A10. J6_Decision Memo_SanFrancisquitoFireStn&Barcks (Draft).pdf

DRAFT

— Decision Memo —

DECISION MEMO

SAN FRANCISQUITO STATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District Angeles National Forest

U.S. Forest Service Los Angeles County, California

INTRODUCTION

The Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District of the Angeles National Forest (ANF) is proposing to build a new fire station and a new barracks building on an existing administrative site within the ANF. During the past 30 years, there have been numerous fire-starts in proximity to the proposed site. The ANF needs safe, efficient fire response facilities to effectively respond to wildland fire incidents.

Purpose and Need

The purpose of this project is to construct a new fire station and barracks on an existing administrative site within the ANF to protect resources and ANF assets by consolidating two deficient fire stations into one centrally located fire administration site that would effectively support wildland fire response and suppression efforts.

There are two fire stations in the vicinity: San Francisquito Station and Green Valley Station.

San Francisquito Station is downslope of an extremely unstable hillside that cannot be economically stabilized. During severe weather events, employees and equipment have been forced to evacuate to avoid the landslide hazard. The Green Valley Station’s foundation is failing and beyond feasible repair. The combined size of the two existing stations is approximately 7,215 square feet.

Given the changed conditions in the wake of the Powerhouse fire that burned through the area and burned more than 30,000 acres in 2013, there is a critical need to replace the two fire station structures at risk of becoming uninhabitable due to these safety hazards. A safe and efficient fire station with barracks is needed to house fire personnel in a facility that meets current safety codes and standards.

Site Location

The new proposed fire station is located approximately two miles up the road from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) hydroelectric Power Plant 1 in Santa Clarita. The proposed site currently has a residential building and a detached garage owned by the LADWP that will both be demolished prior to starting the new construction (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Map of Project Area and Waterline Project Area

PROPOSED ACTION

The new fire station is a single-story building of approximately 7,000 square feet and includes bay space for up to four fire engines. The new barracks is a single-story building of approximately 3,500 square feet.

The Proposed Action would include design and construction of a new fire station, a new barracks and supporting appurtenances. The proposed landscaping would use drought-tolerant plants and recycled water to assist with irrigation. The contract package would also include hazmat remediation, decommissioning and demolition of the existing residence and detached garage, along with the removal of all trees and plants within the fire station project area.

A new waterline would be installed below ground to provide potable water to the administrative site. The location of the waterline would follow along Runner Road and continue along the shoulder of the south side of San Francisquito Canyon Road to where it would connect to the LADWP Aqueduct (Figure 1) with an LADWP-constructed wet-tapped waterline, a use meter, and a concrete pad on the berm near the large thrust block and within the LADWP right-of-way.

DECISION

I have decided to implement the Proposed Action as described above.

This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The applicable category of actions is identified in agency procedures as:

36 CFR Part 220 § 220.6(e)(21) Construction, reconstruction, decommissioning, relocation, or disposal of buildings, infrastructure, or other improvements at an existing administrative site, as that term is defined in section 502(1) of Public Law No. 109-54 (119 Stat. 559; 16 U.S.C. 580d note).

I find that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. I took into account resource conditions identified in agency procedures that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances might exist:

Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species

– There is the chance for Forest Service Sensitive Species Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus), Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) or Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes) to be occupying the buildings that would be demolished. Biological surveys will be conducted to ensure no bats are occupying the buildings prior to any demolition activities. There is the chance for Forest Service Sensitive Species California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) and San Bernardino Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra) to have presence in the project area. Biological surveys will be conducted to allow for detection of any lizards or snakes in the project area prior to project implementation. There are no other listed threatened or endangered species, designated critical habitat, Forest Service sensitive species or species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, in or nearby the project area.

Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds – The project area is not located within any flood plains, wetlands or municipal watersheds.

Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas – This project is not located within any Congressionally-designated area.

Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas – This project is not located within an inventoried roadless area or potential wilderness areas.

Research natural areas – The project is not located within any research natural areas.

American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites – No Native American historic properties are within the project area. The efforts to identify historic properties included the completion of a Sacred Lands File (SLF) search through the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), a record and literature search, and a cultural resources inventory of the project. The SLF search was received on December 28, 2020 and was negative for the project area. The NAHC provided a list of tribes potentially interested in the proposed project area. USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers), Sacramento District (SPK) on behalf of the United States Forest Service - Angeles National Forest (USFS-ANF), consulted with all potentially interested tribes on January 4, 2021, requesting information about culturally important resources or properties in, or near, the project area that should be considered for the project. The potentially interested tribes consulted with included the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, San Fernando Band of Mission Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Serrano Nation of Mission Indians.

The consultation period has ended, and no responses were received from any of the interested tribes, indicating that no sites of tribal importance are within the project area.

Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas – A single historic era resource was identified. The historic resource is a powerplant workers housing complex, consisting of five single-family residences, and is attributed to the San Francisquito Power Plant No. 1, built as part of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. The housing complex is assumed eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as contributing to the significance of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. The proposed project would remove one of the residences and a non-historic detached garage. The USFS-ANF has made a finding of No Adverse Effect to Historic Properties (36 CFR § 800.5 [d][1]) for the project.

Consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 USC § 306108; 36 CFR Part 800) occurred on August 2, 2021 (USFS_2021_0602_001) with a letter of concurrence on the finding of No Historic Properties Affected, 36 CFR §800.4(d)(1).

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The project was posted on the Angeles Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) on May 04, 2021.

A short description of the project was posted on the project website along with a map. The scoping notification email was sent to individuals and agencies on the mailing list. One comment was received. The comment was in favor of the Proposed Action. Internal scoping also occurred, and no outstanding issues were identified during the internal scoping process.

FINDINGS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS

The Proposed Action is consistent with Forest Service Standards and Guidelines in the Angeles National Forest Land Management Plan, as required by the National Forest Management Act of 1976.

Endangered Species Act.

A Biological Evaluation / Biological Assessment was prepared in accordance with Forest Service Manual (FSM) direction 2672.4 and meets legal requirements set forth under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and implementing regulations [19 U.S.C. 1536 (c), 50 CFR 402.12 (f) and 402.14 (c)].

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 470 et seq.).

Full Compliance. The National Historic Preservation Act protects and preserves historical and archaeological sites in the United States of America. The act created the National Register of Historic Places, the list of National Historic Landmarks, and the State Historic Preservation Offices. Section 106 of the NHPA consultation has been initiated with potentially interested tribes and the SHPO beginning on June 1, 2021. The SHPO concurred with a project finding of No Historic Properties Affected, 36 CFR §800.4(d)(1), in a letter dated August 2, 2021 (USFS_ 2021_0602_001).

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW (APPEAL) OPPORTUNITIES

This decision is not subject to administrative review pursuant to 36 CFR Part 218.

IMPLEMENTATION DATE

Implementation may begin upon signing of the decision.

CONTACT

For additional information concerning this decision, contact Ricardo Lopez, Forest Engineer, ricardo.lopez2@usda.gov.

N. Jamahl Butler, District Ranger Date Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District Angeles National Forest

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

NICHOLAS BUTLER Digitally signed by NICHOLAS BUTLER Date: 2022.02.08 14:14:01 -08'00'

Appendix A. Avoidance and Minimization Measures

Wildlife

Operations that result in high levels of disturbance and/or removal of vegetation should be conducted outside of the migratory bird nesting season when possible. Nesting season is February 20 -September 20. The project area and immediate surrounding area will be surveyed for nesting birds prior to any work commencing during the nesting season. If migratory birds, such as Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa), Lawrence's Goldfinch (Carduelis lawrencei), Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii), Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus clementae) or Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), are displaying signs of nesting activities, at or in immediate surrounding areas to the project site, no work would occur in the vicinity of the nesting activities until any chicks have fledged.

There is the chance these Forest Service Sensitive Species may be present in the buildings: Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus), Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) or Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes). Prior to any demolition of the residential building or detached garage, bat surveys will be conducted to ensure no bats are occupying the buildings.

There is the chance for California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) to be occupying the project area. The project area would be surveyed prior to project implementation. If any California Legless Lizards are encountered during the survey, they will be allowed the opportunity to vacate the site or if necessary, they will be relocated out of the area of disturbance.