Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

3.7 Geology and Soils
19, On‐Site Wastewater Systems). Because no state‐wide septic regulations apply, the OHMVR
Division will comply with the local Butte County on‐site wastewater ordinance for planning
purposes at Clay Pit SVRA.
3.7.3 Thresholds of Significance
The significance criteria for this analysis are based on the environmental checklist in Appendix G
of the State CEQA Guidelines, as amended. Implementation of the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan,
including construction and operation of the headquarters facilities, would have significant
environmental impacts related to geology and soils if it would:
expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of
loss, injury, or death involving the following:
rupture of known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist‐Priolo
Earthquake Fault Zoning Map used by the State Geologist for the area or based on other
substantial evidence of a known fault;
strong seismic ground shaking;
seismic‐related ground failure, including liquefaction; or
landslides;
result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil;
be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a
result of the project and potentially result in on‐ or off‐site landslides, lateral spreading,
subsidence, liquefaction or collapse;
be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18‐1‐B of the UBC (1994), creating
substantial risks to life or property; or
have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste
water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water.
3.7.4 Environmental Evaluation
Evaluation Methodology
This section addresses issues related to geologic hazards, specifically seismicity and soil erosion.
Effects associated with geology and soils that could result from project‐related activities were
evaluated based on expected construction practices, materials used to construct the proposed
improvements, and the nature of the proposed activities on the site. Alquist‐Priolo Earthquake
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
Draft EIR 3.7-5 February 2012