, existing 16-inch waterlines extend along White Lane from west of Buena Vista Road to Buena Vista Road and along Buena Vista Road from Ming Avenue to Pacheco Road. Project Impacts West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR Utilities and Service Systems Michael Brandman Associates 5.12-3 H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Wastewater Services The Metropolitan Bakersfield area is served by five major wastewater treatment facilities: the City of Bakersfield’s Treatment Plant Nos. 2 and 3, the North of the River Sanitary District (NORSD) plant, Mount Vernon/Panorama District plant, and the Lamont Public Utility District Plant (located outside the Metropolitan boundary). In addition, there are several small, temporary treatment facilities in the Rosedale area north of the Kern River, and west of NORSD’s service area boundaries. According to the Public Services Report, the City of Bakersfield Treatment Plant No. 3 will serve the proposed project with wastewater services. The City of Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 is located approximately 6 miles southeast of the project site and has a capacity of 16.0 million gallons per day with an average flow of 11.3 million gallons per day. Currently, the City is in the process of expanding Plant No. 3 to 32.0 million gallons per day to accommodate new urban growth within the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan boundary (including the West Ming Specific Plan area). The expansion is estimated to be completed by the end of the year 2009. Existing Wastewater Features Currently, existing 42-inch sewer truck line extends south from Ming Avenue along South Allen Road to White Lane, where it extends east along White Lane to Buena Vista Road, and then extends south along Buena Vista Road and extends south of the existing railroad. There is an existing sewer lift station on the project site along White Lane approximately 1,400 feet west of Buena Vista Road. Stormwater and Drainage The natural drainage of the project site is generally to the southwest, along and parallel to the main drainage channel of the Kern River. Relief across the site is fairly gentle, with only minor variations in elevation, which do not concentrate flows on the project site. The project site does not currently contribute surface flows off-site. The only natural drainage feature in the vicinity of the project site is the Kern River, which is located adjacent to the northwestern portion of the project site. The Kern River consists of primary and secondary floodways. The project site is traversed by a portion of the Kern River Canal. Portions of the project site are located within the 100-year flood zone; the area north of the Kern River Canal and an area in the southwest corner of the project site. Solid Waste Operation of mandatory refuse collection services in the City of Bakersfield is managed by the City Solid Waste Division through a system of municipal collection and contract hauling to control and manage waste collection. The project site is located within the County’s landfill service area. The Bena Landfill would serve the proposed land uses that generate waste on the project site. Within a district or franchise area, a waste hauler has exclusive rights to pick up residential and commercial wastes. Any customer desiring service must be provided service. Whereas, in the permit areas, waste haulers also have exclusive territory rights, but any customer desiring service is not required to be Project Impacts Utilities and Service Systems West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR 5.12-4 Michael Brandman Associates H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc provided service. Refuse collected by the City or contract hauler is transported to the County Landfill at Bena, located about 15 miles east of downtown Bakersfield. The Bena landfill is located approximately 20 miles from the project site. In 1992, the Kern County Waste Management Department opened the Metropolitan Bakersfield (Bena) Sanitary Landfill. Bena is the County’s first fully lined landfill and serves the Metropolitan Bakersfield area. Currently the County has permission to develop 48 acres of the 2,165-acre Bena site for waste disposal. If the California Integrated Waste Management Board grants additional permits to develop the remainder of the site and waste diversion stabilizes at 50 percent, potential total capacity for the Bena Landfill site exceeds 60 years. According to the Kern County Waste Management Siting Element, 2003 Annual Report, the anticipated disposal capacity of the Bena landfill in the year 2018 is 579,265 tons per year with the remaining permitted capacity, as of January 1, 2003, of 22,367,758 tons. 5.12.3 - Thresholds of Significance The criteria used to determine the significance of an impact on utilities and service systems is based on the model initial study checklist in Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines. The proposed project may be considered to have a significant environmental impact if it would: • Not have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, and require new or expanded entitlements; • Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has inadequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments; • Require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects; • Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board; • Require or result in the construction of new storm water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects; • Be served by a landfill with insufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project’s solid waste disposal needs; or • Not comply with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste. Project Impacts West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR Utilities and Service Systems Michael Brandman Associates 5.12-5 H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc 5.12.4 - Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures This section discusses potential impacts associated with the development of the project and provides mitigation measures where appropriate. Water Availability Impact 5.12.A: The implementation of the proposed project would increase the water demand on the project site; however, the project would not require the domestic water provider to obtain new or expanded entitlements and resources. Development of the proposed project would result in the eventual removal of the existing agricultural crops on the project site and development of the proposed land uses in accordance with the West Ming Specific Plan. The removal of the agricultural crops would result in the elimination of an annual consumptive use of approximately 5,360 acre-feet of water per year. This projected annual use is the average amount of water used onsite based on data from 1990 and 1998. Along with this water reduction onsite, the proposed development could increase consumptive use of up to 8,116 acre-feet of water per year. This estimate is the average water demand (anticipated water demand) based on the best-case evaluation and the worst-case evaluation of project water demand provided in the SB 221/SB 610 Water Assessment Report (see Appendix M). In addition, as part of the groundwater management plan for Kern County, agricultural irrigation demand is supplemented with reclaimed water from the two wastewater treatment plants serving the Metropolitan Bakersfield area. Reclaimed wastewater is piped to agricultural lands located southwest of the project site. The City is currently allowed to dispose of reclaimed water on non-edible crops, which typically include alfalfa and cotton. Therefore, wastewater generated by the proposed project could be used by agricultural lands within the Metropolitan Bakersfield area. According to the SB 221/SB 610 Water Assessment Report, wastewater flow generated by the proposed project at buildout that is assumed to be used as reclaimed water under the anticipated water demand estimate is projected to be 1,472 acre-feet per year. In summary, the net consumptive use of water on the project site would be 1,284 acre-feet year which is 8,116 acre-feet of water per year used by the project and reduced by the current water use by onsite agricultural activities (5,360 acre-feet of water per year) and the wastewater generated by the project (1,472 acre-feet of water per year) that could be used as reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation. According to the SB 221/SB 610 Water Assessment Report, the net increase of consumptive use of water by the proposed project (i.e., 1,284 acre-feet per year) would represent approximately 0.3 percent of the existing consumptive use of water within the City’s service area. Based on the supply of water from the Kern River and the State Water Project (i.e., 138,000 acre-feet per year), implementation of the proposed project would result in a less than significant effect on the City’s current availability of water. Furthermore, based on the future year 2025 supply of water from the Kern River, State Water Project, and reclaimed water, the City is projected to have a range of 240,250 acre-feet per year (single dry year) to 357,725 acre-feet per year (normal year) of water compared to a projected demand within the City’s water service area of 50,375 acre-feet per year of water. Project Impacts Utilities and Service Systems West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR 5.12-6 Michael Brandman Associates H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Therefore, the implementation of the proposed project would result in a less than significant effect on the City’s future availability of water. Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are required. Level of Significance After Mitigation Less than significant. Impact 5.12.B: The project would require and result in the construction of new domestic water facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects. The proposed project includes a conceptual water system that has waterlines throughout the project site as well as 8 proposed water wells distributed throughout the site. According to the SB 221/SB 610 Water Assessment Report, the conceptual water facilities would be adequate to provide water service to the proposed land uses. In addition, according to McIntosh and Associates, no new offsite water facilities would be required with project implementation (McIntosh and Associates, June 2006). Due to the need for onsite waterlines and water wells on the project site, the construction of these facilities could result in significant environmental impacts (i.e., noise, traffic, air emissions) to land uses that exist on the site prior to construction of the facilities. Mitigation Measures 5.12.B.1 Prior to the issuance of building permits for the onsite water facilities (i.e., water lines and water wells), the construction and operational impacts such as noise, traffic, and air emissions on adjacent land uses need to be adequately addressed in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines. Construction activities are required to occur at times specified in the Municipal Code as well as ensure that mufflers are on the construction equipment. Operational noise levels associated with the water wells are required to be in conformance with the City of Bakersfield Noise Performance Standards. Traffic management plans need to be implemented to ensure adequate safety during construction activities. Finally, construction air emissions are required to be reduced according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Guidelines and long term emissions associated with the water well pump would require an air permit from the District. Level of Significance After Mitigation Less than significant. Project Impacts West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR Utilities and Service Systems Michael Brandman Associates 5.12-7 H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Wastewater Impact 5.12.C: The implementation of the proposed project would increase the generation of wastewater on the project site and would require new and expanded facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects. Based on the Public Services Report, the proposed project is anticipated to increase wastewater flows from the project site by an average flow of 2.83 million gallons per day. This increase in wastewater flow would require expansion of the existing lift station along White Lane as well as the potential expansion and/or extension of existing trunk sewer lines to the City of Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3. Therefore, the project would result in significant impacts related to existing sewer facilities. The treatment plant’s current average flow would increase from 11.3 million gallons per day to 14.4 million gallons per day with the implementation of the proposed project. Since the City is currently planning to expand the existing capacity at the treatment plant to accommodate 24.0 million gallons per day by the end of the year 2009, implementation of the project would result in a less than significant impact on the treatment facilities. The proposed project includes a conceptual sewer plan for the project site. The conceptual plan includes a range of 8-inch to 18-inch sewer lines to connect with the existing sewer lines along South Allen Road, White Lane, and Buena Vista Road. Due to the need for onsite and offsite sewer facilities, the construction of these facilities could result in significant environmental impacts (i.e., noise, traffic, air emissions) to land uses that exist on the site prior to construction of the facilities. Mitigation Measures 5.12.C.1 Prior to the recordation of final maps, the project applicant shall demonstrate to the City of Bakersfield Public Works Department that the existing sewer trunk lines and the existing sewer lift station on White Lane are adequate to accommodate project flows. If the development of the individual tracts result in the exceedance of the capacities of the existing facilities, the existing facilities shall be expanded or new facilities shall be constructed to adequately serve the proposed tract. 5.12.C.2 Prior to the issuance of building permits, the project applicant shall pay sewer connection fees to the City of Bakersfield Public Works Department. The fees would be used to provide adequate sewer facilities to convey wastewater from the project site to Wastewater Treatment Plan No. 3 as well as contribute to the cost to increase the capacity of the treatment plant. 5.12.C.3 Prior to the issuance of building permits for the onsite and offsite sewer facilities, the construction and operational impacts such as noise, traffic, and air emissions on adjacent land uses need to be adequately addressed in accordance with the CEQA Project Impacts Utilities and Service Systems West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR 5.12-8 Michael Brandman Associates H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Guidelines. Construction activities are required to occur at times specified in the Municipal Code as well as ensure that mufflers are on the construction equipment. Operational noise levels associated with any sewer lift stations are required to be in conformance with the City of Bakersfield Noise Performance Standards. Traffic management plans need to be implemented to ensure adequate safety during construction activities. Finally, construction air emissions are required to be reduced according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Guidelines and long term emissions associated with the lift station would require an air permit from the District. Level of Significance After Mitigation Less than significant. Impact 5.12.D: The project would not exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board. The wastewater and sewer treatment associated with the proposed West Ming Specific Plan project would be serviced by the City of Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3, which operates according to the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan’s goals, policies and implementation measures. These policies are implemented under approval of the City Public Works Department and comply with the requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board. Therefore, the proposed project would not exceed the wastewater treatment requirements of the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are required. Level of Significance After Mitigation No impact. Stormwater and Drainage Impact 5.12.E: The project could require or result in the construction of new storm water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects. The proposed project will include grading on the project site. The grading would alter the existing drainage on the site. The proposed project includes a conceptual storm drain plan that includes a series of detension and retention facilities and storm drain lines that connect them. The detention facilities include pumps that would be used when an excess of water enters the detention facilities. These detention facilities are located near the Kern River Canal, and the pumps would convey water from the detention facility to the Kern River Canal. Project Impacts West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR Utilities and Service Systems Michael Brandman Associates 5.12-9 H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Due to the need for onsite drainage facilities, the construction of these facilities could result in significant environmental impacts (i.e., noise, traffic, air emissions) to land uses that exist on the site prior to construction of the facilities. Mitigation Measures 5.12.E.1 Prior to the issuance of building permits for the onsite drainage facilities, the construction and operational impacts such as noise, traffic, and air emissions on adjacent land uses need to be adequately addressed in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines. Construction activities are required to occur at times specified in the Municipal Code as well as ensure that mufflers are on the construction equipment. Operational noise levels associated with the drainage pumps are required to be in conformance with the City of Bakersfield Noise Performance Standards. Traffic management plans need to be implemented to ensure adequate safety during construction activities. Finally, construction air emissions are required to be reduced according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Guidelines and long term emissions associated with the drainage pumps would require an air permit from the District. Level of Significance After Mitigation Less than significant. Solid Waste and Landfills Impact 5.12.F: The project could be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project’s solid waste disposal needs. Implementation of the proposed project would result in the generation of solid waste on the project site. The City could not provide waste generation estimates for the proposed mixed use and general commercial, light industrial, and park uses. However, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) does provide a list of waste generation information extracted from various sources including previously written environmental documents, such as those developed by city or county planning departments. Although CIWMB does not officially endorse any of these rates and cannot validate their accuracy, the rates can be considered useful in providing a general level of information for planning purposes. Waste generation from parks constructed as part of the proposed project was conservatively estimated at 25 pounds per day as shown in Table 5.12-1. Based upon this information, the proposed project is anticipated to generate approximately 23,338 tons of solid waste per year as shown in Table 5.12-1 below. Project Impacts Utilities and Service Systems West Ming Specific Plan - Draft EIR 5.12-10 Michael Brandman Associates H:\Client (PN-JN)\0216\02160029\DEIR 9-1\02160029_Sec05-12 Utilities and Service Systems.doc Table 5.12-1: Estimated Solid Waste Generation Land Use Units or Square Feet Generation Rate¹ Solid Waste Generation Residential 7,450 units 1 ton/unit/year 7,450 tons/year General and Mixed Use Commercial 810,080 sq. feet 13 lb./1,00 sq. ft./day 1,922 tons/year Schools 5,550 students 1 lb./student/day 1,013 tons/year Light Industrial 1,135,000 62.5 lb./1,00 sq. ft./day 12,946 tons/year Open Space/Parks 106 acres 25 lb./acre/day 58 tons/year Total Solid Waste: 23,338 tons/year Source: McIntosh and Associates, 2006. ¹ Waste Generation Rates provided by CIWMB. According to the Kern County Waste Management Siting Element 2003 Annual Report, the anticipated disposal capacity of the Bena landfill in the year 2018 is 579,265 tons per year with the remaining capacity, as of January 1, 2003, of 22,367,758 tons. The threshold of significance cites that a project be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity. The Bena landfill has sufficient capacity to accommodate the proposed project. Therefore, the addition of the proposed project is not a significant impact. Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are required. Level of Significance After Mitigation Less than significant. Impact 5.12.G: The project would comply with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste. The collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste generated on the project site will be required to be approved by the City of Bakersfield and comply with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste. Therefore, the proposed project would result in no impacts. Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are required. Level of Significance After Mitigation No impact.