Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

Sonoma Land Trust
Chapter 4. Consultation and Other Requirements
significantly increasing the project’s effect on local traffic. Because this traffic
would temporarily exacerbate congestion on some roadways that are already
operating at an unacceptable LOS, a construction traffic plan would be
implemented as part of the final project design. The construction plan would
ensure thatminimize the effect of construction related traffic is routed through
appropriate non-on congested intersections and is concentrated during off-peak
hours. In addition, the cumulative projects noted above are located at some
distance from Sears Point and would not contribute substantial traffic to the same
locations as the proposed project and thus there is little potential for an actual
cumulative traffic impact.
Air Quality
Construction activity associated with the restoration alternatives would comply
with not result in annual emissions that are below BAAQMD de minimis
threshold levels for ozone precursors, with implementation of mitigation
measures for PM10. The BAAQMD thresholds are designed to evaluate
individual projects in light of the cumulative environment of Bay Area air
quality, and thus a project that does not result in emissions above the thresholds
does not result in a considerable contribution to a cumulative impactbest
management practices for PM10 contained in the 1999 BAAQMD CEQA
Guidelines, and thus there would be no cumulatively significant effect on air
quality. Construction activity therefore would not cause or contribute to any new
ambient-air-quality standard violation, increase the severity or frequency of any
existing standard violation, or delay timely attainment of any standard.
Furthermore, additional contract measures will be taken to reduce emissions of
PM2.5. Emissions related in increased recreational use of the site would be de
minimis.
Project GHG emissions and their potential to contribute to cumulative global
GHG emissions (and thus to climate change) were discussed in Chapter 3.11, Air
Quality. As concluded therein, although the project will result in construction
GHG emissions, in time, the carbon sequestered in the tidal wetlands will more
than offset the construction GHG emissions and the project will actually result in
a net reduction in GHG emissions within a short time (perhaps as few as 1.5 to
49 years). Thus the project would make a beneficial cumulative contribution
relative to cumulative GHG emissions.
Noise
The restoration alternatives would not contribute to significant long-term
cumulative noise impacts. It would, however, exacerbate existing noise levels at
sensitive receptors during construction. These noise levels could be reduced
through appropriate construction practices to a less-than-significant level. None
of the cumulative projects identified above would contribute noise in the same
location as the Sears Point project. With mitigation, the project would not be
expected to contribute considerably to a cumulative noise impact.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
4-17
April 2012