Saticoy & Wells Community Plan & Development ... - City Of Ventura

Saticoy & Wells Community Plan and Code EIRSection 4.7 Hazards and Hazardous MaterialsAgricultural Pesticide Use. Agricultural operations are located throughoutportions of the Saticoy & Wells Project Area, including the Northwest, Northeast, andEast neighborhoods. Orchards are often sprayed with various pesticides, which cancontaminate the soils. In general, pesticide use can result in health impacts to those whocome in contact with such chemicals and are unprotected. The County of Ventura Officeof the Agricultural Commissioner Agricultural/Urban Buffer Policy states that newurban developments (and non-farming activities) should be required to lessen publicand animal exposure to agricultural chemicals, dust, noise, and odors and protectagricultural operations and land from vandalism, pilferage trespassing and complaintsagainst standard legal agricultural practices. This policy provides guidelines to preventconflicts that may arise at the urban/agricultural interface from issues includingpesticide sprayings. General Plan Action 7.29 requires non-agricultural development toprovide buffers of 50 feet or more from agricultural operations to minimize the potentialfor pesticide drift. The Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s office retains aregistry of pesticides used on individual agricultural parcels in the County. Please referto Section 4.2, Agriculture, for further discussion of potential conflicts betweenagricultural and urban development.Transportation Corridors. The most likely cause of a major hazardous materials(HAZMAT) incident is a transportation accident involving a vehicle carrying hazardousmaterials. Historically, HAZMAT incidents frequently occur on the heaviest traveled streets,freeway interchanges, and railroad crossings. The railroad in the Project Area is minimallyoperational, providing only freight service (no passengers) every several months; therefore, aHAZMAT incident is unlikely along this corridor.State Route 126 and Wells Road/SR 118 are the main arteries in the Project Area utilized bytransporters of hazardous materials and waste. The City does not currently restrict travel waysfor hazardous materials transportation. Trucks commonly carry a variety of potentiallyhazardous materials, including gasoline and various crude oil derivatives, and other chemicalsknown to cause human health problems. When properly contained, these materials present nohazard to the community. However, in the event of an accident, such materials may bereleased, either in liquid or gas form. In the case of some chemicals (such as chlorine), highlytoxic fumes may be carried far from the accident site.Pipelines. Underground pipelines are located throughout the City. Natural gas, crudeoil, and refined petroleum products are transported in these lines. The failure of these pipelinescan expose the adjacent population and improvements to the dangers of potential fire andexplosion from the ignition of materials release. Pipelines are inspected on a regular basis perstate and federal requirements, and normally present no hazard to the community.4.7.2 Impact Analysisa. Methodology and Thresholds of Significance. For the purpose of this analysis, asignificant impact would occur if the project would:• Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine4.7-4City of Ventura