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

Saticoy & Wells Community Plan and Code EIRSection 4.10 Mineral Resourcesresources. Typically, the lead agency under SMARA is the city or county within which themining operation is located; however, the State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB) assumed“lead agency” status from the County on June 14, 2001, pursuant to SMARA §2774.4. Theassumption of SMARA powers does not include the County’s authority to review and revise,issue, enforce, and revoke mining permits. The SMGB retains the authority to review andapprove reclamation plans, review and approve financial assurances, conduct annual mineinspections, and enforce compliance with SMARA regulations.4.10.2 Impact Analysisa. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. Potential impacts were assessed bycomparing the proposed Project to the locations of existing mineral resource extraction areas.Impacts would be considered significant if development facilitated under the Project wouldresult in either of the following:• The loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to theregion and the residents of the state• Land use conflicts between mining operations and other land usesb. Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures.Impact M-1The Project would not reduce access to mineral resources. Thiswould be a Class III, less than significant, impact.Although the Santa Clara River is designated as having regional or statewide significance formineral resources, there are no active aggregate mining operations within the Project Area. Asnoted in the Setting, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors removed areas along the SantaClara River that have been subject to aggregate mining operations from consideration for futuremining activities.The only current aggregate mining operation in the vicinity of the Project Area is a gravelextraction operation located across the Santa Clara River, on the south bank immediately westof the Route 118 Bridge (see Figure 4.10-1). The only issue relative to this aggregate miningoperation is the ability to access the resource. The current operation has ample access to theriver and development facilitated by the Project would not impede the operation because thenearest development within the Project Area is located approximately 0.35 miles from theoperation. Consequently, future development accommodated under the Project wouldgenerally create minimal conflicts with such operations.The nearest petroleum fields are located approximately 2 ½ miles northeast of the Project Area(see Figure 4.10-2). As such, development facilitated by the Project would not result in a loss ofavailability of petroleum resources or create land use conflicts with the existing petroleumfields.Mitigation Measures. The Project would not reduce access to mineral resources;therefore, mitigation is not required.4.10-4City of Ventura