SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSM. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND HAZARDOUS WASTEmust be prepared to protect workers. The Site Safety Plan establishes policies and procedures toprotect workers and the public from exposure to potential hazards at the contaminated site(NIOSH and OSHA, 1985).1.3 BACKGROUND AND CURRENT SITE CONDITIONSWatershed SiteThe project site generally comprises wildlands, but developed uses include maintenance facilitiesof the SFPUC and leased properties used for nurseries, mining operations, and a golf course.Hazardous materials used by SFPUC consist of fuels, solvents, and oils for operations andmaintenance of its vehicle fleet and equipment. Additionally, water is chlorinated at the SunolValley WTP. Hazardous materials at the water treatment plant include fuels in an abovegroundstorage tank, as well as oils and drums of chemicals under secondary containment.Nurseries and the Sunol Valley Golf Course operated on the Watershed use and store fertilizers,pesticides, and herbicides. The golf course also stores and uses fuels, oils, and solvents foroperation and maintenance of its golf carts. Mining operations are conducted with dieseloperatedequipment. Chevron operates a below-grade gasoline pipeline that runs through thewatershed on the northwest side of San Antonio Reservoir.A leaking underground tank at SFPUC facilities at 8653 Calaveras Road is included on theCalifornia Hazardous Waste and Substances Sites List (Hazardous Materials Data ManagementProgram, 1994). In addition, the former Quantec and Calaveras explosives testing site is locatedat the south end of the Calaveras Reservoir. This site contains soil and groundwatercontaminated with heavy metals and is the subject of current negotiations between RWQCB andSPEAC.2.0 IMPACTSHazardous materials and hazardous waste , if mishandled, could pose health and safety risks tothe public. Potential health and safety impacts typically stem from interactions of the public,workers, or employees with hazardous wastes encountered during project implementation.2.1 SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIAThe City has not formally adopted significance standards for hazardous materials and hazardouswaste impacts, but it generally considers that implementation of the Alameda WatershedManagement Plan would have a significant hazards effect if it were to:! involve a substantial risk of accidental explosion or release of hazardous substances(including, but not limited to, oil, pesticides, chemicals, or radiation);! expose people to existing sources of potential hazards including hazardous materials;! create a public health hazard or potential public health hazard; or! potentially interfere with an emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.M-2 ESA / 930385January 2001