Notice of Preparation - Visalia General Plan Update

Proposal for the City of Visalia
General Plan Update and EIR
ations will be based on discussions with City staff and by reviewing the adopted Water System
Master Plan, Sanitary Sewer System Master Plan, and Stormwater Master Plan. The
data gathered will be used to address storm water management, wastewater systems and
water supply and distribution from a community facilities and public service perspective.
Provost & Pritchard will prepare base maps of the existing systems and prepare a short report
of the findings, existing constraints, and issues.
J. Hydrology and Water Quality. (J&S) The hydrology and water quality existing conditions
section will be updated using existing information. The hydrology and water quality section
will include a description of the surface hydrology and hydrogeology of the City, including
characteristics of existing drainages, downstream water bodies, drainage infrastructure, and
underlying aquifers and associated groundwater levels. FEMA floodplains will be identified,
and a discussion of regional flood control infrastructure will be included. Surface and
groundwater quality will be discussed qualitatively using available data. Relevant federal,
state, and local regulations and agencies will be described, including provisions of the federal
CWA, the state Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, the permitting and regulatory
authority of the RWQCB. This section will also discuss relevant local regulations associated
with the City and County, including the municipal National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit program.
K. Air Quality (J&S)
• The air quality and climate existing conditions will be characterized based on meteorological
and ambient pollutant data monitored at the stations in and around Visalia. We
will also describe the health effects of the various pollutants of concern, discuss the
most recent local, state, and federal ambient air quality standards, the project area’s attainment
status with respect to the air quality standards, , and how the air quality standards
pertain to the proposed general plan.
• We will also discuss air quality planning in the project region, including a discussion of
applicable air quality goals, policies, and attainment plans of state and local agencies.
We will also discuss those aspects of the region’s most recent Air Quality Attainment
Plan and State Implementation Plan that are applicable to the project. In addition, we
will identify the general locations of sensitive receptors in Visalia. Finally, we will identify
the emissions budget for the City of Visalia based on data provided by the California
Air Resources Board.
L. Natural Hazards (D&B) The primary natural hazards within the area covered by the General
Plan include wildfires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, and dam safety. Natural hazards
information will be described in text and depicted graphically in GIS.
M. Hazardous Materials (D&B). D&B will gather information on the locations of known soil
and/or groundwater contamination. This will include information on possible development
sites identified in the East Downtown Plan.
N. Noise (J&S)
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