Fountaingrove Environmental Impact Report - City of Santa Rosa ...

2.0 LIST OF COMMENTERS AND RESPONSE TO COMMENTS
Response to Comment Letter from North Coast Regional Water Quality Control
Board (NCRWQCB)
Note: Response numbers correspond to comment numbers labeled in the margin of the
letter.
1) The City acknowledges the RWQCB’s support of the Draft EIR and “the very
positive programs and improvements” suggested in it. The City also acknowledges
the RWQCB’s concerns about potential significant impacts to water quality.
Potential impacts to water quality are addressed in Section 3.8.3 of the Draft EIR and
include one potentially significant impact, Impact 3.8-2, Construction and operation of
the Project could increase pollutants in stormwater runoff. Mitigation Measures 3.8.2,
Comply with all applicable State and Local Regulations for stormwater will minimize
water quality impacts from stormwater runoff and fully mitigate this potential
impact. Mitigation measures shall include the preparation of SWPPP and a SUSMP,
as discussed in the Draft EIR. These plans will specify site specific management
activities to be implemented both during and after construction.
2) The City understands that a Mitigation and Monitoring Plan describing the process
that has been or will be taken to avoid, minimize, or compensate for loss of or
significant adverse impacts to beneficial uses of waters of the State should be
included in the submittal of any permit applications. See Response to Comment
NCRWQCB-3 for additional information concerning potential impacts to State
waters within the Study Area.
3) The City’s zoning regulations do not allow construction with 50 feet of the creek, so
the Piner Creek buffer zone will be preserved. Impact 3.8-2, Construction and operation
of the Project could increase pollutants in stormwater runoff, documents the potential
impacts of development. Mitigation Measure 3.8-2 in the Draft EIR includes
measures to reduce and minimize these impacts. The mitigation measure has been
revised to add a requirement for informational signage for pedestrians walking near
the creek as follows:
Mitigation Measure 3.8-2: Comply with all applicable State and local
regulations for stormwater management.
As described above, compliance with the NPDES General Construction Permit,
Santa Rosa’s municipal stormwater NPDES permit, the grading ordinance, the
Santa Rosa Area SUSMP, and the Storm Water Mitigation Plan will minimize any
water quality impacts. Informational signage will be added along Project
pathways located near the creek that describe the sensitivity of the buffer area
and establish appropriate restrictions.
4) As stated in the Draft EIR, a wetland delineation conducted by WRA in 2006 and
verified by USACE in February 2008 indicated that there are no wetlands or other
waters of the U.S., other than Piner Creek, in the Study Area. There will be no direct
impacts to Piner Creek or its associated riparian vegetation. Three man-made
stormwater drainages located adjacent to Thomas Lake Harris Drive were
determined not to be waters of the U.S by USACE. Because these drainages are man-
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