Agmt21 Environmental Science Associates

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Proposed Work Program June 2021 City of Redwood City / Gatekeeper Projects Subsequent EIR 17 environmental science associates If applicable, ESA will identify feasible measures to mitigate any adverse impacts on climate based on professional standards and on requirements of the CAP, the BAAQMD, and the City’s General Plan policies. Energy. In December 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency made changes to the CEQA Guidelines, reflecting recent case law in providing new guidance for analyzing a project’s impacts related to energy consumption. A description of the energy resources available in the project area and greater Bay Area will be described, in addition to the regulatory context for energy resources in the Bay Area. Federal and State regulations relative to energy resources and energy efficiency that would be applicable to the plans will also be described. ESA will discuss environmental setting in terms of the current fuel and electricity use in the region based on annual California Energy Commission fuel and electricity consumption data. Potential energy consumption from implementation of the Gatekeeper plans, including any renewable energy resource features, will be discussed qualitatively, as well as a determination would have the potential to result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction and operation and whether they could conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency. Sea Level Rise. The DTPP Final EIR identified potential flooding due to sea level rise as a potentially significant impact. However, California Supreme Court’s decision in California Building Industry Association (CBIA) v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015) confirmed that CEQA, with several certain exceptions, is concerned with the impacts of a project on the environment, not the effects the existing environment may have on a project. Consequently, the sea level rise assessment in the SEIR will focus on whether the Gatekeeper projects may exacerbate sea level rise. On-going citywide and regional planning efforts addressing sea level rise will also be discussed in the SEIR. Hazards and Hazardous Materials The DTPP Final EIR determined potential impacts to hazards and hazardous under the DTPP would be less than significant. The increase in development accommodated by the proposed Gatekeeper Projects would result in increased demolition, subsurface disturbance and new construction activities in the DTPP area that may pose hazardous materials risks. DTPP use regulations do not allow new industrial or heavy commercial uses within the DTPP area. Nevertheless, an increase in population and residential uses within the DTPP area under the projects could result in an increase in exposure to risks from existing commercial uses in the vicinity. These effects will be addressed, along with a discussion of governing federal, State and local regulations and requirements that are in place to ensure potential hazardous materials risks are minimized. Bi ological Resources The DTPP area is largely developed with urban uses, with sensitive biological habitat largely limited to the areas in the vicinity of daylighted portions of Redwood Creek. The DTPP Final EIR identified certain impacts to biological resources under the DTPP during construction, including to northern salt marsh and wetlands (adjacent to Redwood Creek); and to nesting birds and with loss of heritage trees. These potential impacts were concluded to be less than significant with implementation of mitigation, including acquiring required permits and approvals from the applicable resources agencies, compliance with the City’s stormwater management program, and conducting nesting bird preconstruction surveys. It is expected that implementation of similar REV: 06-23-21 MI ATTY/AGR.2021.150/Environmental Sciences Associates (Gatekeeper Projects) (Page 27 of 58)