HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 3CITY OF
LADE LSINOIkE
DREAM EXTREME-
REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN
AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: WARREN MORELION, AICP
ACTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: AUGUST 21, 2012
SUBJECT: RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2011-01 - RECLAMATION PLAN
FOR A 90.5 ACRE MINING SITE (BRIGHTON ALBERHILL
MINE), GENERALLY LOCATED WEST OF THE 1-15
FREEWAY BETWEEN NICHOLS ROAD AND LAKE
STREET. RECLAMATION WILL INCLUDE BUT IS NOT
LIMITED TO RESTORATION AND REVEGETATION OF ANY
DISTURBED LAND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT
SITE.
APPLICANT: CHAD WARREN, PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS, INC, 14741
LAKE STREET, LAKE ELSINORE CA 92530
OWNER: TOM TOMLINSON, CASTLE AND COOK LAKE ELSINORE
WEST, INC., 6455 ALBERHILL RANCH ROAD, LAKE
ELSINORE CA 92530
PROJECT REQUEST
The applicant is requesting approval of a Reclamation Plan for a 90.5-acre site known as
the Brighton Alberhill Mine (the "Project'). The subject request is an amendment to the
previously approved Reclamation Plan (Reclamation Plan-112) covering the site that is
recommended by State Office of Mine Reclamation which is further discussed below. The
Reclamation Plan outlines how the previously mined land on the site will be reclaimed,
rehabilitated, and revegetated. The Reclamation Plan has been reviewed pursuant to state
law, Lake Elsinore Municipal Code (LEMC) Chapter 14.04, and Brighton Alberhill Ranch
Specific Plan Amendment No. 1.
PROJECT LOCATION
The 90.5 acre site which forms the basis for the Reclamation Plan is located in the
northern part of the City of Lake Elsinore, west of the 1-15 freeway where Nichols Road
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 2 of 8
intersects with Lake Street, and which is more particularly described in Exhibit "A" attached
hereto (the "Project Site"). The Project Site is bordered by Nichols Road and Lake Street
and is composed of a series of vacant, rolling to steep hills, which contained at one time a
significant deposit of shale and coal. The Project Site is accessible from Nichols Road,
near Lake Street. All mining ceased on the Project Site and the original 90-1 Reclamation
Plan was adopted and approved by the Planning Commission in 1990.
The Project Site is generally located adjacent and proximate to Pacific Clay Reclamation
Plan Mine Amendment 112, approved in 2011, and Wyroc Reclamation Plan and Surface
Mine 90-3 and 92-1, approved by the Planning Commission on April 7, 1993. Both
adjacent mines are "actively" mining and have associated Reclamation and CEQA
Conditions and Mitigation Measures.
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
Undeveloped and vacant areas neighbor the Project Site to the north and northwest. Lake
Street borders the southwestern perimeter of the Project Site. Pacific Clay active mining
borders the western boundary. Alberhill Ranch Single-family residences are located to the
southeast.
EXISTING
ZONING
GENERAL PLAN
LAND- .USE
Project
Vacant
BrightonAlberhill Ranch
Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan
Site
Specific Plan
North
Vacant/
Riverside County
Mountainous and Open Space
Single-Family
(Riverside County General
Residential
Plan
South
Alberhill
Specific Plan
Specific Plan
Ranch
East
Vacant/
Riverside County
Mountainous (Riverside
Existing High
County General Plan)
School
West
Pacific Clay
Mining and future multi
Residential mixed use and
RP-112
land uses
mining
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Pacific Clay Products Incorporated ('Pacific Clay") Operator, and Castle and Cooke,
Owner, requests review and approval of a Reclamation Plan for the Project Site by the
Planning Commission. Planning Commission approval of the Reclamation Plan is a
requirement of the City Code and State law.
A Reclamation Plan is a document that outlines the combined process of land treatment
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 3 of 8
that minimizes water degradation, air pollution, damage to aquatic or wildlife habitat,
flooding, erosion and other adverse effects from surface mining operations. The goal of a
Reclamation Plan is to restore former mined lands to a safe and usable condition which is
readily adaptable for alternate land uses compatible with zoning and the general plan, in
this case private open space. The Reclamation Plan process, in this case, involves minor
backfilling, limited grading, track-walking to smooth out erosional features, resoiling and
amending, revegetation, soil compaction, stabilization, irrigation, and other measures. No
mining is currently being conducted on the Project Site or included in this Reclamation
Plan.
The scope of rehabilitation set forth in the Reclamation Plan is dependent upon the extent
of disturbance that is caused by the historic surface mining operations. The Reclamation
Plan is unique to the site conditions and contains minimal discussion of the mining
operations since mining has ceased. The purpose of the Reclamation Plan is to establish
the methodology and strategy for rehabilitating and revitalizing the impacted areas back to
a native plant condition over a 5 year time frame.
Extraction activities at the former Brighton Alberhill 1,000 acre Mine impacted
approximately 400 acres of which 90 of the remaining acres are targeted for Reclamation.
The other 310 mined acres are not identified as part of the Reclamation Plan because they
have already returned to native habitat. The adjacent remaining approximate 600 acres are
owned by the County of Riverside.
The Reclamation activities will be broken down into multiple phases over a fivr year period.
Reclamation activities will be ongoing for these five years, which will begin immediately
following Planning Commission approval. The reclamation is designed to reclaim,
rehabilitate and revegetate the land previously used by Pacific Clay for mining purposes.
Natural easterly onsite ridgelines along the 1-15 freeway will be used to limit views of the
Reclamation operations.
Though the Project Site is currently surrounded by undeveloped and vacant areas to the
north and immediate west, residential and commercial developments are currently being
developed adjacent to the Reclamation Project Site pursuant to the Murdock Alberhill
Ranch Specific Plan. Once Reclamation of the Project Site is complete, the area will be
compatible with land uses which are contemplated by the Brighton Alberhill Ranch Specific
Plan Amendment No. 1 adopted in August 27, 1991 by the City Council.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Pacific Clay and Castle and Cooke own approximately 2,600 acres of land adjacent to the
1-15 freeway, most of which lies within the City's boundaries and a small portion of which
lies within the County's boundaries. Pacific Clay has operated a major brick production
operation at its Pacific Clay mine, adjacent to the Project Site since the early 1900s.
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 4 of 8
In 1975, the California Legislature adopted the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (Cal.
Pub. Res. Code 2710 et seq.: "SMARA" SMARA is designed to protect the extraction
of minerals as an essential element to the continued economic well-being of the state. In
enacting SMARA, the Legislature expressly intended to create and maintain an effective
and comprehensive surface mining and reclamation policy for the regulation of surface
mining operations. To this end, SMARA requires all surface mining operations obtain a
surface mining permit from the lead agency and have approved by the lead agency a
reclamation plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, SMARA exempts certain projects from the surface mining
permit requirement. According to SMARA, if a project has a vested mining right, the
project does not need to obtain a surface mining permit and can continue its mining
operation consistent with prior procedures. The project is not relieved, however, of the
requirement to prepare a reclamation plan to return the mined area to a safe and stable
condition.
Brighton Alberhill Mine today located on the Reclamation Plan 90.5 acres is part of Pacific
Clay's 2,600 acres of land and represents a small portion of Pacific Clay's overall mining
operation which has been ongoing since the early 1900s. Pacific Clay and other land
owners had a vested right to mine on the Project Site. After the passage of SMARA,
Pacific Clay sought and secured permits from the County of Riverside for all mining
operations. In addition, Pacific Clay submitted to the County with subsequent approval,
Reclamation Plan-112 covering the Pacific Clay and other properties. Recently the RP 112
boundaries have been modified in coordination with the owner, the City and the State
OMR. RP 90-1 was subsequently adopted by the City to cover the separate Brighton
ownership. Pursuant to the change to RP 112 in 2011, the OMR has recommended the
subject Reclamation Plan Amendment to RP-90-1 on the former Brighton Alberhill Mine for
Reclamation purposes only. This amendment now before the Planning Commission was
recommended by OMR to update and bring current the conditions of the previously
approved Reclamation Plan.
On September 5, 1990 the Planning Commission approved Reclamation Plan 90-1 for
approximately 1,000 acres formerly owned by Brighton Homes. This 90-1 Reclamation
Plan has expired and necessitates the amendment to a new Reclamation Plan
(Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01) covering the remaining 400 acre mined area now owned
by Castle and Cooke. Only 90.5 acres of the 400 acre mine site is proposed for
reclamation or re-landscaping. The remaining 600 acres of the former Brighton mine is
now owned by the County of Riverside.
The State Office of Mining and Reclamation (OMR) and our City Engineering Department
has reviewed and approved this draft Reclamation Plan now before the Planning
Commission.
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 5 of 8
The Project Site is within the City's boundaries and is physically separated from Pacific
Clay's larger brick production operation off of Temescal Canyon Road. The lead agency
for the Nichols Canyon Mine is the City of Lake Elsinore. As such, the attached
Reclamation Plan has been submitted for review and approval by the City.
Zoning for the Project Site is governed by the Brighton Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan for a
mix of commercial and residential land uses. The open space uses outlined in the
Reclamation Plan are consistent with the provisions of the Brighton Alberhill Ranch
Specific Plan and associated amendments, including Brighton Alberhill Ranch Specific
Plan Amendment No. 1. The Reclamation Plan is designed to reclaim, rehabilitate, and
revegetate the 90.5 acres of mined land. Mitigation measures have been included in the
Reclamation Plan, Mitigated Negative Declaration, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Program, and Conditions of Approval to minimize potentially significant impacts of the
Project on the surrounding community and environment. The Reclamation Plan satisfies
the City's Surface Mining and Reclamation policies set forth in Lake Elsinore Municipal
Code Chapter 14.04. The Project Site is presently vacant and undeveloped.
ANALYSIS
Riverside County is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. Pacific
Aggregates' available resources of quality shale-based clay material will not meet the
projected future demand of the national, regional and local markets that the company
serves. The Project Site did contain areas of significant shale deposits which were
extracted and used by Pacific Clay and others in its production of brick and other mineral
products. Additionally, the extracted material was important for Pacific Aggregates'
residual mineral usage. The Project Site did help satisfy the rising demand for certain raw
materials that are needed to support the dynamic growth taking place in the Inland Empire.
Mining has now ceased on the Project Site.
The following is a list of objectives that the Reclamation Plan is designed to achieve
1) To develop a Reclamation Plan that meets City of Lake Elsinore Municipal
Code Chapter 14.04 for the City's implementation of SMARA;
2) To reclaim an existing mining site while limiting off-site visual, noise, or air
quality impacts;
3) To reclaim the site for native open space;
4) To reclaim and maintain the site as necessary to a condition to eliminate
hazards to public health and safety with adequate security and fencing; and
5) To preserve sensitive existing plant and animal species and habitat that has
developed within the mine areas.
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 6 of 8
The Reclamation Plan has been prepared pursuant to Lake Elsinore Municipal Code
Chapter 14.04. The Reclamation Plan proposes design treatments to minimize impacts of
restoration activities on neighboring residences. Setback standards set forth in the Lake
Elsinore Municipal Code and conditions of approval will be used to further separate the
proposed reclamation uses from neighboring uses. With the implementation of mitigation
contained in the Reclamation Plan, Mitigated Negative Declaration, Mitigation Monitoring
and Reporting Program, and conditions of approval, all potentially significant environmental
impacts have been mitigated to a level of insignificance. Importantly, mining has ceased in
this Reclamation Plan area, therefore no mining activity occurs on site with the
consequential elimination of mining related noise, light, glare and dust emitting from the
site. No mining trucks will venture onto public streets exiting from within the 90-1 area,
increasing public safety.
All Reclamation operations are being conducted in compliance with all State and Federal
Clean Water Act storm water pollution programs, thus assuring that the integrity of the
existing conditions of Temescal Creek are protected.
A set of Conditions and CEQA Mitigation Measures implemented via an Annual Monitoring
Plan are recommended for adoption by the Planning Commission. This set of Conditions
requires a very strict Monitoring and Reporting program to insure reclamation re-vegetation
occurs within five years.
At the writing of this report, comments on the project have been received from the
Department of Transportation, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the South
Coast Air Quality Management District, the Pechanga, Soboba, Morongo, and Pala Native
American Tribes, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), further discussed below.
• Department of Transportation: The Department of Transportation was concerned
about the truck traffic coming off the project site. Truck traffic is not anticipated to
not cause impacts to the surrounding roadways or area, as the vehicles associated
with the project will consist of a few pickup trucks, a water truck and small tractors
that will pordomitly remain on site. These vehicles are also associated with the on-
going storm water protection activities of Castle and Cooke required under a
separate Storm Water permit.
• Department of Toxic Substances Control: The Department of Toxic Substances
Control letter outlined measures to follow as part of the Reclamation Plan project.
• South Coast Air Quality Management District: South Coast Air Quality Management
Districts express concerns regarding mining activity and truck trips relating to mining
activity. All mining activity has ceased and truck trips are not anticipated to be an
issue as described above.
• Pechanga, Soboba, Morongo, and Pala Native American Tribes: The Native
American Representatives stressed their concern to have adequate monitoring for
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 7 of 8
archaeological resources during reclamation. On June 21, 2012, Native American
representatives from Pechanga and Soboba visited the site to review the area. In
addition, Staff set up meetings with representatives of the Pechanga and Soboba
Tribes on August 8, 2012 to discuss the Project. The Pechenga representatives
stated they were not opposed to the Project, but asked that a condition be added
requiring a Tribal Monitor be present on the site during reclamation activities. The
Soboba Tribe could not attend the meeting. Condition No. 18 has been added to the
project that allows for a tribal monitor at the expense of the tribe. The EIR mitigation
monitoring program also requires archaeological monitoring of the site.
• California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG): The CDFG requested the
biological documents which were sent to the agency. The USFWS questioned the
MSHCP process for the 90-1 area.
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): The USFWS was informed that
pursuant to the prior Acquisition Agreement and 2 Memorandums of
Understandings between the Owner, County and City, the MSHCP process is
complete for the RP 90-1 area.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
Based upon an Initial Study conducted on the Reclamation Plan, Staff determined that the
Project may have potentially significant impacts on the environment. However, after
completing all technical studies, it was determined that, with appropriate mitigation, all
potentially significant effects could be mitigated to a level of insignificance. All mining,
mining truck traffic and export of mined material has ceased on the project site. The
Reclamation Plan before the Planning Commission is of short term, very straight forward
re-landscape plan carried out over five years covering 90.5 acres. The Reclamation Plan is
a mitigation measure required by the Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan EIR of which this project
is a part. Therefore, it was determined that the appropriate environmental document for the
Project is a mitigated negative declaration since mining activity and it's consequential
impacts are being lessened by this project and implement the Specific Plan and CEQA
measures .
The proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-02 has been prepared pursuantto
California Public Resources Code Section 21080.1 and Article 6 of the California
Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Guidelines (14 C.C.R. 15000 et seq.). Pursuantto
CEQA Guidelines Section 15073, Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-02 was
submitted to the County Clerk of Riverside County on June 1 for a 30-day public review
period.
The Project Site is exempt from the provisions of the Western Riverside County Multiple
Species Habitat Conservation Plan pursuant to the terms of an Acquisition Agreement
between Castle & Cooke, as the successor in interest to the TT Group, former owners, and
the County of Riverside. This Agreement acts as a MSHCP Habitat Evaluation and
Acquisition Negotiation Strategy (HANS) pursuant to Section 6. 1, A, 2, a, page 6-2 of the
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Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
August 21, 2012
Page 8 of 8
MSHCP. A current and full biological study was completed for this project along with other
technical studies. The Project does not conflict with the environmental plans or policies of
other jurisdictions.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission take the following actions:
Adopt Resolution No. 2012-_ approving Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-
02;
Adopt Resolution No. 2012-_ Findings that the Project is Exempt from the Multiple
Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP)
Adopt Resolution No. 2012-_ approving Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01. This
recommendation is based on the findings, exhibits and conditions of approval
attached to this Staff Report.
Prepared By: Kirt A. Coury, `t
Project Planner
Approved By: Warren Morelion, AICP
Acting Community Development Director
ATTACHMENTS
1: Resolution No. 2012-_ approving Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-02
2: Resolution No. 2012-_ making Findings that the Project is Exempt from the Multiple
Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP)
3: Resolution No. 2012-_ approving Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
4: Conditions of Approval
5: Exhibits
"A": Vicinity Map
"B": Location Map
"C": Site Plan
"D": Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01
"E": Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-02
"F": Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
"G": Department of Conservation letter dated March 20, 2012 and City's responses
thereto
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RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING FINDINGS THAT THE PROJECT
IDENTIFIED AS RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2011-01 IS EXEMPT FROM THE
MULTI-SPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN (MSHCP)
WHEREAS, Pacific Clay Products, Inc (Applicant) and Castle and Cooke, Lake
Elsinore West, Inc„ have submitted an application for Reclamation Plan 2011-01,
generally located on the west side of the 1-15 Freeway along Nichols Road and Lake
Street and commonly identifiable as APN(s) 389-020-062 and 064, 389-080-055 and
056, 390-130-026 and 028, 390-160-003 and 006, 390-190-014, 015, 017 and 018, 390-
200-008 and 010, 390-210-021 (the 'Project'); and,
WHEREAS, the Project site is owned by Castle and Cooke, Lake Elsinore West,
Inc. and is within the Murdock Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan area. It has been
determined by the City of Lake Elsinore that Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01 "action
area" Project site is a part of a 1,000 approximate acres that was subject to 3
transactional contract documents referred to a the "Tri-Valley Documents" relating to a
sale of land (600 acres to the County of Riverside) and the future development process
and Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, (MSHCP) mitigation for the adjacent
392 acre portion of the 1,000 acres, known as the Project site. Reclamation Plan No.
2011-01 is part of the 392 acre future development area; and,
WHEREAS, the Reclamation Plan Project site 392 acres has received a Habitat
Evaluation and Acquisition Negotiation Strategy (HANS) Equivalency Review and
Approval pursuant to MSHCP Section 6.1, A, 1, a, during the contract negotiations for
the land sale of 600 acres of open space to the County and the reservation of 392
development acres to the private land owner. The "Tri-Valley Documents" clearly state
that no further MSHCP is required for the remaining 392 acre development area. The
MSHCP HANS final decision was for a payment of MSHCP per dwelling unit fees to the
Riverside Conservation Authority (RCA) through the City of Lake Elsinore as MSHCP
Permittee at the time of building permit issuance for any and all MSHCP mitigation.
This MSHCP HANS process is clearly summarized in the following "Tri-Valley
Document; and,
WHEREAS, the "Memorandum of Understanding" between the County of
Riverside, Tri-Valley 1 and the City of Lake Elsinore with respect to 598 acres of
Property in the City of Lake Elsinore, dated February 10, 2004 notes:" (a) County and
Tri-Valley agree that all or portions of the 392 acre Developable Property is located
within the designated Criteria Cells of the MSHCP map and that the payment of the
above noted fees satisfies any and all City and County required conservation mitigation
fees for the development of Tri-Valley's 392 acre Development Property," (Page 3 of 5);
and,
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 2 OF 4
WHEREAS, once the HANS is complete, no further CEQA or NEPA biological
studies are required for any subsequent discretionary actions, state or federal pursuant
to the terms of the MSHC since the Project site area has been thoroughly reviewed by
the MSHCP Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement; and,
WHEREAS, The Reclamation Plan submittal documents have included updated
biology studies since the land owner and applicant voluntarily offered this material for
our Planning Commission information, not for Reclamation Plan, MSHCP or CEQA
discretionary permit use; and,
WHEREAS, the clear intent of the "Tri-Valley Documents", in which the City was
a part of the negotiations, and Castle and Cooke, Lake Elsinore West, Inc, is the
successor in interest to Tri-Valley" owners: was to clearly identify and guarantee the
amount of development acreage for the remainder 392 acres, after sale of the 600
acres to the County. The future certainty of this development acreage was set out in
the "Tri-Valley Documents". To allow further open space conservation reduction in
acreage or mitigation for any reason, including further MSHCP conservation actions
would violate the intent of these agreements which was to identify certain acreage for
future development consistent with our General Plan and Specific plan or zoning.; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Pub. Res.
Code 21000 et seq.: "CEQA") and the CEQA Guidelines (14 C.C.R. 15000 et
seq.), Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-02 and the corresponding Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program have been prepared to mitigate environmental
impacts resulting from the Project to a level of insignificance; and
WHEREAS, public notice of the Project has been given, and the Planning
Commission has considered evidence presented by the Community Development
Department and other interested parties at a public hearing held with respect to this
item on August 21, 2012.
NOW THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission acknowledges the "Tri-Valley
Documents" MSHCP terms and process and therefore considers the Project in
compliance with the terms of the MSHCP HANS procedures. Because the Project is
comppliant with the MSCHP, the Planning Commission takes no further MSHCP action
with regard to this Project.
SECTION 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its
passage and adoption.
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 3 OF 4
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of August 2012, by the
following vote:
Rick Morsch, Chairman
City of Lake Elsinore
ATTEST:
Warren Morelion, AICP
Acting Community Development Director
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 4 OF 4
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Warren Morelion, Planning Manager of the City of Lake Elsinore, California,
hereby certify that Resolution No. 2012- as adopted by the Planning Commission of the
City of Lake Elsinore at a regular meeting held on the 21 st day of August 2012, and that
the same was adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Warren Morelion, AICP
Planning Manager
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
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RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION NO. 2012-02
WHEREAS, Pacific Clay Products, Inc (Applicant), and Castle and Cooke, Lake
Elsinore West, Inc. (Owner), has submitted an application for Reclamation Plan No.
2011-01, generally located on the west side of the 1-15 Freeway along Nichols Road
and Lake Street and commonly identifiable as APN(s) 389-020-062 and 064, 389-080-
055 and 056, 390-130-026 and 028, 390-160-003 and 006, 390-190-014, 015, 017 and
018, 390-200-008 and 010, 390-210-021 (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the standards and requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act (Cal. Pub. Res. Code 21000 et seq.: "CEQA") and the CEQA Guidelines
apply only to discretionary projects, which are defined in CEQA Section 21065 as an
activity which may cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and which includes
the issuance to a person of a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement for
use by one or more public agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Project is a discretionary project within the meaning of Section
21065 of CEQA because it involves extensive reclamation activities which may cause
both a direct and indirect physical change in the environment and no reclamation
activities may begin on the Project site until the Planning Commission approves the
Reclamation Plan for the Project; and
WHEREAS, an Initial Study was conducted on the Project and revealed that the
Project may have potentially significant environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15070-15075, it was further
determined that all potentially significant environmental impacts could be mitigated to a
statistical level of insignificance and that it was appropriate to prepare Mitigated
Negative Declaration No. 2012-02 to address the environmental impacts of the project;
and
WHEREAS, public notice of the Project has been given, and the Planning
Commission has considered evidence presented by the Community Development
Department and other interested parties at a public hearing held with respect to this
item on August 21, 2012.
NOW THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission has considered the Project and
has found it acceptable. The Planning Commission finds and determines the Project is
consistent with the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code and determines that Mitigated
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012- 02
PAGE 2OF4
Negative Declaration No. 2012-02 is adequate and prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines.
SECTION 2. That in accordance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, the
Planning Commission makes the following findings for the approval of the Mitigated
Negative Declaration No. 2012-02:
1. Revisions in the Project plans or proposals made by or agreed to by the applicant
before a proposed mitigated negative declaration and initial study are released for
public review would avoid the effects or mitigate the effects to a point where clearly
no significant effects would occur.
The applicant has agreed to specific conditions and measures which mitigate the
potentially significant environmental effects of the Project to a level of "less than
significant.
2. There is no substantial evidence, in the light of the whole record before the agency,
that the Project as revised may have significant effect on the environment.
Pursuant to the evidence received in light of the whole record, the Project will not
have a significant effect on the environment considering the Mitigation Monitoring
and Reporting Program, and the conditions of approval.
3. The Reclamation Plan has been reviewed pursuant to CEQA and the City's
environmental review guidelines, and all significant adverse impacts from
reclamation of the surface mining operations are mitigated to the maximum extent
feasible.
Mitigated Negative Declaration 2012-02, the corresponding Mitigation Monitoring
and Reporting Program, and the corresponding conditions of approval mitigate all
environmental effects to a statistical level of insignificance.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its
passage and adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of August 2012, by the
following vote:
Rick Morsch, Chairman
City of Lake Elsinore
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012- 02
PAGE 3OF4
ATTEST:
Warren Morelion, AICP
Acting Community Development Director
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012- 02
PAGE 4 OF 4
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Warren Morelion, Acting Community Development Director of the City of Lake
Elsinore, California, hereby certify that Resolution No. 2012- as adopted by the Planning
Commission of the City of Lake Elsinore at a regular meeting held on the 21st day of
August 2012, and that the same was adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Warren Morelion, AICP
Acting Community Development Director
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
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RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA APPROVING RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2011-01
WHEREAS, in 1975, the California Legislature adopted the Surface Mining and
Reclamation Act (Cal. Pub. Res. Code 2710 et seq.: "SMARA to protect the
extraction of minerals as an essential element to the continued economic well-being of
the state: and
WHEREAS, SMARA generally requires surface mining operations to obtain a
surface mining permit and approved reclamation plan from the lead agency and to
provide financial assurances to implement the planned reclamation, but exempts certain
projects from the surface mining permit requirement based upon a vested mining right;
and
WHEREAS, the Reclamation Plan is part of a larger mining area on which
mining operations have been ongoing since the early 1900s and was originally included
within the boundaries of Reclamation Plan 112 approved by the County of Riverside in
1978; and
WHEREAS, by approval of Reclamation Plan 112, of which Reclamation Plan
No. 2011-01 was formally a part, the County of Riverside acknowledged the vested
mining use and the mining operator's intent to mine the property, recognizing that
mining of such a large site would take place over time and that once minerals were
extracted from one area, the operator would move to a new location within the site to
pursue its mineral interests; and
WHEREAS, vested mining rights run with the land and inure to the benefit of
subsequent landowners; and
WHEREAS, Castle and Cooke, Lake Elsinore West, Inc„ the successor in
interest and current owner/operator of the property, acquired the property with the intent
to mine consistent with RP 90-1 which covers the property and has submitted an
application for Reclamation Plan 2011-01, generally located on the west side of the 1-15
Freeway along Nichols Road and Lake Street and commonly identifiable as APN(s) 389-
020-062 and 064, 389-080-055 and 056, 390-130-026 and 028, 390-160-003 and 006,
390-190-014, 015, 017 and 018, 390-200-008 and 010, 390-210-021 (the "Project'); and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 14.04 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, the
Planning Commission of the City of Lake Elsinore has been delegated with the
responsibility of considering and approving, conditionally approving, or denying
Reclamation Plans; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Pub. Res.
Code 21000 et seq.: "CEQA") and the CEQA Guidelines (14 C.C.R. 15000 et
seq.), Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012- 02 and the corresponding Mitigation
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 2 OF 6
Monitoring and Reporting Program were prepared to mitigate any potentially significant
environmental effects of the Project to a statistical level of insignificance; and
WHEREAS, public notice of the proposed vested rights determination and the
Project has been given, and the Planning Commission has considered evidence
presented by the Community Development Department and other interested parties at a
public hearing held with respect to this item on August 21, 2012.
NOW THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission has considered and reviewed the
Project and based upon the staff report and testimony offered at the public hearing finds
it acceptable. The Planning Commission finds and determines that the Project is
consistent with the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code and the provisions of the state
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (Cal. Pub. Res. Code 2710 et seq.:
"SMARA").
SECTION 2.. That in accordance with Chapter 14.04 of the Lake Elsinore
Municipal Code, the Planning Commission makes the following findings for the approval
of Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01:
1. The granting of the permit or approval of the plan will not be detrimental to the public
health, welfare or safety or injurious to the property in such zone or vicinity.
Approval of the Reclamation Plan will not be detrimental to the public health, welfare
or safety or injurious to neighboring properties given that the Reclamation Plan was
designed to minimize exposure of the mining and reclamation activities to the public.
The Project design encourages concentration of mining and reclamation activities
within the inner-most boundaries of the Project site and requires set backs
consistent with the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code. The Project has been conditioned
to comply with the Lake Elsinore Noise Ordinance and is subject to all enforcement
provisions of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code. In addition, the potentially
significant environmental effects of the Project have been analyzed and have been
mitigated to a statistical level of insignificance pursuant to Mitigated Negative
Declaration 2012-02 and the corresponding Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Program.
2. The Reclamation Plan complies with SMARA § 2772 and § 2773, and any other
applicable provisions.
Reclamation Plan 2011-01 contains all of the required elements outlined in SMARA
§ 2772. The Reclamation Plan identifies the name and address of the surface
mining operator, proposed initiation and termination dates, maximum anticipated
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 18 of 32
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 3 OF 6
depth of surface mining operation, maps describing the topographic details of the
Project, a description of proposed use or potential uses after reclamation, a
description of reclamation, and an assessment of the effect of implementation of the
plan.
Additionally, Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01 complies with the standards set forth in
SMARA § 2773 because the Reclamation Plan was drafted and tailored specifically
to the Project site.
3. The Reclamation Plan complies with applicable requirements of State regulations
(14 C.C.R. §§3500-3505, and 3700-3713).
Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01 was reviewed pursuant to the State Mining and
Geology Board reclamation regulations. Title 14 of the California Code of
Regulations, Section 3502 identifies six elements which shall be discussed in a
Reclamation Plan. Those six elements include: the environmental setting of the
site, the public health and safety, the designed steepness and proposed treatment of
mined lands' final slopes, areas mined to produce additional material for backfilling
and grading, disposition of old equipment, and temporary stream or watershed
diversion. Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01 extensively discusses each of these
elements. The Reclamation Plan is designed to minimize impacts to the surrounding
community and environment. The Reclamation Plan satisfies all of the provisions of
the City's Surface Mining and Reclamation Chapter (Lake Elsinore Municipal Code
Chapter 14.04), which is the City's implementation of SMARA.
4. The Reclamation Plan and potential use of reclaimed land pursuant to the plan are
consistent with the Chapter 14.04 and the City's General Plan all other applicable
provisions of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code.
According to the Lake Elsinore General Plan Land Use Element, the City is
experiencing significant growth opportunities in terms of new development and
redevelopment. A majority of the City's acreage is under construction, approved for
construction, or is planned for development. The Land Use Element encourages
future urbanization of formerly mined lands while preserving the environmental
characteristics which contribute to a quality of life that attracts residents to the
community. The Reclamation Plan is also consistent with the terms of the Open
Space Element of the General Plan. The primary focus of the Open Space Element
is to encourage conservation, protection and proper management of natural
resources within the City. The purpose of the Reclamation Plan is to reclaim,
rehabilitate, and revegetate areas that have been disturbed by mining activities.
Finally, the Project has been reviewed pursuant to the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code
Chapter 14.04 and is consistent with the standards set forth therein.
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 19 of 32
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 4 OF 6
5. The Reclamation Plan has been reviewed pursuant to CEQA and the City's
environmental review guidelines, and all significant adverse impacts from
reclamation of the surface mining operations are mitigated to the maximum extent
feasible.
Pursuant to the CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, Mitigated Negative Declaration
No. 2012-12 and the corresponding Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
were prepared for the Project. Implementation of the mitigation contained in those
documents will reduce any potentially significant environmental effects of the Project
to a statistical level of insignificance.
6. The land and/or resources such as water bodies to be reclaimed will be restored to a
condition that is compatible with, and blends in with, the surrounding natural
environment, topography, and other resources, or that suitable off-site development
will compensate for related disturbance to resource values.
The Project lies within the Brighton Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan and is subject to
the zoning requirements set forth therein. The grading plan and anticipated
schedule of revegetation set forth in the Reclamation Plan are consistent with the
underlying zoning designations and encourage maximum use of the property. Any
disturbance to the land or other natural resources caused by mining activities will be
rehabilitated pursuant to the terms of the Reclamation Plan. The City Engineering
Division has conditioned the Project to maintain finished slopes consistent with the
Reclamation Plan. In addition, the vegetation palette for Reclamation Plan re-
vegetation includes native plants which will encourage the establishment and
proliferation of other native species.
7. The Reclamation Plan will restore the mined lands to a usable condition which is
readily adaptable for alternative land uses consistent with the General Plan the
applicable resource plan and the Specific Plan.
Reclamation Plan No. 2011-01 is designed to comply with the City's Surface Mining
and Reclamation policies set forth in the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Chapter
14.04 and the Brighton Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan Amendment No. 1
Reclamation of the mined lands will result in open space areas that can readily be
converted to mixed use urban development.
8. A written response to the State Department of Conservation has been prepared,
describing the disposition of major issues raised by that Department. Where the
City's position is at a variance with the recommendations and objections raised by
the State Department of Conservation, said response shall address, in detail, why
specific comments and suggestions were not accepted.
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 20 of 32
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 5 OF 6
The City of Lake Elsinore Planning Department received comments from the
Department of Conservation regarding the Reclamation Plan. Comments identified
received from the Department of Conservation have been incorporated into the Final
Reclamation Plan and will be forwarded to the Department of Conservation following
Planning Commission action.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its
passage and adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of August 2012, by the
following vote:
Rick Morsch, Chairman
City of Lake Elsinore
ATTEST:
Warren Morelion, AICP
Acting Community Development Director
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 21 of 32
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2012-
PAGE 6 OF 6
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Warren Morelion, Planning Manager of the City of Lake Elsinore, California,
hereby certify that Resolution No. 2012- as adopted by the Planning Commission of the
City of Lake Elsinore at a regular meeting held on the 21St day of August 2012, and that
the same was adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Warren Morelion, AICP
Planning Manager
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 22 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01 AND
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012-02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE ELSINORE
WEST, INC.,
GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. Pacific Clay Products Inc. (the Applicant), and Castle and Cooke, Lake Elsinore
West, Inc, (the Owner) shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City, its
officials, officers, consultants, employees, and/or agents from any claim, action,
or proceeding against the City, its officials, officers, employees, or agents
concerning the project attached hereto. Applicant shall enter into a pre-dispute
indemnity agreement with the City within 30 days after project approval.
PLANNING DIVISION
2. Approval of the Reclamation Plan will lapse and be void unless reclamation activity
is initiated within (6) months after the approval of this Reclamation Plan. The
Applicant may request from the Planning Commission an extension of time on the
Reclamation Plan so long as the request is submitted to the Planning Department
at least one (1) month prior to the expiration of the originally approved Reclamation
Plan. The Planning Commission shall consider the extension request at a public
hearing. No extension of time shall exceed a period of one (6) month period. The
intent of this approval is to initiate reclamation activity beginning during the fall of
2012 and through the springtime of 2013.
3. All conditions of approval and the CEQA Mitigation shall be reproduced in a new
Appendix C of the Reclamation Plan within fifteen (15) days after approval by the
Planning Commission. The Applicant shall sign and complete an
"Acknowledgement of Conditions" form within 30 days of approval of the
Reclamation Plan by the Planning Commission and shall return the executed
original to the Planning Division for inclusion in the case records. All Sections 1.0,
page 1 through 15.0, page 32 of the Reclamation Plan shall be complied with by
the Applicant and Reported on by the Project Monitor Annually, in addition to the
Reclamation Plan Sections specifically identified in these Conditions. The
Reclamation Plan and the CEQA Mitigation Measures are herein incorporated by
reference into these Conditions.
4. An Annual Mitigation Monitoring and Reclamation Plan Compliance Report shall be
submitted to the City Planning Department, separate from the Annual Mining
Report and FACE submitted to the City Engineering Department, and OMR. This
Annual Mitigation Monitoring and Reclamation Plan Compliance Report will detail
the progress with the Reclamation Plan implementation and CEQA compliance,
pursuant to Section 11. 3 and 11.4 of the Reclamation Plan. This Annual
Monitoring Report shall be submitted by the Reclamation Plan Project Monitor and
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 23 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO.2012-02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
shall review the status of implementation of the Reclamation Plan and the CEQA
Mitigation Monitoring Program found on page 10-13 of the CEQA MND. This
annual Mitigation Monitoring and Reclamation Plan Compliance Report shall be
submitted by June 1 of each year following project approval for 5 years or until
reclamation has been certified by the City and OMR as complete.
5. All site improvements approved with this request shall be constructed as indicated
on the approved Reclamation Plan. Revisions to approved plans shall be subject to
the review and approval of the Planning Commission except as otherwise noted in
these conditions.
No structures will be placed on site. The Community Development Director or
Designee may approve minor modifications to the placement of structures on-site.
Landscaping. Native Landscaping shall be undertaken consistent with the
standards set forth in the Reclamation Plan, and the CEQA mitigation measures
contained in the Mitigated Negative Declaration.
The proposed project shall comply with the zoning and development standards
identified in the Brighton Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan and corresponding
amendments thereto.
Truck Maintenance. All trucks exiting the 90-1 Reclamation project site shall be
washed and rattled to prevent materials from spilling onto adjacent roads and
streets.
10. The Applicant shall place a weatherproof 3'x3' sign at the entrance to the project
site identifying the approved days and hours of operation and a statement that
complaints regarding the operations of the mining project be lodged with the City
of Lake Elsinore Code Enforcement Division, which can be reached at (951) 674-
3124.
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
11. Air and Water Pollution. All operations shall be conducted in compliance with
the rules, regulations, and requirements of the South Coast Air Quality
Management District and the State Water Quality Control Board. Applicant shall
provide to the Community Development Director or Designee a copy of any and
all permits secured on behalf of the Applicant from either South Coast Air Quality
Management District and/or the State Water Quality Control Board.
12. Noise Suppression.
A. All equipment and premises employed in conjunction with any of the uses
identified in the Reclamation Plan shall be constructed, operated and
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 24 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
maintained in accordance with Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Section
17.78.
B. Those standards for noise suppression, set forth in Chapter 17.78 of the
LEMC, which apply to construction activities shall apply to activities
undertaken pursuant to the Reclamation Plan.
C. The project shall not exceed the maximum permissible sound levels by
receiving land use set forth in Chapter 17.78 Section .060 of the Lake
Elsinore Municipal Code. During those times not restricted in Section
17.78.060 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, the project shall not
exceed an exterior noise standard of 60 dB Ldn at the outer project
boundary adjacent to residential and other sensitive land uses.
D. The Applicant shall submit a "Noise Control Strategy" identifying
anticipated operating noise levels at the outer project boundaries. The
Noise Control Plan shall ensure adequate operating noise control
measures through the provision of mufflers and the physical separation of
machinery and maintenance areas from adjacent residential uses and
other sensitive land uses. The Noise Control Strategy shall be subject to
the review and approval of the Community Development Director or
Designee.
13. Hours of Operation. The Applicant shall limit mining and reclamation operations
to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No mining or
reclamation operations shall occur on Legal Holidays.
14. Light. All exterior on-site lighting shall be shielded and directed on-site so as not to
create glare onto neighboring property and streets or allow illumination above the
horizontal plane of the fixture.
15. Biology/Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan
The Applicant shall be subject to all provisions of the Reclamation Plan and
specifically, but not limited to, Section C. RECLAMATION, PARAGRAPHS 1.0
THROUGH 15.0.
A. Nesting Surveys. The Applicant shall conduct pre-grading nesting bird
surveys in any areas where Reclamation activity is to occur within the
nesting season (February 1 through August 31), and in areas where there
is sufficient habitat to promote nesting.
B. Revegetation. Per the revegetation efforts, the Applicant shall hydro-
seed the re-created slopes with a native erosion control seed mix pursuant
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 25 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
Table 2, page 27 of the Reclamation Plan.
C. Irrigation. Once re-seeding has occurred, the Applicant shall be
responsible for supplying sufficient irrigation to adequately germinate and
establish the applied seed, particularly during the first fall, winter and
spring following planting, which should begin in 2012. The container stock
shall be irrigated as long as necessary to establish the root systems in the
native soils, possibly as long as one to two years. Areas where
inadequate seed establishment has taken place shall be re-seeded, as
determined by the monitor, within 30 days of identifying the inadequacy.
D. Plant Replacement. The Applicant shall be responsible for replacing any
dead or terminally diseased plants until the final success criteria have
been met. The replacement plants shall be of the same species, size, and
spacing as those plant species being replaced.
E. Non-Native Plants. The Applicant shall initially remove all non-native
invasive species on the reclamation site. No area shall be allowed to have
more than twenty percent (20%) of the ground cover provided by non-
native plants. If monitor inspections reveal that non-native plants are
becoming established on the reclamation site, removal shall immediately
be initiated.
F. Monitoring and Performance Criteria. The Applicant shall follow the
vegetation monitoring procedures, and achieve the target functions and
values as described the Reclamation Plan Section 2.0, page 23. Further,
the Applicant shall meet the "density performance criteria" as identified in
TABLE 3 - Re-vegetation Performance Criteria, Reclamation Plan. Page
29. In five years, should the vegetation not sufficiently be established to
meet the final success criteria, vegetation monitoring shall be conducted
until the success criteria have been met for a minimum of two years
without human intervention or as otherwise modified by Planning
Commission amendment to this Reclamation Plan.
G. Final Success Criteria. When the five-year monitoring period is
complete, if all performance standards have been met pursuant to Table 3
of the Reclamation Plan, the Applicant shall request written confirmation
from the City of Lake Elsinore and California Department of Conservation,
Office of Mine Reclamation verifying final success criteria have been met.
For each year in which the Applicant fails to meet the performance
standards, one (1) additional year of re-vegetation and monitoring shall be
required using the same performance criteria as listed for year five. At the
City of Lake Elsinore's and California Department of Conservation's, Office
of Mine Reclamation discretion, if the final success criteria are not met, the
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 26 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO.2012-02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
Applicant shall prepare an analysis of the cause(s) of failure(s) and
propose remedial actions for approval. The Financial Assurance Cost
Estimate will be modified accordingly.
H. Performance Extension. If substantial non-compliance with the
performance and/or final success criteria occurs, the Applicant will consult
the City of Lake Elsinore and California Department of Conservation,
Office of Mine Reclamation to determine whether corrective measures and
an extension of the five-year monitoring period will be necessary.
1. Contractor Education. Prior to the commencement of grading or any
construction work, the Applicant, with the guidance and monitoring of the
Project Monitor, shall provide all contractors involved with copies of the
Reclamation Plan, CEQA Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan, and
the Reclamation Plan Conditions of Approval. The Applicant shall educate
the contractors on all aspects of these documents, including but not
limited to site protection, maintenance inspections, landscape procedures
and monitoring. Copies of all of these documents shall be posted and
kept on-site at all times, preferably at the project area entry.
J. Access Control. The Applicant shall delineate the service access routes
to keep the contractors within these routes as well as prevent them from
entering sensitive or recently reclaimed areas.
K. Water Quality. No debris, soil, silt, sand, rubbish, cement or concrete or
washings thereof, oil or petroleum products or washings thereof, shall be
allowed to enter into or be placed in a manner where it may be washed via
rainfall or run-off into local creeks. Further, the Applicant shall comply with
the requirements of NPDES by implementing a SWPPP that incorporates
BMPs and a Spill Prevention, Control and Counter-measure Plan (SPCC)
throughout the operation of all reclamation activities.
L. Clean Up. All clean-up of prior mining operations shall be conducted
within one year of the initiation of reclamation. Scrap material, refuse,
unwanted equipment, and surplus materials shall be removed and
disposed of at an appropriate landfill site.
16. The Applicant shall comply with all mitigation and recommendations identified in
both the CEQA Mitigation Monitoring Program and the Reclamation Plan and
which accompany the approved Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2012-02.
17. The Applicant shall have a professional archaeologist monitor on site initial
grubbing and ripping operations for any artifacts found on site. The archaeologist
shall immediately report any artifact find to the Applicant or Operator and redirect
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 27 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
activities until the City can be informed and proper disposition of artifacts
determined after consultation with the appropriate authorities.
18. At least 30 days prior to any Reclamation Plan related ground disturbance activity,
the City will contact the appropriate Native American Tribal Representative
(Representative) to notify the Representative of the initiation of Reclamation activity
on the Reclamation Plan 90-1 Project site. The Community Development Director
(Director) or his Designee shall have the authority to designate the Native American
Tribal Archaeological Monitor (Monitor) volunteer on the Reclamation site. The
designated Representative will conduct the Monitor activities at their sole costs. The
Monitor and Archaeologist shall independently report via email or other writing any
and all archaeological related artifact, findings each day to the Director or his
Designee on that Reclamation phase of initial clearing, grubbing, or earth ripping
Reclamation activity being undertaken by Reclamation Operator (Operator). A
copy of any findings shall be provided to the Operator by the Director or his
Designee. All monitoring shall be limited to the Reclamation areas being
undertaken during the initial ground preparation operations in each Reclamation
phase. The Director shall meet with the Reclamation Operator and Monitor prior to
any Reclamation activities to set forth the appropriate protocols, in the opinion of
the Director or his Designee, for the Operations and Archaeological Monitor
activities on each Reclamation phase which shall comply will all terms of the
Reclamation Plan. The Protocols shall address the conduct of Archaeological and
Representative Monitoring and the disposition of any Archaeological Artifacts or
human remains discovered on the Project Site in accordance with the appropriate
laws. The Director or his Designee shall have the authority to modify, direct and re-
direct the appropriate actions for any Reclamation activity on the Reclamation site
in regards to any archaeological findings within the Reclamation work areas after
consulting with Monitor, Operator and Archaeologist.
19. The Applicant shall comply with the MSHCP conditions that are a part of the Tri-
Valley Acquisition Agreement and the accompanying Memorandums of
Understanding.
ENGINEERING DIVISION
20. The slopes of the project shall be consistent with erosion control planting based
on the Reclamation Plan.
21. Sight distance for ingress/egress at all driveways shall meet CalTrans standard
for site distance.
22 Parking shall not be allowed on Nichols Road or Lake Street.
23. Provide for on-site loading and unloading of inventory.
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 28 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
24. Public Works requirements identified in the approved Reclamation Plan shall be
complied with as a condition of the Reclamation Plan.
25. All temporary access private roadway improvements shall be installed prior to
initiation of reclamation.
26. The Applicant shall pay any required plan review and site inspection fees.
27. Approval of the Reclamation Plan shall constitute conceptual grading plan approval.
28. Slopes of Excavations. Slopes shall be as shown on Reclamation Plan Figure 3,
permitted within the Reclamation Plan. It is understood that this Reclamation Plan
is for the minor grading, track walking and re-vegetation of approximately 90 acres
of formerly mined lands. No production from an open pit quarry shall be permitted.
29. The Applicant shall comply with the City Grading Ordinance sections that are
applicable to haul routes on City streets.
30. All natural drainage traversing the site shall be conveyed through the site, or shall
be collected, conveyed and released consistent with flows and patterns as
described in the approved Reclamation Plan.
31. Applicant shall satisfy all requirements of Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Section
15.64 regarding flood hazard regulations.
32. Applicant shall satisfy all requirements of Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Section
15.68 regarding flood plain management.
33. Applicant shall comply with the current Storm Water Pollution Plan on file for the
project site. Applicant shall mitigate any flooding and/or erosion caused by
reclamation of the site and diversion of drainage consistent with standards
established by the Riverside County Flood Control District and the adopted
SW PPP.
34. Applicant shall install BMP's using the best available technology to mitigate any
urban pollutants from entering the watershed. The operator shall prevent
trackout onto public highways. If trackout occurs, the operator shall take
preventative and remedial measures immediately.
35. All on-site Roads and Driveways. BMPS, established by the South Coast Air
Quality Management District, shall be implemented and all roads and driveways
used for Reclamation per each Reclamation phase shall be kept wet while being
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 29 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
used or shall be treated with oil, asphaltic concrete or concrete, or other palliative
to prevent the emission of dust.
36. Access Roads. All private access roads leading off any paved public street onto
the 90-1 Reclamation project site shall be paved with rock or gravel or an
equivalent material approved by the City Engineer or Designee, for not less than
the first one hundred feet (100') of said access road.
37. Intersection site distance shall meet the design criteria of the CALTRANS Design
Manual (particular attention should be taken for intersections on the inside of
curves). A special limited use easement must be recorded to limit the slope, type
of landscaping and wall placement to preserve adequate site distance.
38. In accordance with the City's Franchise Agreement for waste disposal and
recycling, the Applicant shall be required to contract with CR&R, Inc., for removal
and disposal of all waste material, debris, vegetation and other rubbish
generated during cleaning, demolition, clear and grubbing or all other phases of
construction.
39. The City of Lake Elsinore contracts with outside private contractors for mining
inspection and compliance. All applicable fees for inspection with respect to the
mining operation shall be paid directly to the City of Lake Elsinore. Copies of
these inspection documents shall be provided to the Engineering Division for the
City of Lake Elsinore to be kept in the project files.
40. Signage. Perimeter signs around the approved Reclamation Plan or Surface
Mine boundaries shall be installed with contrasting lettering/background warning
of "DANGER" "KEEP OUT" and "MINERAL RESOURCE ZONE" or "SURFACE
MINING RECLAMATION OPERATIONS".
41. Trash & Debris Removal. The parcel(s) where the mine is located shall be kept
free of trash (including old tires) and other debris. There shall be no importing of
recyclable materials or construction debris without a specific permit for that
activity.
42. Contractor Equipment Storage. All non-mining equipment must be stored in a
designated area permitted for "Contractor Storage." A "Contractor Storage"
permit must be obtained from the Planning Department prior to storage of any
non-mining equipment.
43. Vehicle Storage. There shall be no storage of passenger vehicles, campers,
travel trailers or other personal property that is not related directly to the
Reclamation at this site.
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 30 of 32
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
44. Temporary/Portable Office. Temporary/portable office trailers are permitted
provided they are installed after a building permit is obtained. Other structures
for night watchman security must be installed or constructed by building permit.
45. Importing Concrete & AC. There shall be no importing and/or storage of used
concrete, asphalt or other inert construction materials for recycling without the
specific approval of the Planning Division.
46. Importing/Storing of Vegetation. There shall be no importing and/or storage of
any cut vegetation without specific approval of the Planning Division
(Environmental).
47. Annual Financial Assurance Review.
A. Each year after the 1 st year of land disturbed under the Reclamation Plan,
the Applicant shall review the financial assurance on file with the City of
Lake Elsinore.
B. The Applicant shall submit a written report to the Engineering Division
indicating any changes to disturbed land or other conditions that could
increase or decrease the amount of financial assurance. This report shall
also indicate the financial assurance has been reviewed and include a
new cost estimate if needed as described below.
C. After the financial assurance review, if the total dollar amount indicates an
increase or decrease of more or less than five (5) percent of the financial
assurances on file, the Applicant shall submit a new cost estimate to the
Engineering Division taking into consideration all information addressed in
the California Resources Code section 2773.1 (a) (3) using the forms
provided by the California Department of Conservation's internet web site.
D. At least every five (5) years after the initial land is disturbed, the Applicant
must submit a new cost estimate taking into consideration all information
addressed in the California Resources Code section 2773.1 (a) (3) using
the forms provided by the California Department of Conservation's internet
web site.
48. Property Line Setbacks. There shall be a graded setback from all property
lines of not less than 10 feet from all newly created cut/fill slopes per the
approved Reclamation Plan, or as otherwise approved by the City.
49. The Reclamation Plan shall guide any minor grading associated with the Project.
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
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CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR RECLAMATION PLAN NO.2011-01,
AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 2012- 02
PACIFIC CLAY PRODUCTS INC., AND CASTLE AND COOKE LAKE
ELSINORE WEST, INC.
50. Annual Report Information. The Applicant shall submit to the Engineering
Division with the annual report the following information:
A. Indicate Reclamation Plan proximity of activity to the project site
boundaries by topography;
B. Indicate maximum depth of Reclamation areas;
C. Provide quantity in cubic yards and tons of any materials moved off-site
during the reporting period;
D. Certify all Reclamation areas are within the limits of the vested Surface
Mining Permit and RP 90-1 issued by the City of Lake Elsinore;
E. Provide data indicating the areas of reclaimed land during the reporting
period;
F. NOTE: At least every three years of operation, the Applicant shall provide
to Engineering, aerial topography showing incremental and
51. Minimum Drainage Grade. Minimum drainage grade shall comply with the
Reclamation Plan and approved SWPPP.
52. Slope Setbacks. All newly created, excavated or graded slopes shall have
setbacks from any buildings and property lines per the standards contained in the
Reclamation Plan.
53. Private Roads. Construction of a private road shall conform to the approved
Reclamation Plan.
PC August 21, 2012 Item No. 3
Page 32 of 32