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COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Guy Greenlee, Director Public Services Building 2700 M Street, Suite 250 Bakersfield, CA 93301-2370 Telephone (661) 862·5050 FAX (661) 862-5052 TTY Relay 1-800-735-2929 August31,2004 Howard Wines, Environmental Specialist Fire Department City of Bakersfield 900 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 210 Bakersfield California 93301 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY David Price III, RMA Director Community and Economic Development Department Engineering & Survey Services Department Environmental Health Services Department . ___..Boa artment 3ðf c, -47\4 ST UST (2) RE: Environmental Assessment/Initial Study (NEPA and CEQA), Early Environmental Consultation Review for CD Activity # 47,04.1 - Bakersfield Police Activities League Recreational Facility Dear Mr. Wines: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 58) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 21080,3 of the Public Resources Code, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations, the Community and Economic Development Department (CEDD) is conducting an Environmental Assessment/Initial Study whereby the appropriate level of environmental clearance will be determined for the referenced project. The environmental clearance to be prepared may be in the form of Finding of No Significant Impact for NEPA and a Negative Declaration for CEQA. Our purpose for this inquiry is to determine any potential environmental effects that may be associated with the proposed project. Your response will help to ensure that the environmental decision by this department will reflect the concerns of all Federal, State and local agencies responsible for administering their respective programs that may be directly or indirectly affected by this project. Please provide this office with a written statement concerning the potential impacts that the project will or may have on the environment and indicate with your comments if you wish to receive a copy of the completed Environmental Assessment/Initial Study. It is very important that we receive your written response by October 1, 2004. If we do not receive a response, this office will assume that you have no comments and we will proceed accordingly as required by 24 CFR, Part 58. If you have any questions or require additional information in order to conduct your review, please do not hesitate to contact me at (661) 862-5041 Very truly yours, Barry Ju g Supervi ing PI Enclosures 1:\PLANNING\2004-05cp\47.04.1 BPAL\earlyCONltr.City fire.doc .. r PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. Project/Activity Title: Bakersfield Police Activities League (BPAL) Recreational Facility B. Project/Activity Number: #47.04.1 C, Date Review Commenced: August 12, 2004 D. Address/Location: 301 East 4th Street, Bakersfield, CA E. Comprehensive Project/Activity Description (General Nature/Purpose of Project, Environmental Setting of Project, Cost of Project/Phasing, HUD National Objective Compliance): General Nature/Purpose of Project: Design and construction of a +/- 4,010 sq.ft. facility for in-door recreational activities sponsored by BPAL and for storage of recreational sports equipment. The facility will be built at the BPAL Youth Center complex located in the City of Bakersfield. Activities to be carried out in the new facility will include wrestling, dancing, martial arts, gymnastics, and other in-door type recreational activities, In addition, the new facility will provide needed space for storage of recreational equipment. BPAL established itself as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 1995, BPAL offers educational and recreational programs and activities to disadvantaged youths who residing primarily in the Metropolitan Bakersfield area encompassed by East California Avenue, East White Lane, Washington Avenue, and South Chester Avenue (a.k,a. service area). Since 1995, BPAL has partnered with numerous local public and private organizations to provide programs and activities to disadvantaged youths, Environmental Settinq of Project: The BPAL Youth Center complex is located on an 8-acre parcel in Central- East Bakersfield. The complex is located within the Southeast Bakersfield Redevelopment Area, To the north, east, and south of the complex are residential land uses, On the west are two businesses (Stuart Petroleum and Modern Day Vacuum), Stuart Petroleum is a petroleum products distributor. Modern Day Vacuum manufactures central vacuum cleaner systems, Major roadways providing access include Union Avenue on the west, East California Avenue to the north, and East Brundage Lane to the south. The complex currently consists of three structures, A 10,518 sq. ft. facility consisting of an office, tutoring room, boxing room, weight room, and central kitchen, A 7,722 sq, ft. gym is attached to the office, tutoring room, boxing room, weight room, and central kitchen. An 880 sq, ft. building houses the art and science programs. Outside of the structures, the remaining 6,1-acres are developed for vehicle parking and out-door field sports. Data from the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic map for the Lamont quadrangle indicates that the project is approximately 405 feet above mean sea level; generally flat; and that the nearest body of water is the East Side Canal (+/- .75 miles north of the project site). Soil type in and around the project site is of the alluvial fan type with lacustrine deposits, As shown by the Kern County Water Agency's "Report on Water Conditions", the groundwater depth in the vicinity of the project site is estimated to be 200 feet below grade, The project site is located within the boundaries of the Metropolitan Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan (MBHCP). The MBHCP identifies the following species of wildlife and vegetation as being within its bounds and endangered or threatened: San Joaquin kit fox, Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard, Tipton Kangaroo Rat, Short -nosed Kangaroo Rat, San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel, San Joaquin Pocket Mouse, Giant Kangaroo Rat, California Jewelflower, San Joaquin Wooly-threads, Hoover's Wooly-star, Bakersfield cactus, i. Bakersfield Saltbush, Slough Thistle, and the Recurved Larkspur. Because the project site contains existing structures, parking facilities and landscaping, and is heavily used by BPAL for in-door and out-door recreational activities, it can be concluded that it is no longer a conducive habitat site for endangered or threatened species, The installation of turf for out- door sport activities has significantly reduces the possible existence of endangered or threatened vegetation at the project site. The MBHCP supports this determination in that none of the endangered or threatened species were found to exist in or near the project site, 1956 aerial photos indicate that the main buildings existed at that time. Although not official, the building was report built in 1953. There are no records of what the project site was used for prior to 1958, In 1958, CWI Bakersfield leased the project site and operated a diesel engine maintenance business. Petroleum based products and chemicals used in cleaning engine parts were used and stored at the site, In 1994 SECOR International Incorporated was contracted to prepare a Phase I Environmental Assessment of the project site, At the time, five (5) underground storage tanks, ranging from 550 to 1,000 gallons each, were found at the site, These tanks stored petroleum based products used in the repair and maintenance of diesel engines. In 1996, the USTs were decommissioned as a result of a Notice of Violation issued by the City Fire Department for non-permitted USTs, In addition to the USTs, two (2) above ground storage tanks (300 gallons each) were found at the project site. These contained new and used anti-freeze, The site assessment conducted by SECOR covered wastewater collection and discharge, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), asbestos, lead-based paint, Urea Formaldehyde, and radon, In 1995, SECOR completed its assessment and recommended remediation action that called for the removal of the 5 USTs, remediation of the gasoline-impacted soils, installation of a situ soil remediation system, and abandonment of the oil/water separators, The remediation actions were completed in 1995 and all work was approved by the City Fire Department. A copy of the report is filed in the Environmental Review Record for this project. Cost of Proiect/Phasinq: Funding for the project will come from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds provided by the County of Kern, The budget for the project has been set at $138,500, The project will be implemented by BPAL and completed in one phase, HUD National Objective Compliance: The project is eligible for CDBG funding pursuant to CDBG Program regulations at 24 CFR Part 570, Subpart C, Section 570.201 (c) - Public facilities and improvements, The project meets the National Objective at 24 CFR Part 570, Subpart C, Section 570,208(a)(1)(i) in that the area of benefit, as defined by BPAL and based on HUD Census 2000 information is primarily inhabited by persons having low or moderate incomes, Specifically, of the 35,373 residents residing in the area of benefit, 73,7% have been identified as having low or moderate incomes. EAST VIEW