PUBLIC SCOPING COMMENT PART 6 DOCUMENTATION

| PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 3 CONTINUED | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 6(a) | PART 6 TIMELINE | PART 6 DOCUMENTATION |

Continued from Timeline 2014 to the Present

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

PURSUANT TO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ON DECEMBER 19, 2019:

FOIA 20-0027 (SPL-2015-00054 ("F" Street from "A" Street to Oso Parkway, Rancho Mission Viejo)) 

Permit Applications to: USACOE, SDRWQCB AND CDFG "F" Street, Trail/Sidewalk & Associated Utilities project dated November 21, 2014.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YAAm_-r24ogxCpfPxShrh3pYP9zVl3gi/view?usp=sharing 

Permit Number:  SPL-2015-00054-G5 issued July 16, 2015. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YeG6JF0xE4Ihk3guU35Vf64biXNuQjL-/view?usp=sharing 

FEDERAL LAW (NEPA)

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 42 U.S.C §4321 et seq.  (1969) https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-national-environmental-policy-act

Clean Water Act (CWA) 33 U.S.C §1251 et seq.  (1972) https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act

The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law governing water pollution.

Lead Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Section 404 of the CWA regulates the placement of dredged or fill material into wetlands, lakes, streams rivers, estuaries and certain other types of waters. The goal of Section 404 is to avoid and minimize losses to wetlands and other waters and to compensate for unavoidable loss through mitigation and restoration.  Section 404 is jointly implemented by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).  The Corps issues Section 404 permits and monitors compliance with the issued permits. 

Both the Corps and EPA are responsible for on-site investigations and enforcement of unpermitted discharges under CWA Section 404.  The joint implementation of the Section 404 enforcement program is outlined in a 1989 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the agencies.

The Section 404 Permitting web page contains more detailed information. 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) 16 U.S.C. §1531 et seq. (1973) https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-endangered-species-act

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found. 

Lead Federal Agencies: United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service

U.S. Fish and WIldlife prepares a Biological Opinion when an action is likely to adversely affect a listed species. The conclusion of the biological opinion will state whether the Federal agency has insured that its action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species and/or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. 

Often, an action is reasonably certain to result in the incidental take of a species, but is not likely to jeopardize its continued existence. When this happens, the Service provides the Federal agency with an incidental take statement with the biological opinion. The anticipated incidental take is not subject to the take prohibitions of the ESA as long as the Federal agency or applicant implements the terms and conditions provided in the incidental take statement.

Incidental take permits (ESA Section 10 page 28)

Incidental take permits are required when non-Federal activities will result in take of threatened or endangered species. A habitat conservation plan or “HCP” must accompany an application for an incidental take permit. The habitat conservation plan associated with the permit ensures that the effects of the authorized incidental take are adequately minimized and mitigated.

NEPA 

Air Quality Implementation Plans Status of California Designated Areas

San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board 

San Juan Creek and Western San Mateo Creek Watersheds SAMP Draft EIR Chapter 2.0 Project Coordination Efforts and Overview of Potential Projects

September 23, 2014 ORDER WQ 2014-15 In the Matter of the Petition of FOOTHILL/EASTERN TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AGENCY For Review of the Denial of Waste Discharge Requirements, Revised Tentative Order No. R9-2013-0007 for the Tesoro Extension (SR 241) Project, Orange County by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region SWRCB/OCC FILE A-2259 

September 23, 2014 CORRECTED CERTIFICATION: SWRCB/OCC File A-2259 In the Matter of the Petition of FOOTHILL/EASTERN TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AGENCY For Review of the Denial of Waste Discharge Requirements, Revised Tentative Order No. R9-2013-0007 for the Tesoro Extension (SR 241) Project, Orange County by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region SWRCB/OCC FILE A-2259 

San Juan Creek and Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan SAMP (Orange County)

SAMP

Planning Level Delineation for the SJC/WSMC Watershed SAMP (September 19, 2000)

Assessment of Riparian Ecosystem Integrity for SJC/WSMC Watershed SAMP (2004)

Riparian Ecosystem Restoration Plan for San Juan Creek and Western San Mateo Creek Watersheds: General Design Criteria and Site Selection (2004)

Volume I (2005): Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Volume II (2005): EIS Figures 

Volume III (2005): (Available Upon Request)

Volume IV (2005): Responses to Comments

Army Corps Of Engineers Special Public Notice 199916236-1-YJC (Alternative Permitting Process)

Army Corps Of Engineers Special Public Notice 199916236-2-YJC (non- RMV Subarea)

Army Corps Of Engineers Special Public Notice 199916236-3-YJC (RMV Subarea)

Biological Opinion for Southern Subregion Habitat Conservation Plan (2007)

¹ US Army Corps of Engineers Documentation for San Juan Creek/Western San Mateo Creek Watershed SAMP (Orange County):  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SAMP-Permitting-and-Research/SAMP-Documents/

² September 19, 2000: Planning Level Wetland Delineation and Geospatial Characterization of San Juan and Portions of San Mateo Watersheds, Orange County, California  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/Planning_Level_Delineation_for_SJCWSMC_Watershed.pdf?ver=2017-07-31-114300-797

³ October 2000: Assessment of Riparian Ecosystem Integrity In the San Juan/San Mateo Watersheds, Orange County, California  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/Assessment_of_Riparian_Ecosystem_Integrity_for_SJCWSMC_Watershed.pdf?ver=2017-07-31-114230-013 Page 1 "The Los Angeles District is conducting the SAMP in coordination with the existing and the proposed amendment to the Central - Coastal Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP)."

⁴ August 2004 Riparian Ecosystem Restoration Plan for San Juan Creek and Western San Mateo Creek Watersheds: General Design Criteria and Site Selection  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/Riparian_Ecosystem_Restoration_Plan_for_SJCWSMC_Watershed.pdf?ver=2017-07-31-114300-937

⁵ November 21, 2005 Special Public Notice: Letter of Permission procedures for areas within RMV Planning Area in the San Juan Creek/Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan.   https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/Public_Notice_for_SJCWSMC_Watershed_SAMP_RMVSubarea.pdf?ver=2018-01-01-101113-913 Page 5 "The SAMP cooperative process will result in two products: an alternate permitting system to authorize the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into WoUS while protecting higher value aquatic resources and a comprehensive aquatic resources conservation program. The alternate permitting system involves the establishment of abbreviated permit procedures in the form of an RGP and LOPs in combination with the use of certain NWPs."

⁶ November 21, 2005 Special Public Notice: Letter of Permission procedures for areas outside RMV Planning Area in the San Juan Creek/Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan.  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/Public_Notice_for_SJCWSMC_Watershed_SAMP_Non-RMVSubarea.pdf?ver=2018-01-01-101111-197

⁷ November 2005 Environmental Impact Statement for the SJC/WSMC Watershed SAMP

▪ ⁸ Volume I: Draft Environmental Impact Statement San Juan Creek and western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/EIS%20for%20SJCWSMC%20SAMP%20(Vol%201).pdf?ver=2018-03-26-191927-697
▪ ⁹ Volume 2
▪ Volume 3 (available upon request)
▪ ¹⁰ Volume 4: Enviornmental Impact Statement San Juan Creek and Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) Volume IV: Responses to Comments   https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/EIS%20for%20SJCWSMC%20SAMP%20(Vol%204).pdf?ver=2018-03-26-191826-010

July 2006 Appendix S Rancho Mission Viejo Covered Activities   https://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/HCPs/SOOCSRHCP/Orange%20County%20Southern%20Subregion%20HCP%20Appendices/Appendix%20S%20-%20RMV%20Covered%20Activities/Appendix%20S%20-%20RMV%20Covered%20Activities.pdf

¹¹January 10, 2007 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion 1-6-07-F-812.8 Intra-Service Formal Section 7 Consultation/Conference for Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit (TE144113-0, TE144140-0, and TE144105-0) for The Southern Orange Natural Community Conservation Plan/ Master Streambed Alteration Agreement/ Habitat Conservation Plan, Orange County, California  https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/regulatory/Projects/SAMP/BO_for_Southern_Subregion_HCP.pdf?ver=2018-01-01-101138-023

August 2002 San Juan Creek Watershed Management Study, Orange County, California Feasibility Phase F-5 Report  https://web.archive.org/web/20060313181627/http://www.ocwatersheds.com/watersheds/pdfs/San_Juan_Creek_F5_Report_August_2002.pdf 

US Army Corps of Engineers: SAMP Background https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SAMP-Permitting-and-Research/SAMP-Background/ 

February 12, 2007 Letter from United States Environmental Protection Agency re: Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the San Juan Creek and Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) (CEQ # 60543)  https://archive.epa.gov/region9/nepa/web/pdf/san-juan-creek-feis.pdf

July 16, 2015 Letter from Salas Gerard, Senior Project Manager USACOE Letter RE: (File No. SPL-2015-00054-GS) for a Department of Army permit for your proposed project, "F" Street from "A" Street to Oso Parkway, in Rancho Mission Viejo, previously evaluated as part of the Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) for San Juan Creek/Western San Mateo Creek watersheds and for the associated long-term Department of the Army (DA) permit (SPL-1999-16236), issued March 23, 2007. Specifically, and as shown on the attached drawings, you are authorized to conduct the
following regulated activities:

1. Permanently discharge fill material onto 0.019 acre of non wetland waters of the United
   States (Road Gap 1) to construct a new County of Orange arterial road called F Street,
   from Cow Camp Road to Oso Parkway (see attached Figure 4); and
2. Permanently discharge fill material onto 0.07 acre of non wetland waters of the United
   States (Road Gap 9) to construct a new County of Orange arterial road called F Street,
   from Cow Camp Road to Oso Parkway (see attached Figure 5).

San Juan/San Mateo Watershed SAMP/MSAA

A special Management Plan (SAMP) and Master Streambed Alteration Agreement (MSAA) is being prepared jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the (CDFG) California Department of Fish and Game and covers generally those portions of San Juan Creek and San Mateo Creek watersheds located within the Southern NCCP/HCP Subregion. As in the case of the NCCP/HCP, the SAMP/MSAA is a voluntary process. The purpose of the SAMP/MSAA is to provide for the protection and long-term management of sensitive aquatic resources (biological and hydrological) on a landscape level. The SAMP/MSAA is also designed to enable economic uses within the SAMP study area portions of the San Juan Creek watershed consistent with the requirements of federal and state laws (particularly the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), including Sections 401 and 404) and California Fish and Game Code Sections 1600 et seq.

¹² (NCCP) Natural Community Conservation Planning Act of 1991 (AB 2172) adopted by California Legislature: California Fish and Game Code Section 2800   http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FGC&sectionNum=2800 

¹³Draft NCCP/MSAA/HCP   https://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/HCPs/SOOCSRHCP/Orange%20County%20Southern%20Subregion%20HCP/So_OR%20HCP%20CHAPTER%201%20-%20Intro.pdf

CEQA SCH Number 2006061140 https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/Project/2006061140 (29 documents in project) Title:South Subregion Natural Community Conservation Plan / Master Streambed Alteration Agreement / Habitat Conservation PlanDescriptionCDFW is intending to execute a Sub-Notification Approval for Master Streambed Alteration Agreement NO. 1600-2006-0438-0013-R5 pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code #1600-2006-0438-0013-R5 to the project applicant . Rancho Mission Viejo, LLC. The Planning Areas 3 and 4, Cow Camp Road Bridge over San Juan Creek and Grandeza Bridge over Gobernadora Creek Project will permanently impact 39.77 acres of stream habitat, and temporarily impact 2.42 acres of steam habitat. Temporary impacts will be re-contoured and restored withy native vegetation. Compensatory mitigation for permanent impacts will consists of arundo removal, phased land dedication as described in the Master Streamed Alteration Agreement, as well as 20.40 acres of stream restoration.

Draft Southern NCCP/MSAA/HCP June 2006 The Southern Natural Community Conservation Plan/Master Streambed Alteration Agreement/Habitat Conservation Plan 

NCCP/HCP 

NCCP/HCP COUNTY OF ORANGE SUBREGION: CENTRAL AND COASTAL 

Natural Community Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion:

Notice of Determination California Department of Fish and Game July 17, 1996 .https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=34758&inline 

NCCP/HCP Plan Parts I & II July 17, 1996  https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCP-Parts-I-II-Plan.pdf

NCCP/HCP Plan Part III: Joint Programmatic EIR/EIS May 1996 https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCP-Part-III-EIR.pdf

NCCP/HCP Implementation Agreement July 17, 1996 https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Implementation-Agreement.pdf

NCCP/HCP Map Section (Figures 1 through 75) https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCP-EIR-Map-Section.pdf

2003 Revised NCCP/HCP Plan https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NROC-HREP-HabRestPlan.pdf 

Reserve Map https://occonservation.org/land-areas/reserve-map/

NCCP/HCP COUNTY OF ORANGE SUBREGION: SOUTH  

The Southern Natural   Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (Southern NCCP/HCP) is being prepared by the County of Orange in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) in accordance with the provisions of the state natural Community Conservation Planning Act of 1991 (NCCP Act), and the California Endagered Species Act (CSEA), and the Federal Endangered Species Act (FSEA). The Southern Orange County Subregion is part of the five -county NCCP study Area established by the State as the Pilot Study Area under the NCCP Program.

¹⁴ County of Orange The Natural Communities Coalition (NCC) (Implementing Entity) https://occonservation.org/about-ncc/

¹⁵July 17, 1995 Natural Community Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion Parts 1 & 11: NCCP/HCP https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCP-Parts-I-II-Plan.pdf

¹⁶ May 1996  Natural Community Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion Parts III: Joint Programmatic EIR/EIS https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCP-Part-III-EIR.pdf

¹⁷July 17, 1996 Natural Community Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion Parts 1 & 11: NCCP/HCP Implementation Agreement https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Implementation-Agreement.pdf

¹⁸ May 1996 Natural Community Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan County of Orange Central & Coastal Subregion Map Section (Figures 1 through 76) https://occonservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NCCP-EIR-Map-Section.pdf

¹⁹ Monitoring Reports https://occonservation.org/

²⁰ California Department of Fish and Game July 17, 1996 Notice of Determination Orange County Central Coastal Subregion Natural Communities Conservation/Habitat Conservation Plan. https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=34758&inline

County of Orange/Rancho Mission Viejo GPA/ZC

²¹ Orange County Transportation Authority NCCP/HCP https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Planning/NCCP/Plans/OCTA

²² OCTA Planning Agreement C-9-0279 https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=16025&inline 

²³Amended 2016 (with an effective date of January 21, 2010? extending agreement to January 12, 2018) Planning Agreement 2810-2008-003-05 https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=135915&inline

²⁴ July 2011 Independent Science Advisors Report Orange County Transportation Authority M2 NCCP/HCP https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=69410&inline

²⁵ Nov 2016 Plan Documents [ERROR Broken Link] http://www.octa.net/Projects-and-Programs/Measure-M/Measure-M2-%282011-2041%29/Freeway-Mitigation/Conservation-Plan/

²⁶ Nov 2016 Environmental Review Documents (EIR, EIS) [ERROR Broken Link] http://www.octa.net/Projects-and-Programs/Measure-M/Measure-M2-%282011-2041%29/Freeway-Mitigation/Conservation-Plan/

²⁷ 2016 Implementing Agreement https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=146327&inline

²⁸ June 2017 California Department of Fish and Wildlife findings of fact under the California Environmental Quality Act and the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act and Natural Community Conservation Plan Permit # 2835-2017-001-05 https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=146326&inline

Rancho Mission Viejo Conceptual Water Quality Management Plan

²⁹ Rancho Mission Viejo Conceptual Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP)    https://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/HCPs/SOOCSRHCP/Orange%20County%20Southern%20Subregion%20HCP%20Appendices/Appendix%20K%20-%20Water%20Quality%20Management%20Plan/Appendix%20K/WQMP/WQMP.pdf

Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for South Orange County updated 2018 https://www.mnwd.com/app/uploads/2018/08/2018-SOC-IRWMP.pdf

Chiquita Canyon

April 18, 2004 (USACE) US Army Corps of Engineers Deliniation of Areas Subject to the Jurisdiction of the US Army Corpos of Engineers Jurisdiction Planning Area 2 -  Chiquita Canyon USACE 14.08 Acres page 5  Road Gaps page 22 Map page 24   https://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/HCPs/SOOCSRHCP/Orange%20County%20Southern%20Subregion%20HCP%20Appendices/Appendix%20R%20-%20Jurisdictional%20Delineation/Project%20Level%20Delineation%20Report.pdf 

US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg?query=Rancho+Mission+Viejo

November 16, 2005 Notice of availability for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the San Juan Creek Watershed/Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan (SAMP), Orange County, CA Document Number: 05-22718 Document Type: Notice, Agency: Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2005/11/16/05-22718.html Document Number: 05-22718 Type: Notice Agency: US Department of the Interior Army Corps of Engineers

November 13, 2006 Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Orange County Southern Subregion Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan, Orange County CA Document Number: E6-18971 Type: Notice  Agency: US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/agencies/department-of-the-interior/fish-and-wildlife-service?page=110

October 7, 2010 Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the San Juan Creek and Tributaries Flood Risk Management Study, Orange County, CA Document Number: 2010-25351 Type: Notice Date: 2010-10-07 Agency: Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Engineers Corps, Army Department https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2010/10/07/2010-25351.html

November 7, 2014 Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County, California; M2 Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement, and Incidental Take Permit Application Document Number: 2014-26361 Type: Notice Date: 2014-11-07 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2014/11/07/2014-26361.html

Southern California Association of Governments

Southern California Association of Governments Final Federal Transportation Improvement Program Orange County Project listing 

http://ftip.scag.ca.gov/Documents/F2017-FTIP-ProjectListingA.pdf Project ID ORA051

TCA

August 1990 San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Report Impact Statement and Section 4(F) Evaluation TCA EIR/EIS 1  

December 1992 Eastern Transportation Corridor Suplemental Environmental Impact Statement TCA EIS 2-1

February 2013 The Tesoro Extension Project: Addendum to the South Orange County Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Project (SOCTIIP) Final subsequent Environmental Impact Report SCH# 2001061046