HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 96-2002RESOLUTION 96-2002
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION AND A MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM
FOR THE SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City has identified a need for upgrades and improvements to the City's
sewer systerq in the East of 101 Area ("Project"); and
WHEREAS, in July 2002, an Initial Study analyzing the potential environmental impacts
of implemer ting the Project and a proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration were prepared by
the City in order to assure compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration includes an assessment of
potential environmental impacts as set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act
guidelines a'~d recommends a number of mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts to less-
than-significant levels; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with CEQA, the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration,
together wit'a any comments received during the public review, must be considered and approved
prior to any approval of the Project; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with CEQA, the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
was made available for public comment for thirty days starting on July 19, 2002 and ending
August 19, 2002; and
WHEREAS, comments were received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, C/CAG
(San Mateo County Association of Government/Airport Land Use Commission), State Office of
Planning and Research, and the State Water Resources Control Board; and
WHEREAS, based upon comments
recommends minor revisions as shown in the
hereto as Exhibit A; and
received during the thirty-day period, staff
draft Mitigated Negative Declaration, attached
WHEREAS, the improvements identified in the 2002 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative
Declaration will undergo additional separate environmental review once the improvements have
been sufficiently engineered to identify their scope and potential impacts; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with CEQA, it is necessary to adopt a program for reporting
on or monitoring the changes necessary to mitigate or avoid significant environmental effects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of South San
Francisco that:
Based on all evidence in the record, including the initial study and comments
received, the Council makes the following findings in support of the Mitigated
Negative Declaration:
mo
That there is no substantial evidence the Project will have a significant
effect on the environment.
That the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the City's independent
judgment and analysis.
2. The Council approves and adopts the Mitigated Negative Declaration with minor
c aanges to mitigation measures as provided in Exhibit A.
3. The Council adopts a Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Sewer Improvement
Program, attached hereto as Exhibit B.
The Director of Public Works shall keep a copy of all the documents and other
materials, which constitute the record of proceedings upon which this decision is
based, on file at 400 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco City Hall.
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by
the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 23rd day of
October 2002 by the following vote:
AYES:
Councilmembers Joseph A. Fernekes, Raymond L. Green and Karyl Matsumoto,
Mayor Pro Tem Pedro Gonzalez and Mayor Eugene R. Mullin
NOES: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Mitigated Negative Declaration
South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program ........
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
October 2002
Mitigation Measure
Air Quality: Mitigation Measure 1
The project contractor shall adhere to
appropriate methods recommended by the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
to minimize air borne pollution, including
but not limited to frequent watering of open
trenches, covering of excavated dirt and
related actions. Dust control measures shall
be included on contractor project
specifications.
Implementing
Responsibility I m°nit°ring [ m°nit°ring
Responsibility Schedule
Project Contractor
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
During project
construction
Biological Resources: Mitigation Measure 2
a) Prior to commencement of the Colma South San
Creek bank stabilization portion of the
project, a qualified biologist shall prepare a
Construction Management Plan to ensure
that any impacts to wetlands and special-
status plant and animal species are
minimized to the fullest extent possible.
The Plan shall include fencing of sensitive
areas not part of the project, limitations on
work below the spring high tide elevation,
Francisco Public
Works Department
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Prior to
construction
adjacent to
Colma Creek
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
Page 1
Verification
Mitigation Measure
and use of erosion control techniques to
'~nimize erosion into the Creek.
hnplementing
Responsibility
Monitoring
Responsibility
b) Prior to commencement of any
tunneling under Colma Creek, a
preconstruction survey shall be completed
by a qualified biologist to ensure no
sensitive plant or animal species or habitats
will be disturbed by tunnel construction
activities. If deemed necessary by the
biologist, a Construction Management Plan
shall be prepared for this portion of the
project that shall include, but not be limited
to, placement of construction fencing,
restrictions on times of construction,
restrictions on placement of trench spoils,
restrictions on construction staging areas
and similar rearm'es that would ensure any
biological resources impacts would be less-
than-significant.
South San
Francisco Public
Works Department
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Necessary permits shall also be obtained
from appropriate regulatory agencies.
Biological Resources: Mitigation Measure 3
The proposed wet weather pond is located South San
in an area identified in the General Plan for Francisco Public
Sensitive Biological Resources. Consistent Works Department
with General Plan policies, the proposed
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Page 2
Monitoring
Schedule
Prior to
construction
adjacent to
Colma Creek
Prior to
construction of
the wet weather
holding pond
Verification
Mitigation Measure
wet weather pond should be designed to
allow for the establishment of emergent
native vegetation, such as cattail and
bulrush around the perimeter. Ideally, the
no~lherly and easterly side slopes should
not exceed 3:1, to allow for the
establishment of a wider band of emergent
vegetation. Any planting or removal of
native vegetation in the proposed wet
weather pond shall be scheduled during the
non-nesting season (after August 31 and
before October 15) to avoid potential
disturbance to nesting birds.
Cultural Resources: Mitigation Measure 4
An Archeological Resource Program shall
be prepared by a qualified archeologist
prior to start of any construction which
shall include:
a) Provision for submittal of Section 106-
level analysis for each project component
as they are designed and submitted to the
State Water Resources Control Board for
State Revolving Loan funding.
b) Language added on individual project
improvement plans and specifications to
the effect that if archeological materials or
artifacts are identified, work on that portion
of the project shall cease until a resource
protection plan conforming to CEQA
Implementing
Responsibility
Monitoring Monitoring Verification
Responsibility Schedule
South San
Francisco Public
Works Department
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
Prior to
commencement
of construction
, Page 3
Mitigation Measure Verification
Section 15064.5 is prepared by a qualified
archeologist and/or-paleontologist and
approved by the San Francisco Public
Works Director or an authorized
representative. Project work may be
resumed in compliance with such plan. If
human remains are encountered, the
County Coroner shall be contacted
immediately and the provisions of State
law candied out.
Geology and Soils: Mitigation Measure 5
Contractor specifications for this project
shall require the preparation and
implementation of an erosion control plan
for all portions of the project that would
involve trenching, excavation or
stockpiling of dirt. The plan shall be
prepared by a registered civil engineer and
be consistent with applicable Regional
Water Quality Control Board guidelines
and standards.
Ianplementing
Responsibility
Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring
Schedule
Project contractor
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Prior to
commencement
of grading
Hazards and Hazardous Materials: Mitigation Measure 6
Prior to commencement of each phase of South San
construction, the City shall complete a Francisco Public
hazardous materials characterization study Works Department
for all underground portion of the project,
employing a protocal approved by
appropriate regulatory agencies with
jurisdiction. If hazardous materials are
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Prior to
commencement
of construction
Page 4
Mitigation Measure
Implementing
Responsibility
Francisco Public
Works Department
South San
Francisco Public
Works Department
encountered, either in the soil or _
groundwater, a soil and/or groundwater
remediation plan shall be prepared and
implemented indicating methods of
removal and disposal of the material,
including methods to minimize release of
hazardous materials into the atmosphere.
The Plan shall include a worker safety
program.
Hazards and Hazardous Materials: Mitigation Measure 7
An asbestos survey of pump station South San
structures shall be preformed consistent
with National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollution guidelines. If
warranted, a remediation plan to remove
asbestos shall be prepared and
implemented. A lead-based paint survey
shall be conducted and, if lead-based paint
is encountered, the requirements as
outlined in Cal OSHA Lead in
Construction Standard, Title 8, CCR
Section 1532.1 shall be followed by the
City.
Land Use and Plmming: Mitigation Measure 8
The City shall undertake an advance
notification program to property owners
and residents that could be affected by the
proposed construction program indicating,
at minimum, a description of proposed
Monitoring
Responsibility
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Monitoring
Schedule
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Prior to
commencement
of construction
on all pump
stations
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
Prior to
commencement
of construction
Verification
Page 5
Mitigation Measure
Implementing
Responsibility
Francisco Public
Works Department
work, hours of operation, construction
phasing and an individual to be notified in
the event of emergencies.
Noise: Mitigation Measure 9
For the Winston Manor project component, Project contractor
construction activities shall be limited to
the hours of 7:30 am to 6 pm, Monday-
Saturday. No construction shall occur on
Sunday on local, State or federal holidays.
Exceptions may be granted on an
emergency basis by the South San
Francisco City Engineer. Construction
activities shall be deemed to include
vehicle warm-up and maintenance and
delivery of construction materials. These
limitations shall be included in all
construction plans and specifications for
the project.
Transportation/Traffic: Mitigation Measure 10
A Traffic Construction Management Plan South San
shall be prepared prior to commencement
of construction, identifying specific
methods to be unde~laken to ensure that
peak hour traffic can flow freely and that
access to abutting properties is maintained
for emergency vehicles. This shall include
vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle modes of
transportation. The Management Plan shall
be reviewed and approved by the South
Monitoring
Responsibility
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
Monitoring
Schedule
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
During
construction of
Winston Manor
portion of
project
South San Francisco
Public Works
Department
Prior to
commencement
of construction
Page 6
Verification
Mitigation Measure
San Francisco Police and Fi~e .......
Departments.
Implementing
Responsibility
Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring
Schedule
Verification
Mitigated Negative Declaration, South San Francisco Sewer Improvement Program,
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, October 2002
Page 7
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Lead Agency
City of South San Francisco
Prepared By
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner
July 2002
Table of Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................... 2
Applicant/Contact Person ................................................................... 2
Project Location and Context ................................................................ 2
Project Description ............................................................................. 3
Enviro_-unental Factors Potentially Affected ............................................. 13
Evaluation of Environmental Impacts ..................................................... 15
Attachment to Initial Study .................................................................. 26
1. Aesthetics ....................................................................... 26
2. Agricultural Resources ...................................................... 27
3. Air Quality ..................................................................... 27
4. Biological Resources ......................................................... 3 !
5. Cultural Resources ........................................................... 35
6. Geology and Softs ............................................................. 44
7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ....................................... 47
~. Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................49
9. Land Use and Planning ..................................................... 52
10. Mineral Resources ............................................................ 54
11. Noise ............................................................................. 54
12. Population and Housing .................................................... 56
13. Public Services ................................................................. 58
14. Recreation ...................................................................... 59
15. Transportation/Traffic ...................................................... 60
16. Utilities and Service Systems .............................................. 61
17. Mandatory Findings of Significance .....................................63
Initial Study Preparers ......................................................................... 64
Agencies and Organizations Consulted ................................................... 64
Refere .~ces ........................................................................................ 64
City of South San Francisco
Environmental Checklist/
Initial Study
Introduction
This Iritial Study has been prepared in accord with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and assesses the potential environmental impacts
of implementing the proposed project described below. The Initial Study consists of a
completed environmental checklist and a brief explanation of the environmental topics
addressed in the checklist.
Appl!cant/Contact Person
City o! South San Francisco
Public Works Department
400 Grand Avenue
South San Francisco CA 94083
Attn: Barbara Hawkins, City Engineer
Project Location and Context
The project is sited in the eastern portion of South San Francisco within San Mateo
County. The proposed project includes a number of related construction improvements
located east and west of US 101 and south of Oyster Point Boulevard. Many of the
proposed improvements are located within existing roadway rights-of-way. Other
improvements are proposed at the City of South San Francisco/San Bruno Water
Quality Control Plant (WQCP), located at the easterly terminus of Belle Air Road east of
Airport Boulevard.
Exhib:_t 1 depicts the regional setting of South San Francisco and Exhibit 2 shows the
location of the project in context with nearby major streets and highways, San Francisco
Bay and other features.
Land '.~ses near the project area include (Colma Creek), an inland water way that
generally flows from west to east, which flows into San Francisco Bay; San Francisco
Bay to the east, US 101, a north-south freeway that extends through the project area, a
large commercial facility along Airport Boulevard (Costco Wholesale) and a
combination of light industrial and warehouse uses interspersed through the area.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 2
July 2002
Project Description
Project history and background
The (WQCP) was built in the 1950's to serve a small residential population of South San
Francisco as well as a number of large industrial uses located on the east side of US 101.
The WQCP also serves the City of San Bruno and portions of Daly City and the City of
Colma.
All of the above cities are members of the North Bayside System Unit, which is the joint
powers authority for disposal of treated effluent into San Francisco Bay.
The WQCP is presently operating under a Cease and Desist Order issued by the San
Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board in 1997. The Order notes that Plant
equipment is dated and no longer complies with current discharge requirements. The
Order also notes that the wastewater collection system (sewer system) receives high
inflows during the rainy season of each year. This is due to older, leaky pipes and
varior, s cross-connections between storm drains and the sewer system. Because of this,
syster_a is inadequate to convey sewage during the rainy season. The Order establishes
milestones to be met by the plant operator to comply with state and federal discharge
requirements into San Francisco Bay.
The City completed construction of WQCP improvements in May, 2002. The project
upgraded treabxtent processes and provided peak wet weather flow facilities. The dry
weather capacity of the upgraded plant is 13.0 mgd. The completed project did not,
however, include upgrade of deficiencies associated with the local sewage collection
system.
In adcition, several portions of the City's sewer system in the East of 101 geographic
area of the City have been identified as older and in need of replacement. This includes
older pumping stations and underground sewer lines. Several major employers in the
east o_-' 101 area have expressed a desire to expand current facilities, consistent with land
use ar.d development intensities allowed under the recently-adopted General Plan, but
have not been able to do so because of the inadequate sewer service in this portion of
the community.
Proposed improvements
The current project is intended to fulfill two objectives:
· Upgrade the South San Francisco wastewater collection and treatment system to
accommodate wet weather flows consistent with the RWQCB Order;
· Upgrade other sewer improvements within the East of 101 portion of South San
Francisco for public health and safety protection.
The p-.oposed project is not intended to increase the overall wastewater treatment
and/or disposal capacity of the City's wastewater treatment plant. Localized
City of South San Francisco Page 3
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
wastewater collection facilities will be increased in size to replace existing failing
facilities and to accommodate proposed expansion of local business in accord with the
South San Francisco General Plan.
Wet weather project components
With regard to wet weather upgrades to the Wastewater Collection System, proposed
improvements include:
-Jpgrade the existing San Mateo Pump station, located northwest of San Mateo
Avenue and Colma Creek. The new station will be able to convey a peak wet
weather flow of 30.0 mgd. New submersible pumps will be installed in the
existing building. A new above grade building would be constructed for the
electrical controls and a generator. The San Mateo Pump Station presently has a
pumping capacity of 14.4 mgd. Property acquisition from San Mateo County is
also proposed to accommodate this portion of the project (see/ti on Exhibit 3).
Adding a new 36-inch diameter sewer force main and replacement gravity sewer
mains ranging in size from 8-inches to 12-inches in diameter within the right-of-
way of Lowrie Avenue from the San Mateo Pump Station in a southerly direction
to Shaw Avenue, a distance of approximately 4,400 feet. Replacement sewer lines
would also be placed in San Mateo Avenue and within an easement between the
two streets. Along Shaw Road, the new sewer line would extend to the Shaw
Road-Pumping Station. For approximately one-half of this distance, the
replacement pipe would be installed by "pipe-bursting," whereby the new pipe
would be installed within an existing older pipe with minimal need for
excavation or trenching. The remaining portion of the new pipe would be
installed with'traditional trenching methods. As part of this project component,
the new pipe would be installed under Colma Creek as part of the San Mateo
County Creek Channelization Project (see #2 on Exhibit 3).
A replacement pump station would be constructed on the site of the Shaw Road
Pump Station, which is located on the north side of Shaw Road approximately
500 feet west of the US 101.The existing pump station would be demolished and
the replacement pump station built adjacent to the existing facility. The
replacement pump station would have a capacity of 25 mgd. Acquisition of a 15
foot wide strip of property on the east side of the site is also proposed to
accommodate these improvements (see #3 on Exhibit 3).
East of the Shaw Road pumping station, a new 42-inch diameter force main
would be built paralleling an existing 30-inch main. The new main would be
routed below the right-of-way of US 101 and then extend to the WQCP for
treatment (see #4 on Exhibit 3).
Reconstruction of approximately 800 linear feet of the south side of the Colma
Creek bank with an articulated concrete mat for bank stabilization purposes. The
reconstructed area would be approximately 30 feet wide, for a total of
City of South San Francisco
Initial S-.udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 4
July 2002
approximately 24,000 square feet of concrete mat. As part of the project, the slope
of the bank would be reduced from approximately 1:1.5 to a 1:2 slope for seismic
stability purposes. Revegetation of the creek bank would also be undertaken.
Work on this portion of the project is to be scheduled so as to avoid interference
with breeding, nesting or migration periods of wildlife and birds (see//8 on
Exhibit 3).
This portion of the project is being undertaken to ensure that the upland portion
of the City's WQCP near the slope area is fully stabilized and will not fail.
Conversion of existing sludge drying beds to a wet weather holding pond at the
easterly end of the Water Quality Control Plant. The pond, which covers an area
of approximately 3.0 acres would be excavated and would be used for temporary
storage of treated effluent during wet weather periods. Temporary storage is
needed because of significantly increased sewage flows during wet weather
periods, greater than can be accommodated by the effluent pump station and
out-fall pipeline. Stored effluent would be discharged via the outfall pipeline after
peak rainfall has subsided. Included in this element would be a new vacuum
truck unloading station. This is needed to replace a current dumping station site
located within the area of the new storage pond that is proposed to be eliminated
(see//5 on Exhibit 3).
East of 101 project components
A second portion of the project includes improvements to the City's sewer system
withir, and immediately adjacent to the East of 101 area. The purpose of this effort is to
replace older, leaking facilities with modem sanitary sewer lines and related
improvements to protect the public health, safety and welfare. A summary of these
improvements include:
Construction of a 12-inch diameter relief gravity sewer within the Airport
Boulevard right-of-way, from Chapman Avenue south to Armour Avenue. The
purpose of this sewer line is to upsize the existing 8-inch diameter line to handle
anticipated wet weather (see #6 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of a replacement 6-inch diameter sewer within the Winston Manor
area. The line begins at the intersection of Hickey Boulevard and Cameritas Way
and continues to a manhole just west of E1 Camino Real. The existing sewer has
been damaged by tree root intrusion. The City is exploring the possibility of
trenchless methods to replace this line (see # 7 on Exhibit 3).
Upgrades to Pump Station No. 2, located on the south side of Oyster Point
Boulevard just west of Gateway Boulevard. The upgrade would include
replacement of existing pumps to increase the capacity of the station to 2,400
gpm to better convey wet weather flows as well as variable speed controls for the
pumps and a new emergency generator (see item//9 on Exhibit 3).
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 5
July 2002
,Construction of a 10-inch diameter new sewer within the right-of-way of
Gateway Boulevard from Oyster Point Boulevard approximately 850 feet south
of the intersection of Oyster Point Boulevard and Gateway Boulevard (see #10
on Exhibit 3).
Upgrades to Pump Station No. 4, located on the east side of Harbor Way.
Upgrades are proposed to include replacement of two existing pumps to
accommodate anticipated future sewage flows of 9,000 gpm. Other
improvements would include installation of variable speed controls and other
electrical system upgrades, installation of a stand-by generator, a crane/davit
structure and installation of a monster grinder at the influent channel (see item
#11 on Exhibit 3).
· Construction of approximately 2,800 feet of a new 21-inch diameter sewer line
between Pump Station No. 4 and the WQCP (see # 12 on Exhibit 3).
Upgrade to Pump Station No. 7 located at the southerly terminus of Littlefield
Avenue. The upgrade would include replacing two existing pumps within the
facility with three new pumps to increase wet weather pumping capacity as well
adding variable motor speed controls and an emergency generator (see #13 on
Exhibit 3).
Upgrade to Pump Station No. 8 located on the north side of Forbes Boulevard
west of Allerton Avenue. Two existing pumps would be replaced with three new
ipumps to accommodate wet weather flows. Other programmed improvements
include installation of variable speed motor controls and an emergency generator
(see #14 on Exhibit 3).
· Construction of s new 15-inch diameter sewer within the right-of-way of Grand
Avenue, from Forbes Avenue to Allerton Avenue (see #15 on Exhibit 3).
Upgrade to Pump Station 10, located on the south side of Forbes Boulevard east
of Allerton Way. The upgrade would include two new submersible pumps,
upgrades to the dry pit entrance and a standby generator (see #16 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of two new pipelines within the existing fight-of-way of Oyster
Point Boulevard. The Oyster Point Trunk begins approximately 240 feet south of
Oyster Point Boulevard in Eccles Avenue and continues westward to Pump
Station No. 2. This improvement consists of a new 18-inch pipe to replace the
existing 12-inch sewer that continues on the Gateway Boulevard from Pump
Station No. 2. The portion that continues eastward along Oyster Point Boulevard
from Gateway Boulevard consists of a new 15-inch pipe that replaces the existing
10-inch and 12-inch diameter sewer. A new 12-inch pipe is needed to replace the
existing 880 feet of 8-inch pipe, which continues along Oyster Point Boulevard
and then jogs southerly along Eccles Avenue (see # 17 on Exhibit 3).
City of South San Francisco
Initial S~udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 6
July 2002
Construction of a new 18-inch diameter sewer line within the right-of-way of
Allerton Avenue between East Grand Avenue and Forbes Blvd (2,200 feet), and
approximately 600 ft. of an 18-inch diameter pipe in East Grand Avenue between
Allerton Avenue and Littlefield Avenue (see # 18 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of a new 27-inch pipe to replace the existing 18-inch pipe along East
Grand Avenue to 150 feet east of Roebling Avenue. The portion that continues
southeast along East Grand consists of a new 24-inch pipe to replace the existing
18-inch, then 15-inch to Littlefield Avenue. Finally, a new 21-inch pipe along East
Grand Avenue from Little field to Allerton Way (parallel to the downstream
portion of the Allerton Trunk is needed to replace the existing 15-inch pipe (see
#19 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of approximately 200 feet of a 12-inch diameter sewer pipe in DNA
Way south of Forbes Boulevard and 600 feet of 10-inch diameter sewer west of
DNA Way to 90 feet east of Kaufrnan (see #20 on Exhibit 3).
Upgrade to Pump Station 1, located at the terminus of Oyster Point Boulevard.
The upgrade program would include replacing two existing pumps with two
new pumps and a new standby generator (see #21 on Exhibit 3).
Upgrade to Pump Station 3, located along Swift Avenue. Proposed upgrades
would include replacement of centrifugal pumps with dry well submersible
pumps with variable speed controls. A standby generator is also proposed as is a
crane/davit for pump removal as well as raising the existing vent stack and
upgrading electrical controls (see #22 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of approximately 3,200 feet of a new 15-inch diameter sewer pipe
within Swift Avenue and along an existing railroad spur line. Poor soil
conditions along this alignment of the sewer have caused sags along the Swift
Subtrtmk, resulting in reduced capacity (see #23 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of approximately 2,400 feet of new 8-inch and 10-inch diameter
sewer pipe within Littlefield Avenue (see #24 on Exhibit 3).
Upgrade to Pump Station 6, located on the south side of Utah Avenue at Colma
Creek. The upgrade would include a new motor control center, a new motor
control system, an exterior chain link fence and other miscellaneous
improvements. Due to settling of the structure over time, the pump station may
need to be reconstructed. This would include reconstruction on the same
building footprint as the present structure (see #25 on Exhibit 3).
Construction of approximately 1,000 feet of new 8-inch diameter sewer pipe
within Harbor Way between Utah Avenue and 80 feet north of Mitchell (see #26
on Exhibit 3).
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 7
July 2002
Construction of approximately 2,100 feet of new 15-inch diameter sewer pipe
within Executive Drive north of East Grand Avenue and in east Grand Avenue
between Executive Drive and Gateway Boulevard to correct historic root
intrusion problems (see #27 on Exhibit 3).
Two new influent pumps and three new effluent pumps would be installed at the
WCQP. These pumps would accommodate peak wet weather flows. These
elements are not shown on Exhibit 3.
Phasing of improvements
The proposed project is anticipated to be phased over a number of years, beginning
construction late in 2002, assuming all necessary approvals are granted and funding is
approved, with the last phase of construction ending in 2004.
Proposed funding
Funding of the wet weather improvement portion of the project is proposed to be
through the California State Water Resources Control Board's State Revolving Loan
Fund.
Improvements to the sewer system in the East of 101 area would be locally funded
through user charges and impact fees set by the City of South San Francisco. State of
Califo_-nia Revolving Loan Funds would also be used.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 8
July 2002
San ~ ~ ,: ,:.:, : . .~., / Concord
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South
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Fremont
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17
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
SEWER UPGRADE PROGRAM
INITIAL STUDY
N
Exhibit 1
REGIONAL LOCATION
0 2 4 6 8 10 miles
Francisco
, Montara
Area shown in
Exhibit 3 -~ o
Brisbane
So. San Francisco /
.... ~.~- ........ :
Millbrae ~:~
Hillsborough
San
Francisco
Bay
o Foster
btateo ~
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
SEWER UPGRADE PROGRAM
INITIAL STUDY
N
0
Exhibit 2
SITE CONTEXT
I 2 3 4 5 miles
#7
1V4 mi.
(see inset)
SOURCE: Carollo Engineers, March 2002.
CITY OF SOU-H SAN FRANCISCO
SEWER UPGRADE PROGRAM
INITIAL STUDY
LOCATION #7 INSET
(same scale)
",~;; ':.?, .~ . -' ;:.:-
~.',~', '::~;,~, :;'~ ~' /.,>. ~
', ? ',.<~ ,;~,;, , ~, ,~ ,~
Exhibit 3
PROJECT LOCATION
(27 sites)
~ Sewer, Forcemain, or Riprap
(see text)
~ Pump Station
~ Effluent Storage Pond
NOT
TO
SCALE
o
I/2 3/4
I mile
1. Proj,
.ct description:
Sewer improvement program to include upgrades to
the South San Francisco sewer system to
accommodate peak wet weather sewer flows at the
wastewater treatment plant and replacements and
upgrades to other existing sewer facilities to correct
substandard facilities in the east of 101 portion of the
community.
2. Lead. agency:
City of South San Francisco
315 Maple Street
South San Francisco CA 94803
3. Cont:act person:
Barbara Hawkins, City Engineer
(650) 829- 6664
4. Project location:
5. project sponsor:
Generally located south of Oyster Point Boulevard,
east of the US 101 Freeway, north of San Bruno canal
City of South San Francisco
6. Gen .-ral Plan designation:
7. Zon[ng:
8. Pub
Varies, Light Industrial and Public Uses
Varies, primarily Light Industrial and Public Uses
ic agency required approvals:
Approval of Negative Declaration (City of South San Francisco)
Approval of Improvement Plans (City of South San Francisco)
Approval of a 404 Nationwide Permit for Colma Creek Bank
Stabilization (Army Corps of Engineers)
Approval by San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control
Board for Colma Creek Bank Stabilization
Permit by Bay Conservation and Development Commission for
Colma Creek Bank Stabilization
Encroachment permit for work in US 101 right-of-way (Caltrans)
City of South San Francisco
Initial S;udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 12
July 2002
Environmental Factors Potentially Affected
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project,
involving at least one impact that is a "potentially significant impact" as indicated by the
checklist on the following pages.
esthetics - Agricultural x Quality
Air
Resources
Biological x Cultural Resources x Geology/Soils
Resources
X
X
Hazards and x Hydrology/Water x Land Use/
Hazardous Quality Planning
Materials
Mineral Resources x Noise -
x iPublic Services - Recreation x
x Utilities / Service - Mandatory
Systems Findings of
t Significance
Population/
Housing
Transportation/
Circulation
Determination (to be completed by Lead Agency):
On th~ basis of this initial evaluation:
__ I find that the proposed project could not have a significant effect on the
environment and the previous Negative Declaration certified for this project by the
City o_-' South San Francisco adequately addresses potential impacts.
X I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the
environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation
measures described on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A Negative
Declaration will be prepared.
__ I find that although the proposed project may have a significant effect on the
environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier
document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by
mitiggtion, measures based on earlier analysis as described on the attached sheets, if the
effect is a 'potentially significant impact" or "potentially significant unless mitigated."
An E.~vironmental Impact Report is required, but must only analyze the effects that
remain to be addressed.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 13
July 2002
I fin~ that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the
environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because all potentially
significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR pursuant to
applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier
EIR, incl~iding revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed on the proposed
project.
City of S¢~uth San Francisco
Initial StLidy/Sewer Improvement Program
Date:
For:
Page 14
July 2002
EvalUation of Environmental Impacts
1) A~ brief explanation is required for all answers except "no impact" answers that are
adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the
parenthesis following each question. A "no impact" answer is adequately
supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does
not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g. the project falls outside a fault
rUpture zone). A "no impact" answer should be explained where it is based on
project-specific factors as well as general factors (e.g. the project will not expose
sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a project-specific screening analysis).
2) All answers must take account of the whole action, including off-site as well as on-
site, cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and construction
aS well as operational impacts.
3)
4)
"Potentially Significant Impact" is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that
ah effect is significant. If there are one or more "potentially significant impact"
entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required.
"Less Than Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated" implies the incorporation
of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from "potentially significant effect" to
a i"less than significant impact." The lead agency must describe the mitigation
measures and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant
level.
City of',
Initial S
~outh San Francisco
Iudy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 15
July 2002
Environmental Impacts (Note: Source of determination listed in parenthesis. See listing
o~ sources used to determine each potential impact at the end of the checklist)
Note: A full discussion of each item is found
following the checklist.
I. Aesthetics. Would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse impact on a scenic
v:_sta? (Source: 10)
b) Su'>stantially damage scenic resources,
ir cluding but not limited to trees, rock
outcroppings, and historic buildings within a
state scenic highway? (Source: 10)
c) Substantially degrade the existing visual
character or quality of the site and its
surroundings? (Source: 10)
d) Create a new source of substantial light or
g_are which would adversely affect day or
n:_ghttime views in the area? (Source: 10)
II. Agr'_cuitural Resources
Would the project:
a) Cdnvert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland or
Farmland of Statewide Importance, as
showing on the maps prepared pursuant to
tl:_e Farmland Mapping and Monitoring
P':ogram of the California Resources
Agency, to a non-agricultural use? (Source:
1. 10)
b) Cc nflict with existing zoning for agriculture
u:;e, or a Williamson Act contract? (Source:
1. 10)
c) Im,olve other changes in the existing
el ~vironment which, due to their location or
nature, could result in conversion of
f~,xmland to a non-agricultural use? (Source:
1, 10)
III. Air Quality (Where available, the
s:_gnificance criteria established by the
aPlicable air quality management district
y be relied on to make the following
determinations). Would the project:
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of
the applicable air quality plan? (Source: 2)
b) V.'olate any air quality standard or contribute
substantially to an existing or projected air
quality violation? (Source: 2)
Potentially Less Than Less than No
Significant Significant Significant Impact
Impact With Impact
Mitigation
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of louth San Francisco
Initial S :udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 16
July 2002
c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net
increase of any criteria pollutant for which
the project region is non-attainment under an
applicable federal or state ambient air
quality standard (including releasing
emissions which exceed quantitative
th :esholds for ozone precursors? (2)
d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial
pollutant concentrations? (Source:2, 10)
e) Create objectionable odors? (Source: 2,9)
IV. Biological Resources. Would the project
a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either
directly through habitat modifications, on
any species identified as a candidate,
sensitive, or special status species in local or
regional plans, policies or regulations, or by
the Caiifomia Department of Fish and Game
o~ the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service?
(Source: 2, 3, 4)
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any
ri-.~arian habitat or other sensitive natural
community identified in local or regional
plans, policies or regulations or by the
California Department of Fish and Game or
the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service? (Source:
2, 3, 4)
c) Have a substantial adverse impact on
federally protected wetlands as defined by
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
(including but not limited to marsh, vernal
p0ol, coastal, etc.) through direct removal,
eling, hydrological interruption or other
ans?
(SOurce: 2, 3, 4)
d) Inlerfere substantially with the movement of
any native resident or migratory fish or
wildlife species or with established native
resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or
impede the use of native wildlife nursery
s:'tes? (Source: 2, 3, 4)
e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances
protecting biological resources, such as tree
Protection ordinances? (Source: 2, 3, 4)
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
X
X
X
Less than
Significant
Impact
X
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
Page 17
July 2002
f) Cor.flict with the provision of an adopted
Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural
Community Conservation Plan or other
approved local, regional or state habitat
conservation plan? (Source: 1)
V. Cultural Resources. Would the project
a) Cause a substantial adverse impact in the
significance of a historical resource as
defined in Sec. 15064.5? (Source:5)
b) Ca'~se a substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archeological resource
pursuant to Sec. 15064.5 (Source: 6)
c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or unique geologic
feature? (Source: 6)
d) Disturb any human remains, including those
interred outside of a formal cemetery?
(Source: 6)
VI. Geology and Soils. Would the project
a) Expose people or structures to potential
substantial adverse effects, including the risk
of loss, injury, or death involving:
i) Ru-~ture of a known earthquake fault, as
delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo
Fault Zoning Map issued by the State
Geologist or based on other known evidence
o_-' a known fault (Source: 2)
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking (2)
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including
liquefaction? (2,)
iv) Landslides? (2, 10)
b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of
topsoil? (2, 10)
c) Be. located on a geologic unit or soil that is
u~stable, or that would become unstable as a
result of the project and potentially result in
o_~- and off-site landslide, lateral spreading,
subsidence, liquefaction or similar hazards
(Source: 2)
d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in
Table 13-1-B of the Uniform Building Code
('_ 994), creating substantial risks to life or
property? (Source: 2, 9)
City of l;outh San Francisco
Initial S :udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
X
X
X
Less than
Significant
Impact
X
X
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 18
July 2002
e) Have soils capable of adequately supporting
the use of septic tanks or alternative
wastewater disposal systems where sewers
are not available for the disposal of waste?
(Source: 11)
VII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials. Would
the project:
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
er vironment through the routine transport,
use or disposal of hazardous materials
(Source: 7)
b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
er vironment through reasonably foreseeable
upset and accident conditions involving the
re ease of hazardous into the environment?
(Source:7)
c) Err.it hazardous emissions or handle
h~ardous materials, substances, or waste
w:thin one-quarter mile of an existing or
proposed school? (Source: 7)
d) Be located on a site which is included on a
list of hazardous materials sites complied
pursuant to Government Code Sec. 65962.5
ar.d, as a result, would it create a significant
hazard to the public or the environment?
(Source: 7)
e) Fo_-' a project located within an airport land
use plan or, where such plan has not been
adopted, would the project result in a safety
hazard for people residing or working in the
project area? (Source: 2)
f) For a project within the vicinity of private
airstrip, would the project result in a safety
hazard for people residing or working in the
project area? (Source: 2)
g) Irc_pair implementation of or physically
ir terfere with the adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation
p_an?
(Source: 2, 10)
City of South San Francisco
Initial S;udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
X
X
Less than
Significant
Impact
X
X
X
No
Impact
X
X
X
Page 19
July 2002
h) Expose people or structures to a significant
risk of loss, injury or death involving
w'_ldland fires, including where wildlands
are adjacent to urbanized areas or where
residences are intermixed with wildlands?
(Source: 10)
IX. Hydrology and Water Quality. Would the
project:
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste
discharge requirements? (Source: 2,10)
b) Su'>stantially deplete groundwater supplies or
interfere substantially with groundwater
recharge such that there would be a net
deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the
local groundwater table level (e.g. the
production rate of existing nearby wells
would drop to a level which would not
support existing land uses or planned uses
for which permits have been granted?
(Source: 2, 10)
c) Su3stantially alter the existing drainage
pattern of the site or area, including through
the aeration of the course of a stream or
fiver, in a manner which would result in
substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-
site? (Source: 8, 10)
d) Substantially alter the existing drainage
pattern of the site or areas, including through
tie alteration of a course or stream or river,
or substantially increase the rate or amount
of surface runoff in a manner which would
result in flooding on- or off-site? (Source: 8,
1 ~)
e) Create or contribute runoff water which
Would exceed the capacity of existing or
planned stormwater drainage systems or
provide substantial additional sources of
polluted runoff? (Source: 8, 10)
f) Otherwise substantially degrade water
quality? (Source: 10)
g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard
area as mapped on a Flood Hazard Boundary
Or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood
delineation map? (Source: 2)
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Less than
Significant
Impact
X
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 20
July 2002
h) PlaCe within a 100-year flood hazard area
structures which impede or redirect flood
flows? (Source: 2)
i) ExPose people or structures to a significant
ri~k of loss, injury, and death involving
fl4oding, including flooding as a result of
the failure of a levee or dam? (2)
j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami or mudflow?
IX. Latd Use and Planning. Would the project:
a) Physically divide an established community?
(Source: 1, 2, 10)
b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan,
policy, or regulation of an agency with
jurisdiction over the project (including but
not limited to the general plan, specific plan,
or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose
of avoiding or mitigating an environmental
ef.'ect? (Source: 1, 2)
c) conflict with any applicable habitat
conservation plan or natural community
conservation plan? (1, 2, 7)
X. Mineral Resources. Would the project
a) Result in the loss of availability of a known
mineral resource that would be of value to
the region and the residents of the state?
(Source: 1, 2, 10
b) ReSult in the loss of availability of a locally
important mineral resource recovery site
d~lineated on a local general Plan, specific
plan or other land use plan? (Source: 1, 2)
XI. No'_se. WouM the proposal result in:
a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise
le~vels in excess of standards established in
tile general plan or noise ordinance, or
applicable standards of other agencies?
(~ource: 2)
b) Exposure of persons or to generation of
eXcessive groundbome vibration or
gloundbome noise levels? (Source: 2, 10)
c) A ,ubstantial permanent increase in ambient
noise levels in the project vicinity above
existing levels without the project? (Source:
21 10)
City oI South San Francisco
Initial S~udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
X
X
Less than
Significant
Impact
X
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 21
July 2002
d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase
ir ambient noise levels in the project vicinity
above levels without the project? (Source:2)
e) Fo_- a project located within an airport land
use plan or, where such a plan has not been
adopted, within two miles of a public airport
or public use airport, would the project
expose people residing or working n the
project area to excessive noise levels?
(Source: 2)
f) For a project within the vicinity of a private
airstrip, would the project expose people
residing or working in the project area to
excessive noise levels? (Source: 2)
XII. Population and Housing. Would the project
a) Induce substantial population growth in an
atea, either directly or indirectly (for
example, through extension of roads or other
infrastructure)? (Source: 11)
b) DiSplace substantial numbers of existing
housing, necessitating the construction of
resplacement housing elsewhere? (11)
c) DiSplace substantial numbers of people,
necessitating the replacement of housing
elsewhere? (Source: 10)
XIII. Public Services. WouM the proposal:
a) Would the project result in substantial adverse
paysical impacts associated with the
provision of new or physically altered
governmental facilities, the construction of
Which could cause significant environmental
irhpacts, in order to maintain acceptable
service rations, response times or other
performance objectives for any of the public
services? (Sources: 1, 2, 9)
iFire protection
iPolice protection
iSchools
iParks
i Other public facilities.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S~udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
X
Less than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page 22
July 2002
XIV. 1~ ~ecreation:
a) Would the project increase the use of existing
neighborhood or regional facilities such that
substantial physical deterioration of the
facility would occur or be accelerated
(Source: 2)
b) DOes the project include recreational facilities
ot require the construction or expansion of
recreational facilities which might have an
adverse physical effect on the environment?
(Source: 2)
XV. T :ansportation and Traffic. Would the
project:
a) C~use an .increase in traffic which is
s~bstant~al in relation to the existing traffic
load and capacity of the street system (i.e.
result in a substantial increase in either the
number of vehicle trips, the volume to
capacity ratio on roads or congestion at
intersections)? (2, 10)
b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a
level of service standard established by the
County Congestion Management Agency for
~_esignated roads or highways? (2)
c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns,
i~cluding either an increase in traffic levels
Or a change in location that results in
Substantial safety risks? (10)
d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design
feature (e.g. sharp curves or dangerous
intersections) or incompatible uses, such as
farm equipment? (8, 10)
e) Result in inadequate emergency access? (10)
f) R~Sult in inadequate parking capacity? (8)
g) COnflict with adopted policies, plans or
programs supporting alternative
transportation (such as bus turnouts and
b:_cycle facilities)
(1)
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
X
X
X
Less than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of!South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
/
Page 23
July 2002
XVI. Utilities and Service Systems. WouM the
project
a) ExCeed wastewater treatment requirements of
tl~e applicable Regional Water Quality
C~ntrol Board7 (2)
b) Require or result in the construction of new
water or wastewater treatment facilities or
expansion of existing facilities, the
construction of which could cause
significant environmental effects7 (2, 10)
c) Require or result in the construction of new
storm water drainage facilities or expansion
o~ existing facilities, the construction of
which could cause significant environmental
e~fects? (9
d) Have sufficient water supplies available to
serve the project from existing water
entitlements and resources, or are new or
expanded entitlements needed? (2)
e) Result in a determination by the wastewater
treatment provider which serves or may
serve the project that it has adequate
capacity to serve the project's projected
demand in addition to the providers existing
c ~mmitments? (9)
f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient
permitted capacity to accommodate the
project's solid waste disposal needs? (2)
g) COmply with federal, state and local statutes
and regulations related to solid waste? (2)
XVI. Mandatory Findings of Significance.
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade
t'~e quality of the environment, substantially
reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife
s?ecies, cause a fish or wildlife population to
c~rop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to
eliminate a plant or animal community,
reduce the number of or restrict the range of
a rare or endangered plant or animal or
e[iminate important examples of the major
I: eriods of California history or prehistory?
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Less than
Significant
Impact
X
No
Impact
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
City of[South San Francisco
Initial ~tudy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 24
July 2002
b) Does the project have impacts that are
individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable"
means that the incremental effects of a
project are considerable when viewed in
connection with the effects of past projects,
~e effects of other current projects and the
effects of probable future projects).
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
With
Mitigation
Less than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
X
c) Does the project have environmental effects
which will cause substantial adverse effects
on human beings, either directly or
ir.directly?
Source~ used to determine potential environmental impacts
X
1. Sbuth San Francisco General Plan
2. Sbuth San Francisco General Plan Existing Conditions Report
3 Biological Resources Reconaisance for Colma Creek Bank Stabilization (LSA Associates)
4. Biological resources Reconaisance for Wet Weather Pond (Environmental Collaborative)
5. Architectural History Reconnaissance (Carey & Co.)
6. Archeological Reconnaissance (Holman & Associates)
7. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Treadwell & Rollo)
8. Improvement Plans for Proposed Project (Carollo Engineers)
9. Discussion with City staff or service provider
10. Site Visit
11. Other Source
XVIIi Earlier Analyses
Earlier analyses may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other
CEQA process, one or more effects have been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or
negatiye declaration. Reference Section 15063 (c)(3)(d).
a) Earlier analyses used. Identify earlier analyses and state where they are available for
revieW.
Portions of the environmental setting, project impacts and mitigation measures
for this Initial Study refer to environmental information contained in the General
Plan and General Plan ELR (1999) (SCH#97122030), available for review at the
South San Francisco Planning Department, 315 Maple Avenue, South San
Francisco, during normal business hours.
City of .~outh San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 25
July 2002
Attachment to Initial Study
Discussion of Checklist
1. Aes hetics
Envirm rrnental Setting
The pre ect is set in a largely urbanized portion of the community, characterized by
commercial land uses (along Airport Boulevard), light industrial uses (along Lowrie
Avenu~ and Shaw Road), research and development and office uses (in the east of 101
area) and the City's Water Quality Control Plant, located at the terminus of Belle Air
Road. With the exception of Colma Creek and San Francisco Bay, no significant or
unusual aesthetic features are found within the project site, including unusual rock
outcroppings or major scenic vistas.
As a largely developed area, a number of light sources exist within the project area,
primar!ly street and freeway lights, building and yard lights associated with existing
development. City pump stations have one outdoor light each.
Projecti Impacts
a) Have a substantial adverse impact on a scenic vista? NI. The proposed project
igenerally includes subsurface work and reconstruction of existing above ground
Sewer pump stations in their present locations. Limited work would be done to a
ortion of the southerly bank of Colma Creek adjacent to the Wastewater
reatment Plant, however, this bank stabilization is proposed to blend in with
existing bank conditions. No impacts or changes to scenic vistas would occur
Should the proposal be implemented.
b)
!Substantially damage scenic resources, including state scenic highway? NI. No changes
!to scenic resources are proposed, since much of the proposed work is intended to
he subsurface so no impacts are anticipated with regard to this topic.
c)
iSubstantiaIly degrade existing visual character or the quality of the site? NI. The project
larea has been previously developed for a mix of commercial, office, research and
idevelopment and similar uses, including a wastewater treatment plant. Proposed
iconstruction would generally be below ground or within existing buildings.
iThere would therefore be no impacts to the existing visual character or quality of
Ithe project area.
d)
!Create light or glare? NI. A number of light sources presently exist within the
~project area. Approval and implementation of the proposed project would have
i no impact on new sources of light and glare, since new construction would be
below grade or inside buildings. No light sources are proposed for the Colma
i Creek bank stabilization portion of the project or the wet weather holding pond,
City of South San Francisco
Initial Sludy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 26
July 2002
the two major above ground component of the proposal. No impacts are
m'tticipated with regard to light and glare.
2. A§~icultural Resources
Enviro_-u-nental Setting
The project area has been developed for a number of years for primarily light industrial
and commercial purposes. A portion of the project area includes the existing South San
FranciSco Water Quality Control Plant, which has been locatedon the south side of
Colma iCreek adjacent to San Francisco Bay since the 1950's. Although underlying soils
may sqpport agriculture, no crops have not been cultivated in many years nor have any
portior~s of the project area been used for animal grazing. No Williamson Act
conserVation agreements have been signed for properties affected by this project, since
the great majority of the land is owned by public agencies. No agricultural zoning had
been adopted for any portion of the project area by the City of South San Francisco.
Project Impacts
a-c) Convert Prime Farmland, conflict with agricultural zoning or agriculture land use or
[ o ,
~onvert przme farmland to a non-agrzcultural use? NI. The project area lies in a
highly urbanized area of South San Francisco and there would be no impact with
regard to agricultural uses, zoning or Williamson Act agreements.
3. Air, Quality
EnvirO~'nental Setting
South San Francisco lies in the Bay Area's peninsula climatological subregion, which
extends from northwest San Jose to the Golden Gate. The Santa Cruz Mountains extend
up the icenter of the peninsula, with elevations exceeding 200 feet above sea level at the
southerly end of the basin and decreasing to approximately 500 near South San
Francisco. The San Bruno Gap in the mountain system extends from Fort Funston on the
ocean ~o the San Francisco International Airport. Because the gap is oriented in the same
direction as prevailing winds, marine air flows easily in the direction of San Francisco
Bay. ~
Average annual wind speeds range from five to ten miles per hour and often carry air
pollutants from South San Francisco to the east before they can accumulate
The federal Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental protection Agency (EPA) to
identif~ air quality standards. California has also adopted more stringent ambient air
quali~ standards for some pollutants. Table 1 summarizes current state and national
standa~rds.
Ciht el South San Francisco
Initial $1 ud¥/$ewer ImproYement Program
Page 27
July 2002
Table 1: Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards
Pollutant
Averaging Federal
Time Primary
Standard
1-Hour 0.12 ppm
8-Hour 0.08 ppm
8-Hour 9.0 ppm
1-Hour 35.0 ppm
Annual 0.05 ppm
1 -Hour --
Annual 0.03 ppm
24-Hour 0.14 ppm
1 -Hour --
Annual 50 ug/m3
24-Hour 150 ug/m3
Annual 15 ug/m3
24-Hour
65 ug/m3
30-Day Avg. --
Month Avg. 1.5 ug/m3
Ozone
CarbOn Monoxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulfu~ Dioxide
PM~0
PM2s
Lead l
ppm = parts per million
ug/m3 = Micrograms per Cubic Meter
Source: BAAQMD
State
Standard
0.09 ppm
9.0 ppm
20.0 ppm
0.25 ppm
0.05 ppm
0.5 ppm
30ug/m3
50 ug/m3
1.5 ug/m3
Under amendment to the federal Clean Air Act, the EPA has classified air basins as
"attainment" or "non-attainment" areas for each type of pollutant, based on
achievement of set standards. In 1988, the State of California adopted the Cahfornia
Clean Air Act, which is patterned after federal legislation.
South San Francisco lies within the non-county San Francisco Bay Area Basin. Table 2
summ~trizes the current attainment/non-attainment designations for the Bay Area.
Table 2: Air Quality Attainment Status
l~ollutant Applicable Area National State
Ozone[ Region-wide Attainment Non-attainment
CarboO Monoxide Urbanized Area Non-attainment Attainment
' Remainder of Basin Attainment Attainment
Nitrogen Dioxide Region-wide Attainment Attainment
Sulfur Dioxide Region-wide Attainment Attainment
PM-101 Region-wide Unclassified Non-attainment
Source:lSouth San Francisco General Plan EIR. 1999, ESA Associates.
City of gouth San Francisco
Initial S~udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 28
July 2002
South San Francisco lies within the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAA(~MD), which operates a network of air pollution monitoring stations, none of
which are located in South San Francisco. The nearest station is located in San Francisco,
approximately seven miles north of South San Francisco. With the exception of PM-10,
no violations of state or federal standards were recorded between 1992 and 1996. In
1994, 93 violation days for PM-10 were recorded. This is the highest number of violation
days w!thin the five-year period.
The BA~QMD also records citizen complaints regarding air pollution emissions and
odors. While no specific complaints have been logged regarding the Wastewater
Treatment Plant, several general complaints have been noted in the general area of the
plant, i
·
Project iImpacts
a) W~uld the project conflict or obstruct implementation of an air quality plan? NI. The
proposed project would not conflict with the local Clean Air Plan adopted by the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District, since no development would occur
that would generate either additional auto trips or land uses that would result in
greater automobile trips. No impacts are therefore anticipated. Since none of the
p~oposed sewer improvements would indirectly induce additional population or
employment growth by increasing dry weather sewage treatment capacity, no
impacts would result regarding secondary impacts as well.
b) W~uld the project violate any air quality standards? LS/M. Construction proposed
sewer improvements would involve grading and excavation for utility trenching
and related activities. Unless proper measures are undertaken to minimize air
borne pollutants, potentially significant impacts may result with regard to short-
tei'rn constr, uction air emissions. The following measure is recommended to reduce
this potential impact to a less-than-significant level:
Mitigation Measure 1. The project contractor shall adhere to appropriate
methods recommended by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to
minimize air borne pollution, including but not limited to frequent watering of
open trenches, covering of excavated dirt and related actions. Dust control
measures shall be included on contractor project specifications.
Since proposed project funding would include State Revolving Loan funds that
rely on funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the project is
stlbject to the conformity requirements of the federal Clean Air Act and its
amendments. The conformity provisions of the Act are designed to ensure that
St~ndards.fe eral agencies contribute to efforts to achieve the National Ambient Air Quality
The General Conformity rules require conformity determinations for projects if
they are anticipated to generate more emissions than the minimum thresholds and
City of S ~uth San Francisco Page 29
Initial Stl,dy/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
a~ not specifically exempted by the regulation, The San Francisco Bay area is
cc~rrently a federal non-attainment area for ozone, and the General Conformity
r~les establish the following "de minimus" thresholds.
100 tons per year for VOCs
100 tons per year for NOx
The City of South San Francisco Water Quality Control Plant (WCQP) is a
stationary source of air pollutants operating under a permit from the BAAQMD.
CUrrent annual emissions of ozone precursors Reactive Organic Gasses (ROG) and
l~itrogen Oxides (NOx) from this facility are shown on the following table.
The proposed project would not increase overall wastewater treatment capacity
and would therefore not change stationary emissions. However, during the
approximate 2-year construction of project components, additional emissions
would be generated by construction equipment and vehicles. The precise
s~heduling of construction activities is currently unknown, so construction phase
emissions have been estimated in conjunction with the project design engineer. It
isi therefore assumed that, at any one time, construction of the project components
may be occurring at three separate sites using the following construction
equipment: 1 each, grader, backhoe, trencher, front'end loader, concrete saw,
paver, roller.
Emissions from simultaneous construction at the three sites were then estimated
u~ing emission factors, load factors and engine horsepower estimated developed
by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in their CEQA Air Quality
h~andbook. Work days were assumed to be 8 hours and construction was assumed
tO occur on 250 days per year. Annual emissions from construction activities are
shown on Table 3, below.
Operational and construction emissions are individually and cumulatively
S~
~bstantially below the "de minimus' thresholds for ozone precursors established
the region by the Federal Clean Air Act conformity rules. The proposed project
'ould not interfere with attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality
tandards and would not require a conformity determination.
Table 3. Annual Operational and Construction Emissions in Tons/Year
ROG NOx
Operation 4.5 3.1
Construction 6.1 19.9
De Minimus Threshold 100 100
Source: Donald Ballanti, 2002
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 30
July 2002
c) Would the project result in cumulatively considerable air pollutants? NI. The proposed
project would not generate additional automobile trips or land uses that would
induce additional auto trips within South San Francisco. The project would also
n6t involve any manufacturing or processing that would generate air pollutants.
NO impacts are therefore anticipated.
d,e) EJ~pose sensitive receptors to significant pollutant concentrations or create objectionable
odOrs ? NI. No residential uses, schools, hospitals or nursing homes exist within or
adjacent to the project area, so no sensitive receptors would be affected by the
p~oposed project. Although limited additional odors could be generated as a result
of! project construction, no sensitive receptors exist in the area to be affected. There
would therefore be no impact with regard to these topics.
4. Biological Resources
Enviro_-amental Setting
The majority of project components are located within upland, urbanized areas of South
San Francisco. In many instances, proposed work includes trenching within existing
paved _-oadways or replacing and/or upgrading existing sewer pumping stations
within urbanized areas.
Two exceptions exist to this general statement. First, one of the project components
would involve excavating an existing sludge drying bed on the eastern site of the City's
Water Quality Control Plant to provide for short-term storage of treated effluent during
wet weather conditions. Second, stabilization of approximately 600 linear feet of the
southe_-ly bank of Colma Creek is proposed.
The remainder of the project components are not located in areas containing special-
status plants or wildlife, nor located within or adjacent to wetland areas.
A biological resources reconnaissance of the Colma Creek bank stabilization portion of
the project was completed in May, 2001 by LSA Associates. The proposed and the
adaptive reuse of the existing sludge drying bed as a wet weather containment pond
was reviewed by Environmental Collaborative in March, 2002. The results of both
reconn~aissance-level analyses are summarized below and are included as a appendix to
this Irfftial Study.
Plant life
No special-status plant species were observed by LSA Associates within or adjacent to
the Cob'ha Creek bank. A total of 24 special status plants were considered potentially
presen' in the vicinity. This list is attached to the full LSA report in the Appendix.
Eighteen of these species were eliminated for consideration due to absence of
supporting habitat within the project area (e.g. those species requiring chaparral,
woodland or coastal scrub habitats). Four species (Marsh Sandwort, Point Reyes birds-
beak, Hairless popcorn flower and California sea bite) could potentially occur in the
City of South San Francisco Page 31
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
wetland habitat along the northerly portion of the project site and could therefore not be
eliminated from consideration.
No special-status plants were noted within the sludge drying bed as part of the
EnvirOnmental Collaborative report.
Anima! life
No special-status wildlife species were observed on or in the vicinity of the project site
during LSA's site visit. A total of 24 special-status wildlife species were considered
potent'ally present, which are set forth in the full LSA reconnaissance report (see
Apper.dix). Five of these (Bay checkerspotted butterfly, Mission blue butterfly, San
Bruno elfin butterfly, Callippe silverspotted butterfly and Bank swallow) were
eliminated from consideration because of the absence of suitable habitat. Colma Creek
provides foraging habitat for non special-status birds: short-eared owl, Western snowy
plover~ California brown pelican, double-breasted cormorant, and California least tern.;
howe~er, suitable nesting habitat for these species were not observed during the site
visit. Two special-status fish species, steelhead and Chinook salmon, could occur in this
portio~t of the Creek, but the drainage area does not provide suitable spawning habitat
for either species. Western pond turtles are occasionally found in brackish habitats
similar to the project area, but this species typically prefers habitats with more suitable
basking and retreat sites. Conditions upstream may be more suitable for pond turtles
and individuals could migrate through this portion of the creek as they move to and
from more suitable habitat. Habitat conditions on this portion of the project site and in
the vicinity are considered marginally suitable for the remaining seven special-status
specie~ (salt marsh common yellowthroat, Alameda song sparrow, California black rail,
salt marsh harvest mouse and salt marsh wandering shrew) could potentially occur on
the sit~. However, based on the type and quality of available habitat, as well as the
proximity of the site to other suitable habitat, these species have been determined to
have a low probability of occurrence.
The Efivironmental Collaborative report notes that WQCP creates conditions attractive
to a ntlmber of birds, including gulls and blackbirds. The sludge drying bed has also
been r~portedly used for nesting in the past by Canadian geese and other waterfowl
and several active nests were observed during the latest site visit. Active nests are of
geese and many other birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treat Act, which
prohibits the taking, hunting, killing, selling or purchasing of migratory birds, their
nests Or eggs. However, due to the on-going operation of the WQCP and absence of
essential habitat features, it is unlikely that the site supports any special-status animal
species. A small population of the State and Federally-endangered California clapper
rail was reported from salt marsh habitat in San Bruno Point in 1975 (from the
Califo~'da Natural Date Base, 1997), but it is unlikely that the small areas of pickleweed
in the iproject vicinity are sufficient in size to support a local population of this
subspecies.
Wetlands
City of ~South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 32
July 2002
The portion of the project involving bank stabilization to Colma Creek contains tidal
wetlan~l habitat. This wetland area is subject to tidal action and is composed of a nearly
pure stand of cordgrass. This portion of the project would be subject to Corps of
Engineers jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Regula',ory framework
Biological resources are protected by the following primary local, state and federal
regulazions:
· '~Federal Endangered Spedes Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
i urisdiction over formally-listed threatened and endangered terrestrial and
ifreshwater species. The act protects listed animal species from harm or take.
iPlant species are also legally protected.
· IClean Water Act: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible under section
404 of the Clean Water Act to regulate discharge of fill material into waters of the
[United States, which include streams that are tributaries to navigable waters and
itheir tributaries.
· iRivers and Harbors Act: Certain structures and/or work in or affecting navigable
iwaters of the U.S. are regulated under the authority of the U.S. Army Corps of
iEngineers. The creation of any obstruction to the navigable capacity without
i specific approval is prohibited.
· i Migratory Bird Treaty Act: This Act prohibits the taking, hunting, killing, selling,
[purchasing of migratory birds, eggs or nests.
· !California Endangered Species Act: The California Department of Fish and Game
]has jurisdiction over state lrsted threatened, rare (plants) and endangered plant
!and animal species. Also, species proposed for listing under the state act are
!protected by its provisions. CDFG maintains a list pf species of special concems,
defined as species that appear vulnerable to extinction due to declining
I populations, limited ranges and continuing threats.
· i Section 401 Water Quality Certification: All Corps permits, including Nationwide
i Permits, require water quality certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water
i Act. This is administered by the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control
i Board. The Regional Board has adopted a policy requiring mitigation for loss of
: streambed, wetland or jurisdictional area.
McAteer-Petris Act: The Bay Conservation and Development Commission
(BCDC) was established under this legislation to prevent unnecessary filling of
San Francisco Bay and to increase public access to the bayfront shoreline.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S~tudy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 33
July 2002
The Ci,-Y of South San Francisco has filed a Preconstruction Notice with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to obtain a Nationwide Permitl3 under the Clan Water Act for the
Colma,Creek bank stabilization portion of the pro}ect.
Projectl Impacts
a) Have a substantial adverse impact on a candidate, sensitive, or special-status species?
LS/M. The great majority of the project components are located within
urbanized, upland areas where there would be no impact to special-status plant
br animal species. The proposed bank stabilization of Colma Creek is located in
an area that does not support high-value habitats so there would be less-than-
~Significant long-term impacts with regard to special-status resources. There
~vould however, be short-term impacts with regard to erosion and localized
:listurbance during the construction phase of the bank reconstruction. The
Following mitigation measure is therefore recommended to reduce any potential
~hort-term impacts to a less-than-significant level:
Mitigation Measure 2: Prior to commencement of the Co]ma Creek bank
stabihzation portion of the project, a qualified biologist shall prepare a
Construction Management Plan to ensure that any impacts to wetlands and
special-status plant and animal species are minimized to the fullest extent
possible. The Plan shall include fencing of sensitive areas not part of the
project, limitations on work below the spring high tide elevation, and use of
erosion control techniques to minimize erosion into the Creek. Necessary
permits shall also be obtained from appropriate regulatory agencies.
The following mitigation measure is recommended to minimize impacts of
adapting the sludge drying pond portion of the project to migratory birds:
Mitigation Measure 3: The proposed wet weather pond should be designed to
allow for the establishment of emergent vegetation, such as cattail and bulrush
around the perimeter. Ideally, the northerly and easterly side slopes should not
exceed 3:1, to allow for the establishment of a wider band of emergent
vegetation. Any clearing of established vegetation shall be scheduled during
the non-nesting season (after August 31 and before October 15) to avoid
potential disturbance to nesting birds.
b, c)
d)
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
!Have a substantial adverse impact on riparian habitat or federally protected wetlands ?
!LS/M. There could be short-term disturbance of wetland and wetland habitat on
}the south side of Colma Creek. This potential impact would be reduced to a less-
i than-significant level through adherence to Mitigation Measure 2.
I Interfere with movement ofnativefish or wildlife species? LS. The project area is
!largely developed with light industrial, office, commercial and other urban uses
I so that no imlvact would result to fish or wildlife species. Although fish and other
!wildlife species could be impacted by the proposed Colma Creek bank
Page 34
July 2002
Stabilization portion of the project, adherence to Mitigation Measure 2 would
leduce this impact to a less-than-significant level.
Conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources or any adopted
Habitat Conservation Plans or Natural Community Conservation Plans ? NI. The site is
not located within the boundaries of any Habitat Conservation Plan or Natural
Community Conservation Plan. No impacts would therefore result.
5. Cultural Resources
Enviro~rnental Setting
Historiqal overview
(This section of the Initial Study is based on a Historic Resources Evaluation of the
projectI area prepared by Carey & Company to fulfill requirements of Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act. A copy of this report is contained in the Appendix.)
The development of South San Francisco began in the 19th century when cattle ranchers
from California Central Valley purchased large expanses of open land as a place to hold
and graze livestock before sending them to meatpacking houses in San Francisco's
Hunters Point area. In 1890, several major meatpackers banded together to lay out
residential and industrial neighborhoods. Other industries were attracted to the area
assisted by the extension of the Southern Pacific mail rail line through the town.
AlthoUgh sustaining some damage during the 1906 earthquake, the solid bedrock under
Point San Bruno protected many structures. The City incorporated in 1908. By the 1920's
many of the meatpackers had moved out of the community and were replaced by steel
manufacturers, including Bethlehem Steel and U. S. Steel. During WWII, several major
defense industries located in South San Francisco, especially ship building. After the
war, the growth and expansion of San Francisco International Airport increased the
demand for industrial properties. In the 1970's and 1980's, development of the large
Cabot,[ Cabot & Forbes business park in the east of 101 area provided a home to large
office Users.
Most recently, major biotechnology users have developed major research and
development campuses in the community.
ArcheOlogical overview
(This section of the Initial Study is summarized from an Initial Archeological Resources
Evaluation of the project area prepared by Holman & Company to fulfill requirements
of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. A copy of this report is
contained in the Appendix.)
City of ~outh San Francisco Page 35
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
The geomorphological setting of the project area is pertinent as the matrix in which
archaeological resources would occur. Most of South San Francisco is within the Colma
Creek!watershed, which has been the subject of extensive geomorphological study.
Howe~Zer, the area east of Highway 101 are largely in areas of San Francisco Bay and its
margins historically 'filled for development, areas highly sensitive for prehistoric
archaeological deposits and which also contain historic features and resources under
the fill
The Colrna Creek corridor has been subject to extensive alluvial filling during the
Holocene, burying the formerly steeper valley under several meters of alluvial deposits,
primarily Colrna Formation sand. The watercourse of Colma Creek meandered over
time l~ut remained basically along the geomorphic dividing line between the Franciscan
Complex Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks of San Bruno Mountain to the east and the
PleistOcene Colma Formation to the north and west. Exposures of Franciscan bedrock
on the slopes of San Bruno Mountain include dark grey to yellow brown interbedded
sands:ones and shales (Bonilla 1998). The Colma Formation is mostly "fine-to-medium
sand deposited in near-shore marine and continental settings. The deposit contains few
interbeds of sandy silt, clay to sandy clay and gravel .... The age is estimated between
500,0£0 to one million years" (Witter 2001:3). Though both sides of the drainage
contri'vute to sediment load and bank development along the creek, the highly erosive
Colma Formation supplies much more bulk; in turn, those sand deposits are easily cut
and transported by water flow. Natural filling was accentuated and added to by a
program of historic filling in the mid to late nineteenth century, involving purposely
altering the watercourse to bring sand to specific areas. This filling extended to near the
Bay margin and deposited considerable depths of recent fill.
The o_-dy proposed Project element in the upper Colma Creek drainage, the proposed
"Winston Manor Sewer" rehabilitation, is in a location subject to this natural alluvial
filling and so could contain prehistoric archaeological deposits from near the surface to
probably well below the depth of potential Project impacts. Downstream, the dozen
Project elements nearest Colma Creek are in the immediate flood plain and margins of
the Bay subject to filling by the meandering creek. These downstream areas have been
subject to both natural and artificial filling. The more northerly of the eastern elements,
arour.d Point San Bruno, are also mostly in both natural and artificial fill, the artificial
fill lying on top of coarse alluvial sands and gravels from washed down from the slopes
of San Bruno Mountain.
A prehistoric shell midden site on the former banks of Colma Creek, at Chestnut
Aven'ae and Mission Road, was discovered under a minimum 150 cm, and more than
600 cm below surface in some locations of recent fill, the majority of which is
interpreted as quite recent and likely to have resulted from both natural and purposeful
filling. This location is approximately half way between the Winston Manor Sewer and
the other Project elements beginning on the west side of Highway 101 and extending
out ir.to twentieth century fill around Point San Bruno. It is likely that Holocene fill,
both natural and artificial, is deeper at the more easterly extent of the project area
locations subject to direct filling by Colma Creek. With the exception of the Project
City ofiSouth San Francisco Page 36
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
elemenzs nearest the highest, erosion-resistant knobs of serpentinite and sheared
Franciscan Formation rocks on Point San Bruno, all other portions of the project area are
in mapped artificial fill up to 30 m deep. This artificial geomorphic setting makes
research into the filling progression and episodes along the Bay margin and around
Point S~an Bruno essential in assessing Project potential to encounter both prehistoric
and historic archaeological resources.
Prehistoric/Ethnohistoric/Archaeological
ThougL it is likely the San Francisco Peninsula has been inhabited by humans for
something approaching 10,000 years, data confirming such a long tenure is lacking in
San Mateo and San Francisco counties. While Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties have
furnished carbon dates in that age range, the oldest published dates for the Peninsula
appear to be about 5000 years for undoubted habitation sites. The oldest published date
for San!Mateo County remains that from a site near the outlet of Colma Creek to the Bay
at SMA~-40, at just over 5100 years before present. Nearly equally old are the oldest
component of the University Village Site (SMA-77) at the southeast of the county, and
the "BART Man" in San Francisco. Hints of possibly older occupation on the San Mateo
coast have been published, but are unsupported by technical dating techniques. It is
safe to say that the Peninsula, including the Colma Creek drainage, was probably
occupied by Native Americans at least 5000 years ago, but by different people than
would later own the area.
Ethnohistorically, the Colma Creek drainage was occupied by the Urebure tribelet, an
Ohlone group, the Native Americans who owned the San Francisco Bay region, Santa
Cruz Mountains, East Bay Hills, and the Monterey Bay area at the 1769 Spanish
invasion. Archaeological evidence indicates the ancestral Ohlones arrived in the San
Francisko/Monterey Bay region-depending on location-somewhere around A.D. 500,
possibly from the lower Sacramento Valley/Delta, displacing an earlier population.
Natural resources of their home areas provided for nearly all the needs of the aboriginal
Ohlone populations. The prehistoric Ohlones were "hunters and gatherers," who
adapted to and managed their abundant local environment so well that some places
were continuously occupied for literally thousands of years. Compared to modem
standards, population density always remained relatively low, but the Ohlone area,
especially around Monterey and San Francisco Bays, was one of the most densely lived
in areas of prehistoric California. The Ohlones had perfected living in and managing a
myriad of slightly differing environments. Some environments were rich enough to
support large permanent villages of "collectors;" others had less abundant resources
and suTported a more mobile "forager" way of life. Littoral (shoreline) and riparian
environments, such as along and at either end of Colma Creek and along San Francisco
Bay, were obviously more productive and were therefore most sought out, most
intensively utilized and occupied, and most jealously defined and guarded. Uplands
and redwood areas were less productive and less intensively used and occupied than
the ocean and bay coasts. As throughout Central California, the acorn was the dietary
staple of the Ohlones, but a huge number of floral and faunal resources were utilized.
Like otk~er native Califomians, the Ohlones managed their environment to improve it
City of S,outh San Francisco Page 37
Initial St Jdy/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
for their use. For example, they burned grass and brush lands annually to improve
forage for deer and rabbits, keep the land open and safer from predators and their
neighbors, and improve productivity of many resources.
The basic unit of Ohlone society was the "tribelet," a small independent land-holding
group of usually related families occupying a specific territory and speaking the same
language or dialect. An incredible diversity of languages had evolved in Central
California, evidence of centuries of in-place divergence of very small social groups.
Early l~nguists encountered some groups of only 50-100 people speaking dialects
sometimes but not generally unintelligible to their neighbors. Inter-tribelet relationships
were socially and economcally necessary however, to supply both marriage partners
and goods and services not available locally. Trade and marriage patterns were usually
but noz always dictated by proximity; traditional enemies were usually also defined by
proxirr.ity. Regional festivals and religious dances would bring groups together during
periods of suspended hostilities.
Traditional trade patterns thousands of years old operated when the Spanish invaded,
supplying the Ohlones with products from sources sometimes hundreds of kilometers
distant, and allowing export of products unique to their region. Obsidian was obtained
from the North Coast Ranges and Sierran sources, in patterns that changed through
time. By 1769, the Ohlones had been buying finished obsidian arrowheads of specific
forms, manufactured by North Coast Range tribes, for hundreds of years. Shell beads
and ornaments, a major export from the Ohlone regions, were made primarily from the
shells of abalone (Haliotis), Purple Olive snail (Olivella), and Washington clam
(Saxidoraus), all ocean coast species. Shell beads and ornaments evolved through many
different and definable types through the millennia, allowing chronological typing of
these common artifacts to serve as keys to the age and relative cultural position of
archaeological complexes. These beads were traded for thousands of years, and have
been found in prehistoric sites throughout California and many kilometers east, into the
Great Basin, showing that prehistoric peoples on the Peninsula were tied into an
"international" system of trade. At the time of the Spanish invasion, some Central
Californians had developed a system of exchange currency ("money") based on clam
shell disk beads; the extent to which the Ohlones related to that system is unknown.
Absolqte and relative dating of archaeological sites, the linguistic diversity, and
demonstrably ancient trade patterns all indicate that the Ohlones and other Central
California groups had reached a state of demographic and social stability unimaginable
to mod ern city dwellers in a state in which the same family groups occupied the same
location continuously for hundreds or even thousands of years with few if any changes
in popplation size or profile. This long-term stability is reflected in the homogeneity of
archaeological sites spanning wide geographic and temporal ranges.
By the time of European incursion, a unique native settlement pattern was in place
along the Peninsula, in which the same tribelet group would own a strip across the
Penins':tla from ocean to Bay, based on drainages. These watercourses formed natural
travelWays across the spine of the Peninsula. Like other watercourses from the southern
City of Sjouth San Francisco Page 38
Initial St Jdy/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
Santa Clara Valley to the northern end of the Peninsula, Colma Creek has a series of
archaeological sites along its banks, connected to prehistoric cultural sites along the
margins of the Bay. The Colma Creek (known as "San Bruno Creek" by the Spanish)
drainage was probably held by a single group, the Urebure, that extended from the
slopes of San Bruno Mountain to about San Mateo Creek, and used the creek corridor to
travel ~om village sites on the Bay, the Pacific, and in between.
Around the begirming of the twentieth century, N.C. Nelson recorded more than 400
major shell midden sites around San Francisco Bay, some of which had already been
leveled or destroyed (Nelson 1909). Nelson's 1909 "Map of San Francisco Bay Region
Showing Distribution of Shell Heaps" shows sites//378 and//377/379 ? in the vicinity of
the proposed project. Nelson shows #378 south of Oyster Point on the north shore of
San Bruno Point, and #377/379? on the south side of Point San Bruno. Nelson's rough
and sometimes inaccurate mapping, plus historic changes in the Bay shore and local
topography, filling, massive construction projects in and around South San Francisco
such a~ steel and meat packing plants, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Bayshore
Freeway, and Nelson's generalized location descriptions, make a positive identification
of a site on the south shore of Point San Bruno or near the mouth of Colma Creek
difficult.
Prehistorically, the upper Project Area (near Hickey Boulevard) would have been an
area of windswept sand dunes fringed by oak grassland alongside the more thickly-
vegetazed Colma Creek riparian corridor. The Bay shore was very marshy, marshes
extended up to approximately the Orange Park region in modem South San Francisco,
with extensive mudflats and wetlands that offered very abundant resources but made
access to the Bay difficult, so ideal habitation locations were at spots where hard ground
met the Bay, surrounded by the marshes. The open exposure, easy slope, availability of
fresh water, and location along one of only two easy routes along the Peninsula made
this location attractive to the Ohlone Indians long before the European invasion.
Several villages were located in the territory of the Urebure tribelet when the Spanish
arrived, including occupations along Colma (San Bruno) Creek and on the margin of the
Bay. ~ major site is located at the foot of San Bruno Mountain, just north of Point San
Bruno (SMA-40), two habitation middens are recorded on the creek between the
northwest and east of the Project (SMA-299 and -355), and another on the ocean at the
western end of the route up Colma Creek (SMA-72); all were probably in use by the
Urebure when the Spanish arrived. SMA-72 and SMA-355 are Late Period sites) and
SMA-~_0 has a late component. Further, Brown (1973) reports that prior to 1835 the San
Brunoi Mountain south slope area was known as a location of "Indian huts," perhaps a
resettlh~g of an old village site after secularization of the missions and dispersal of many
of the missionized Irtdi ~.ans, but no village or place name is recorded.
The C01ma Creek corridor and mouth, and surrounding Bay margin were a focus of
abori~nal settlement and use, making the Project APEs archaeologically sensitive for
prehistoric deposits. While the creek occasionally runs dry, the area still afforded
sources of freshwater year round. Historic accounts affirm the area of the upper creek
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Initial S tudy/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
was "characterized by small lakes and an abundance of springs" (Svanivik and Burger
1995: 16), and the earliest maps show a lake and springs near Hickey Boulevard.
Remnants of these lakes are still shown on E1 Camino plans in 1925 and exist today. The
creek crainage below, in South San Francisco, was extensively filled and any such lakes
covered, along with prehistoric sites. Bay margin filling and historic development have
also covered or destroyed prehistoric shell middens on the former marshland margin of
the Bay, which once extended far up Colma Creek. Farther from the current, or historic
shoreline, prehistoric sites are still possible; it has been hypothesized that sites along the
Bay shore older than about 5000 years lie buried under sediment or under the Bay itself
due to rising sea level.
Archeo'.ogical records search
Archaeological research for the proposed project was initiated with a search of relevant
records, maps, and archives maintained by the Northwest Information Center of the
California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) at Sonoma State
University. Due to the indeterminate scope of the Project when the records search was
sent irt, a very wide area was addressed in the record search, essentially the entire
Colma Creek drainage, and all of South San Francisco east of Junipero Serra Boulevard.
The records search was conducted by the Center staff, revealing that numerous small
areas of the Project Area had been surveyed for cultural resources previously, only a
few of which proved finally to be directly applicable to the Project as now understood.
Few cultural resources or historic properties are recorded within 500 m of the proposed
project elements, none east of Highway 101. The CHRIS Records Search File Number
for the Project Area is 00-560. A copy of this report will be submitted for inclusion in the
permanent archives of the CHRIS.
The records search revealed only three prehistoric archaeological sites in the vicinity of
the proposed project, the aforementioned SMA-40, SMA-299, and SMA-355. SMA-40 is
a large shell midden mound on the southeast slope of San Bruno Mountain west of
Highway 101, a major cultural resource, a little over 500 m from the nearest Project
work, at Gateway Boulevard and Oyster Point Boulevard. SMA-299 is a diffuse shell
midden once found on both banks of Colma Creek, now mostly destroyed. SMA-355 is
a buried Late Period shell midden on the north bank of Colma Creek at Chestnut
Average. Both these last two sites are well over a kilometer from the nearest project
work. ~
The proposed Winston Manor project component, north of Hickey Boulevard from
Camaritas Avenue to E1 Camino Real/State Route 82, is removed to the northwest from
all the other Project elements. A single archaeological reconnaissance was recorded
along F~I Camino through the vicinity of Hickey Boulevard, and another crossed Hickey
west of this project component. Neither reconnaissance reported historic properties. An
historic property, "the Frank Lagomarsino vegetable farm" is recorded within 500 m of
the east end of Hickey Boulevard, but is well outside any possible impacts for this
ProjecI.
City of South San Francisco
Initial $-udy/Sewer Improvement Program
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July 2002
Project elements near and east of Highway 101 are mostly outside any recorded
archaeological reconnaissances, and no excavations are reported anywhere near any
Project elements. Several areas of Project work have been previously surface surveyed,
but nome of these have recorded historic properties. The banks of channelized Colma
Creek, where project components 5, 8, 12, and 25 are proposed was surveyed by Rice
(1995). The area surrounding and including the WQCP was surface surveyed in 1976,
including the remnants of "Belle Air Island" (Roop 1976); this also included component
5 and 8, and the eastern end of component 4. Anastasio et al. did a reconnaissance along
part of what became Gateway Boulevard, southward of any Project work, but this same
lineal surface survey did cross component 6, the Airport Boulevard Sewer (Anastasio et
al. 1988). Finally, a survey along the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way that
partially became Executive Drive encompassed the portion of Executive where project
component 27 will be installed (Biosystems Analysis, Inc. 1989).
The records search turned up one recorded site within 500 m of any of the eastern
Projec~ components. SMA-811H is an historic refuse scatter eroding out of a railbed
embarkrnent just north of CoLrna Creek and Project component 1, the San Mateo Pump
Statior. (McGinnis 2000). This scatter includes glass, ceramics, crockery, marbles, oyster
shell a_-~d miscellaneous other materials; estimated date of the deposit is 1890 to 1918.
The site map seems to indicate SMA-811I-I might be quite close to the existing San
Mateo Pump Station. No historic properties are recorded east of Highway 101.
Projec: Impacts
a) Cause substantial adverse change to significant historic resources? NI. Based on the
historical search prepared by Carey & Co., no historical resources were identified
within an Area of Potential Effect as eligible for the National Register of Historic
!Places or the California Register of Historical Resources. This is based on a site
visit, review of appropriate archival data and consultation with local agencies.
, No impacts are therefore anticipated with regard to significant historical
resources.
b) Cause a substantial adverse impact or destruction to archeologicaI resource? LS/M. As
noted in the Environmental Setting section above, the various broad categories of
project components have differing potential to effect archaeological resources.
Project components that would not involve excavations nor significant surface
disturbances, even in areas with demonstrated archaeological sensitivity, would
not potentially affect historic properties. Work with excavations that would not
penetrate undisturbed subsurface strata, or that would not penetrate recent fills
into older fills, or that would only penetrate into strata known to have been cut
into sterile soft, similarly do not have potential to affect historic properties.
Project components requiring excavations that would or could penetrate into
native or undisturbed strata, or into historic land surfaces that might contain
historic archaeological deposits, or into historic fill that could contain potentially
significant historic materials, would have the potential to affect historic
properties. This would result in a potentially significant impact.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
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July 2002
Finally, project excavations that would only re-disturb strata known to have been
previously, recently, disturbed, cannot be seen as having potential to affect
historic properties. Though this process is necessarily complex for a project
involving 28 separate components, detailed examination of the Environmental
Setting and potential impacts will illustrate that many proposed elements will
not have potential to affect historic properties. By the process of eliminating from
consideration those Project Components that do not have potential to effect
historic properties, the number of elements of concern in the Section 106 context
is substantially reduced.
i As described in the Environmental Setting above, every element of the project is
[in a location with archaeological sensitivity, either for prehistoric or historic
resources, or both. Basically, all elements are in the Colma Creek drainage or
along the historic margins of the Bay and marshlands, clearly in areas of high
[sensitivity for prehistoric archaeological deposits. Even components in what
were in the 1850s open Bay waters are in an archaeologically sensitive zone due
to rising Bay waters over the last several thousand years. There is therefore a
potential to encounter archaeological resources potentially meeting NRHP
criteria.
Impacts related to Pump Stations. Ten of the proposed project elements involve
upgrades to existing pump stations. Given that the majority of work on these
pump stations are proposed to be located above ground, no impacts would
generally result, since no subsurface work is proposed. Project work at three of
the stations (items #3, Shaw Road Pump Station #25, Pump Station 6 and #22,
Pump Station 22, all shown on Exhibit 3) may have impacts to sensitive
archeological resources since the possibility of subsurface excavation exists.
Impacts related to the effluent pond and Colma Creek bank stabilization. Due to
, the location and construction of these two project components are not anticipated
to have a significant impact on sensitive archeological resources.
Impacts related to pipelines. Sixteen of the proposed 28 project components are
proposed to include trenching and excavation. Due to the potential sensitivity of
these elements on sensitive archeological resources, several of these components
and their respective impacts are identified below.
· Lowrie Avenue Force Main (item #2): Although "pipe bursting" is proposed
for approximately 1/2 of the 4400 feet of replacement 36-inch diameter sewer
line, precise construction details are not known and excavation would be
needed to allow access for pipe connections. Therefore, this project
component is anticipated to have a potentially significant impact.
· Shaw Road Force Main (item #4), which includes approximately 2800 feet of
new 42-inch diameter force sewer main. This component would involve
significant trenching including sufficient room to allow tunneling under US
101. Given the suspected presence of sensitive archeological resources in the
City of South San Francisco Page 42
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
City of South San Francisco
Initial S;udy/Sewer Improvement Program
area and unknowns regarding the precise location of the proposed sewer line,
a potentially significant impact is anticipated.
· Airport Boulevard Sewer (item# 6), would involve relatively deep
excavations (approximately 15 feet) below existing grades for a distance of
approximately 1100 feet. Since precise construction details are not yet
available, it is anticipated that there is a potential for uncovering sensitive
archeological resources.
· Winston Manor Sewer (item #7) involves the proposed rehabilitation of
approximately 285 feet of an existing 6-inch diameter sewer. If a trenchless
construction method is to be used for rehabilitation, the precise location of
any excavation will need to be identified in order to assess impacts.
· Pump Station 2 Force Main (item #10) involves placing a 10-inch force
parallel to an existing 10-inch line within Gateway Boulevard. Numerous
activities have occurred in this area over the years and there is a possibility of
~ encountering significant resources during the proposed construction process.
· Oyster Point Blvd. Trunk Sewer (item #17), encompasses proposed
replacement of existing pipelines with larger pipes running approximately
[ 240 feet south of Oyster Point Boulevard on Eccles Avenue north to Oyster
Point Boulevard, then westward to Gateway Boulevard and south on
Gateway to Pump Station 2. Based on historic maps and records, the westerly
portion of the project area contained the historic right-of-way for Butler Road
and there is a possibility of encountering sensitive archeological resources
during excavation operations.
· East Grand Trunk Sewer (item #19). This project component includes
replacing existing sewer lines along East Grand Avenue from Allerton
Avenue to Harbor Way and the proposed right-of-way crosses several
different types and ages of fill. Proposed work on this component has the
potential to encounter historic resources in the section from Harbor Way to
approximately 150 feet east of Roebling Road, if the proposed construction
i technique is trenching. If the pipebursting technique is to be used, proposed
· access pits could still impact resources.
Littlefield South Subtrunk (item # 24), includes replacement of 8- and 10-inch
[ diameter pipes with the same size pipes along a stretch of approximately
2,400 feet of southerly Littlefield Avenue east of Pump Station 7. Much of the
project area is pre-1958 fill over Bay mud with an estimated 15 to 20 feet of
fill. If existing trenches are re-excavated to replace existing pipes, no impacts
to previously undisturbed historic fill or surfaces are anticipated, with the
exception of work pits. Until precise construction plans are prepared, it is
anticipated that potentially significant impacts could occur to sensitive
archeological resources.
· Harbor Way Subtrunk (item #26), which includes replacing an existing 8-inch
diameter sewer along Harbor Way with a new 10-inch diameter pipe from
Utah Avenue to approximately 80 feet north of Mitchell Avenue, a distance of
approximately 1000 feet. The proposed route of this element is within pre-
1958 fill over Bay mud. Since the new pipe would replace a smaller pipe in a
larger trench, it has the potential to impact archeological resources.
Page 43
July 2002
c)
d)
Other proposed pipeline components, including the Pump Station 2 Force Main
(item ~9), Pump Station 4 Force Main (item #12), Pump Station 8 Force Main
(item # 15), Allerton Avenue Trunk Sewer (item # 18), DNA Way Subtrunk (item
# 20) and the Littlefield North Subtmnk are anticipated to have no impacts to
archeological resources.
Based on the preliminary information above, detailed construction information
on each project component is not always available due to the phased nature of
this project. Therefore, the following mitigation measure is recommended to
reduce potentially significant archeological impacts to a less-than-significant
'_evel:
Mitigation Measure 4: An Archeological Resources Program shall be prepared
by a qualified archeologist prior to start of any construction which shall
include:
a)
b)
Provision for submittal of Section 106-level analyses for each project
component as they are designed and submitted to the State Water
Resources Control Board for State Revolving Loan funding.
Language added on individual project improvement plans and
specifications to the effect that if archeological materials or artifacts are
identified, work on that portion of the project shall cease until a resource
protection plan conforming to CEQA Section 15064.5 is prepared by a
qualified archeologist and/or paleontologist and approved by the South
San Francisco Public Works Director or an authorized representative.
Project work may be resumed in compliance with such plan. If human
remains are encountered, the County Coroner shall be contacted
immediately and the provisions of State law carried out.
Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or unique geological
feature? LS/M. Any potential impacts to palenotological impacts will be
addressed as part of Mitigation Measure 4.
Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of a formal cemetery? NI.
No formal cemeteries have been identified in either the archeological or
architectural historical resources survey, so no impacts would result.
6. Geology and Soils
Environmental Setting
Geology and soils
The 1999 General Plan Existing Conditions Report identifies three general geological
zones within South San Francisco. The Lowland Zone is primarily located east of the
City of South San Francisco Page 44
Initial S:udy/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
101 Freeway and consists of gently sloping areas with areas of man-made fill over Bay
mud. Slope is generally less than three percent. The Upland Zone is located in the
middle portion of the community with topographic elevations ranging from 30 to 200
feet above sea level. This zone also includes the alluvial plain of CoLma Creek. The
Hillside Zone consists of the westerly portion of the community and is characterized by
steeply sloping hillsides.
The entire lowland zone consists of artificial fill underlain by Bay mud. Bay mud in this
area consists of younger mud of the Holocene age, which is organic rich clay with silty
clay w_'th occasional beds of peat. Development hazards associated with this formation
include shrink-swell potential, differential settlement, corrositivity and earthquake
wave amplification.
The Upland Zone consists of Colma Formation soils with the following characteristics:
loose, _:riable, well-sorted sand with subordinate gravel, silt and clay deposits. It
generally provides for good foundations and provides for earthquake stability when
not disturbed by artificial cuts. The Merced Formation is comprised of poorly
consolidated to semi-consolidated sand and silt deposits. It is subject to landslide
hazarc in areas of artificial cuts and generally provides for good seismic stability.
The Colma Creek substrate is made of fine-grained alluvial deposits with
unconsolidated, moderately sorted fine sand, silt and clayey silty debris deposited by
Colma Creek during historic periods.
A site-specific geotechnical investigation of the City's Water Quality Control Plant was
under:.aken by the firm of Harza Engineering Company in April, 1997. The southerly
portion of the plant, which is where the recently completed expansion occurred, is
characterized by man-made fill material over alluvial deposits. Alluvial deposits
generally consist of sands, silts and clays. The westerly portion of the plant, where the
facili .ty headworks are located, consists of reclaimed land where fill material has been
placed._ over San Francisco Bay mud deposits. Bay muds are, in turn, underlain by
alluvial deposits. The entire site is then underlain by bedrock found at various depths
throughout the site.
With one exception, the project area contains no known unique geologic features, based
on a site visitation. The one exception is Colma Creek that forms the northerly
boundary of the City's Water Quality Control Plant.
Seismic hazards
In terms of seismic hazards, the City of South San Francisco, and the Bay area as a
whole, is located in one of the most seismically active regions in the United States.
Several major faults and fault zones traverse the region, including the San Andreas,
approximately 3.5 to 5 kilometers (km) from the site, the San Gregorio fault, the
Hayward fault, the Calaveras fault, the Coyote Point fault and the Hunters Point fault.
The c[osest fault zone to the project area is the Coyote Point fault zone, which lies north
of the project area. The zone consists of a complex two mile wide zone of faulting with
City of South San Francisco Page 45
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
three prominent strands in the vicinity of the project area. Because the California
Department of Mines and Geology has not evaluated the Coyote ?oint and Hunters
Point fault zones, neither have been included within an Alquist-Priolo Special Studies
Zone.
The 1990 Working Group on the California earthquake Probabilities estimated a 67%
probab'lity of a major earthquake (7.0+ magnitude) by the year 2020. There are no know
active faults within the project area.
Project Impacts
a) F~xpose people or structures to potential substantial adverse impacts, including loss,
~njury or death related to ground rupture, seismic ground shaking, ground failure, or
landslides? NI. There would be no direct or indirect impacts to people or
structures due to a seismic event with the proposed project, since no habitable
structures would be constructed. Construction would be limited to underground
facilities (new and replacement sewer pipes) and replacement and/or
reconstruction of sewer pump stations. No impacts to humans or structures are
daerefore anticipated.
b) ;s the site subject to substantial erosion and/or the loss of topsoil? LS/M. Portions of
-.he project would include trenching for replacement of sewer lines. Although
'_imited, a possibility exists that stockpiling of trench spoils could erode into
nearby streets, drainage facilities and ultimately into San Francisco Bay. This
would be a significant impact. The following mitigation measure is therefore
recommended to reduce erosion impacts to a less-than-significant level.
Mitigation Measure 5: Contract specifications for this project shall require the
preparation and implementation of an erosion control plan for all portions of
the project that would involve trenching, excavation or stockpiling of dirt. The
plan shall be prepared by a registered civil engineer and be consistent with
applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board guidelines and standards.
c-d)
e)
Is the site located on soil that is unstable or expansive or result in potential lateral
spreading, liquefaction, landslide or collapse? LS. The General Plan Background
Report indicates that much of the project area consists of artificial fill over Bay
yaud, which is susceptible to liquefaction and lateral spreading, especially during
~ seismic event. According to the project design engineer, the presence of
potential liquefaction and other soil and geotechnical hazards has been taken
into account in the project plans, so less-than-significant impacts are anticipated
with regard to liquefaction and lateral spreading. Since the project site is
generally flat, no impacts are anticipated with regard to landslides.
~ave soils incapable of supporting on-site septic tanks if sewers are not available? NI.
The proposed project involves upgrades to the City's sewer system, so there
would be no impacts with regard to septic systems.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Sl udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 46
July 2002
7. Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Enviro .xrnental Setting
The General Plan Existing Conditions Report (1999) identifies a number of major
hazardous waste sources in South San Francisco within the east of 101 areas, including
the Ko'_l site (a closed landfill), the Gateway site (former steel fabrication site), the Bay
West Cove site (former steel mill and shipyard) and the Wildberg Brothers site (metal
smelting). The Report also identified 114 sites in South San Francisco on the Cortese list
that coutain leaking underground storage tanks. Of these 114 sites, two are included
within the proposed project area (City Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Shaw Road
pump station).
As part of this Initial Study, a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment was
conducted of the project site by the firm of Treadwell & Rollo. The text of the Phase One
Analysis is contained in the Appendix.
No visual evidence of any significant staining, spillage, and/or ponded liquids or
uncon-.ained solids was noted during the visual reconnaissance of the various project
compcnents. According to SMCHSA files, Pump Station No. 4, located at 249 Harbor
Way (item #11, Exhibit 3), currently has MTBE contamination in the groundwater that
originated from a leaking UST located at Fire Station # 4, which is adjacent to the pump
statior. The MTBE concentrations are decreasing with time. There are several other
facilities close to the subject Sites that appear on various agency lists, as discussed in
Section 6.2 of the full text of the Phase One Analysis.
Historical land use dating back to 1938 has been predominantly heavy industrial and
commercial uses. Historical aerial photographs, Sanborn fire insurance maps, and our
review of regulatory hazardous material files obtained for this project suggest that
adverse environmental conditions likely exist within the project area.
In gen~_ral, the 27 various sites comprising the project area, and the properties adjacent
to the project area, excluding Site 7, were historically used for heavy industrial
purposes. Soil and groundwater contamination, including heavy metals, petroleum
hydrocarbons, and solvents, are likely present.
The areas near Sites 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 15, 17, 23 and 27 have petroleum hydrocarbon
contamination in the soil and/or groundwater from leaks or spills from nearby
facilities. Construction activities for the sewer upgrade project at these Sites will likely
require excavation of petroleum-contaminated soil.
Projec: Impacts
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport,
use or disposal of hazardous materials? LS/M. Although there would be no impacts
with regard to transport or use of hazardous materials, based on the Phase One
ESA, excavation of soil to accommodate new sewer pipelines could uncover
City of South San Francisco Page 47
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
b)
c)
contaminated soils. This material would need to be removed in order to complete
that portion of the project which could result in a potentially significant impact.
T~.e mitigation measure is recommended to reduce the possibility of release of
hazardous material into the atmosphere or disposal of hazardous material off of
the project site.
Mitigation Measure 6: Prior to commencement of each phase of construction,
the City shall complete a hazardous materials characterization study for all
underground portion of the project, employing a protocol approved by
appropriate regulatory agencies with jurisdiction. If hazardous materials are
encountered, either in the soil or groundwater, a soil and/or groundwater
remediation plan shall be prepared and implemented indicating methods of
removal and disposal of the material, including methods to minimize release of
hazardous materials into the atmosphere. The Plan shall include a worker
safety program.
Demolition and upgrading of existing pump stations may also uncover asbestos,
lead based paints and other materials that are identified as hazardous materials.
T~Le following mitigation measure shall be implemented for work at each of the
pttrnp stations:
Mitigation Measure 7. An asbestos survey of pump station structures shall be
performed consistent with National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollution guidelines. If warranted, a remediation plan to remove asbestos shall
be prepared and implemented. A lead based paint survey shah be conducted
and, if lead-based paint is encountered, the requirements as outlined in Cai
OSHA Lead in Construction Standard, Title 8, CCR Section 1532.1 shall be
followed by the City.
Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable
upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the
environment? LS/M. Based on the Phase One ESA, excavation of soil to
accommodate new sewer pipelines could uncover contaminated soil and/or
groundwater. Implementation of Mitigation Measure 6 will reduce this impact to
a '.ess-than-significant level.
Emit hazardous materials or handle hazardous materials or acutely hazardous materials,
substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? NI. No
public schools exist or are planned within a one-quarter mile radius of any of the
project sites. The closest schools include Martin Elementary School, located at 25
School Street approximately 0.75 miles northwest of Site 6 and Alta Loma Junior
High School, located approximately 0.7 mile southeast of Site 27. No impacts would
tl'.erefore result.
d) Is the site listed as a hazardous materials site? LS. Site 11 is identified in the Phase One
S:_te Assessment as being listed containing MTBE, based on a listing by the San
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 48
July 2002
g)
h)
Mateo County Health Services Agency. According to the Phase One Site
Assessment, levels of MTBE are reported as declining, so a less-than-significant
impact would result.
Is the site located within an airport land use plan ora public airport or private airstrip? LS.
The project area is located north of San Francisco International Airport and within
a z'light path of the airport. However, the height of the existing building and
proposed improvements would not interfere with flight operations or safety
concerns. No impacts are therefore anticipated regarding airport safety issues.
Interference with an emergency evacuation plan? NI. The proposed project would not
involve any change to existing roads or development patterns. Therefore, no
impacts are anticipated with regard to interference with emergency evacuation
E:cpose people and structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving
wildland fires or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? NI. The project area
lies in a substantially urbanized area with minimal risk of wildland fires. No
impacts are therefore anticipated.
8. Hydrology and Water Quality
Environmental Setting
The main surface body of water within South San Francisco is Colma Creek, a perennial
stream with a watershed of approximately 16 square miles. Colma Creek extends in a
southeastern direction through the center of the community. The two primary
tributaries of Colrna Creek include Twelve Mile Creek and Spruce Creek. Both of these
smalle_- creeks have been almost all channelized and/or tmdergrounded.
Colma Creek provides the main transport of stormwater runoff and other runoff from
South San Francisco into the Bay. East of the 101 Freeway, Colma Creek is contained in
concre :e and rip-rap channels.
San Francisco Bay, another major body of water, forms the easterly boundary of South
San Francisco.
Surface water quality
All flows into Colma Creek originate as stormwater, irrigation runoff or are from
similar sources. As an urban stream, Colma Creek is expected to have high levels of
heavy metals as well as other pollutants typical of urban bodies of water.
South San Francisco has joined the other cities and San Mateo County to create the San
Mateo Countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program. The purpose of this
program is to administer a Joint Municipal NPDES Permit for stormwater quality
management. Each participant has adopted a Stormwater Management Plan to ensure
City of South San Francisco Page 49
Initial S-.udy/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
that Best Management Practices are enforced to protect surface water quality, during
both construction and operational stages of a project.
Groundwater
Low topographic elevations and the Colma Creek floodplain in the East of 101 area
provide conditions conducive to high groundwater. In some instances, groundwater
has been encountered a few feet below surface elevations. During the rainy season,
water often stands above ground surface in drainage ditches for several months.
Flooding and tsunami hazards
Periodic flooding occurs along most of the right-of-way of Colma Creek in South San
Francisco. Portions of the project located southwest of Colma Creek and along the
northe_-ly edges of the Water Quality Control Plant are presently subject to flooding
during 100-year flood events.
Other oortions of the project site located adjacent to San Francisco Bay are anticipated to
be subTect to tsunami action during severe seismic action.
This ir~ormation is based on Figure 10-2 contained in the 1999 General Plan Existing
Condi.-ions Report.
Projec-. Impacts
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? NI. Approval of
portions of the requested project would serve to meet Regional Water Quality
Control Board Cease-and-Desist Orders to remediate discharge of untreated
e_-'fluent into San Francisco Bay during peak wet-weather conditions. The other
portion of the project, upgrading of failing sewer lines, would also assist in
meeting discharge requirements by repairing leaking lines, thereby reducing
inflow and infiltration into the system. No impacts are anticipated with regard to
exceeding water quality discharge requirements.
b)
Substantially deplete groundwater recharge areas or lowering o/water table? NI. No
impacts are anticipated with regard to depletion of groundwater resources, since
none of the project components would require use of water resources. Similarly, no
impacts are anticipated with regard to overcovering groundwater recharge areas
s~ce no new impervious surfaces would be created as part of project
hrtplementation.
I: is anticipated that trenching for a number of project elements may require
d, ewatering to remove groundwater intruding into excavations. If dewatering is
r.ecessary, standard specifications included on project plans would be employed to
safely dewater trenches. Necessary permits would be obtained from the Regional
Water Quality Control Board to ensure water quality standards are met.
c)
$ubstantially alter drainage patterns, including streambed courses such that substantial
siltation or erosion would occur? LS. Limited placement of additional impervious
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 50
July 2002
d)
e)
g)
h, i)
j)
surfaces is anticipated with the proposed project, which would include a plastic
liner within the proposed wet-weather holding pond and a proposed small paved
parking area at the Shaw Road Pump Station. These improvements are anticipated
tc me minor and existing surface storrnwater drainage patterns would not be
significantly changed. Less-than-significant impacts would occur.
Substantially alter drainage patterns or result in flooding, either on or off the project site?
Ix-I. No impacts or changes to drainage patterns are anticipated since no additions to
existing amounts of impervious surfaces are proposed.
Create stormwater runoff that would exceed the capacity of drainage systems or add
substantial amounts of polluted runoff?. NI. No increases in the quantity, direction or
w.qocity of existing drainage patterns are proposed since no changes to existing
development patterns or in the amount of impervious surfaces are proposed. No
in,pacts would therefore result with regard to drainage systems.
Substantially degrade water quality? NI. The objectives of the proposed project are to
improve surface water quality by replacing failing existing sewer lines and
p-.oviding a wet weather holding pond for treated effluent. There would therefore
be no impact with regard to degradation of water quality.
Place housing within a lO0-year flood hazard area as mapped by a Flood Insurance Rate
Map? NI. The proposed project does not include a housing component, so there
would be no impact with regarding to placement of housing within a 100-year flood
plain.
Place within a lO0-year flood hazard boundary structures that impeded or redirect flood
flow, including dam failures? NI. All proposed structures would include replacement
of existing above-ground small structures, such as pump houses, or would be
located below ground. No impacts are anticipated with regard to impedance of
flood waters or flows.
Result in inundation by seiche, tsunami or mudflows? LS. A small portion of the project
area located adjacent to San Francisco Bay is anticipated to be subject to future
tsunami action. This area is depicted on Figure 10.2 of the General Plan Existing
Conditions Report. Specific project items that could be affected by a tsunami
would be Pump Station 8 (item 14 on Exhibit 3), the easterly portion of the Forbes
Avenue 15-in. sewer line (item 15 on Exhibit 3) and new sewer lines in Littlefield
Avenue (item 24 on Exhibit 3). Since two of three facilities would be underground,
a less-than-significant impact would be expected with regard to tsunami action. No
hnpacts are anticipated with regard to mudflow, since the project area is not
located on or near a hillside area.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 51
July 2002
9. Lar.d Use and Planning
Environmental Setting
Existing land uses
East of the 101 freeway, the project area has been developed with offices, research and
development and commercial land uses. One exception to this land use pattern is that
the City of South San Francisco Water Quality Control Plan has been built immediately
south of Colma Creek at the terminus of Belle Air Road.
West cf the 101 freeway (US 101), land uses consist of light industrial buildings along
Lowrie Avenue and Shaw Road and commercial uses along Airport Boulevard. Land
uses near the Winston Manor project component consist of residential uses.
ReguIa*wry framework
Land r. ses within South San Francisco are regulated by the South San Francisco General
Plan, which was recently updated in 1999. The General Plan includes the Land Use
Element, Transportation Element, Parks, Public Facilities and Services Element,
Economic Development Element, Open Space and Conservation Element, Health and
Safety Element and Noise Element.
Wastewater Guiding Policies adopted as part of the Parks, Public Facilities and Services
General Plan Element include:
· 5.3.G-4: Promote the orderly and efficient operation and expansion of the
wastewater treatment system to meet projected needs.
· 5.3.G-5: Promote equitable sharing of the costs associated with providing
wastewater service to new development.
· 5.3-G-6: Maintain environmental appropriate wastewater practices
Wastewater Implementing Policies include:
· 5.3-I-4: Ensure coordinated capital improvements with respect to the extent and
timing of growth.
· 5.3.I-5: Ensure that future residents and businesses equitably share costs
associated with providing wastewater service to new development in South San
Francisco.
· 5.3-I-6: Monitor industrial discharges to ensure that wastewater quality continues
to meet various federal, State and regional standards: treatment costs should
remain affordable
· 5.4-I-7: Encourage new projects in East of 101 area at are likely to generate large
quantities of wastewater to lower treatment needs through recycling, pre-
treatment or other means as necessary.
General Plan land use designations in the vicinity of the project area include a mix of
light ir.dustrial, commercial and research and development uses.
City of South San Francisco Page 52
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program July 2002
The Ci:y of South San Francisco Zoning Ordinance regulates land uses on private
property in the community. Since project elements associated with this project are
typically located within public rights-of-way or public properties, the Zoning
Ordinance does not have authority for this project.
Since a portion of the project is located within 1000 feet of the Mean High Tide level of
Colma Creek, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) exercises
jurisdiction over the proposed Colma Creek bank stabilization portion of the project.
The Ci ~ of South San Francisco received an earlier Permit from the BCDC to undertake
improvements to the Water Quality Control Plant (Permit No. 8-98, dated July 29, 1998)
and work is proceeding by the City to fulfill conditions of permit approval. Since the
proposed Colma Creek bank stabilization project is located within the immediate
vicinity of the Water Quality Control Plant, the City intends to request an amendment
to PerMit No. 8-98 to include the bank stabilization portion of the project within the
scope of the Permit.
Project Impacts
a) P'aysically divide an established community? LS/M. Approval and construction of the
p_-oposed project would involve work within public rights-of-way or on properties
currently owned by the City of South San Francisco. Short-term construction could
result in a hardship for local businesses by restricting access during business
hours. This could be a potentially significant impact and the following mitigation
n'.easure is recommended to reduce this impact to a less-than-significant level:
Mitigation Measure 8: The City shall undertake an advance notification
program to property owners and residents that could be affected by the
proposed construction program indicating, at minimum, a description of
?roposed work, hours of operation, construction phasing and an individual to be
~otified in the event of emergencies.
b)
Gmflict with any applicable land use plan, policy or regulation? NI. The proposed sewer
improvement programs would be consistent with the Guiding and Implementing
Policies of the Parks, Public Facilities and Services Element of the South San
Francisco General Plan as identified in the Environmental Setting section. No
impacts would therefore result.
c)
Conflict with a habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? NI.
No such plan has been adopted within the City of South San Francisco. There
would therefore be no impact to a habitat conservation plan or natural community
conservation plan for the proposed project.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 53
July 2002
10. Mineral Resources
Environmental Setting
The project area contains no known mineral resources. This is based on the Existing
Conditions Report prepared as part of the 1999 General Plan Update process.
Project Impacts
a, b) Result in the loss of availability of regionally or locally significant mineral resources? NI.
T_'te City of South San Francisco General Plan (1999) does not indicate that
significant deposits of minerals exist in the project area, so no impacts would occur.
11. Noise
Environmental Setting
The City defines "noise" as a sound or series of sounds that are intrusive, irritating,
objectionable and/or disruptive to daily life. Noise is primarily a concerns with regard
to noise sensitive land uses such as residences, schools, churches and hospitals.
Altho~zgh noise is controlled around commercial, industrial and recreation uses,
comm-mity noise levels rarely exceed maximum recommended levels for these uses.
The Noise Element of the General Plan EIR identifies the following primary sources on
noise L~a South San Francisco: aircraft noise from San Francisco International Airport,
traffic noise from freeways and arterial roadways in the community, railroad noise and
industrial noise.
The Noise Element identifies the following maximum noise exposure levels by land use
type.
Table 4. City of South San Francisco Noise Exposure Levels
Residenzial
Commercial
Industrial
Land Use
Noise Exposure Level
Less than 65: Satisfactory
66 to 70: Conditionally Acceptable
70+: Unacceptable
Less than 70:Satisfactory
70 to 80: Conditionally Acceptable
80+Airport-related development only
Up to 75: Satisfactory
75 to 85: Conditionally Acceptable
85+ Airport related development only
Up to 75: Satisfactory
75+ Avoid uses involving concentrations of people
or animals
Source: South San Francisco General Plan Noise Element, 1999
Noise level references reflect Community Noise Equivalent Levels (CNEL) decibels
City of South San Francisco
Initial StJdy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 54
July 2002
Based on discussions with City of South San Francisco staff, there have been no
complaints recorded by the City for current operations of pump stations.
Project Impacts
a) Would the project expose persons or generation o/noise levels in excess o/standards
established by the General Plan or other applicable standard: NI. Approximately one-
half of the project components are proposed to be located underground so there
would be no permanent noise generation. Other portions of the project would
include replacement and/or upgrading of existing sewer pump stations that are
electrically powered and are located in non-residential areas. Two other project
components would include construction of a wet weather holding pond at the
City's Water Quality Control Plant and bank stabilization of Colma Creek adjacent
to the Plant. Neither of these project components are expected to exceed
permanent noise exposure levels adopted as part of the City's Noise Element. No
impacts would therefore result.
b)
Exposure o/people to excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? LS/M.
TEe majority of project components are proposed to be located within industrial
ar d commercial areas, so there would be no impacts related to vibration during
project construction. Construction of the Winston Manor project item in the
westerly portion of South San Francisco is located in a primarily residential area
ar d proposed replacement of the sewer pipe could generate a temporary source of
ground borne vibration. Adherence to Mitigation Measure 9, below, would limit
construction times of this project to normal construction times. With adherence to
th~s mitigation measure, there would be less-than-significant impacts relative to
vi'~ration impacts.
c)
Substantial increases in permanent in ambient noise levels? NI. There would be no
changes and no impacts with regard to potential permanent noise impacts since no
noise-generating uses are associated with the proposed project.
d)
Substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity
above levels without the project? LS/M. Construction of the project could result in
short-term noise and vibration due to trenching, grading and similar activities.
Tl'.ere would also be increased noise levels from trucks and other construction
ve~icles needed for the project. In the short-term, these activities could exceed City
noise exposure standards. For the majority of the sites and project components the
potential for increased noise and vibration would be less-than-significant, since the
su_-rounding areas have been developed for light industrial, office or similar non-
residential land uses. In one instance, the proposed Winston Manor sewer
replacement (item #7 on Exhibit 3), the surrounding area is residential and short-
term impacts could be potentially significant. The following measure is therefore
recommended to reduce short term construction noise to acceptable levels.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 55
July 2002
Mitigation Measure 9: For the Winston Manor project component, construction
activities shall be limited to the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
No construction shall occur on Sunday or on local, State or federal holidays.
Exceptions may be granted on an emergency basis by the South San Francisco
City Engineer. Construction activities shall be deemed to include vehicle warm-
'ap and maintenance and delivery of construction materials. These limitations
shall be included in all construction plans and specifications for the project.
The above mitigation measure would also serve to limit any groundboume
vibrations to a less-than-significant level.
For a project located within an airport land use plan, would the project expose people to
excessive noise levels? NI. The project does not include construction of buildings or
facilities that would house people. No impacts are therefore anticipated in terms of
this topic.
12. Population and Housing
Environmental Setting
Population
South San Francisco is San Mateo County's fourth largest City. Population growth in
the City has been cyclical over the last few years, generally fueled first by heavy
industrial uses in the early and mid-part of the last century. More recently,
biotechnology and related high tech and office uses have spurred residential growth.
The one major project that is in the process of completion is the Terrabay project on the
south slopes of San Bruno Mountain. Other infill residential projects have been built
along t~e E1 Camino corridor and other areas.
Since the supply of large vacant parcels of land in the community is nearly exhausted,
future _-esidential growth is anticipated to be limited. Additional population growth
must come from redevelopment projects.
The foEowing table includes historical population projections for the Bay Area, San
Mateo County and South San Francisco, based on the Association of Bay Area
Goverrment's Projections 2002 publication.
The City's General Plan (1999) anticipates a maximum build-out population of 67,400
for the community. No time horizon for build-out is assumed for the General Plan.
City of S3uth San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 56
July 2002
Table 5. Regional, County and City Population
2000 Population
2010 Population
2020Population
Region 6,783,760 7,513,800 8,014,100
Sa.it
Mateo
Co.
South
San
Francisco
Source:
(1)
707,161 754,600 795,100
54,312 63,800 66,900
ABAG Projections 2002
Employment
Employment trends in South San Francisco have been changing from a heavy industrial
center, dominated by steel mills, meat packing, ship building and similar "blue collar"
indust-:_ies to high tech and research jobs. Due to the proximity to regional
transportation facilities and to San Francisco, continued employment growth is
anticipated for the next 20+ years.
The following table summarizes projected employment growth in South San Francisco.
Table 6. Regional, County and City Employment
2000Jobs 2010Jobs 2020Jobs
Region 3,753,670 4,225,030 4,709,960
San
Mateo
Co.
South
San
Francisco
Source:
(1)
395,890 433,820 480,990
53,190 58,020 62,880
ABAG Projections 2002
Projec; Impacts
a) Ii,duce substantial population growth in an area, either directly or indirectly? NI.
Approval of the proposed project would not increase population growth in South
San Francisco, since the purposes of the project are to meet wastewater discharge
requirements and to replace older, failing sewer facilities. No new and
undeveloped areas of the community would receive sewer service that is not
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 57
July 2002
b,c)
al_-eady receiving such service. The existing dry weather treatment capacity of the
Water Quality Control Plant would not be expanded. No impacts are therefore
ar.ticipated with regard'to population inducement.
Would the project displace substantial numbers of existing housing units or people? NI.
The proposed project would not change existing land use patterns or uses. No
impacts would therefore occur with regard to population displacement.
13. Public Services
Enviro_-unental Settin~
The following provide essential services to the community:
Fire Protection. Fire protection services are handled by the City of South San
Francisco Fire Depai-tment. The Department provides fire suppression, fire
prevention, education, building inspection services and hazardous material
control.
Police Protection: Police and security protection is provided by the City of
South San Francisco Police Depai~tment, which maintains a 24-hour security
patrol throughout the community.
· Schools. The South San Francisco Unified School District provides K-12
educational services to the community.
· Maintenance. Maintenance of streets, roads and other governmental facilities
are the responsibility of the City of South San Francisco.
Solid Waste: Solid waste service is offered by South San Francisco Scavenger
Company. After collection, waste is brought to the Line Transfer Station in
the east of 101 area and ultimately disposed of at the Ox Mountain Sanitary
Landfill located near Half Moon Bay. The Ox Mountain facility has a permit
to accept fill material until 2016. Upon expiration of that permit, the facility is
proposed for expansion.
Project Impacts
a) Fire protection? NI. Approval of the proposed project would have no impact to fire
p_-otection since many of the proposed facilities would be underground. Sewage
p'amp stations would continue to be located above ground, but many are proposed
to be upgraded with new electrical controls and related equipment that would not
result in fire hazards.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Sludy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 58
July 2002
b)
c)
d)
e)
Police protection? NI. Since all of the project elements would be closed to the public,
either undergrounded or fenced and locked, no impacts to police services are
anticipated.
Sc'aools ? NI. There would be no impact to school service should the proposed
project be approved since no new residential development would occur, nor
would the project indirectly induce new residential development.
Other governmental service, including maintenance of public facilities ? NI. There would
be no impact to maintenance services provided by the City, since older, out-of-date
facilities would be replaced by new facilities:
Solid waste generation? NI. No impacts regarding generation of solid waste is
ar.ticipated since no new residential, commercial, industrial or similar land uses
would be constructed.
14. Recreation
Enviro~unental Setting
South San Francisco maintains 319.7 acres of parks and open space, equivalent to 5.4
acres per 1,000 residents. This includes 70 acres of developed parkland, 168.5 acres of
open space and 81.2 acres of school lands.
The City also provides a range of recreation programs available in 6 community
recreation buildings, some of which provide specialized services.
Some of the project elements, especially those located in the easterly portion of South
San Francisco, are located near the San Francisco Bay Trail. The Bay Trail was initiated
by the adoption of SB 100 in 1987 that promotes a continuous trail linkage around the
Bay.
As par. of previous construction at the Water Quality Control Plant (WCQP), the City of
South San Francisco is presently working with the Association of Bay Area
Governments (coordinator of Bay Trail implementation) to route the Trail along the
north side of Colma Creek, north of the WQCP, so as not to interfere with operations of
the WQCP.
Project Impacts
a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood or regional parks? NI. No City
parks or open space lands are located near the project area, so no impacts are
anticipated should the proposed project be approved and implemented. Similarly,
no impacts would result to the Bay Trail, since the Trail is proposed to be located
on the north side of Colma Creek where no proposed project elements are
proposed.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 59
July 2002
b)
Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction of recreational
facilities? NI. Since no residential development is proposed as part of the project, no
recreational services are required to be acquired or constructed and no impacts
would result.
15. Transportation/Traffic
Environmental Setting
The community is served by a range of surface transportation facilities, including
freeways (US 101 and 1-280), arterial roadways intended to serve through traffic (El
Camino Real, Sisters Cities Boulevard, Junipero Serra Boulevard and East Grand
Avenue, collector roadways (Commercial, Del Monte Avenues) and local streets.
The City also has made provision for a bicycle pathway through the community
consisting of Class I, II and HI facilities and public transit (SAMTrans). The Bay Area
Rapid Transit System (BART) recently opened a station in South San Francisco along E1
Camino Real. There is a Caltrain station near downtown South San Francisco. National
and in-.ernational air service is available at San Francisco International Airport, located
immediately south of the community.
A portion of one of the project elements, the proposed Shaw Road Force Main (item 4
on Exl~.ibit 3) includes boring under the 101 freeway to accommodate this new line. An
encroachment permit would be obtained from Caltrans prior to commencement of any
boring activities.
Project Impacts
a) Cause an increase in traffic which is substantial to existing traffic load and street capacity?
NI. The proposed project does not include facilities that would generate vehicular
traffic. No impacts regarding traffic increases are therefore anticipated.
b)
Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a LOS standard established by the County
CMA for designated roads)? NI. Since no vehicular-generating development is
p_-oposed as part of the project there would be no impact to CMA routes.
c)
Change in air traffic patterns? NI. The proposed project would have no impact on air
traffic patterns, since it involves an upgrade to the City's wastewater collection
system.
d)
Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature or incompatible use? LS/M. No
permanent changes are proposed to the street system. However, temporary
construction activities for trenching and excavating could partially block local
streets during construction periods. This could result in a potentially significant
impact due to disruption of local traffic patterns, especially during peak hour
traffic periods.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S' udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 60
July 2002
e)
f)
g)
T_ae following mitigation measure is therefore recommended to reduce this
potential impact to a less-than-significant level:
Mitigation Measure 10. A Traffic Construction Management Plan shall be
prepared prior to commencement of construction, identifying specific methods to
be undertaken to ensure that peak hour traffic can flow freely and that access to
abutting properties is maintained for emergency vehicles. This shall include
vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle modes of transportation. The Management Plan
shall be reviewed and approved by the South San Francisco Police and Fire
Departments
Result in inadequate emergency access? LS/M. Short-term access to properties may be
restricted near project construction zones. Adherence to Mitigation Measure 10,
above, would ensure that access would remain adequate to emergency service
providers.
Inadequate parking capacity? NI. No impacts to existing parking patterns are required
sL-~ce no development is proposed as part of the project.
Hazards or barriers for pedestrians or bicyclists? LS/M. Construction of the proposed
project could restrict access for bicychsts and pedestrians near portions of the
project area, especially where trenching and excavating is required to replace
existing sewer pipes. Adherence to Mitigation Measure 10 would ensure that
potential barriers to pedestrians and bicyclists would be reduced to a less-than-
significant level.
16. Utilities and Service Systems
Environmental Setting
The project area is served by the following service providers:
Water supply: California Water Service. This private water company obtains
water via an agreement with the San Francisco Water Department and from
groundwater resources. In addition to South San Francisco, the water company
serves customers in San Carlos and San Mateo. The Water company prepares a
range of water use projections based on fluctuations in 'population and
employment demands. The company has indicated an adequate water supply for
the highest projected demand for future uses.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S1 udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Sewage collection and treatment: City of South San Francisco. The City's sanitary
sewer collection system has an interconnecting work of gravity sewers, force
mains and pump stations which function together to bring wastewater from
individual properties to the Water Quality Control Plant. A number of the sewer
lines, especially in the east of 101 area, are older and experience infiltration and
inflow (i/i) during wet weather conditions which cause the capacity of pump
Page 61
July 2002
stations and the Water Quality Control Plant to be exceeded. Older pump
stations have also experienced reliability problems.
Wastewater treatment is accomplished at the City's Water Quality Control Plant,
located at the easterly terminus of Belle Air road just south of Colma Creek. The
Plant also provides service for the city of San Bruno, San Francisco International
Airport and portions of other communities. The Plant has been recently
upgraded and expanded to accommodated growing employment uses in the
Plant's service area and to meet Regional Water Quality Control Board discharge
requirements.
Storm drainage: City of South San Francisco maintains a series of drainage pipes
and culverts through the City to accommodate stormwater runoff. East of the 280
freeway, stormwater flows into Colma Creek for ultimate disposal in San
Francisco Bay.
Electrical and natural gas power: Pacific Gas and Electric Co. provides electrical
and natural gas service to the City of South San Francisco through a series of
overhead and underground electrical lines. Existing pump stations receive
electrical power from PG&E.
· Communications: Pacific Bell provides a range of telephone and
telecommunication service to homes and businesses in the community.
Projec-. Impacts
a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the RWQCB ? NI. The proposed project is
being undertaken to meet such discharge requirements. No impacts are therefore
ar.ticipated.
b)
Require new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities ? NI.
The proposed project does include new dry weather facilities as part of the Water
Qaality Control Plan, however, these are proposed to be constructed to comply
w-th Regional Water Quality Control Board discharge requirements and would not
expand dry weather treatment capacity. No impacts are anticipated.
c)
Require new storm drainage facilities ? NI. Existing drainage patterns would not be
~ ~anged and no new drainage facilities would be needed. No impact would
therefore result.
d)
Are sufficient water supplies available? Nil. Based on information provided in the
General Plan Existing Conditions Report, the water purveyor to the City has
ir.dicated that an ample water supply exists to serve future land uses. In this
instance, the proposed project would not require any new source of water, so no
impact to water service is anticipated.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S~ udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 62
July 2002
e)
e,f)
g)
Adequate wastewater capacity to serve the proposed project? LS. See response to "a,'
a'~ove.
Solid waste disposal? LS. Small quantities of solid waste would be generated by the
iraplementation of the proposed project, which would be construction debris. This
amount of solid waste is anticipated to be less-than-significant and can be
accommodated in the local sanitary landfill.
Comply with federal, state and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? NI.
T_~e existing service provider will ensure adherence to federal, state and local solid
waste regulations should the proposed reorganization be approved. No impacts are
ar~ticipated in this regard.
17. Mandatory Findings of Significance
a)
Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially
reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop
below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the
number of or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate
important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? No. The
preceding analysis indicates that the proposed project will not have a significant
adverse impact on overall environmental quality, including biological resources or
cultural resources.
b)
Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable?
("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are
considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the
eSfects of other current projects and the effects of probable future projects). No the
proposed project involves elements to upgrade the City's sewer facilities to assist
ir. meeting wastewater discharge requirements. The project has been designed to
replace existing facilities and to allow limited new growth consistent with the
City's adopted General Plan, so there would be no cumulative impacts associated
with project approval.
c)
Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on
human beings, either directly or indirectly? No. No such impacts have been
d"scovered in the course of preparing this Initial Study.
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 63
July 2002
Initial S~dy Preparers
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner, project manager
Miley Holman, Holman Associates, archeology
Matthew Clark, Holman Associates, archeology
H. Bill Sugaya, Carey & Co, architectural history
Connor Turnbull, Carey & Co., architectural history
Phillip Smith, Treadwell & Rollo, hazardous materials
Donald Ballanti, air quality
James Martin, Environments Collaborative, biology
Jane Maxwell, report graphics
Agencies and Organizations Consulted
The following agencies and organizations were contacted in the course of this Initial
Study:
City of South San Francisco
Barbara Hawkins, P.E., City Engineer
Ramesh Bhagat, P.E., project engineer
Michael Lappen, Senior Planner
Carolto Engineer (design engineer)
Michael Britten, P.E., Principal-in-Charge
David Antonson, P.E., Project Manager
Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Leslie Lackos
References
South San Francisco GeneralPlan: Existing Conditions and Planning Issues,
Dyett & Bhatia, 1997
South San Francisco General Plan, Dyett & Bhatia, 1999
South San Francisco General Plan EIR, EIP Associates, 1999
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 64
July 2002
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Appendix 2
Archeological Resources Evaluation
(Holman & Associates)
Page 66
July 2002
Appendix 1
Biological Reconnaissance Studies
-Colma Creek Bank Stabilization (LSA Associates
-Wet Weather Pond (Environmental Collaborative)
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 65
July 2002
LSA
J. SA ASSOCI&TE$ ~
~To ~ICI~MOHD~ CALIFORNIA 94801
5to.236.65~o
51o.z36,~4~0
i~OC~CLIN
Mr. Ken Loer
ITSI, Inc.
2855 Mitchell Drive, Suite 111
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Subject:
Results of Reconnaissance-Level BiologicaLSmdy for the colma Creek Bank
Protection Project, South San Francisco/San Bruno Water Quality Control
Plant, San Mateo County
Per your request, LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) presents this letter repOrt describing the results
· of our reconnaissance-level biological survey of.the above-referenced project site located in
the City of South San Francisco. The field survey was conducted to evaluate the potential
presence of special-shams species and sensitive habitats on the project site and in the
immediate vicinity. This information was used to assess potential impacts on biological
resources resulting from project construction, as well as to identify potential constraints
associat~l with project implementation-
! This leV. er report includes: 1) a brief description of existing conditions on the pwject rite; 2)
· - a summary of state and federal regulations the project must comply with; 3) an analysis of
sensitive habitats and special-status plant and wildlife species potentially present on the site;
and 4) ~. review of the proposed project and regulatory considerations/requirements.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
The project site is located at the downstream end of Colma Creek where the creek channel
borders the South San Francisco/San Bruno Water Quality Control Plant OVQCP). Colma
Creek is directly tributary to San Francisco Bay. The portion of Colma Creek in the vicinity
of the WQCP is clearly subject to tidal influence as evidenced by the presence of salt tolerant
plant species such as pickleweed (Salicornia virginica) and cordgrass (Spartina sp.) along the
5/22/01 (P:h'TS 130~ IORPT.WPD)
channel banks, as well as the presence of barnacles and other marine invertebrates on
exposed rubble in the area.
The linear project site encompasses approximately 600 feet of creek bank extending along the
northern side of the WQCP. The project site is bordered by WQCP facilities to the south,
Colma Creek immediately to the north, and a small tributary/tidal wetland area to the west.
In general, much of the creek bank in the vicinity of the WQCP is steep, eroded, and
significantly degraded. Became of the close proximity of WQCP facilities to Colma Creek
and the potential for these facilities to be undermined by future bank erosion, creek bank
improvements have been proposed in this area to provide long-term protection for the water
treatment facilities.
The eastern (downstream) portion of the site consists of old rabble and other debris that are
relicts of the original fill material used in the area. The creek bank is steep (nearly vertical in
places) and transitions from mderal upland vegetation at the top of bank to exposed rabble
and other debris, down to mudflat conditions in the channel bottom. A narrow band of mixed
marsh vegetation consisting of gumplant (Grindelia stricta), pieldeweed, and eordgrass is
scattered among the rabble along the approximate high tide line; the bank is otherwise devoid
of vegetation below the high tide line. The ehatmel bank at the western (upstream) end of the
project site is less eroded and the topographic transition to the open creek channel is more
gradual than at the downstream end. A small tidal marsh area borders the western end of the
project site where a tributary drainage feeds into Colma Creek. This marsh habitat is
dominated by a nearly pure stand of eordgrass which extends from the tributary drainage
downstream in a narrow band along the bank of Colma Creel Ihis wetland vegetation
transitions to a relatively steeper unvegetated channel bank approximately 250 feet
downstream from the tributary drainage. The upper bank along the length of the project site
· is primarily dominated by non-native mderal vegetation, annual grasses, and scattered
patches oficeplant ( Carpobrotus sp.). ,
· REGULATORY CONTEXT.
Applicable Federal Laws and Regulations
~: Endangered Species Act
· The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service CLISFWS) has jurisdiction over formally-listed threatened
and endangered terrestrial, and freshwater species. In addition, the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) has jurisdiction over marine and anadramous fish species Under the federal
Endangered Species Act (ESA). This act protects listed animal species from harm or "take,"
which is broadly defined as to "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, woUnd, kill, trap, capture,
or collect, or attempt to engage in such conduct." An activity can be defined as a"take" even
if it is unintentional or accidental. Listed plant species are provided less protection. Plants
are legally protected from take under the federal act if on federal land or from federal actions,
such as issuing a wetland fill permit.
5/22/01~:~*TS 130~31ORPT.WPD) 9.
An endar_gered species is one that is considered in danger of becoming extinct throughout all,
or a significant portion, of its range. A threatened species is one that is- likely to become
endangered in the foreseeable future. The USFWS also maintains a list of species proposed
for listing. Proposed species are those, for which a proposed role to list as endangered or
· threatened has been published in the Federal Register.
In addition to endangered, threatened, and proposed species, the USFWS maintains a list of
candidate species. Candidate'(formerly category 1 candidate) species are those for which the
USFWS has on file sufficient information to support issuance of a proposed listing role.
Former category 2 candidates are now considered by .the USFWS to be species of concern
and are r.o longer biannually monitored because they lack sufficient information on status
and threats. Any activities that could result in take of a federally listed species will require an
ESA Section 10 take permit from the USFWS before allowing take activities to commence.
Should mother.federal agency, such as th~ Corps under the Clean Water Act, acting as the
lead ageucy be involved with permitting the project, Section.7 of the ESA requires the federal
lead age ~cy to consult with the USFWS before allowing any activities that may take listed
'species.
Clean ~ater Act
'The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is responsible under Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act to regulate the discharge of fill material into waters of the United States. Waters
of the United States and their lateral limits are defmed in 33 CFR Part 328.3(a) and include
streams that are tributaries to navigable waters and theft adjacent wetlands. The lateral limits
' Ofjuris~iction for a non-tidal stream are measured at the line of the Ordinary High Water
Mark (OHWM) (33 CFR Part 328.3(e)) or thc limit of adjacent wetlands (33 CFR Part
328.3Co)). Any permanent extension of the limits of an existing water of the United States,
whether natural or man-made, results in a similar extension of Corps jurisdiction (33 CFR
Part 328.5).
Waters of the United States fall into two broad categories, wetlands and other waters. Other
waters ~clude waterbedies and watercourses such as rivers, streams, lakes, springs, ponds,
coastal waters, and estuaries. Wetlands include marshes, wet meadow, seep areas,
floodplains, basins, and other areas, experiencing extended seasonal soil saturation.
Seasonally or intermittently inundated features, such as seasonal pools, ephemeral streams,
and tidal marshes, are categorized as wetlands if they have hydric soils and support wetland
plant communities. Seasonally inundated waterbodies or watercourses that do not exhibit
wetland characteristics are classified as other waters of the United States.
Waters and wetlands that cannot trace a continuous hydrological connection to a navigable
water of the United States are not tributary to waters of the United States. These are termed
"isolated wetlands." Isolated wetlands are jurisdictional when their destruction or
5/22/Ol(P:~rs' 30XBIORPT. WPD)
~SA ASSOCIAT£S~
degradation can affect interstate or foreign commerce (33 CFR Part 328.3(a)). The Corps
may or may not take jurisdiction over isolated wetlands depending on circumstances.
In general, a Corps permit must be obtained before placing fill or grading in wetlands or
other waters of the United States. The Corps will be required to consult with the USFWS
and/or NMFS under section 7 of the ESA if Clean Water Act permitting will result in take of
federally listed species.
Rivers and Harbors Act
Certain structures and/or work in or affecting navigable waters of the U.S. are regulated
under the authority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, pursuant to Section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act 03 USC 403). Under this Act, the creation of any obstruction to the
navigable capacity of any waters of the U.S. is prohibited without the specific approval of the
Corps. Additionally, excavation, fill, or any modification in any way of the course, location,
conditions, or capacity of the navigable watenvay or assOciated waterways is also subject to
the regulatory authorization of this Act.
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC 703) prohibits the taking, hunting, killing, selling,
purchasing, etc. of migratory birds, parts of migratory birds, or their eggs and nests. The act
calls for the protection of birds identified in treaties with Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, and
Russia. In addition, it contains a clause that prohibits baiting or poisomg of these birds. As
used in this act, the term "take" is defined as meaning, "to pursue, hunt, shoot, capture,
collect, kill, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, capture, collect, or kill, unless the context
otherwise requires." Most native bird species on thc Colma Creek site are covered by this
act.
Applicable State Laws and Regulations
California Endangered Species Act
The California Department ofFish and Game (CDFG) has jurisdiction over state-listed
.threatened, rare (plants), and endangered plant and animal species under the California
Endangered Species Act. In addition, species proposed for listing under the state act are
protected by its provisions. CDFG also maintains a list of species of special concern, defined
as species that appear to be vulnerable to extinction because of declining populations, limited
ranges, and/or continuing threats. Species of special concern are not afforded legal protection
under the California Endangered Species Act.'
California fully protected and protected species may not be taken or possessed without a
permit.from the Fish and Game Commission and/or the CDFG. These take permits do not
allow "incidental take" and are more restrictive than the take allowed under Section 2081 for
the California Endangered Species Act. Information on fully protected species can be found
5F22/01(P:~ITS130~BIORPT.WPD) 4
in the Fish and Game Code (birds at Section 3511, mammals at Section 4700, reptiles and
amphibians at Section 5050, and fish at Section 5515). Information on protected (as opposed
to fully-cmtected) amphibians can be found in Chapter 5, Section 41; protected (as opposed
to fully protected) reptiles at Chapter 5, Section 42.
Califorr:ia Environmental Quality Act
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies to "projects" proposed to be
undertaken or requiring approval by State and local government agencies. Projects are
defined as having the potential t'o have physical impact on the environment. Under Section
15380 of CEQA, a species not included on any formal list "shall nevertheless be considered
rare or endangered if the species can be shown by a local agency to meet the criteria" for
listing. With sufficient documentation, a species could be shown to meet the definition of
rare or endangered under CEQA and be considered a "de facto" endangered species.
Section 401 Water Quality Certification
All CorPs permits, including Nationwide Permits, require water quality certification, under
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. This regulatory program is administered by the San
Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). An application for water
quality certification must be submitted to RWQCB. This package typically consists of the
federal 404 materials and the project CEQA document. RWQCB has adopted a policy
requirhlg mitigation for any loss of wetland, streambed, or jurisdictional area.
California Fish and Game Code Section 1600
'Under i ?ish and Game Code Section 1600, CDFG also administers the issuance of Streambed
Alteration Agreements. Streambed Alteration Agreements are required any time project
activities would~~.~.~, divert or obstruct the natural flow or substantially change the
bed, ckarmel, or bank of liny river, stream, or lake designated as'such by CDFG.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
This Act (16U.S.C. 1801-1882) is the primary law addressing fisheries resources and fishing
'activitr. es in federal waters (i.e., those waters extending from the edge of the state waters to
the 200-mile limit). The goals of the Act are to provide for the conservation and
management of marine fishery resources, to prevent overfishing, to rebuild overfished stocks,
insure conservation, and facilitate long-term protection of essential habitats. Under this Act,
fishet2r management plans are prepared for those commercial and recreational fisheries which
are de:ermined to require active federal management. Implementation of regulations
associated with such plans, as well as overall enforcement of this Act is the responsibility of
the N,_tional Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within NOAA of the Department of
Commerce.
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LSA ASSOCIAT~S~
McAteer-Petris Act
The Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) was established to prevent the
unnecessary filling of San Francisco Bay and to increase public access to and along the Bay
shoreline. The Commission is responsible for overseeing two state laws, the McAteer-Petris
Act and the Suisun Marsh Preservation Act, .as well as two plans, the San Francisco Bay Plan
and the Suisun Marsh Protection Plan. In addition, the Commission is authorized to control
both filling and dredging of the Bay, and Bay-related shoreline development. It is necessary
to obtain BCDC approval prior to undertaking activities such as: 1) filling or placing solid
material, building pile-supported or cantilevered structures, disposing of material or
permanently mooring vessels in the Bay or in certain tributaries of the Bay; 2) shoreline
activities and projects, including grading, on land within 100 feet of the Bay Shoreline; and 3)
any filling, new construction, major remodeling, substantial change in use, and many land
subdivision in the Bay, along the shoreline, in salt ponds, duck hunting preserves, or other
managed wetlands adjacent to the Bay.
METHODOLOGY
Prior to conducting field work, LSA searched the California Natural Diversity Data Base
(CNDDB) to locate records ofspecial=statua species or habitats in'the project area. Using
'data in the CNDDB, a list of potentially occurring special-status species and habitats was
developed. This list was supplemented by LSA's extensive project experience with protected
plants and wildlife in the South San Francisco area, as well as information contained in a
recent biological analysis prepared by LSA for a cogeneration project at the San Francisco
International Airport that included this portion of Colma Creek in the study area.
LSA conducted a reconnaissance-level site visit on April 26, 2001. Results of this formal
field _z~sessment were supplemented by information provided by Mr. Ken Navarro (WQCP
Superintendent) during the site visit. The project site was investigated for special-status
habitats and evidence of occupation by special-status species or habitats that would support
them. All wildlife and plant species observed during the survey were recorded in field notes.
RESULTS
Sensitive Habitats
Wetlands
The tidal wetland habitat extending along the upstream reach of the project site was the only
sensitive habitat obsen, ed during LSA's site visit. This wetland area is subject to tidal action
and is composed of a nearly pure stand of cordgrass. No other sensitive habitats were
observed on the project site or in the project vicinity during the site visit. Both Colma Creek
5/22/01 (P:~TS ! 30'~BIOEPT.WPD) 6
LSA A$$OC]A'I~$~ INC.
and the ~ssociated wetland habitat at the western end of the project site would be subject to
Corps jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Special-status Plants
No spec'.al-status plant species were observed on or in the vicinity of the project site during
the site visit. Table A (attached) includes a total of 24 special-status plants considered
potentiaAy present in the project vicinity. Table A is a subset of a larger list of regionally
occurrir_g plants that require habitat features not present on the site or in the nearby vicinity
(e.g., se_-pentine soils). Eighteen of the species in Table A were eliminated fi'om
conside_--ation because the habitats that support them were absent fi:om the proposed project
site (e.g., these species require chaparral, woodland, or coastal scrub habitats). Four species
(Marsh Sandwort, Point Reyes birds-beak, Hairless popcorn flower, and California sea blite)
could potentially occur in the wetland habitat along' the northern portion of the project site
and therefore could not be eliminated fi:om consideration.
Special-statu. s Wildlife
No special-status wildlife.species were observed on or in the vicinity of the the project site
during -he site visit. Table B (attached) includes a total of 24 special-status wildlife species
considered potentially present in the project vicinity. Five of the species on the list (Bay
checkcrspot butterfly, Mission blue butterfly, San Bruno elfin butterfly, Callippe silverspot
butterfly, and Bank swallow) were eliminated fi:om consideration because of the absence of
suitable habitat (e.g., butterfly requires presence of host plant for egg laying). Colma Creek
suppor~a potential foraging habitat for nine special-status bird species (Short-eared owl,
Western snowy plover, Northem harrier, White-tailed kite, American peregrine falcon,
Long-billed curlew, California brown pelican, Double-crested cormorant~ and California least
tern) it the vicinity of the WQCP; however, suitable nesting habitat for these species was not
observed at the time of LSA's site visit. Two special-status fish species (Steelhead and
Chinook salmon) could occur incidentally in this portion of Colma Creek, but this drainage
does not provide suitable spawning habitat for either species. Western pond turtles are
occasionally found in brackish habitats 'similar to that found in this reach of Colma Creek,
but this species typically prefers habitat with more suitable basking and retreat sites.
Conditions upstream may be suitable for pond turtles and individuals could migrate through
this portion of the creek as they move to and from more suitable habitat. Habitat conditions
on the project site and in the vicinity are considered marginally suitable for the remaining
seven special-status species. These species (Salt marsh common yellowthroat, Alameda song
sparrow, Califomia black rail, California clapper rail, Salt marsh harvest mouse, and Salt
marsh wandering shrew) could potentially occur on the site. However, based on the type and
quality of available habitat, as well as the proximity of the site to other suitable habitat, these
species have been determined to have a low probability of occurrence.
5/22/01 (P:~IT~ 130~BIORPT.WPD)
LSA AS$O C~ATE$ ~
REGULATORY PERMITTING CONSIDERATIONS
Co~ps of Engineers
Based on LSA's wetlands permitting experience in the Bay Area, the entire reach of Colma
Creek in the project area and the associated wetland habitat at the northern end of the project
site is most likely subject to Corps jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. The limit of Corps jurisdiction in the project area
· extends up to the high tide line or the limit of wetland vegetation. Because work is
anticipated in Corps jurisdiction, a permit from the Corps will be necessary. Based on an
assessment of preliminary project information provided to LSA by ITSI, the project may
qualify for authorization under Nationwide Permit (NWP) 13 - Bank Stabilization. In order
for the project to qualify for NWP 13, the following criteria must be met:
No material is placed in excess of the minimum needed for erosion protection;
No material is placed in any special aquatic site, including wetlands;
No material is of the type or is placed in any location, or in any manner, so as to
impair surface water flow into or out of any wetland area;
No material is placed in a manner that will be eroded by normal or expected high
flows; and
The activity is part ora single and complete project.
If the bank stabilization activity is greater than 500 feet ia length, or the activity exceeds an
average of one cubic yard of material per running foot placed along the bank below the plane
of the ordinary high.~ water mark or the high tide line, the Corps requires the submittal of a
formal Pre-construction Notification (PCI~. A PCN submittal for N-WP authorization
typically takes 3 to 6 months for the Corps to process.
If the Corps determines that the project does not qualify for authorization under NWP 13,
Individual Permit authorization would be required, which is generally more complex, time
consuming, and costly when compared to the NWP process. The Individual Permit process
involves a public review component, as well as the preparation of a 404(b)(1) Alternatives
Analysis. Processing time for an Individual Permit application typically requires 6 months to
one year.
Potential Mitigation Requirements
The Corps NWP General Condition 19 requires compensatory mitigation to ensure that
adverse impacts to the aquatic environment are minimal. Restoration, creation or
enhancement of other aquatic resources may be required in order to offset the authorized
impacts to a'level that is less than significant. The mitigation must be available and capable
ofbeingdone considering costs, existing technology, and logistics in light of the overall
5/22/010a:kITS i 30kBIORPT.WPD) 8
~SA A$SOCIAT£$~ INC.
project l:urposes. It may be possible to avoid compensatory mitigation if fill is avoided that
permanently displaces the limit of the high tide line (i.e., the bank protection improvements
do not cause the high tide line to shift toward the centerline of the creek). However, it should
be noted that RWQCB often requires compensatory mit. igation even when not requested by
the Corps.
San Frtzneiseo Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
For any NWP or Individual Permit to be valid, water quality certification from the RWQCB
is necessary. The processing time for a certification request typically requires approximately
two months after submittal of.the necessary application components.
U. S. Fish and W'ddlife Service-
As described above and in Tables A and B, the site provides potential habitat for several
federally protected species. If after reviewing the PCN, the Corps determines that the project
may result in adverse impacts to listed species.(i.e., take), formal consultation under Section
7 of the ESA will be required. The Corps will initiate formal consultation with USFWS.
Under the ESA, formal consultation is limited to a 135 day time period (although the
USFWS does not always adhere to this time frame). Based'on the project information
provided to date, LSA has determined that with the implementati°n of specific construction
mitigation measures (i.e., timing of the project, biological monitoring, etc.), potential impacts
to federally protected species resulting from project implementation could be effectively
· avoide~.
Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Because the project site lies within the jurisdiction of BCDC, authorization from BCDC will
be required. Based on prior discussions with ITSI, an amendment to an existing BCDC
permit '~ssued for recent improvements/expansion activities at the WQCP will be obtained.
CONCLUSION
Over'aL, the proposed project will: 1) reduce on-going bank erosion; 2) function to enhance
water c_uality conditions in Colma Creek; and 3) protect the WQCP facilities from future
damage resulting from erosion. The project site does not support any high-value sensitive
habitats and based on our analysis, it appears that the proposed project will not result in
significant impacts to plant and wildlife species provided appropriate construction measures
are developed and implemented. Based on preliminary project information provided by ITSI,
project impacts will primarily consist of short-term, localized disturbance associated with
construction activity (i.e., noise, ground vibration, etc.). Long-term impacts from the project
are expected to be negligible, consisting of the permanent loss of a small amount of degraded
channel bank. In summary, the proposed project should not result in significant adverse
impacts to biological resources.
5/22/01(P:~TS 130LBIORPT.WPD)
9
Please contact me or Ross Dobberteen, Principal-in-Charge, if you have questions or require
additional information regarding this project.
Sincerely,
LSA ASSOCIATES, INC.
Sean M. O'Brien
ProjeCt Manager
Biologist
Attachment: Table A - Special-status plant species
Table B - Special-stares wildlife species
ce: Peter l_amge, ITSI
sr~o~o~:x~Ts~3oxmom~r.wvv) 10
LS& ASSOCIATES, INC.
Table A - Special-Status Plant Species with Potential to Occur in the Project Vicinity
Status* Potential /
Species (Federal/State/ Habitat Occurrence in
CNPS) Project Area
Montara Manzanita FSC/__/1B Chaparral and coastal None
A. montaraensis scrub
Pacific Manzanita Coastal scrub, None
A. pacifica sandstone ridges
Marsh Sandwort Marshes and swamps
.Arenaria paludicola
Alkali Milk-Vetch
Astraga:us tener' Var. tener
San Francisco Bay Spineflower
Chorizanthe cuspidata var '
cuspida:a
Robust Spineflower
C. robusta var. robusta
Fountain Thistle
Cirsium fontinale var. fontinale
Compact Cobwebby Thistle
C. occidentale var compactum
Presidio Clarkia
Clarki~ franciscana
Round-Headed Chinese Houses
Collinsia corymbosa
Pt. Re) es Bird's-Beak
Cordylanthus maritimus s~p
palustris
Fragrant Fritillary
F. liliacea
San Francisco Gumplant
· Grindelia hirsula var martima
Diablo Helianthella
Helianthella castanea
Kellog's Horkelia
Horkelia cuneata ssp sericea
Beach Layia
Layia carnosa
FSC/SE/
FE/SE/1 B Potential
/ /lB
FSC/__/1B
Vernal pools and None
annual grasslands
Coastal bluff scrub None
and coastal dunes
FF_7 /lB Coastal bluff scrub None
and cismontane
woodlands.
FE/SF_J1B Serpentine seeps and None
FSC/__/IB Chaparral and coastal None
dunes
FE/SE/1B Coastal scrub, None
serpentine outcrops
/ /lB Coastal dunes and None
prairie
FSC/__/1B Coastal salt marsh Potential
FSC/ /lB Coastal scrub and None
prairie
FSC/__/1B Coastal scrub, sandy None
or serpentine slopes
FSC/__/1B Chaparral, coastal None
scrub, and cismontane
woodlands
FSC/ /lB Coastal scrub and None
chaparral
FE/SE/1B Coastal dunes None
5f22/01 (P:h'TS 130~lanttbl.wpd)
LSA ASSOCIATES, INC.
Species
Crystal Sphngs Lessingia
Lessingia arachnoidea
San Francisco Lessingia
I_,. gertnanorum
San Francisco Popcorn-Flower
Plagiobothrys diffusus
Hairless Popcorn-Flower
P. glaber
Hickman's Cinquefoil
Potentilla hickmanii
Adobe Sanicle
Sanicula maritima
Status*
(Federal/State/
CNPS)
FSC/ /lB
FE/SE/1B
FSC/SE/1B
/ /IA
FE/SE/1B
FSC,/SR/1B
· 'California Sea Blite FE/ /lB
Suaeda californica
San Francisco Owl's-Clover FSC/ /lB
Triphysaria floribunda
Habitat
Potential /
Occurrence in
Project Area
Coastal sage scrub, None
and cismontane
woodlands
Coastal scrub in open None
sandy soils of remnant
dunes.
Grassland and coastal None
prairie
Coastal salt' marsh,
meadows and seeps
Freshwater marshes, None
seeps, and small
stre~a,.s in open or
closed forested areas
along the coast.
Chaparral, meadows
and seeps, and coastal
prairie
Margins of coastal
salt marsheS.
Coastal prairie,
grassland
Potential
Presumed extinct
in this area.
Potential
None
* Status
FE = Federally listed as endangered.
FT = Federally listed as threatened.
FSC= Federal Species of Concern
SE = California listed as endangered.
ST = California listed as threatened.
SR= California listed as rare.
CSC= California Species of Concern
CNPS (California Native Plant Society) - Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of
California
lB= List lB: Rare, threatened, or endangered in California
lA = List lA: Plants presumed extinct in California
No status
Sources:
California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2000. Department of Fish and Game
(Quads: San Francisco South, San Francisco North, Hunters Point, Montara Mountain, San Mateo)
Smith, J. And K. Berg (eds.) 1988. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California.
California Native Plant Society Special Publication No. 1, 4th ed. Sacramento, Ca.
5/22/01 (P:klTS 130\planttbl.wpd) 2
[,SA ASSOCIATES, INc.
Table B - Special-Status Wildlife with Potential To Occur in the Project Vicinity
Species Status* Habitat
(Federal/State)
INVERTEBRATES
Bay checkerapot butterfly
Eu£hydryas editha bayensis
FT/
Mission blue butterfly FFJ
Icaricia icariodes missionensis
San Bruno elfin butterfly
Incisialia mossii bayensis
Callippe silverapot butterfly
Speyeria callippe callippe
FISH
Steelhead
Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus
Chinook salmon
' Oncorh?nchus tshawytscha
FT/
FT/CSC
Native grasslands on
serpentine outcrops;
host plant = dwarf
plantain (Plantago
erecta).
Grasslands; host plant =
native lupines (Lupinus
app.)
Grasslands in hills; host
plant = stoneorop
(Sedum spathulifolium).
Northern coastal scrub;
host plant = violet
(Viola pedunculata).
Coastal and central
valley streams, may
,seasonally occur in
estuaries
Bay and Delta
tributaries, streams
AMPtL-BIANS AND
REPTV.ES
Westen. pond turtle
Clemmys marmorata
BIRDS
· Short-eared owl
Asio flammeus
Western snowy plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
nivosus
(eoasta~. population)
Northern harrier
Circus cyaneus
White--ailed kite
Elanus leucurus
FSC/CSC
__/CSC (nesting)
FT/CSC (nesting)
__/CSC (nesting)
._~FG (nesting)
Perennial and seasonal
ponds and creeks,
brackish sloughs
Marsh and grassland
Ground nesting
Sandy beaches, salt
pond levees, and the
bottom of dried salt
ponds.
Marsh and grassland
Ground nesting
Grassland
Trees and shrub habitat
for nesting
Potential /
Occurrence in
Project Area
None
None
None
None
Potential
Potential
Potential
Foraging
Foraging.
Foraging
Fomging
5/22/01(P:~.ts130\wildtbl.wpd)
LSA ASSOCIATES, INC.
Species
American peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus anatum
Salt-marsh common
yellowthroat
Geothlypi$ trichax sinuosa
Loggerhead shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Alameda song sparrow
Melospiza melodia pusillula
(South Bay)
Long-billed curlew
Numenius americanus
California brown pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
californicus
Double-crested cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
California black rail
Laterallus jamaicensi~
coturiculus
California clapper rail
Rallus longirostris obsoletus
Bank swallow
Riparia riparia
California least tern
Sterna antillarum browni
Status*
(Federal/State)
__/SE (nesting)
FSC/CSC
FSC/CSC
FSC/CSC
__/CSC (nesting)
FE/SE (nesting
colony)
__/CSC (rookery
site)
FSC/ST
FE/SE
.._/ST (nesting)
FE/SE (nesting
colony)
Habitat
Shorelines, grasslands,
transmission towers
Associated with fresh
and brackish marsh that
provide continuous
cover for foraging.
Grassland and open
habitat with shrubs or
trees for perches
Marshes, wetlands,
grassland
Cultivated fields, salt
marshes, open mud fiats
Sloughs, channels, and
open water
Sloughs, channels, and
open water.
Transmission towers for
nesting
Salt marshes bordering
larger bays. Associated
with salt marshes, also
found in brackish and
freshwater marshes.
Salt water marshes
traversed by tidal
sloughs.
Riparian habitat; nests
in banks associated with
streams, rivers, and
lakes.
Sandy beaches, alkali
fiats, hard-pan surfaces
such as bay fill,
abandoned salt ponds,
and aircraft runways.
Potential I
Occurrence in
Project Area
Foraging
Potential
Potential
Potential
Foraging
Foraging
Foraging
Potential
Potential
None
Foraging
5/22/01 (p:uts 130\wildtbl.wlxl) 2.
LSA A$$OCIA'fES, INC.
Species
MAMMALS
Salt m~rsh harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys raviventris
raviver~tris
Status*
(Federal/State)
FE/SE
FSC/CSC
Salt marsh wandering shrew
Sorex vagrans halicoetes
* Status
FE = Federally listed as Endangered.
Fl' = Federally listed as ThreatenecL
FC= Federal candidate species.
FSC -- Federal Special Concern species
SE = State listed as Endangere~L
ST = State listed as Threatened
SCE = State candidate for listing as Endangered
SCT = State candidate for listing as Threatened
CSC = California Special Concern species
DFG = Fully Protected and Protected
No status.
Habitat
Tidal salt marshes in
central and southern San.
Francisco Bay, and it's
tributaries, dominated
by picldeweed
( Salicornia spp.).
Tidal salt marshes,
dominated by
pickleweed.
Potential /
Occurrence in
Project Area
Potential
Potential
$/22/OIC~:klts130\wildtbl.wpd)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jerry Haag
2029 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
FROM: Jim Martin
DATE: 20 March 2002
ENVIRONMENTAL COLLABORATIVE
Consultation · Documentation · Restoration
126864th Street · Eme~yville, CA 94808
Phone 510/654-4444 · FAX 510165~.~.~~.
SUBJECT:
Biological Assessment
Water Quality Control Plant Improvement Project
Wet Weather Storage Pond
South San Francisco, California
As you requested, below is a discussion of my preliminary conclusions regarding the
sensitivity of the existing wastewater treatment facility site along the south side of
Colma Creek in South San Francisco. The site has been used as a treatment facility
;ince 1952 and is currently undergoing an upgrade as part of the Water Quality
ontrol Plant Improvement Project. The District is now assessing the feasibility of
converting the existing sludge drying beds into a large overflow basin. Using my
1997 assessment of the overall improvement as a basis~, this report provides a
description of the existing vegetation and wildlife habitat at the site, discussion of
potential impacts and their signit'~ance, and conclusions regarding the need for
mitigation.
Methods
I first conducted a field reconnaissance of the site on 9 September 1997. A follow-
up reconnaissance was conducted on 4 March 2002. The purpose of the field
reconnaissance was to determine the general vegetation and wildlife species
asso.ciated with the site, and potential presence of suitable habitat for special-status
species. No detailed surveys were performed as part of the field reconnaissance
surveys.
Existing Conditions
Most of the site has been developed with facilities associated with the treatment
lant. These include buildings and tanks, aeration basins, and drying beds.
ngoing construction has eliminated most of the ornamental vegetation which once
surrounded the original buildings. Ruderal (weedy, invasive) species generally form
a narrow band between the developed areas and the shoreline of Colma Creek and
1ENVIRONMENTAL COLLABORATIVE, 1997, Bioioigcel ~ VVator quality Control Plant Improvement
Project, memo to Jem/Haag, dated 18 Septentl~r.
San Bruno Canal. Species common in areas supporting ruderal cover include wild
oats, wild radish, bristly ox-tongue, field mustard, curly dock, and fennel. The sludge
drying beds seasonally support a cover of emergent cattails and other wetland
indicator species, but are routinely scraped.
The shorel'ne along Colma Creek and San Bruno Canal supports a narrow band of
coastal sak marsh vegetation, composed of a narrow band of native and non-native
species that are distributed vertically depending on the degree to which they can
tolerate tic al inundation. A highly aggressive, non-native species of cordgrass
(Spartina <ernifolia) has become established at the lowest elevations, and is
spreading .-hroughout the canal area. Native pickleweed occurs at the mid-level,
often formi ~g a band only one shrub in width. Transitional species such as gumplant
and sea lavender occur at the u~pper elevations with ruderal cover. A large area of
marshlend vegetation occurs at the northeastern tip of the site, where marsh habitat
was reportedly created as part of a mitigation project in the mid-1980's.
Because o~ the developed and disturbed condition of the upland portion of the site,
it generally provides only marginal habitat for species typical of urban and suburban
areas. However, the adjacent tidelands support a continuous band of northern
coastal sa tmarsh which together with the mudflats are highly sensitive habitats,
supporting numerous species of invertebrates which provide important feeding and
roosting habitat for a variety of birds. Grebes, cormorants, bay ducks, coots, gulls,
and terns jse the deeper water of the canal and creek for resting and feeding.
Wading birds such as herons and egrets use the shallow water associated with the
mudflats to hunt for fish and reptiles. Shorebirds such as willets, godwits,
dowitchers, sandpipers, snipes, tumstones, and plovers fccd on invertebrates in the
mudflats a-rd areas of cordgress when exposed at Iow tide. Kingfishers, tams, and
pelicans d've for fish in the water of the canals.
Although of artificial origin, certain aspects of the treatment_plant operation create
conditions which are attractive to a number of bird species. Several species of gulls
and blackbirds were observed foraging in and around the existing digester tanks.
The sludge drying beds have also been reportedly used for nesting in the past by
Canadian geese and other waterfowl. Several geese were observed during the
March 2002 reconnaissance. Active nests of geese and most other birds are
protected Jnder the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the taking, hunting,
killing, sel ing, purchasing of migratory birds, their eggs, or nests.
Due to the extent of past disturbance and the absence of essential habitat features,
it appears unlikely that the site supports any special-status plant or animal species.
No occurrences of species with special-statu_s have been mapped in the project
vicinity by the California Natural Diversity Base~. A small population of the state and
federally-endangered Califomia clapper rail (Rallus Iongirostris obsoletus) was
reported from salt marsh habitat of San Bruno Point in 1975, but it is unlikely that the
small areas of prickle-weed in the project vicinity are sufficient in size to support a
local popL iation of this subspecies. There remains a possibility that special-status
bird and f'sh species known to occur in the bay may occasionally utilize the tidal
areas adjacent to the site. However, essential habitat for breeding or roosting
California Natural Divemity Data Base, 1997, re(x~d search of the South San Francisco 7.5' U.S.G.S.
quadrangle, ~ 6 Match.
2
appears to be absent in the upland portion of the site, and this occasional use should
not pose a significant constraint to proposed improvements. Several salt-marsh
common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa) were heard vocalizing in the rushes
along the Colma Creek channel during the March 2002 reconnaissance. This
species is recognized as a California Special Concem species by the Califomia
Department of Fish and Game. No wrens were heard or observed in the few stands
of cattail in the drying beds, which are believed to be unsuitable for the common
yellowthroat due to routine disturbance and clearance of vegetation.
Potential Impacts and Conclusions
The proposed wet weather storage pond would be confined to the existing sludge
drying beds. No. signif'K:~...nt imp. act? are antic!pated o.n any sp?ci. '.al-~etus s. pecie.s,.
and disturbance to sensitive natural communities SUCh as coastal salt marsn WOUlC]
be avoided. The proposed storage pond would require elimination of the existing
sludge drying beds, which are apparently used for foraging and nesting by birds.
However, the availability of the drying beds for use by wildlife appears to vary
depending on season and maintenance activities. There remains an opportunity to
allow for establishment of emergent vegetation around the perimeter of the basin to
continue its dual function as nesting and foraging habitat for birds, which would
serve to minimize the loss of the drying beds. Construction of the pond could disturb
any nesting birds within the drying beds or along the adjacent channels unless
outside the
improvements are made nesting season (after August 31).
The proposed pond has been designed to sit within the existing'uplands on the site
and no fill in the adjacent channels or marshlvegetation is proposed. There is a
remote possibility that construction activities could inadvertently affect the sensitive
marsh habitat unless adequate controls are implemented.
Recommendations
Appropriate restrictions should be made to limit the extent of disturbance to the
sensitive habitat along Colma Creek and avoid destruction of any nests in active
use. At minimum these should include implementation of the following
recommendations:
Modifications to the shoreline of Colma Creek and the San Bruno Creek
basin should be avoided, with all improvements restricted above the
estimated spring high tide elevation. This would avoid the potential
jurisdictional waters of the Corps.
Fencing should be installed around the perimeter of the construction
zone to clearly delineate the marsh and prevent unauthorized incursion
into this sensitive habitat.
The proposed overflow basin should be designed to allow for the
establishment of emergent vegetation, such as cattail and bulrush,
around its perimeter. The basin should preferably be earth-lined, with
side slopes not exceeding 2:1. Ideally the northern and eastern side
slopes should not exceed 3:1 to allow for establishment of a wider band
of emergent vegetation.
Any clearing of established vegetation within the drying bed required for
3
pond construction should be scheduled during the non-nesting season
after 31 August and before 15 October to avoid disturbance to possible
nesting birds.
I hope this provides you with the information necessary to complete your review of
the proposed wet weather pond. Please feel free to contact me at 5101654 4'1'1'! if
you have any questions or would like any additional information.
4
City of South San Francisco
Initial St ady/Sewer Improvement Program
Appendix 2
Archeological Resources Evaluation
(Holman & Associates)
Page 65
June 2002
DRAFT
INITIAL ARCIIAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROCEDURES FOR
NATIONAL I-]'ISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT SECTION 106 COMPLIANCE
m)R Tmr. CITY O~r SOUTU SAN FRANCISCO
WET VYEATHER PROGRAM SEWER AND WATER TREATMENT PROJECT
Matthew ~ Clark
Registered Professional Archaeologist
May2002
Report Prepared For
Jerry Haag
Urban Planner
2029 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
HOLMAN & ASSOCIATES
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS
3615 FOLSOM STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110
CONTENTS
Management Summary ................................................. 1
Introduction .......................................................... 3
Project Location and Description ..................................... 3
Parameters and Goals of this Report .................................. 3
Research Methods ' 6
Section 106 Applicability and Requiremems ................................. 7
Section 106 Work Completed to Date ................................. 8
The Next Steps for Section 106 Compliance ............................ 9
Project Description .................................................... 9
Project Element Types and Potential Impacts ............................... 12
Project Se-ting ...................................................... 12
Geomorphological ......................... ' ....................... 12
Prehistoric/Ethnohistoric/Archaeological .............................. 13
Records Search ................................................. 18
Historical Setting ................................................ 19
Potential Project Impacts .............................................. 22
Pump Station Elements ............................................ 22
Effluent Pond and Creek Bank Elements .............................. 24
PipeEne Elements ............................................... 25
S~ and Conclusions ............................................. 35
References .......................................................... 38
Tables:
1. Section 106 Status of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project Elements . 2
2. South San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project: Concordance of Elements ... 11
Maps:
1. South San Francisco Wet Weather Project Location ......................... 5
2. Portion of Nelson's 1909 Map of Bay Region Shell Mounds .................. 17
3. Historical Shorelines and Known Fill Areas (f~om The Mark Group 1988) ........ 23
A~t~endices:
A: Carollo Engineers 3/19 and May 7* 2002 Project Descriptions and Maps.
B: Carollo Engineers Project Phase 1 Plan Drawings.
C: South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, by Historical Archaeologist Christopher M.
Lee.
D: Initiation of Consultation: List of Contactees and Examples of Contact Letters.
~AGEMEI~r S~Y
The "South San Francisco Wet Weather Program" sanitary sewer and water treatment
rehabilitatio~ and expan.~ion project is an undertaking by the City of South San Francisco. The
Project inch~des 28 separate elements to ira?rove and expand sewer services and water treatment to
meet State -,.nd Federal standards. The 28 elements include: upgraded/new pump stations; upgraded,
enlarged, or_d new sewer lines and force mains; a new effluent storage pond, and; bank protection on
Colma Creek. Most elements are on the east side of Highway 101 in the industrial sector ofthe CitT,
three are just west of I-Flghway 101, one element is to the northwest.
The SSFWWP comes under the National Historic Preservation Act's Section 106, designed to
identify, ev-,Juate, and assess potential effects on "historic properties." Holman & Associates work
is specificaLy focused on archaeological resources as pertains to Section 106. The SSFWWP will
proceed in _-'our phases; only Phase 1 is approaching design completion, but all phases as currently
known are covered by this document. Plans for most elements have progressed adequately to ~
address Section 106 concerns. Though all the Project Elements are within areas of significant
archaeological sensitivity, more than half of the Elements were found to be within historic fill areas
less than 5C years old and therefore not likely to affect historic properties as defined under Section
106.
Most elements of the Project are not designed cor~letely enough to allow for definition of
APEs and o fpotential physical effects to tangl~ole resources. Despite this, research presented below
shows that numerous Project Elements do not have potential to effect historic properties (see Table
1), and for -hese, it is proposed that definition of precise APEs is unnecessary to meet Section 106
requirements.
This report starts Section 106 procedures, beginning development of proposed field efforts to
identify historic properties. Although only Phase 1 elements are approaching design completion, the
goals of this initial report are broader. The archaeological resource base for the entire SSFWWP
Project Area has been addressed for all Project phases. The approaches used and espoused here are
also meant to apply to all following phases of the overall project. When a Research Design is
proposed for historic property identification and subsequent evaluation for NRHP eligibility, it will
also suffice in general terms for application to subsequent Project phases.
Research and impact assessments completed have assessed 16 of the 28 Project Elements as
having no potential to effect historic properties, lack of design specifics notwithstanding. For many
Project Elements the exact APE and construction impacts will not matter because the work is located
where there are no historic properties. Eight Elements have been assessed as having possible effects,
depending on exact design and construction techniques adopted. Four Project Elements are seen as
having def. nite potential to irapact historic properties, but even these are not yet fully assessed
because exact construction impacts have not been made specific. These assessments may still change
when more exact APEs can be defined.
-1-
Table 1: Seetion 106 Status of South San Franeiseo Wet Weather Pro~ram Project Elements
Project Element Impacts APE Potential Section
Element Type Known? Defined? 106 ~?
1 San Mateo Pump Station Upgrade Yes Yes No
2 San Mateo Force Main No No Yes
3 Shaw Road Pump Station Upgrade No No Possible
4 Shaw R~ad Force Main No No Yes
5 Effluent Storage Pond Yes Yes No
6 Airport Blvd Sewer No No Possible
7 Winston Manor Sewer No No Possible
8 Coima Creek Bank Restoration Yes Yes No
9 Pump Station 2 Upgrade Yes Yes No
10 Pump Station 2 Force Main Yes n/a No
11 Pump Station 4 Upgrade Yes Yes No
12 Pump Station 4 Force Main No ' No Yes
13 Pump Station 7 Upgrade Yes Yes No
14 Pump Station 8 Upgrade Yes Yes No
15 Pump Station 8 Force Main Yes n/a No
16 Pump Station 10 Upgrade Yes Yes No
17 Oyster Point Blvd Trunk Sewer No No Yes
18 Allerton Avenue Trunk Sewer Yes n/a No
19 East Grand Trunk Sewer No No Possible
20 DNA Way Subtrunk Sewer Yes n/a No
21 Pump Station I Upgrade Yes Yes No
22 Pump Station 3 Upgrade Yes n/a No
23 Swift Subtrunk Sewer Yes n/a No
24 Littlefield South Subtrunk Sewer No No Possible
25 Pump Station 6 Upgrade No No Possible
26 Harbor Way Subtrunk Sewer No No Possible
27 Executive Drive Subtrunk Sewer No No Possible
28 Littlefield North Subtrunk Sewer Yes n/a No
-2-
INTRODUCTION
Project Location and Description
The "South San Francisco Wet Weather Program" sanitary sewer and water treatment
rehab'ffitafion and expansion project (SSFWWP, or "Project") is an undertaking by the City of South
San Francisco in San Mateo County, California. The entire Project Area is located within City limits
and is contained on the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute "San Francisco South" topographic
quadrangle; see "Map 1." The Project Area is within the Mexican-era Rancho Buri Bur~ Land Grant,
and is therefore not surveyed into the township-and-range survey systenz
The Project involves 28 separate elements that, taken together, will provide for improved and
expanded sewer services and water treatment for the City, which must meet State and Federal
standards fo_-treatment and discharge of waste water into San Francisco Bay. Carollo Engineers are
the Project Engineers, with primary responsibility for design of Project elements, while the City will
make final ~_ecisions as to which and when specific elements will be completed. The 28 elements
include: upgraded and new pump stations; upgraded, enlarged, and new sewer lines and force mains;
a new effluent storage pond; and restoration and installation of bank protection ora short section of
Colma Cree ¢ near its outlet. The majority of these elements are in the eastern portion of the City,
east of Highway 101, the Bayshore Freeway; three are just west of 101, and a single element is in the
northwest of the City. See the appended aerial photographs and descriptions of proposed facilities
by Carollo Engineers for Project element numbers, locations, and descriptions (Appendices A and B).
The SSFWWP Project will proceed in four phases over the next several years; only Phase 1 is
approaching design completion, but all phases as currently known are covered by this document.
Phase 1 includes five Elements: the San Marco Pump Station (Element [ID No.] 1); the San Mateo
Force Main (Element 2); the Shaw Road Pump Station (Element 3); the Shaw Road Force Main
(Element 4~; and, the Effluent Storage Pond (Element 5) (each described in more detail below).
Although P_mse 1 is not yet completely designed, plans for the elements have progressed to a state
adequate to address cultural resources impacts. Other Project phases are at less complete design
states, as reflected in the discussion below.
Parameters and Goals of this Report
Holmza & Associates Archaeological Consultants (H&A) of San Francisco is contracted with
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner, of Berkeley, to provide cultural resources consultation and Section 106
compliance services for the SSFWWP Project. David Antonson is the Project Manager for Carollo
Engineers and has provided the Project maps and descriptions used here. This work is specifically
focused on archaeological resources as pertains to Section 106; that is, potential historic properties
occurring f-om the ground surface down.
The SSFWWP comes under the purview of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
(NHPA), specifically under NHPA Section 106, embodied by Federal regulations codified in the Code
-3-
of Federal Regulations at 36 CFR Part 800. Section 106 is designed to identify, evaluate, and assess
potential effects on "historic properties," the general covering term for what are elsewhere oRen
referred to as "cultural resources" and including a variety of possible resources:
( 1 ) ( 1 ) Historic property means any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object
included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places [NRHP] maintained
by the Secretary of the Interior. This term includes artifacts, records, and remains that are related to
and located within such properties. The term includes properties of traditional religions and cultund
importance to an Indian tribe .... and that meet the National Register criteria.
(2) The term eligible for inclusion in the National Register includes both properties formally
determined as such in accordance with regulations ... and all other properties that meet the National
Register criteria [36 CFR 800.16].
This research and report specifically focus on NRHP listed, eligible, or potentially eligible
archaeological resources; i.e, potential historic properties existing in the form of remnants, typically
found on and below the current ground surface. There are no NRHP listed historic properties within
any identified Project impact zones, so the focus here is on potential historic properties. Historic
structures and buildings, districts, and objects are not addressed except as part of the archaeological
record. H&A's work is limited to archaeologically verifiable tangible resources-physical entities that
can be located in specific areas.
Because initiation of Section 106 procedures requires that the Project's "Area of Potential
Effects" (APE) be specifically defined-that is, all areas in which work for the project could possibly
affect National Register eligible properties, including indirect impact areas and work areas not
otherwise part of the Project Area (such as staging areas) this report addresses SSFWWP Phase 1
work to a higher level of completion than for the other phases. Only the elements of Phase 1 are at
a stage of design completion that will allow for definition of some APEs and of potential physical
effects to tangible resources. Even some Phase 1 Elements still lack design specifies required to
define APEs (e.g., construction techniques, pertinent to assessing potential effects, have not been
finally decided for some elements). Despite this, and lesser design completion of other phases,
research discussed below has found that numerous Project Elements are regarded as having no
potential to effect historic properties (see Table 1), and for these, it is proposed that definition of
precise APEs is unnecessary to meet Section 106 requirements.
This report is the initiation of Section 106 procedures, meant to begin to meet requirements
prior to development ora proposed scope of field efforts to identify historic properties. Although
only Phase 1 elements are approaching design completion, the goals of this initial report are broader.
The entire SSFWWP Project Area has been addressed for background research; that is, the
archaeological and historic setting of the entire Project Area has been researched to provide
background for all Project phases. The approaches used and espoused here are also meant to be
applied to all following phases of the overall project. When a Research Design is proposed for
historic property identification and subsequent evaluation for NRHP eligibility, it will also suffice in
general terms for application to subsequent Project phases.
po/r,~ S~n
San Francisco
-~, I-Project Elemems 1-6.
Map 1: Sot-th San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project Location.
Francisco
Airport
-5-
Research Methods
Beginning Section 106 compliance work for the SSFWWP Project involved four inithl steps.
First, a clear comprehension ofthe Project was needed, so H&A met and discussed with Jerry Haag
and obtained the first maps of the Project. These proved inadequate to the Section 106 task, being
too general in nature to clearly delineate potential Project im~ts. As more maps and project
descriptions were obtained from Carollo Engineers, the Project kept growing from the ~ 12
elements to the 28 currently envisioned, and Project elements changed, were added, or dropped out.
This report is based on our best current understanding of the Project, built by studying the
documents, maps, and facilities descriptions furni.qhed by Mr. Ha_ag, Carollo Engineer~, and the City
of South San Francisco's City Engineering Department. Secondly, a field recormai.qspnce was
undertaken of all the Project elements. The reconnai.qspnce proved unfruitful, as expected given the
totally built environment, except in general terms, such as an appreciation of the lay of the land,
logistical opportunities and problems, the locations of various existing facilities.
Thirdly, research into the archaeological setting was conducted. This included a search of
cultural resources records, data, and maps maintained by the Northwest Information Center (NWIC)
of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) at Sonoma State University,
discussed below, and archival research and a report by Historical Archaeologist Christopher Lee
(Appendix C) and by the author, utilizing documents and records in the City Engineering Department.
Fourth, consultation with interested parties has been initihted, including regional Native American
groups with regard to prehistoric cultural resources and historical societies and interested individuals
for historic cultural resources.
-6-
SECTION 106 APPLICABH,ITY AND REOUIREMENTS
Under Section 800.3, Federal agencies are encouraged to integrate the Section 106 process into
agency planning at its earliest stages. The South San Francisco Wet Weather Program comes under
the jurisdiction of California' s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), which will help fund
the Project -Jarough the State Revolving Fund (SRF). The SWRCB is delegated legal responsibility
for compliance with Section 106 in accordance with Federal law. So, as the state agency respons~le
for Federal Section 106 compliance, the SWRCB is the Federal lead agency for the Project, and will
therefore have the respons~ility to consult with and seek concurrence on 106 compliance with the
California State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
The frst requirement o f Section 106 procedure initiation (Sec. 800.3 (a)) is to establish whether
the proposed project is an "undertaking" of a type that has the potential to have an effect on historic
properties. Our focus here is on archaeological resources, which generally exist from the ground
surface down. Since the proposed sewer and water treatment project involves work below ground
level, for example trenching for pipelines, it is clear that the Project meets the 106 definition of an
undertaking. This finding is certain to be concurred with by the SWRCB, which will also therefore
consult with the SHPO during the compliance process.
The next requirement (Sec. 800.3(e, f)) is to plan to involve the public and to idemify other
consulting parties. Notification and consultation with the ~general public and their own constituents,
as well as local governments and agencies other than the City of South San Francisco, are properly
the concert, of the City.
H&A has taken respons~ility to identify and initiate consultation with other potential consulting
parties specified by 106 regulations; that is, Native American representatives, whose primary concern
is with prehistoric cultural resources. Both the California Native American Heritage Commi~ion
(NAHC) and representatives of 10 San Francisco Bay region Native American Indian groups (the
various Ohlone groups and individuals identified by the NAHC) are being contacted to initiate the
consultatio a process (see Appendix D). "Additional consulting parties" not specifically named by
Section 106 include "certain individuals and organiTations with demonstrated interest.., due to... their
concern wi-h the undertaking's effects on historic properties." (Section 800.2 (c)(5). H&A interprets
this to require initiation of consultation with the South San Francisco Historical Society (SSFHS),
South San Yrancisco Historian Kathleen Kay at the History Room of the South San Francisco Public
Library, the San Marco County Historical Association (SMCHA), and any groups or individuals
concerned with historic resources in South San Francisco, such as any other local historical societies.
SSFHS, Kathleen Kay, and the SMCHA are being contacted for any concerns or information they
may have, and H&A, through an Historical Archaeologist, is researching whether any other groups
or individual.q should be contacted. At this writing, only the NAHC has responded, replying that their
files show :~o sacred lands or resources anywhere near the Project Area.
Contact with and consultation with the SI-IPO will, at least initially, be through the SWRCB staff
assigned Section 106 overview respons~ility for this Project. However, it is anticipated that direct
-7-
contacts between H&A and SI-IPO will facilitate the process as the Project progresses. It is stressed
that both SWRCB and SI-IPO must be consulted on all phases of 106 compliance. The SWRCB has
Federal lead agency responsibility for Section 106 compliance. SHPO "reflects the interests of the
State and its citizens in the preservation of their cultural heritage" and "advises and assists Federal
agencies in carrying out their section 106 responm'bilities ... to ensure that historic properties are taken
into consideration at all levels of planning and development" (Sec. 800.2 (c)(1)(i)).
The next phase of 106 compliance is to identify historic properties. The scope of efforts (Sec.
g00.4 (a)) for identification is determined by the Federal lead agency official, in thi.~ case, again, the'
SWRCB. This process includes "pre'hminary work, actual efforts to identify pr6perties, and
evaluation of identified properties to determine whether they are 'historic;' Le., they are listed on, or
elig~le for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places." Critical, before identification of
historic properties can begin, is "determining and documenting the area of potential effects'(quotes
from Advisory Council on Historic Preservation [ACHP] Section 106 Explanatory Materials). The
APE "means the geographical area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly
cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties" (Sec. 800.16 (d)). Conversations with
the responsible S WRCB Section 106 compliance oversight staffhave confirmed that definition of the
APE must be based on complete (or very nearly so) design plans; it is unacceptable to either draw
much larger areas around the actual potential irnpact areas, which would require much more
identification effort than supportable, or to simply state that there will be no potential effects for
certain aspects of the (especially as-yet undesigned) Project and therefore leave work areas out of the
APE. For a project of the scope and nature of the SSFWWP, where years may elapse between
concept, design, construction, and implementation, the only practical approach is to define Project
APEs sequentially as Project elements are designed and construction techniques specified.
Section 106 Work Completed to Date
Compliance procedures for the SSFWWP are still at an early stage. The Federal lead agency
has been contacted. It has been agreed that the nature of the Project brings it within the definition
of an undertaking subject to Section 106. SHPO has not yet been contacted. Idemification and
contact with potential consulting parties is being completed simultaneously with work on thi.q
document. Definition of APEs has been problematic and can be considered reasonably complete only
for currently designed portions-i.e., the five elements of Phase 1. However, as discussion below will
illuminate, the nature, or lack of; potential impacts concomitant with many elements of the Project
have made precise definition ofthe APEs less pertinent than would normally be the case. The process
of idemi~ng potential historic properties has been begun with obtaining and review of the
archaeological data base for the vicinity of all possible element APEs, as well as with completion of
an historical study of the City of South San Francisco with special focus on the locations of the 28
Project elements.
APE definition, the first critical step, lags because specific Project Elements are not yet fully
designed, nor have construction techniques been specified; however, this may not matter very much.
It is likely, based on conversations with the SWRCB, that long portions of the proposed pipeline
work, for example, while necessarily included within element APEs, will not actually require
-8-
additional historic property identification work if specific construction techniques and potential
impacts can be clearly demarcated and seen to have no potential to impact historic properties. The
'~ipe burstirg" technique proposed by Project engineers, SWRCB has agreed, can be considered to
have no potential effect on historic properties. However, the excavations needed to apply this
technique definitely could have potential effects. Lacking an exact definition of where excavations
will take place and where the pipe bursting technique will be used leaves no alternative but to
consider the ~ntire pipeline route as the possible APE, with potential for effects in the entire zone and
a consequent, need to conduct historic property idemification work within that entire route. Similarly,
work on the ' lpgraded and new pump stations will require exact definitions ofwhere excavations and
any other work that could affect historic properties will take place in order to assess potential effects;
otherwise, tt_ose entire areas must be considered as element APEs with potential impacts tlm>ugbout.
However, as will be explicated below, the majority ofthe elements ofthe Project are in locations
known to contain historic fill deep enough that it will not be penetrated by Project work and so will
not potemially encounter historic properties. Definition and exact mapping of APEs for these
locations, w'_~ere historic properties are not likely to be encountered, is therefore much less criticaL
The Next S-eps for Section 106 Compliance
As noted above, establishing the APE for 106 purposes is only possible for designed Project
elements; even those still lack critical construction technique details. An effort is made below to
define the APEs for Phase 1 elements. Any changes in the APEs, either expansion or constriction,
will affect the appropriate scope of identification efforts. Following concurrence on the APEs by
SWRCB, efforts to identify potential historic properties will colranence based on the proposed
methods to ~e detailed at that point. Once potential historic properties are identified, a Research
Design to evaluate those properties, if any, based on National Register criteria will be developed for
approval by SWRCB and SI-I?O, and then implemented. The results of the historic property
identification and evaluation efforts will then dictate the course of following 106 compliance work.
PROJECT DESCRIFFION
The South San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project is a sanitary sewer and water treatment
rehabilitatio .a and expansion project covering primarily the eastern portions of the City, particnlarly
the industrial zone east of Highway 101, where 27 of 28 Project elements are located (see Map 1).
The South San Francisco system and Water Quality Control Plant (WQCP) serve the City, as well
as the Tom of Colma and portions of the City of Daly City and City of San Bruno. The system
discharges effluent into San Francisco Bay fi.om the WQCP near the outlet of Colma Creek, south
of Point San Bruno. The WQCP is upgrading under a 1997 order from the Regional Water Quality
Control Board to irr~prove the system to meet current discharge requirements. In addition, portions
of the system are old, the pipelines leaking due to settlement of filled areas on former Bay mudflats
and rnarginv_l marshlands. The leaking pipelines add to the load ofthe treatment plant during the rainy
season, and so need to be replaced or upgraded to lessen that additional seasonal load (hence "Wet
-9-
Weather"). Additional capacity is also needed to meet future needs of development in commercial
zones east of Highway 101, where localized wastewater collection and transport facilities will
accommodate anticipated expansion in required capacity (the "East of 101" portion ofthe Project).
H&A has been dependent on the Project engineers, Carollo Engineers, for maps and descriptions
of the varied SSFWWP Project elements and currently is working with two mt-exactly congruous
versions. The primary source, both in the temporal sense and for discussion purposes, is a list of 27
"Proposed facilities WWP Phases 1 4," keyed to accomtmnying color aerial photos and dated 3/19/02
(see Appendix A- 1). The set of Project elements shown on the "3/19 document," incorporates both
the "Wet Weather" components and the "East of 101" components. Secondly and n6tably later in
the analysis process, another document of"Proposed Improvements," dated May 7, 2002, and keyed
to a map with color coded Project elements, "Figure 5.1" (see Appendix A-2). This "May 7~
document" incorporates only the latest version of the "East of Highway 101" Project components.
Not all elements actually east of 101 (Elements 4, 5, and 8) are included in the "East of 101" project
components. Because the May 7~ document contains one more Project element ea~ of 101, the total
number of elements is 28 and neither document covers all. Each document follows a different
numbering system for the Project elements covered. Further, there were, and remain, discrepancies
between the Project element descriptions. The following presents the most up to date information
furnished to H&A as of this writing.
The following concordance shows the relationshil~ between the two numbering systems.
However, to simplify discussion and facilitate understanding, the 3/19 document list will be used, with
the addition of the added East of 101 element, which will be assigned the number 28 here. So, it
should be understood that here, for example, Project Element 23 will be the same as East of 101
Improvement 16, etc.
In addition, two sets of working plans furnished to H&A have been essential in examining
Project elements to assess potential impacts. These are the "City of South San Francisco... Contract
Documents for Construction o fWet Weather Program-Phase 1" (50% submittal, dated March 2002),
and the "C" sheets of the same plans as a "90% submittal," also dated March and May 2002,
depending on the sheet. Also, for the East of 101 Project elements only, a map and data sheet was
furnished by Carollo showing the locations and elevations of inverts at manholes on pipelines being
evaluated for upgrading, improvement, replacement or augmentation in the east of 101 area (Towill
2002); these provide information on how deep existing pipelines are below the current surface. In
addition, Jerry Hang and Carollo Project Manager David Antouson (and other Carollo staff) have
responded to questions posed by the author on numerous occasions, and City Engineer Barbara
Hawkins and City Engineering StatfRichard Harmon also provided useful information.
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Table 2: South San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project: Concordance of Elements
Carollo Engir.eers' "3/19 document" and color aerials ("Figure 1: Wet Weather Program Phases 1-4
Proposed Improvements March 2002" at 1 "=1000'; and "Figure 2" at 1 "=803 from Cat'oHo show and
desc'n~ 27 Project elements. The"5/07 document" shows and describes 20 Project elements, keyed
to undated "Figure 5.1 Proposed Improvements.'(see Appendix A.)
3/19 ID~ 3/19 Description 5107 (East of 101)ID #
1 San Mateo Pump Station none
2 San Mateo Force Main none
3 Shaw Road Pump Station none
4 Shaw Road Force Main none
5 Effluent Storage Pond none
6 Airport Blvd. Sewer none
7 W'mston Manor Sewer none
8 Colma Creek Bank Restoration none
9 Pump Station No.2 Improvement 2
10 Pump Station No. 2 Force Main Improvement 9
11 Pump Station No. 4 Improvement 4
12 Pump Station No. 4 Force Main Improvement 10
13 Pump Station No. 7 Imp~'ovement 6
14 Pump Station No. 8 In~overnent 7
15 Pump Station No. 8 Force Main Improvement 11
16 Pump Station No. 10 Improvement 8
17 Oyster Point Blvd Trunk Sewer Improvement 12
18 AileRon Ave Trunk Sewer Improvement 13
19 East Grand Trunk Sewer 'Improvement 14
20 DNA Way Subtmnk Sewer Improvement 15
21 Pump Station No 1 Improvement 1
22 Pump Station No. 3 Improvement 3
23 Switt Submmk Improvement 16
24 Littlefield Subtrunk Improvement 18
25 Pump Station No. 6 Improvement
26 Harbor Way Subtmnk Improvement 20
27 Executive Subtmnk Improvemem
none (28*) none Improvement
5/07 Description
Pump Station No. 2
Force Main PS No. 2
Pump Station No. 4
Force Main PS No. 4
Pump Station No. 7
Pun~ Station No. 8
Force Main PS No. 8
Pump Station No. 10
Oyster Point Submmk
AIlerton Subtrtmk
East Grand Trunk
Forbes-DNA Subtrunk
Pump Station No. 1
Pump Station No. 3
Swffi Subtmnk
Littlefield South
Subtna~
Pump Station No. 6
Harbor Way Subtnmk
19 Executive Subtmnk
17 Littlefield North
Subtmnk
* number used in this document.
Project Element Types and Potential Impacts
The Project involves three basic types of elements: pump station upgrades and replacements;
pipeline expansion or replacements, and; large excavation for a new effluent pond and smaller bank
excavations to stabilize a short portion of the bank of Colma Creek near the WQCP. Within these
categories, Project elements have basically the same potential for i ~mpacts to historic properties, and
will be discussed in order. For simplicity, all the documents, plans, profiles, etc. furnished by Carollo
Engineers, Jerry Haag, and the City refer to or preface subtitles with the complete Project name
("South San Francisco Wet Weather Program"), which is abbreviated or should be assumed for all
documents cited below.
Pump Station work: Elements 1, 3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 21, 22, 25.
Effluent Pond and Creek Bank work: Elements 5 and 8.
Pipeline work: Elements 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28.
As broad categories, the Pump Station Elements have zero to a relatively small potential to
effect NRHP eligible historic properties. The Pond and Creek Bank Elements appear to have no
potemial impacts to historic properties. The Pipeline Elements have the greatest potemial to impact
historic properties, but potential varies widely, ranging from zero potential effects in areas already
known to be cut or filled recently, to potential effects where pipelines will be placed in "old fill" (more
than 50 years old), are in particularly sensitive locations, or'my penetrate historic fill to land surfaces
extant in the mid to late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Potential impacts by specific Project
Elements will be discussed at~er describing the Project context.
PROJECT SETTING
Geomorphological
The geomorphological setting of the various SSFWWP elements is pertinent as the matrix in
which archaeological resources would occur. Most of South San Francisco is within the Colma
Creek watershed, and fortunately this area has been the subject of extensive geomorphologieal study
(e.g., Knott 1969; Helley, et al. 1979; Bonilla 1998; Knudsen et aL 2000; W'mer 2001). However,
the SSFWWP Project elements east of Highway 101 are largely in areas of San Francisco Bay and
its margins historically filled for development, areas highly sensitive for prehistoric archaeological
deposits and which also contain historic features and resources under the fill.
The Colma Creek corridor has been subject to extensive alluvial filling during the Holocene,
burying the formerly steeper valley under several meters of alluvial deposits, primarily Colma
Formation sand (Bonilla 1998; Witter 2001). The watercourse of Colma Creek meandered over time
but remained basically along the geomorphic dividing line between the Franciscan Complex
Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks of San Bruno Mountain to the east and the Pleistocene Colma
Formation to the north and west (Knott 1969). Exposures of Franciscan bedrock on the slopes of
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San Bruno 1V2'_ountain include dark grey to yellow brown interbedded sandstones and shales (Bonilla
1998). The Colma Formation is mostly "fine-to-medium sand deposited in near-shore marine and
continental settings. The deposit contains few interbecls of sandy silt, clay to sandy clay and graveL...
The age is esn. imated between 500,000 to one million years" (Witter 2001:3). Though both si_des of
the drainage contribute to sediment load and bank development along the creek, the highly erosive
Colma Formation supplies much more bulk; in turn, those sand deposits are easily cut and transported
by water flow (Knott 1969). Natmal filling was accentuated and added to by a program of historic
filling in the raid to late nineteenth century, involving purposely altering the watercourse to bring sand
to specific a-cas (Hynding 19112; Witter 2001). This fillinE extended to near the Bay margin and
deposited considerable depths of recent fill '
The op2y Project element in the upper Colma Creek drainage, Element 7, the proposed "Winston
Manor Sew~r'' rehabilitation, is in a location subject to this natural alluvial filling (Brabb and
Pampeyan 1983; Clark 2002a) and so could contain prehistoric archaeological deposits from near the
surface to p_-obably well below the depth of potential Project impacts. Downstream, the dozen
Project elements nearest Colma Creek are in the immediate flood plain and margins ofthe Bay subject
to filling by '.he meandering creek. These downstream areas have been subject to both natural and
artificial filling. The more northerly ofthe eastern elements, around Point San Bruno, are also mostly
in both natural and artificial fill: the artificial fill lying on top ofeoarse alluvial sands and gravels from
washed down from the slopes of San Bruno Mountain.
A prehistoric shell midden site on the former banks of Colma Creek, at Chestnut Avenue and
Mission Ro~d, was discovered under a minimum 150 em, and more than 600 cm below surface in
some locations of recent fill: the majority of which is interpreted as quite recent and likely to have
resulted from both natural and purposeful filling (Water 2001). This location is approximately half
way betweert the Winston Manor Sewer and the other Project elements beginning on the west side
of Highway 101 and extending out into twentieth century fill around Point San Bruno. It is likely that
Holocene fi_l, both natural and artificial, is deeper at the more easterly Project element locations
subject to direct filling by Colma Creek. With the exception of the Project elements nearest the
highest, erosion-resistant knobs o f serpentinite and sheared Franciscan Formation rocks on Point San
Bruno, ail other Project elements are in napped artificial fill up to 30 m deep (Brabb and Pampeyan
1983). Th~s artificial geomorphic setting makes research into the filling progression and episodes
along the Bay margin and around Point San Bruno essential in assessing Project potential to
encounter both prehistoric and historic archaeological resources.
Prehistoric/Ethnohistoric/Arehaeologieal
Though it is likely the San Francisco Peninsula has been inhabited by humans for something
approaching 10,000 years, data confirming such a long tenure is lacking in San Mateo and San
Francisco counties. While Santa Clam and Santa Cruz counties have furnished carbon dates in that
age range, lhe oldest published dates for the Peninsula appear to be about 5000 years for undoubted
habitation sites. The oldest published date for San Mateo County remains that from a site near the
outlet of Colma Creek to the Bay at SMA-40, at just over 5100 years before present. Nearly equally
old are the oldest component of the University Village Site (SMA-77) at the southeast of the county,
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and the "BART Man" (actually a woman) in San Francisco (Breschini~ Haversat, and Erlandson
1996). Hints of poss~ly older occupation on the San Mateo coast have been published, but are
unsupported by technical dating techniques (e.g., Hyikema 1998 ). It is safe to say that the Peninmfia~
including the Colma Creek drainage, was probably occupied by Native Americans by at least 5000
years ago, but by different people than would later own the area.
Ethnohistorically, the Colma Creek drainage was occupied by the Urebure m'belet, an Ohlone
group, the Native Americans who owned the San Francisco Bay region, Santa Cruz Mountains, East
Bay H~l~ and the Monterey Bay area at the 1769 Spanish invasion. Archaeological evidence
indicates the ancesual Ohlones arrived in the San Francisco/Monterey Bay region-depending on
location-somewhere around A.D. 500 (Moratto 1984), possibly from the lower Sacramento
Valley/Delta, displacing an earlier population.
Natural resources of their home areas provided for nearly all the needs of the aboriginal Ohlone
populations. The prehistoric Ohlones were "hunters and gatherers," who adapted to and managed
their abundant local environment so well that some places were continuously occupied for literally
· thousands of years. Compared to modem standards, population density always remained relatively
low, but the Ohlone area, especially around Monterey and San Francisco Bays, was one of the most
densely lived-in areas of prehistoric Califomim The Ohlones had perfected living in and rvanaging
myriad slightly differing environments. Some environments were rich enough to support large
permanent villages of"coliectors;" others had less abundant resources and supported a more mobile
"forager" way of life. Littoral (shoreline) and riparian environments, such as along and at either end
of Colma Creek and along San Francisco Bay, were obviously more productive and were therefore
most sought out, most intensively utili?ed and occupied, and most jealously defined and guarded.
Uplands and redwood areas were less productive and less intensively used and occupied than the
ocean and bay coasts. As throughout Central California, the acorn was the dietary staple of the
Ohlones, but a huge number of floral and faunal resources were utilized. Like other native
Californians, the Ohlones managed their environment to improve it for their use. For example, they
burned grass and brush lands ann, ally to improve forage for deer and rabbits, keep the land open and
more safe from predators and their neighbors, and improve productivity of many resources.
The basic unit of Ohlone society was the "tribelet," a small independent land-holding group of
usually related families occupying a specific territory and speaking the same lang-~ge or dialect. An
incredible diversity of lang~ges had evolved in Central California, evidence of centuries of in-place
divergence of very small social groups. Early linguists encountered some groups of only 50-100
people speaking dialects sometimes but not generally unintelligible to their neighbors. Inter-tn3elet
relationships were socially and economically necessary however, to supply both marriage partners and
goods and services not available locally. Trade and marriage patterns were usnally but not always
dictated by proximity; traditional enemies were usually also defined by proximity. Regional festivals
and religious dances would bring groups together during periods of suspended hostilities.
Traditional trade patterns thousands of years old operated when the Spanish invaded, supplying
the Ohlones with products from sources sometimes hundreds of kilometers distant and allowing
export of products unique to their region. Obsidian was obtained from the North Coast Ranges and
-14-
Sierran sou_-ces, in patterns that changed through time. By 1769, the Ohlones had been buying
finished obsidian arrowheads of specific forms, manufacUnvxi by North Coast Range tribes, for
hundreds ofyears. Shell beads and ornaments, a major export fix)m the Ohlone regions, were made
primarily from the shells of abalone (Haliotis), Purple Olive snail (Olivella), and Washington clam
(Saxidomus), allocean coast species. Shell beads and ornaments evolved through many different and
definable type_ s through the millennia, allowing chronological typing of these common artifacts to
serve as keys to the age and relative cultmal position of archaeological complexes. These beads were
traded for t'_~ousands of years, and have been found in prehistoric sites throughout California and
many kilometers east, into the Great Basin, showing that prehistoric peoples on the Penln.qula were
tied into an "international" system of trade. At the time of the Spanish invasion, ~ome Central
Californians had developed a system of exchange x:urrency ("money") based on clam shell disk beads;
the extent to which the Ohlones related to that system is unknown.
Absolute and relative dating of archaeological sites, the linguistic diversity, and demonstrably
ancient trade patterns all indicate that the Ohlones and other Central California groups had reached
a si. ate ofdemo~p~c and social stability unimaginable to modem city-dwellers--a state in which the
same family groups occupied the same location continuously for hundreds or even thousands 0fyears
with few if any changes in population size or profile. This long term stability is reflected in the
homogeneity of archaeological sites spanning wide geographic and temporal ranges.
By the time of European invasion, a unique native ~ettlement pattern was in place along the
Penin.~ula, in which the same tnq~elet group would own a strip across the Peninsula from ocean to
Bay, based on drainages. These watercourses formed natural travelways across the spine of the
Peninsula. Like other watercourses from the southern Santa Clara Valley to the northern end of the
Peninsula, Colma Creek has a series of archaeological sites along its banks, connected to prehistoric
cultural sites along the margins of the Bay. The Colma Creek (known as "San Bruno Creek" by the
Spanish/Mexicans) drainage was probably held by a single group, the Urebure, that extended from
the slopes of San Bruno Mountain to about San Mateo Creel and used the creek corridor to travel
from village sites on the Bay, the Pacific, and in between.
Around the beginning ofthe twentieth century, N.C. Nelson recorded more than 400 major shell
midden sites around San Francisco Bay, some of which had already been leveled or destroyed (Nelson
1909). Ne son's 1909 "Map of San Francisco Bay Region Showing Distribution of Shell Heaps"
shows sites #378 and #377/3797 (the numbers are difficult to read; see Map 2) in the vicinity of the
SSFWWP ?roject. Nelson shows #378 south of Oyster Point on the north shore of San Bruno Point,
and #377/3797 on the south side of Point San Bruno (Map 2). Nelson's rough and sometimes
inaccurate mapping, plus historic changes in the Bay shore and local topography, filling, massive
construction projects in and around South San Francisco such as steel and meat packing plants, the
Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Bayshore Freeway, and Nelson's generali?ed location descriptions,
make a positive identification of a site on the south shore of Point San Bruno or near the mouth of
Colma Creek difficult. Nelson also remarks that the largest mounds are invariably associated with
a source o_-' freshwater, and:
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Many of the largest mounds are located at the head of sheltered coves, yet not a few deposits
lie in thoroughly exposed places... Occasionally a hillside, with or without any accommodating shelf
or hollow, has been chosen, doubtless on account of some small spring issuing in the vicinity. Good
illustrations are furnished by ... no. 379, near South San Francisco [Nelson 1909:328].
This description matches both the north and south sides of Point San Bruno, with a spring
available at SMA-40 and Colma Creek at the south.
Prehistorically, the upper Project Area (near Hickey Boulevard) would have been an area of
windswept sand dunes fringed by oak grassland alongside the more thickly-vegetated Colma Creek
riparian corridor. The Bay shore was very mar. shy, (marshes extended up to approximately the
Orange Park region in modem South San Francisco [Nichols and Wright 1971; Hynding 1982]), with
extensive mudflats and wetlands that offered very abundant resources but made access to the Bay
difficult, so ideal habitation locations were at spots where hard ground met the Bay, surrounded by
the marshes. The open exposure, easy slope, availability of fresh water, and location along one of
only two easy routes along the Peninsula made this location attractive to the Ohlone Indians long
before the European invasion.
Several villages were located in the territory of the Urebure tribelet when the Spanish arrived,
including occupations along Colma (San Bruno) Creek and on the margin of the Bay. A major site
is located at the foot of San Bruno Mountain, just north of Point San Bruno (SMA-40), two
habitation middens are recorded on the creek between the northwest and east of the Project (SMA-
299 [Bocek 1989; Rice 1994a] and -355), and another on the ocean at the western end of the route
up Colma Creek (SMA-72); all were probably in use by the Urebure when the Spanish arrived
(Milliken 1983, 1986, 1995). SMA-72 and SMA-355 are Late Period sites (Clark 1986, 2002; Witter
2001) and SMA-40 b_as a late component (Clark 1998). Further, Brown (1973) reports that prior to
1835 the San Bruno Mountain south slope area was known as a location of"indian huts," perhaps
a resettling of an old village site after secularization of the missions and dispersal of many of the
missionized Indians, but no village or place name is recorded.
Clearly the Colma Creek corridor and mouth, and surrounding Bay margin were a focus of
aboriginal settlemem and use, making the Project APEs archaeologically sensitive for prehistoric
deposits. While the creek occasionally runs dry, the area still afforded sources of freshwater year
round. Historic accounts affirm the area of the upper creek was "characterized by small lakes and
an abundance of springs" (Svanivik and Burgett 1995: 16), and the earliest maps show a lake and
springs near Hickey Boulevard (U.S. Coast Survey 1853). Remnants of these lakes are still shown
on E1 Camino plans in 1925 (California Highway Commission 1926) and exist today. The creek
drainage below, in South San Francisco, was been extensively filled and any such lakes covered, along
with prehistoric sites. Bay margin filling and historic developmem have also covered or destroyed
prehistoric shell middens on the former marshland margin of the Bay, which once extended far up
Colma Creek (Nichols and Wright 1971; Mark Group 1988). Farther bom the currem, or historic
shoreline, prehistoric sites are still possible; Heizer (1950), Bickel el al. (1973), Bickel (1978, 1978a),
and Moratto (1984) have hypothesized that sites along the Bay shore older than about 5000 years lie
buried under sediment or under the Bay itself due to rising sea level.
-16-
MAP 2: A Portion of Nelson's 1909 Map of Bay Region Shell Mounds.
(Source: Nelson 1909: "Map of San Francisco Bay Region Showing Distribution of Shell Heaps")
-17-
Records Search
Archaeological research for the SSFWWP Project was initiated with a search of relevant
records, maps, and archives maintained by the Northwest Information Center of the California
Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) at Sonoma State University. Due to the
indeterminate scope of the Project when the records search was sent in, a very wide area was
addressed in the record search, essentially the entire Colma Creek drainage, and all of South San
Francisco east ofJunipero Serra Boulevard. The records search was conducted by the Center staff~
revealing that numerous small areas of the Project Area had been surveyed for cultural resources
previously, only a few of which proved finally to be directly applicable to the PrOject as now
understood. Few cultural resources or historic properties are recorded within 500 m of the 28
SSFWWP Project elements, none east of Highway 101. The CHRIS Records Search File Number
for the SSFWWP Project Area is 00-560. A copy of this report will be submitted for inclusion in the
permanent archives of the CHRIS.
The records search revealed only three prehistoric archaeological sites in the vicinity of the
SSFWWP, the aforementioned SMA-40, SMA-299, and SMA-355. SMA-40 is a large shell midden
mound on the southeast slope of San Bruno Mountain west of Highway 101, a major cultural
resource (Clark 1998), a little over 500 m from the nearest Project work, Element 9 at Gateway
Boulevard and Oyster Point Boulevard. SMA-299 is a diffuse shell midden once found on both banks
of Colma Creek, now mostly destroyed (Rice 1994, 1994a, 1994b). SMA-355 is a buried Late
Period shell midden on the north bank of Coima Creek at Chestnut Avenue (Clark 2000a, 2002).
Both these last two sites are well over a kilometer from the nearest Project work.
Project Element 7, the Winston Manor Sewer, north of Hickey Boulevard from Camaritas
Avenue to E1 Camino ReaVSmte Route 82, is well removed to the northwest from all the other
Project elements. A single archaeological reconnaissance was recorded along E1Camino through the
vicinity of Hickey Boulevard (Young 1976), and another crossed Hickey west of Element 7 (Baker
1979). Neither recormaissance reported historic properties. An historic property, "the Frank
Lagomarsino vegetable farm" is recorded within 500 m of the east end of Hickey Boulevard (Shoup
1994, 1994a), but is well outside any poss~le impacts for this Project.
The Project elements near and east of Highway 101 are mostly omside any recorded
archaeological reconnaissances, and no excavations are reported anywhere near any Project elements.
Several areas of'Project work have been previously surface surveyed, but none of these have recorded
historic properties. The banks ofchannelized Colma Creek, where Elements ~, 5, 8, 12, and 25 are
proposed was surveyed by Rice (1995). The area surrounding and including the WQCP was surface
surveyed in 1976, including the remnants of "Belle Air Island" (Roop 1976); this also included
Elements 5 and 8, and the eastern end of Element 4. Anastasio et al. did a recon~ai.qsance along part
of what became Gateway Boulevard, southward of any Project work, but this same lineal surface
survey did cross Project Element 6, the Airport Boulevard Sewer (Anastasio et al. 1988). Finally,
a survey along the Somhem Pacific Railroad right-of-way that partially became Executive Drive
encompassed the portion of Executive where Project Element 27 will be installed (Biosystems
Analysis, Inc. 1989).
-18-
The records search turned up just one recorded site within 500 mofany ofthe eastern Project
elements. SMA-gl 1H is an historic refuse scatter eroding out ofa railbed embanlcment just north of
Colma Creek and Project Element 1, the San Mateo Pump Station (McGinni.q 2000). This scatter
includes glass, ceramics, crockery, marbles, oyster shell and mi-qc, ellaneous other materials; estimated
date of the deposit is 1890 to 1918. The site map seems to indicate SMA-811H might be quite close
to the exis~.ing San Mateo Pump Station. No historic properties are recorded east of Highway 101.
Historic Setting
Research into the historic development of South San Francisco and the APEs of the Project has
been und~en by the author and for H&A by Historical Archaeologist Christopher Lee (see
Appendix C). To very briefly summarize that research:
Histery starts in the Project Area with the arrival of the Spanish in the late 1700s. Though it
is known ~hat Native American Indians now generally known as Ohlones occupied the area then,
there are r_o known specific locations of Ohlone settlements dating to the Spanish invasion, though
Late Period sites have been identified as noted above. Neither are there specific locational records
of any Spanish- or Mexican-em structures or features with the Project's APEs. The South San
Francisco area in general is known to have been used for cattle grazing by about 1800, and what later
became Rancho Bud Bud was specifically used to graze cattle for the Presidio of San Francisco.
There is no record of specific rancho activities within the APEs, but the old Spanish wagon trail that
became El Camino Real passed through the upper Project Area vicinity, just past Project Element 7.
By 1810 small private ranches along El Camino had introduced the cattle and sheep that denuded the
hill.qides and accelerated erosion in the Colma Creek drainage (Hynding 1965).
The original route of E1Camino Real, now partly Mission Road, probably meandered along the
creek and the first railroad down the Penin~mla also ran through the same corridor as meandering
Colma Creek. Little else is recorded about the rest of the Hispanic or early American periods in the
vicinity of the Project, where no real towns existed until the 1890s. Rancho Bud Bud was granted
in 1835, encompassing the entire Project Area (save the areas of Bay later filled to create dry land);
the grantee died in 1843 and within 10 years portions of the property began to be sold off. The early
agricultural/pastoral community of Baden was the location of the "12 Mile House" stage stop and
public house on Mission Road as early as 1853. "Baden" came into being when cattleman Charles
Lux bought 1500 acres of the Bud Bud Rancho in 1856 and built a large house near the creek and
Project A_-ea. Two years later, he and rancher Henry Miller formed a cattle company, lVfiiler's
birthplace in Germany was the namesake for "Baden." Lux and Miller supplied San Francisco
stockyards for the next 30 years, the cattle being driven up E1Camino to Baden and then into the city.
The first local railroad ran through Baden when it began regmlar service down the Peninsula in 1863.
At, er Lux died, in 1888 meatpacking titans Swffi and Armour joined forces to form the South San
Francisco Land and Improvement Company, bought Lux's land and 2000 more acres, including the
East of 101 Project Area and began the City of South San Francisco. In 1891 the town site was
platted be:ween the San Bruno Toll Road and the Lux home at Baden, along what was still then
known as San Bruno Creek and San Bnmo Slough nearer the Bay. By 1893, a streetcar line had been
extended :~om the Baden Station eastward through the new town to the industrial sector on the Bay.
-19-
Around the mm ofthe twentieth century the City was known for enclaves o fvarious knmigrants, with
"Frenchtown," "Irishtown, ' "Italiantown," and groups of Portuguese, Chinese, and others. The City
was formally incorporated in 1908 and then dominated by the Italians, many of whom established or
worked in floricultmal businesses (Hynding 1982:102-109).
The South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company chose the Point San Bruno area in
1891 to industrialize, because it was not settled, was reached by streetcar and soon railroads, and also
had access to the Bay. West of the toll road the town began to be built. East of the road a meat
packing plant, stockyards, wharves, and the San Bruno Channel ship canal were constructed, largely
on filled land. The highest points of Point San Bruno were also graded down into th6 Bay. In the
mid 1890s other industries began to move into.the East of 101 area, including brick and pottery
factories, steel mills, paint companies, a tannery, and a lumbermill. Colma Creek was cbannelized
from above the location of the Baden Station on Mission Road all the way to the Bay marsh margin
by 1897 (USGS 1899), but not as far out as the present location of the WQCP.
The native California or Pacific oyster has also been an important factor in both the prehistory
and historic development of the Bay Area and South San Francisco. The hundreds of prehistoric shell
mounds surrounding the Bay testify to the importance of the oyster to Native American populations
for millennia. The earliest Europeans soon came to appreciate the oysters as well, and when
California was taken from Mexico and then the Gold Rush brought thousands of new immigrants to
the Bay Area, an industry soon arose based on exploitaffon of the abundant oyster beds. By the
1850s there were commercial oyster beds around the Bay, and alter the Transcontinental Railroad
arrived in 1869 business boomed based on transplanted eastern oysters, making San Mateo County
Bayside tidelands valuable real estate. In 1890 Morgan Oyster Company, the single largest purveyor
of oysters in California, owned some 16,000 acres of San Mateo tidelands, including around and
south of Point San Bruno. By 1900 millions of pounds of oysters were harvested annually from the
Bay, but the industrial boom around the Bay soon spelled doom for the oyster beds as uncontrolled
pollution destroyed the industry by the 1920s.
Chinese immigrants to California, many imported as laborers for the gold fields and railroad,
were often let~ unemployed when the gold boom lessened and became mechanized and the railroad
was complete. Many turned to pursuits familiar from their homelands, including fishing, particularly
taking shrimp and oysters from the Bay. Fishing for shrimp and oysters by Chinese enclaves began
by 1870 and became an important profession for Chinese-Americans. Tied into the trade in oysters
(mostly local) and shrimp. (with the largest proportion going to the export market back to China)
through the "Chinese Six Companies," the oyster and shrimp camps around the Bay flourished until
about 1905, when export of dried California shrimp was banned, and became increasingly unviable
due to pollution and racial hostility from the majority whites (Chinese had been banned from fishing
for salmon almost as soon as the first immigrants arrived) until in 1911 the Chinese bag net was
banned, effectively ending the fishing camps around the Bay within a few years (Shoup and Shoup
1999).
A Chinese fishing camp was established somewhere near Point San Bruno in the 1870s
(Anonymous 1968:5), but the exact location is disputed; according to different sources, a camp was
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located at Oyster Point (ShoecraR 1986), at Dry Laguna Cove between Oyster Point and Point San
Bruno (I-Iynding 1982:108), at Point San Bruno, then also called "China Point" (Anonymous 1968:5),
or On the south side of the Point (Shoup and Shoup 1999:F-36). It may be that more than one
Chinese fish'nE "camp" existed around Point San Bruno, as an 1889 map seems to show three such
catnps arotmd the Point (Slxmp and Shoup 1999:F-36, Map F-2). These weren't really"can~s" so
much as small towns where people lived all year. The one at Point San Bruno comprised about 20
buildings along with cooking bins, drying floors, nets, piers, and other equipment, and was clearly a
habitation site (see Figure 3, Appendix C). The Chinese fishing camp established in the Oyster Point
area was on land leased from the SSFL&I Company, and was destroyed by fire in 1912.
By World War I the area east ofwhat is now Highway 101 was heavily industrialized, but the
area south of the ship channel remained rnarshlands as hte as 1939 (Appendix C: Plate 1; USGS
1939, 19471}. By 1939 a new Bayshore Highway had been built on a long causeway crossing the
marshlands from the southeast to the current alignment of Bayshore Boulevard (this roadbed is now
occupied by part of South Airport Boulevard). World War II brought significant changes to South
San Francisco, as the city grew, becoming even more industrialized, and more areas along the Bay
were rapidly filled to facilitate industrialization associated with the war effort. By 1943, Kaiser
Industries was operating a shipyard building Liberty Ships, having gouged out larger mooting or
anchorage north of Oyster Point and filled in more of the East of 101 area north of Point San Bruno
(National Archives 1943 ). By 1946 the marshlands north of Point San Bruno had almost completely
disappeared under fill, but marshlands were still present' south of the ship channel and Southern
Pacific Railroad spur (National Archives 1946). By 1958 the marshlands south of the channel had
been mostly filled, and another major Bay filling project took place that soon filled the channel as well
and marine shipping access moved southward of Colma Creek.
The hSstory of"South San Francisco The Industrial City," (as proclaimed in huge white letters
on the soulh slope of Sign Hill, an historic londmark created in 1923 to celebrate the City's most
famous attribute) is truly the story ofindustriali?ation. The story of South San Francisco, of Lux and
Miller, Sw'_f[ and Armour, Bethlehem Steel and Kaiser, is the story of the transition of the San
Francisco Bay Area and California from far-flung frontier to the huge modem economy oftoday, and
must be considered historically significant on the local, regional, state, and national!evels. The
SSFWWP Project Area lies primarily in the zone where this industrialization took place and that is
being reindustrialized today. Reranants of the historic development of the City, if present as
archaeological deposits in the Project APEs, would likely qualify for nomination to the National
Register o_-'Historic Places.
A most useful item uncovered by Chris Lee is a map of the "Historical Shoreline and Known
Fill Areas" (Mark Group 1988; Map 3 here). This map shows the historic shoreline circa 1871 (as
per Nichols and Wright 1971), the extent of historic mudflats/fill, the 1958 shoreline, and the
shoreline ha 1988. Even more importantly, areas of fill are mapped, the earlier with wider time frames
(pre-1958 fill over Bay muds and fill 1900-1920), and the later fill areas with more precise dates
(1958 fill ~nd post 1958 fill). This map illustrates the extensive fill around Point San Bruno and up
the Coima Creek drainage, and allows an estimation of how deep the fill is by comparing current
elevations to the previous sea level or lower. For example, in the region of Swift Avenue, elevation
-21-
is currently 10 to 12 feet, so fill must be at least that deep, and more, because the former ship channel
dredged through the Bay mudflat was just south of and parallel to Swift Avenue. In addition, over
Bay muds, general subsidence has also been at least 75-100 em due to surcharging of the mud
(squeezing out the water), and more in some areas, adding another three feet or so to the fill
thickness. In general, fill over the former mouth of the Cohna Creek estuary is therefore known to
be 12-15 feet or more thick where the Project Elements will be constructed. This means, ofcourse,
that excavations that do not reach that depth will not encounter former marshland surface and should
not encounter prehistoric sites. Had there been significant shell midden deposits in this region, Nelson
would have recorded them, as he did on the Bay shore around Point San Bruno, and even at the
island surrounded by marshland south of Point San Bruno, as he did on the simil~ly skuated island
at Coyote Point to the south (Nelson 1909).
Historic research was also conducted by the author utilizing archives kept by the City.
Department of Engineering, dating to the early years of the twentieth century. This proved to he a
treasure trove of historical information, albeit rather difficult to use. This research focused primarily
on the East of 101 Project compo, nents, and began with review of recent environmental impact
documents for the area. Recent environmental work covering some of the same romes for SSFWWP
Project Elements, such as along Oyster Point Boulevard (P&D Technologies 1990, 1990a; City of
South San Francisco DPW 1998), and wider area examinations (Morehouse Associates 2000, 2000a)
found no evidence ofprehistoric archaeological or cultural sites east of I 01. Further, suchdoeutma~
illustrate that ongoing industrialization of the east of 101 area since the 1890s has periodically ~
om all surface manifestations as newer industries and technologies have changed the area: "All
industrial buildings associated with steel and ship-building originally dating from 1913 were last
demolished in the 1980's" (Morehouse Associates 2000:13-1). The City Engineering archives were
very valuable for determining the locations and nature of landscape alterations in the East of 101 area
and are utilized in the discussion of Project impacts below.
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-23-
POTE~rTL~ P~O~CT IMPACTS
As noted above, the various broad categories of Project Elements have differing potential to
effect archaeological resources. Obviously, Project work that will not involve excavations nor
significant surface disturbances, even in areas with demonstrated archaeological sensitivity, wffi not
potentially affect historic properties. Work with excavations that will not penetrate undisturbed
subsurface strata, or that will not penetrate recent fill.q into older fil[q, or that will only penetrate into
strata known to have been cut into sterile soil, similarly do not have potential to affect historic
properties. Project Elements requiring excavations that will or might penetrate into native or
undisturbed strata, or into historic land surfaces that might contain historic archaeological deposits,
or into historic fill that could contain potentially significant historic materials, will poss~ly affect
historic properties, and therefore need to be carefully researched to assess both the degree ofpotential
imp~ts and the potential for archaeological resources in the impacts zone. Finally, Project
excavations that will only re-disturb strata known to have been previously, recently, disturbed, cannot
be seen as having potential to affect historic properties. Though this process is necessarily complex
for a Project involving 28 separate elements, detailed examination of the Project Setting and potential
impacts will illustrate that many proposed elements will not have potential to affect historic
properties. Bythe process of eliminating from consideration those Project Elements that do not have
potential to effect historic properties, the number of elements of concern in the Section 106 context
is substantially reduced.
As explicated in the Project Setting above, every element of the Project is in a location with
archaeological sensitivity, either for prehistoric or historic resources, or both. Basically, all elements
are in the Colma Creek drainage or along the historic margins of the Bay and marshlands, clearly in
areas of high sensitivity for prehistoric archaeological deposits. Even Project Elements out in what
were in the 1850s open Bay waters are in an archaeologically sensitive zone due to rising Bay waters
over the last several thousand years. So, the key question for every Project Element in terms of
Section 106 concerns is whether excavations will take place, and if so, whether those excavations
could encounter archaeological resources potentially meeting NRHP eritefim
Pump Station Elements
The 10 SSFWWP Project Pump Station upgrades are most easily described: with two and
possibly three exceptions, the process will involve adding additional or larger pumps and/or pipes
within the ex/sting facility building, or; changing various other facilities within the existing building,
such as adding capacity with newer equipment, new electric systems or improvements, altering wet
and dry wells, etc. and; other changes involving no excavations or underground impacts. All
proposed work is within existing footprints and existing buildings and fences, and will be done on
existing grades and elevations-there will be no excavations. These Project Elements, numbers 9, 10,
11, 13, 14, 16, 21, and 22, will therefore have no potential impacts to NRHP eligible archaeological
resources.
-24-
The four exceptions for Pump Station upgrades that could possibly have effects on historic
properties due to additional work aspects outside or below the existing facility involve a new pump
station, a new electrical and control building at an existing pump station, and a poss~le new pump
station. Two of these Pump Station upgrades are considered to not have potential effects on historic
properties and the other two to poss~ly have that potential
Project Element 1, the San Mateo Pump Station, will require an upgrade to the existing facility,
work to be done inside the existing building (no potential ~. ~ts), and a''new electrical and control
building wLl be constructed" at the site (Carollo 3/9 document). This work is descnq~! on the
"SSFWWP Phase 1, Civil, San Marco Pump Station, Site Plan, Grading Plan, and'Yard Piping;
Drawing C-I" (90% Submittal by Carollo Engineers, dated Mar 2002; see Appendix B). Grading
is minimal, and most elevations will be virtually unchanged or raised a small amount (less than a foot
to two feet~ when work is complete. A44" water pipe near the station will he plugged, but this pipe
is exposed on the surface. A new fuel tank will also be installed, but on the surface as well The new
control building will be on a slab on grade supported by piles (Brian Adams, Carollo Engineers,
personal communication [email] to David Antonson, Carollo Engineers, forwarded to H&A, May 17,
2002). This on-grade construction will not impact native soils below the current fill and therefore
will not effect potential historic properties.
Project Element 3, the Shaw Road Pump Station, is in an area on the south bank of Colma
Creek whe_-e will was placed over Bay mud prior to 1958 (Map 3). This Element requires that "a
new pump station will be consUucted on the site of the existing pump station. Once construction is
complete, the existing pump station will be demolished" (Carollo 3/9 document). This Element is
shown on"SSFWWP Phase 1, Civil, Shaw Road Pump Station, Site Plan and Yard Piping; Drawing
C-6' (Apl~mdix B) Final floor elevation for the new building will be 1/10 to and a hafffoot higher
than the existing grade. The contractor's staging area is delineated on the east ofthe new building
location; it will not be inside the fence when the project is completed. The existing pump station will
be demolished and the area inside the fence around the new building will be paved. Several facilities
at the new pump station will require excavations below existing grade. A new "Junction Structure"
will be bull: outside the fences, for connection existing pipelines to the new inflow line. The new wet
wells and discharge header room will be below grade and the new pump station structure is
approxima-.ely 25 feet deep (Brian Adams, Carollo Engineers, personal communication [email] to
David Antonson, Carollo Engineers, forwarded to H&A, May 17, 2002). Current elevation where
the new pomp station and junction structures will be built is approximately eight feet. Fill in this
general area is post 1939 (USGS 1939) but pre-1958 (Map 3). Research to date has not shown how
deep the fi'l in this location might be. Situated at the edge of the historic marsh and outlet of Colma
Creek, this location should be considered archaeologically sensitive, so effects to historic properties
are possible.
The other Pump Station that could possibly effect NRHP eligible properties is work at Pump
Station 6, ?roject Element 25. At PS 6, "the pump station has settled approximately 2 feet l~om the
original construction and may require a new pump station structure" (Carollo 5/07 document). The
possible need for a new pump station structure is under consideration by the City, and the question
is still open, so at this writing it is unknown whether such construction will take place (personal
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communication from Tony Akel, Project Design Engineer, Carollo Engineers Fresno office, May 13,
2002). In both these instances, if only shallow excavations are necessary, work will be done in
historic fill with low or zero potential for effects to NRHP eligible resources. However, "if it [the
pump. station] gets replaced it will be with a wet pit submers~le set up. The wet well will most likely
be on piles.., maybe only 15 feet deep" (Brian Adams, Carollo Engineers, personal communication
[email] to David Antouson, Carollo Engineers, forwarded to H&A, May 17, 2002). So, if new
construction takes place at this location, certainly the upper structure work will be in fill placed
between 1939 and 1958, and the proposed wet well would be about 15 feet deep from the new slab,
so it appears very likely that this excavation would be entirely in historic fall. Potential i .n.n.n.n.n.n.n.n.n~cts to
historic properties are still considered poss~le until design specifics are available.
Finally, work at Pump Station 3, Element 22, may require replacement of an existing retaining
wall, which would require excavations. This work location is in fill placed after 1968 (USGS 1968,
1980) on what was previously the San Bruno Canal (ship channel; USGS 1915, 1939) and proposed
excavations for the retaining wall will not penetrate that fill.
Effluent Pond and Creek Bank Elements
The Effluent Pond, Element 5, and the Colma Creek bank restoration, Element 8, are near one
another on the south bank near the mouth of the creek. This area borders a Bay island surrounded
by marshland shown on early maps (Bel Air Island On the ! 871 Rancho Bud Bud map [Appendix C,
Figure 1]; USC&G 1899; USGS 1915) and also shows on Nelson's 1909 map of Bay region shell
mounds, but is not noted to contain any prehistoric sites. However, the proposed pond location, east
of the WQCP, and the bank restoration location, in front of and west of the WQCP, are both in areas
known to have been filled in 1958, which were previously open water or marshland (Map 3).
Excavations for both these Elements will not penetrate the 1958 fill and therefore cannot encounter
potential historic properties.
The Effluent Pond, Elemem 5, will be excavated in an area of fill currently used for sludge
drying beds, with a general elevation of about 7-7~ feet but with humps up to over elevation 23 feet.
The new pond will have a bottom elevation of six feet, with the deepest excavations to 3.5 feet for
the pond inlet/outlet (David Antonson, Carollo Engineers, personal communication [email] to Barbara
Hawkins, City Engineer, copied to H&A, May 10, 2002). In an area filled in 1958, excavations to
this depth will not encounter previous soil mmfaces or the subsided marshland below.
The Colma Creek Bank Restoration will also take place in 1958 fill. This is the only Project
element being designed by a finn other than Carollo Engineers, Innovative Technical Solutions, Inc.
(ITSI). Information on this element is provided in the Carollo 3/19 document and on ITSI's "Figure
2A Project Area and Topography, City of Somh San Francisco/San Bruno Water Quality Control
Plant, San Mateo County, California," dated 12/11/01 (ITSI Drawing No. 00-175.02-F1). This
element involves installing sheet piling and riprap along the eroding south bank of the creek adjacent
to and west of the existing WQCP, in an area approximately 15 to 38 feet wide and 440 feet long.
Since all this work will be adding to the existing topography, and areas excavated for preparation of
-26-
the bank to received ripmp are in 1958 fill: this element appears to have no potential to encounter
possible historic properties.
Pioeline Element~
The most numerous Project Elemems, the most complex for hnpacts evaluation, and those with
the most potential to ' .nnpact historic properties, are the 16 areas ofproposed pipeline
Proposed pipeline Elements include replacement of existing lines with lines ofthe same type and size,
replacemeat of existing lines with larger pipes, additions of new lines paralleling existing lines, and
in one instance, replacement of an existing line with a smaller pipe. The pipeline elem6nts, numbers
2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28, will be addressed in numerical order,
with Phase I elements first, then other elements, and finaliy the East of 101 elements. The "East of
101" and other pipeline elements were extensively researched in the City Engineering Deparmle~.
archives, which was the primary source of the documents cited below. These documents included
plans, blueprints, profiles, soils information, etc., for buildings, roads, utilities, fill and grndlng
episodes, redevelopment, and even some work that was planned but never done, and proved very
valuable for assessing the degree of previous land disturbance at almost all the pipeline elements with
a potentia2 .to encounter and impact possible historic properties.
The project descriptions utilized for this discussion are found in the Carollo Engineers 3/19 and
May 7~ (_ocuments, as well as the sets of Project plans specified above, plus various personal
communications from Carollo staff, primarily Project Manager David Antonson, mostly contained
in emails, which update or add needed detail to the descriptions in the cited documents.
There are several key factors in determining whether and the degree to which various project
elements can have potential to impact any historic properties within the APE for that specific element.
For the pipelines especially, these are rather complicated due to the complicated nature of the
undertaking and the complex setting ofnative and historically altered landscape in which the elements
are proposed. Conditions and a priori definitions for "potential to have impacts"and '~o potential
to have impacts" for the pipelines should be made explicit.
Defined as having no potemial to affect historic properties:
-As stated above (first paragraph of this section), excavations of such types that will not possibly
encounter historic properties.
-Unless ir has been shown otherwise, replacement of pipes with new pipes of the same size and
description in the same trench-that is, excavation of a previous trench, removal and replacement of
the existing pipe, and then baclcfillirlg.
-The one pipeline proposed to be replaced with a smaller line in the same trench.
-Pipelines, and other excavations, placed in fill known to be less than. 50 years old, regardless whether
new or replacement lines, and regardless of size and route.
-Pipelines previously or proposed to be trenched into areas where previous deep grading has removed
the origiral surface down to bed strata are considered to have no potemial impacts.
-27-
-As per a conversation with SWRCB Section 106 compliance staff~ Archaeologist Cookie Heams,
pipeline routes to be replace using the "pipe bursting method" will considered to have no potential
impacts, regardless of size or matrix.
Defined as having the potential to affect historic properties:
-Work on pipelines over 50 years old; however, with only a single exception, none of the subject
pipelines appear to be older than 50 years.
-Replacement pipelines where the new excavations will be outside the previous trench-e.g., deeper
to provide for more support base, or where the alignmem is not the same, or the trench needs to be
wider, or work or connection pits are necessary.
-Replacement pipelines where the new pipe will be of larger size and therefore require a larger trench
-The work pits needed for the pipe bursting technique, approximately 30 feet long and eight wide,
and slightly deeper (about 6~) than the bottom ofthe existing pipeline (but not necessarily deeper than
the original trench).
-Pits required to replace manholes, or to remove soil to provide a buffer between existing utilities and
pipes to be expanded by the bursting technique, or at locations where pipes make turns acute enough
that the pipe bursting technique cannot follow the original pipe (where a new work pit would be
needed). In addition, it is not clear what happens when a length of newly pipe burst line intersects
an existing pipeline, but it
-Unless the locations of the pipe bursting work pits described above can be specified, the entire
length of pipes to be expanded by bursting.
-New or replacement pipelines that will not follow the same route as existing lines.
According to Carollo Engineers (David Antonson, Project Manager, personal coramnnication
on 30 April), typically new or replaced sewer pipelines and force mains will have "five to six feet of
cover" over the pipes, so a 24 inch pipe would be about eight feet below surface at its base, with six
to 12 inches of support base underneath; a 24" pipe therefore would be placed in a trench with
impacts reaching to about nine feet below surface. Trenches, where needed, can be asmmed to be
approximately 18" wider than the size of the pipe (e.g., a 24" pipe needs about a 42" trench).
Exceptions to these generalities regarding pipeline work were identified. The exceptions include
the Airport Boulevard Sewer, Element 6, at about 15 feet below surface; the proposed size, location,
and construction technique for this element have not been specified. Another exception specified
is the portion of Element 4, the Shaw Road Force Main, that will go under Highway 101 at
approximately 25 feet deep, by "rnicrotunneling ... via a proposed 54" steel casing" (3/19 document).
A third possible exception includes the crossing under Colma Creek by the San Mateo Force Main,
Element 2, "that will be constructed by the County in conjunction with the Creek channelization
project" (3/19 document) and is therefore unspecified as to construction techniques and potential
impacts.
Where new pipelines are, or may be, constructed to parallel existing lines, "A typical offset
distance for pipes is 10' from outside to outside. However, there are many factors that come in to
play when selecting the alignment such as: product carried in the pipe, existing utilities, traffic control
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soil conditions, saving room in the street for future pipes, etc. If need be, we might be able to get as
close as 4' outside to outside. Therefore it would just be a guess to say that the new pipe will be X
distance off the existing pipe" (David Antonson, Carollo Engineers Project Manager, personal
communication [emaii], May 10, 2002). Further, many factors also must be considered in deciding
on which site of an existing pipeline the parallel line will be placed; so, the possible route ranges from
about nine feet to more than 20 feet wide. This means that where parallel lines are proposed, until
the decision is made whether to build such lines and then the route is determined, delineation of APE
for pipeline elemems cannot be done accurately nor cost-effectively. For example, should subsurface
testing be proposed for the Airport Boulevard Sewer, a zone about 1100 feet long, up to 21 feet
wide, and 15 feet deep would need to be tested on a very busy major thoroughfare, wheh this element
may ncr_rally be done by the pipe bursting method. Construction methods and routes should be
defined prior to definition of APEs.
Projec: Element 2, San Marco Force Main
[Note: this is also referred to as the "Lowrie Avenue Force Main," as on drawings "C-2"
through "C-5" on "SSFWWP Phase 1, Lowrie Avenue Force Main, Civil, Plan and Profile" (90%
Submittal by Carolio Engineers, dated Mar 2002; see Appendix B), and abbreviated as "LAFM in
emails and notes].
This p_~peline route runs the north bank of(channelizett) Colma Creek, under the creek and then
down Lowrie and San Mateo Avenue to Shaw Road, turning east and ending at the Shaw Road Pump
Station. Tke route traverses an area shown as marsh land in 1897 and 1915, on the very edge ofthe
Bayside mask, and dry filled land in 1939 (USGS 1897, 1915, 1939); the Mark Group 1988 map also
shows it had been filled over Bay mud prior to 1958. Elevation along the entire route is currently
about 10 feet, the same as in 1939. Though additional fill has very likely been placed in the area since
1939, the a_-ea was raised to that elevation sometime between 1915 and 1939, so the underlying fill
is more than 50 years old and it is possible that trenching for a new 36" line will penetrate even that
fill to an his:ofic surface. Impacts to historic properties are therefore poss~le, except where the pipe
bursting technique will be used.
The 3/19 document notes that 4400 feet of new 36" force main will replace the existing 27"
pipe, but is vague on construction techniques: "One half.., will be done by pipe bursting ... the other
half will be installed by conventional trenching method." Which half will be excavated is not clear.
Additional 2nformafion on this element was furnished in an email from Amonson on May 10: "Within
Shaw Roac2 from San Mateo Ave to the [Shaw Road] pump station, the existing 20" forcemain will
be removec and the new 36" LAFM will be installed in that alignment. At the SRPS [Shaw Road
Pump Stat:_on], the new 36" foreemain angles into the new PS building and the 20" forcemain
eominues and connects to the existing 33" Shaw Road force main. At the eounection to the 33", an
excavation will be required to sever the connection so that the 33" can remain operational."
Compared to the 3/19 documem, this appears slightly contradictory (existing 27" vs. existing 20"),
but the 90% submittal drawings show a 27" existing sewer from the San Mateo PS down Lowrie to
San Marco Avenue, where a 20" force main starts to parallel the 27" sewer and both cominue to the
next PS on Shaw Road.
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In response to the question: "Where a pipe bursted line intersects an existing line does that area
need to be excavated so that connections can be made? Carollo Engineers also noted that for Lowrie
Avenue:
"In the case of the new 36" LAFM, the current concept is to construct the new 8~ gravity line in
Lowrie first and then switch all the laterals (including the 6" and 8" coming from San Marco) over to
the new 8" line. This will be done by constructing new laterals from the 8" to at least the property line
(as we discussed at our last meeting, the 6" and 8" lines will need to be re-laid back to San Mateo
Avenue so they will be shallower). At the point where the new lateral connects to the existing lateral,
a 1' or so portion of the existing lateral towards the street will be removed so that when the pipe
bursting occurs, the existing lateral is not pushed into the new lateral."
This seems to mean that for the pipe bursting method, every connection to an existing line will
need to be excavated prior to pipe bursting and then reconnected to the new line after it is in place.
Until and unless the portion of the route to be pipe bursted to replace the existing sewer with
a larger force main is mapped, this entire route from the San Mateo PS to the Shaw Road PS is
considered to have the potential to impact historic resources. The work pits for the pipe bursting
method also need to be specified. The method by which Colma Creek will be crossed just south of
the San Mateo PS and any needed excavations should also be specified. H&A has also not been
furnished with any information about the "new 8" graviW line" in Lowrie Avenue or the plan to
"switch laterals.., coming fi:om San Mateo.'
It is recommended that the APE for this element not be delineated until the potential impact
zones are specified. At that point additional time for detailed research into the historic substrate
under the pipeline route may be well-spent, rather than conducting such research for the more than
4/5 mile entire ronte.
Project Element 4, Shaw Road Force Main
This 2800 feet of new 42" force main route crosses filled land shown as marsh in 1939 (USGS
1939) but filled by 1958 (Map 3). The route follows Shaw Road eastward to near Highway 101, jogs
slightly to microtunnel under the freeway, then crossed private property onto Beacon Street and
across Airport Boulevard, jogs south and then runs across developed property (parldng lots and
landscaping) north of Belle Air Road and ends in the middle of that road where the road turns north.
The route basically follows the south bank of San Bruno Slough at varying distances. It has not been
definitively determined whether the fill along the route is more than 50 years old, but it seems quite
likely given the degree of work in the area during and immediately after World War II. Elevation
along the route ranges fi:om about five to about I 1 feet. Trenching (pipe bursting is not possible; this
is a new pipeline route) for a new 42" force main, with six feet of cover and one foot of base will
reach about 10½ feet deep, so it may encounter historic surfaces onto which fill was placed; such a
trench will need to be 60" wide. Presumably a sizeable excavation will be needed on each side of
Highway 101 to accommodate the equipment to microtunnel a 54" steel casing 25 feet under the
freeway.
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The APE for Element 4 may be defined as the pipeline mute, approximately five to six feet wide,
plus the undefined needs for the tunneling equipment near the freeway.
Project Element 6, Airport Boulevard Sewer
As noted, the Airport Boulevard Sewer will be exceptionally deep, on the order of 15 feet below
the current snqace. The mute runs on Airport west of Highway 101 between Chapman and Armour
Avenues, a Listance of about 1100 feet. The available descriptions of this element are too vague to
define an APE or assess potential impacts: "..upslzing an existing 8" sewer line .... Alternatives to be
evaluated wL! include constructing a new parallel sewer main adjacent to the existing lhle or upsizing
the existing 2ine by pipe bursting" (3/19 document). A parallel line would be considered to have
potential impacts; pipe bursting might not or would have a much smaller APE. As discussed above,
a parallel line would need to be chosen and the route, delineated before an APE can be deflnec[
Project Element 7. W'mston Manor Sewer
This is the single northwesterly Project'Element, involving rehabilitation of 280-290 feet of
existing 6" sewer. "Various forms oftrenchless methods will be evaluated to replace this line" (3/19
document). Ifa trenchless method is chosen, locations of work pits and any connection pits would
need to be defined before the APE can be drawn and potential impacts can be evaluated.
[The following are "East of 101" Project Elements; descriptions from the May 7~ docum~t and
Figure 5.1 are used, but the numbering system ofthe 3/19 document is retained.]
Proiec: Element 10. Pump Station No. 2 Force Main
This element involves placing a new 10" force main parallel to the existing 10" line along
Gateway Boulevard. Examination of field conditions and historic maps (USGS 1897, 1915, 1939,
1968, 1980, 1993; Mark Group 1988) and 1940s aerial photographs show that this force main mute
follows a road cut up the hill from the pump station near Oyster Point Boulevard. The original
contours were reconfigured several times along what is now Gateway Boulevard as recently as the
early 1990s as railroad spurs were installed, moved, and removed. Documents in the City
Engineering Department also indicate thLq portion of Gateway Boulevard was regraded several times
in the last 30 years. This element is considered to have no potential to impact historic properties.
Project Element 12. Pump Station No. 4 Force Main
This proposed new 21" force main to parallel an existing 21" force main between Pump Station
4, north o f Co lma Creek, and the W QCP on the south bank o f the creek. This route fo llows a former
railbed from the back of PS 4 to and across Littlefield Avenue, then leaves the former railbed south
of Littlefie;d to cross Colma Creek to the WQCP. South of Littlefield, the route crosses fill placed
in 1958 (Map 3) and therefore less than 50 years old; that portion of the route need not be further
considered for potential to affect historic properties. North of Littlefield the route appears to be in
historic fill over 50 years old.
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Elevation of this and other East of 101 pipeline elements are from the January 2002 Towill
survey map and d~t~ sheet. Street (manhole rim) elevation outside PS 4 is 7.01 feet; the existing
force main invert is at about -5.8 feet, so the sewer line runs approximately 12.8 feet below the street
level At the south end at Littlefield Avenue, street elevation is 10.02 feet; the existing main invert
is at -2.25 feet, so here too the main runs over 12 feet below the surface. Twelve feet below current
surface is probably w~thin historic fill, since the entire area has subsided two or three feet (or more)
since filling began, but could encounter old surfaces or any previous filled over high spots. This
portion of Element 12 appears to have to potential to i .mpact historic properties.
Because this element involves a new force main paralleling an existing one, the ~oute has not
been mapped, but could be fi-om four to about 10 feet away, on either side ofthe existing main. The
proposed depth of the new force main is also not specified. It is recommended that when the route
and depth of this element is specified, the APE be delineated and more focused research on the
historic substrate be completed.
Project Element 15, Pump Station No. 8 Force Main
This Project Element consists of a new 10" force main that will parallel an existing 21" main
along Forbes Boulevard fi-om PS 8 to Allerton Avenue. Although this route curves around the north
side of the hill on Point San Pedro, and was therefore dry land very near the Bay and marshland in
aboriginal times (USGS 1897, 1915), historic maps and ph6tos and more recent information indicate
that this entire stretch of Forbes Boulevard is all within either fill material or cuts into the hilhide less
than 50 years old. History of land alterations along this route indicates that the proposed parallel
force main will not encounter prehistoric or historic archaeological materials over 50 years old.
Historic maps do indicate that as early as 1897 a road curved around the south side of the Point,
and by 1915 there were small buildings on the west slope ofthe hill~ but by 1939 the hill.qides were
furnishing fill materials to raise the area between Point San Bruno and Oyster Point, smoothing the
contours. Plans in the City Engineering archives for the late 1960s"Cabot, Cabot & Forbes IndusUial
Park Units 2 and 2A" development indicate that the part of Forbes near Allerton Avenue and Allerton
southward fi-om Forbes to East Grand Avenue were placed in fill cut offthe east side of the Point San
Bruno hill and brought from the other high spots to the northwest, further smoothing the contours
(Wilsey & Ham 1967, 1969). The route ofeasternForbes Boulevard in the early 1960s is at least 20
feet lower than in 1939 (Wilsey, Ham & Blair 1964), as the bilhide was cut to raise areas below to
the north, continuing a process of filling mamhland and a small lagoon shown on the 1897 map but
not on the 1915 map. Following the Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Industrial Park construction ofthe late
1960s, the road is once again higher than in 1939. Profiles for 1969, aRer construction in 1967-68,
show the then-existing 10" force main under six to 9~A feet of fill, which had been placed on a zone
previously excavated for fill_
Project Element 17. the Oyster Point Boulevard Trunk Sewer
This Element proposes replacement of an existing pipelines with larger lines (18" for 12"; 15"
for 10" and 12"; 121" for 8") running fi-om 240 feet south of Oyster Point Boulevard (OPB) on
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Eccles Avenue north to OPB, then westward to Gateway Boulevard and south on Gateway a short
way to Pum~ Station 2. Much of this route is clearly or very probably in fill (or cuts and fall) less than
50 years old, but the land alteration history in this location is very complex; it appears that the
western end of this route may be in fall less than 50 years old and shallow enough that trenching could
encounter historic or natural land surfaces. This locations is especially sensitive for archaeological
resources, both prehistoric and historic; it was the edge ofthe Bay margin marshlands, with a small
lagoon near' ~y, and the probable location of a late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century Chinese fishing
camp. Early fill over any of these archaeological manifestations would likely have lei~ intact deposits
below.
Note t ~e following discussion addresses only the proposed route of this Element-i.e., OPB east
of Gateway and west of Eccles, not the more westerly part of OPB. The Mark Group 1988 map is
not eluciclat:_ve for this Element because it doesn't show fill activity along Butler Road/Oyster Point
Boulevard. Comparing the 1897 map with the 1915 map shows filling and curing had been taking
place in this general area prior to 1915, when a road and railroad spur show in the general location
of OPB, with the road at an elevation of about 25 feet, but dipping to below 25 feet at the western
end, and the railbed at about 50 feet. The 1939, 1968, 1980, and 1993 USGS topographic maps
show the same elevations for Butler near Gateway, with the eastern end near Eccles at about 60 feet.
By 1939, "Butler Road," later OPB, runs in the same location as the current road (USGS 1939),
as clearly shown in 1943 and 1946 aerial photographs (National Archives), still at or above 25 feet
elevation except at the western end near (what would become) Gateway and rising to the east. Plans
to improve Butler Road during World War II (Klassen 1942) show that up to four feet of fill will be
placed on the road, west of and just past Gateway, until it begins to climb the hill at the east. In 1957,
plans for improvements to Butler Road east of Gateway show cuts and fill ranging from two to eight
feet (Anonymous 1957), and for"lower" Butler show fill and cuts ranging from five to eight feet west
of Gateway (DPW 1957). West of Gateway, additional fills were added to Butler Road in 1963
(Anonymous 1963). Also in 1963, the City proposed improvements to Butler Road east of Gateway,
with fill from six inches to five feet plus (DPW 1963). Just east of Eccles, cuts up to eight feet and
fill over 10 fi~'et deep show that the City was planning to smooth out the contours on the road in the
mid-1960s (Wiisey, Ham 8: Blair 1964, 1965). What became part of Gateway Boulevard near PS
2 and OPB in both directions had railroad spurs removed and was regraded in 1965, removing
previously placed fill, cutting into previous fill and/or native ground to an undetectable degree
(Survey Cor_stmction Staking Company 1964).
All in a_l, though the picture is very complex due to purposeful alterations to the landscape and
contours for a century, it appears that the lower western portion of the route of Element 17, from the
intersection of Oyster Point with Gateway Boulevard, rema~ near the elevations established early
in the twentieth century. While undoubtedly altered too, this short stretch, from Gateway east to
Veterans, is close enough to the original and early historic contours to have a potential to encounter
historic fill more than 50 years old, historic surfaces, or the natural pre-alteration surface. It is
recomamnded that once the technique and route for this work is clearly established, testing of
subsurface s ram will be appropriate.
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Project Element 18~ the Allerton Avenue Trunk Sewer
This proposed element is the replacement of the existing 15" sewer with a new 18" line along
Allerton Avenue fi.om Forbes Boulevard to East Grand Avenue, and along East Grand from Allerton
to Littlefield Avenue. As noted for Element 15, historic maps and construction documents show this
entire stretch to be in fill less than 50 years old, or running in cuts through the native soil on the east
hill.~ide of Point San Bruno. The northerly half of this route is lower than in 1915 or 1939; the
southerly haft is higher. Allerton rises fi.om about 16 feet elevation at East Grand to about 40 feet
at Forbes, showing the north part had been cut into the bill.~ide and the south part filled. The 1988
Mark Group map shows the intersection of Allerton and East Grand at the edge of or just partly
within fill placed in 1958. East Grand to the wost was graded into the hillside as well, and the fill
placed to the soutlx
This element is considered to not have potential to encounter poss~le historic properties.
Project Element 19. the East Grand Avenue Trunk Sewer
This element proposes to replace existing sewer lines along East Grand Avenue fi.om Allerton
Avenue at the east to Harbor Way on the west (27" to replace 18"; 24" for 18/15"; 21" for 15"). The
route crosses several different types and ages of fill and presents a complex picture. The intersection
of Allerton and East Grand is at the edge of or partially, within 1958 fill (Map 3). From that
intersection to the west, about halfway to Roebling Road, East Grand runs in an area cut into the
original contours and the fill pushed to the south prior in 1958; this portion ofthe road was later filled
again. From about halfway betweenAllerton and Roebling to near Roebling, East Grand sits on 1958
fill depicted in the Mark Group map (1988). West of this point, East Grand sits on deep pre-1958
fill. Soil logs taken in 1974 at Roebling and East Grand show 19 feet of fill near the intersection and
12 feet of fill a little farther away (Keller & Gannon 1974). West of Roebling pre-1958 fill continues
to Harbor Way.
This element bas potential to encounter historic properties in the entire section fi.om Harbor
Wayto 150 feet east of Roebling Road, where the existing 18" pipe will be replaced with 27" pipe,
/fthe replacement is done by trenching. If pipe bursting is used, only the work and connection pits
would poss~ly encounter historic properties. It is recommended that once the replacement technique
is chosen, the APE be designated and a testing plan for historic properties designed.
Project Element 20. the DNA Way Subtrunk
This element is to replace existing 8" line with 10" and existing 10" with 12" along easternmost
Forbes Boulevard east of Pump Station 8 and a short stretch on DNA Way south ofthe east end of
Forbes. This entire element is within post 1958 fill (Map 3) and elevations of existing pipelines
indicate the replacements will not penetrate the recent fill, which is more than 15 feet thick (Towill
2002). This element therefore has no potential to impact historic properties.
Project Element 23. the Swit~ Subtrunk
This element proposes to replace failing 15" pipeline with new pipe ofthe same size along Swill
Avenue from Pump Station 3 eastward to the end of the street. This entire element is within post
1958 fill (Map_ 3) and elevations of existing pipelines (Towil12002) indicate the replacements will not
penetrate the recent fill; which is more than 15 feet thick. This element therefore has no potential to
~ historic properties.
Project Element 24, the Littlefield (South) Subtrunk
Elemen: 24 is the replacement of 8" and 10" pipes with pipes of the same size along an
approximately 2400 foot stretch of southern Littlefield Avenue east of Pump Station 7. This area is
pre-1958 fill over Bay muds (Map 3). No documents were found that gave more detail about this
fill than the 1988 map, but based on other locations within the pre- 1958 fill.q, it is likely the area was
filled in more than one episode. Plans were made to fill this area as early as 1915 (see Appendix C,
Figure XX), but the 1939 map shows the area still to be mudflats and marshland (USGS 1939).
Elevation at the northeast end of this route is about 7.18 feet and at PS 7 about 10 feet (Towil12002),
so it is likely this area contains at least 15 feet offlll~ perhaps 20 feet. Invert structures at those same
two locations are at about 6¼ and nine feet below surface respectively, so if the replacement pipes
are placed at the same elevations, former marshlands or mudflats will not be encountered. If the
existing trenches are re-excavated to replace the pipes, there will be no impacts to previously
undisturbed kistoric fill or surfaces, with the exception of connection and work pits, if any.
This element is considered to have some potential to encounter historic properties unless only
the pre-existiag trench is subject to impacts. Once the exact dimensions of planned excavations are
known so the APE can be defined, additional research into the history and nature of"pre-1958 fill"
in this location may also be fiafiffuL
Project .~lement 26. the Harbor Way Subtnmk
"This in:provement consists ofreplaciag the e~fisting 8-inch sewer along Harbor Way with a new
10-inch pipe from Utah Avenue to approximately 80 feet north'of Mitchell Avenue" (May 7~
document), a distance of about 1000 feet. The north end lsat Pump Station 4. This pipeline route
is entirely within pre-1958 fill over Bay muds (Map 3). Again, no documents were found that gave
more detail about the age of this fill than the 1988 map, but based on other locations within the pre-
1958 fill.q, it is likely the area was filled in more than one episode.
Documents in the City Engineering Department dated January 1958 indicate the then-existing
sewer lines along Harbor Way from East Grand to East Harris Street (north ofthis Element) ranging
in elevation from zero to eight feet in "fill" and that fill is all about elevation zero (W'flsey & Ham
1958). At PS 4, modification work was done in 1961, with soils studies indicating "stable fill
material" to a depth of elevation-1.7 feet, where the PS site elevation ranged fi.om nine to 12 feet,
so the identified fill was at least 10.7 to 13.7 feet thick, and getting thicker with a lower elevation
base heading south (Kirker 1961a). In 1988, sewers along Harbor Way in the Element vicinity are
-35-
shown at elevation zero to minus five feet (Reimer Associates 1988). So, in 1958 sewer lines ran
between eight feet and zero elevation and by 1988 from zero to minus five feet elevation, perhaps
reflecting the fill losing elevation as the Bay muds below compresses (this is only a rough comparison
because information is not fi.om the same locations). Conversely, the 2002 Towill survey of sewers
along Harbor Way show an invert elevation of 2.27 feet at Utah Avenue and Harbor, and -5.79 feet
at Mitchell Avenue on the 8" line proposed for replacement. So, the question of whether the
proposed replacement lines will be all in historic fill or might penetrate subfill historic or natural
surfaces depends on the elevation the new lines will be placed at.
Because this Element proposes to replace a pipeline with a larger line, requiring a lar~er trench,
it has potential to impact historic resources. The. depth at which the new line will be placed is
important and any work or connection excavations will also need to be specified to define the exact
APE. Additional research into the history and nature of"pre-1958 fill" in this location may also be
productive in assessing potential impacts.
Project Element 27. the Executive Subtrunk
This proposed improvement is the replacement of a failing 18" pipeline with a smaller 15" line
along a stretch of Executive Drive northward from East Grand Avenue. The 3/19 description ofthis
Element has been superceded by the May 7~ document to only include about 800 feet of pipeline
replacement along Executive. The southern end of this route is in pre-1958 fill outside the 1871
shoreline (in the former Bay) (Map 3); within about 200 feet, terrain that was dry land in mid-
nineteenth century is reached and contains the rest of the Element.
This element is generally considered to have no potemial to encounter historic properties
because a larger pipe is being replaced with a smaller one, except where any needed work or
connection pits may be placed. If the existing line is abandoned in place and the new one placed
above it, the larger portion of the route will not impact potential historic properties. If the new line
is "sleeved" within the existing larger line, only the work/connection pits would have potential
impacts. If a different route is adopted to replace the existing line, this Element would cross zones
archaeologically sensitive for both prehistoric and historic resources. The construction technique and
location of the line is pivotal in defining the APE for this element.
Project Element 28. the Littlefield (North) Subtrunk
This ks a proposed replacement of an existing 8" line with a new line of the same size in the
vicinity of Lawrence Avenue. As a replacement in the same trench with the same size pipe, potential
impacts are limited to work and/or connection pits along the line, as long as the same route and depth
(or shallower) are ufflized. Construction details and current data indicate that even work and/or
connection pits will not penetrate to fill over 50 years old, so this element is considered to have no
potential to effect historic properties.
The northern portion of this route, approximately from Lawrence north, is in post- 1958 fill and
is not sensitive for historic properties. Documents from 1961 contain profiles showing the exlx~ted
-36-
"30 year grade" at the bottom of recent fall on thi.q northern portion, showing how much settlement
may be caused by the fill surcharge (Kirker 1961). From Lawrence Avenue south, another document
shows the "original ground 1956" under the "1961 fill;" the 1956 surface, which according to the
Mark Grocp map must be interpreted as fall also, is shown as five to 14 feet below the 1961 fill,
getting deeoer farther south (DPW 1969). Invert dam for the mute south of Lawrence show the
existing line at 4.8 to 5.6 feet below current street level, also getting deeper moving south (Towill
2002). The 196 i top o f 1956 fill data and 2002 invert depth data indicate that replacing this pipeline
at the same depth will not penetrate even into the 1956 fill
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Section 106 compliance research for a project having 28 separate Project Elements is necessarily
complex, detailed, and lengthy. Section 106 compliance procedures for the South San Francisco Wet
Weather Program Project are yet in an early stage. This report is the beginning of that process, but
considerab2e progress has been made. Every Project Element is appropriately evaluated for possible
effects to b2storic properties. Every Project Element is located in an archaeologically sensitive zone,
for prehistoric sites, historic resources, or both. Nevertheless, research and impact assessments
completed to date have shown that 16 of the 28 Project Elements can be assessed as having no
potential to effect historic properties as defined by Section 106, lack of design and/or construction
techniques notwithstanding. Essentially, for many Project Elements the exact APE and construction
impacts wLl not matter because the work is located where there will not be historic properties to be
impacted. Another eight Elements have been assessed as having possible effects, depending on exact
design and construction techniques adopted. Four Project Elements are seen as having definite
potential to impact historic properties, but even these are not yet fully assessed because exact
constructien impacts have not been made specific. These assessments may still change when more
exact APEs can be defined.
The r_ext step for Section 106 work, identification of potential historic properties, can now
proceed for several of the Phase 1 Elements and is not deemed necessary for others. This step, it is
proposed, can be eliminated for the 16 Elements in areas where historic properties will not be
potentially encountered under current design parameters. For those Project Elements where effects
on historic properties is possible, it is recommended that potential impacts be reexamined in detail
when design is complete and construction techniques are known. In fact, when complete design
details and proposed construction techniques are available, it i~ recommended that all 28 Project
Elements I~e reexamined. For many Elements, this will simply mean confirmation of what is already
known (for instance, that the Pump Station upgrades will not require excavations other than those
discussed ~.bove as planned or poss~le).
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Moratto, M.J.
1984 California Archaeology. Academic Press, New York.
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2000 Draft Supplemental Environmemal Impact Report, Bay West Commercial Project (Formerly
Shearwater Project). Report prepared for and on file with the City of South San Francisco.
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2000a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, Bay ggest Commercial Project (Formerly Shearwater
Project), Final Response to Comments. Report prepared for and on file with the City of South San
Frandsco.
National Archives
1943 Aerial Photograph: CAN 10356, DDB-2B- 133, dated 10-11-43. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
1946 Aerial Photograph: CAN 10356, 2-24 GS-CP, dated 7-29-46. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Nelson, N.C.
1909
Shellmounds of the San Francisco Bay Region. University of California Publicatio. ns in American
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Nichols, D., and N. Wright
1971 Preliminary Map of Historic Margins of Marshlands, San Francisco Bay, California. United States
Geological Survey Open File Map. Map on file at USGS Western Map Center, Menlo Park, CA.
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1990 Draft Environmental Impact Report, Oyster Point Interchange and Grade Separation, South San
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1990a Final Environmental Impact Report, Oyster Point Interchange and Grade Separation, South San
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Rice, C.
1994
1994a
1994b
1995
BART-San Francisco Airport Extension Project Dra~ Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental
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BART-San Francisco Airport Extension Project Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental
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Roop, W.
1976
[letter report re] Belle Air lsland Property. Report on file, Northwest Information Center, California
Historical Resources Information System, Sonoma State University;, File No. 03175.
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1994 BART-San Francisco Airport Extension Project, Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental
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1994a BART-San Francisco .4irport Extension Project, Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental
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1994
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2002
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1899
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1947
1968
1980
1993
Geological Survey San Mateo, California 15 minute topographic quadrangle.
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Dated July 1967. Archives oftheDepartment ofEngineering, CityofSouth San Francisco, Document
D54-5317.
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1969 Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Industrial Park Unit 2, South San Francisco, San Mateo County, California:
Improvement Plans; Sheet 2. Dated May 1969. Archives of the Department of Engineering, City of
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1964 Butler Road Extension, South San Francisco, California.
1965
Witter, R. C.
2001
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Department of Engineering, City of Sonth San Francisco, Document D10-944.
Oyster Point Road Intersection. Dated May 1965. Archives ofthe Department of Engineering~ City
of South San Francisco, Document D10-945.
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California. Report prepared for Department of Housing and Community Services, City of South San
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APP~.NmX A
Carollo Engineers 3/19/02 and May 7~ 2002 Project Descriptions and Maps
City of South San Francisco
Proposed facilities WWP Phases 1-4
ID Proposed
No. Facility
I San M&teo Pump Station
2 San Mateo Fome Main
3 Shaw Road Pump Station
4 Shaw Road Force Main
5 Effluen: Storage Pond
6 Airport Blvd. Sewer
7 Winsto3 Manor Sewer
8 Colma Creel Bank Restoration
9 Pump Station No. 2
10 Pump Station No. 2 Force Main
11 Pump Station No. 4
12 Pump Station No. 4 Force Main
13 Pump Station No. 7
14 Pump Station No. 8
15 Pump Station No. 8 Force Main
Description
Upgrade existing pump station by converting dry well to wet well and
adding new pumps. New electrical and control building will be
constructed.
Construct approximately 4, 400' of new 36" force main between the
San Mateo pump station and the Shaw Road pump station. One half
of the installation will be done by pipe bursting an existing 27'
sanitary sewer line, the other half will be installed by a conventional
trenching method. Force main includes a crossing of Colma Creek
that will be constructed by the County in conjunction With the Creek
channelizatiqn project.
A new pump station will be constructed on the site of the existing
pump station. Once construction is complete, the existing pump
station will be demolished.
Construct approximately 2,800' of new 42' force main between the
Shaw Road pump station and the WOCP. Installation will include a
microtunneling crossing of Highway 101 via a proposed 54' steel
casing.
A new effluent storage pond will be constructe~J on the WQCP
proPerty. The area in the past has been used as sludge drying beds.
A portion of the area is currently being used by the WQCP expansion
project contractor. Th~ completed pond will consist of an earthen
reservoir (approximately 3.0 MG) with a plastic liner. A pump station
will be constructed adjacent to the pond to both fill and drain the
reservoir.
This project involves the upsizing of an existing 8" sewer line in
Airport Blvd. between Chapman and Armour. Alternatives to be
evaluated will include constructing a new parallel sewer main
adjacent to the existing line or upsizing the existing line by pipe
bursting.
Rehabilitate an existing 6" sewer main that has been damaged by
root intrusion and settlement. Various forms of trenchless methods
will be evaluated to replace this line. The line begins in the
intersection of Hickey Blvd. and Camadtas Ave and continues
northeast to a manhole just west of El Camino Real.
This project consists of adding creek bank protection on the south
side of Colma Creek at the WQCP. The south bank of Colma Creek
has eroded due to high velocities during wet weather flows in Colma
Creek. The erosion is threatening the WQCP facilities near the creek
bank. Bank protection is expected to include sheet piling and rip rap.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 850' of new 10" force main in Gateway Blvd
south of Oyster Point Blvd.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 2,800' of new 21" force main between
Pump station No. 4 and the WQCP.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 2,800' of new 10" force main between
Pump station No. 8 and Allerton Ave.
h:~client'~southsl'~4182g.10~Project Oescril3tions (Phases 1.4) 1 3/19/D2 4:14 PM
City of South San Francisco
Proposed facilities WWP Phases 1-4
16 Pump Station No. 10
17 Oyster Point Blvd. Trunk Sewer
18 Allerton Ave. Trunk Sewer
19 East Grand Ave. Trunk Sewer
20 DNA Way Subtrunk Sewer
21 Pump Station No. 1
22 Pump Station No. 3
23 Swift Subtrunk
24 Littlefield Subtrunk
25 Pump Station No. 6
26 Harbor Way Subtrunk
27 Executive Subtrunk
Upgrades to existing pump station.
This project consist of two new pipelines. The first line which will be
12' and approximately 900' in length begins in Eccles Avenue 240'
south of Oyster Point Blvd. and continues west in Oyster Point Blvd.
to approx. 640' west of Eccles Ave. The second line will be 15' and
approximately 1,800' in length. It will be located in Oyster Point Blvd.
and will extend from Eccles Ave. to Pump Station No. 2.
Construct approximately 2,200' of 18' pipe in Allerton Ave between
East Grand Ave. and Forbes Blvd. and approximately 600' of 18'
pipe in East Grand Ave. between Allerton Ave. and Littlefield Ave.
ConstnJct approximately 2,300' of new trunk sewer ranging in size
from 21" to 27'. The new line will be located in East Grand Ave.
between AIlerton Way and Harbor Way.
Construct approximately 200' of 10' sewer in DNA Way south of
Forbes Blvd. and 600' of 10' sewer from 300' west of DNA to 90'
east of Kaufmann.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 3,200' of 15" sewer in Swift Ave and along
the RR spur.
Construct approximately 2,400' of 8' and 10" sewer in Littlefield
Avenue.
Upgrades to existing pbmp station.
Construct approximately 1,000' of 8' sewer in Harbor Way between
Utah Ave. and 80' north of Mitchell Ave.
Construct approximately 2,100' of 15" sewer in Executive north of
East Grand Ave. and in East Grand Avenue between Executive and
Gateway.
h:~client~.~3uttlsf~182g.10~Project I:)escfiptions (Phases 1-4) 2 3/19/02 4:14 PM
stations and the Water Quality Control Plant to be exceeded. Older pump
stations have also experienced reliability problems.
Wastewater treatment is accomplished at the City's Water Quality Control Plant,
located at the easterly terminus of Belle Air road just south of Colma Creek. The
Plant also provides service for the city of San Bruno, San Francisco International
Airport and portions of other communities. The Plant has been recently
upgraded and expanded to accommodated growing employment uses in the
Plant's service area and to meet Regional Water Quality Control Board discharge
requirements.
Storm drainage: City of South San Francisco maintains a series of drainage pipes
and culverts through the City to accommodate stormwater runoff. East of the 280
freeway, storrnwater flows into Colma Creek for ultimate disposal in San
Francisco Bay.
Electrical and natural gas power: Pacific Gas and Electric Co. provides electrical
and natural gas service to the City of South San Francisco through a series of
overhead and underground electrical lines. Existing pump stations receive
electrical power from PG&E.
· Communications: Pacific Bell provides a range of telephone and
telecommunication service to homes and businesses in the community.
Projec: Impacts
a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the RWQCB? NI. The proposed project is
being undertaken to meet such discharge requirements. No impacts are therefore
ar.ticipated.
b)
Require new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities ? NI.
The proposed project does include new dry weather facilities as part of the Water
Qaality Control Plan, however, these are proposed to be constructed to comply
w'.th Regional Water Quality Control Board discharge requirements and would not
expand dry weather treatment capacity. No impacts are anticipated.
c)
Require new storm drainage facilities ? NI. Existing drainage patterns would not be
c2~anged and no new drainage facilities would be needed. No impact would
therefore result.
d)
Are sufficient water supplies available? NI. Based on infom-~ation provided in the
General Plan Existing Conditions Report, the water purveyor to the City has
indicated that an ample water supply exists to serve future land uses. In this
instance, the proposed project would not require any new source of water, so no
impact to water service is anticipated.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S:udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 62
July 2002
e)
e,f)
g)
Adequate wastewater capacity to serve the proposed project? LS. See response to "a,'
a'~ove.
Solid waste disposal? LS. Small quantities of solid waste would be generated by the
implementation of the proposed project, which would be construction debris. This
amount of solid waste is anticipated to be less-than-significant and can be
accommodated in the local sanitary landfill.
Comply with federal, state and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? NI.
The existing service provider will ensure adherence to federal, state and local solid
waste regulations should the proposed reorganization be approved. No impacts are
anticipated in this regard.
17. Mandatory Findings of Significance
a)
Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially
reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop
below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the
number of or restrict the range ora rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate
important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory ? No. The
preceding analysis indicates that the proposed project will not have a significant
adverse impact on overall environmental quality, including biological resources or
c'~ltural resources.
b)
Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable?
("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are
considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the
e_-'fects of other current projects and the effects of probable future projects). No the
proposed project involves elements to upgrade the City's sewer facilities to assist
in meeting wastewater discharge requirements. The project has been designed to
replace existing facilities and to allow limited new growth consistent with the
City's adopted General Plan, so there would be no cumulative impacts associated
with project approval.
c)
Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on
human beings, either directly or indirectly? No. No such impacts have been
discovered in the course of preparing this Initial Study.
City of South San Francisco
Initial S;udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 63
July 2002
Initial Study Preparers
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner, project manager
Miley Holman, Holman Associates, archeology
Matthew Clark, Holman Associates, archeology
H. Bill Sugaya, Carey & Co, architectural history
Connor Turnbull, Carey & Co., architectural history
Phillip Smith, Treadwell & Rollo, hazardous materials
Donald Ballanti, air quality
James Martin, Environments Collaborative, biology
lane Maxwell, report graphics
Agencies and Organizations Consulted
The following agencies and organizations were contacted in the course of this Initial
Study:
City of South San Francisco
Barbara Hawkins, P.E., City Engineer
Ramesh Bhagat, P.E., project engineer
Michael Lappen, Senior Planner
Carollo Engineer (design engineer)
Michael Britten, P.E., Principal-in-Charge
David Antonson, P.E., Project Manager
Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Leslie Lackos
References
South San Francisco General Plan: Existing Conditions and Planning Issues,
Dyett & Bhatia, 1997
South San Francisco General Plan, Dyett & Bhatia, 1999
South San Francisco General Plan EIR. EIP Associates, 1999
City of South San Francisco
Initial S;udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 64
July 2002
City of South San Francisco
Initial Study/Sewer Improvement Program
Archeological Resources Evaluation
Appendix 2
(Holman & Associates)
Page 66
July 2002
Appendix 1
Biological Reconnaissance Studies
-Colma Creek Bank Stabilization (LSA Associates
-Wet Weather Pond (Environmental Collaborative)
City of South San Francisco
Initial St Jdy/Sewer Improvement Program
Page 65
July 2002
II
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SCALE IN FEET
Note: See attached Table 1 for
description of proposed
improvements.
engineers
Figure 2
WET WEATHER PROGRAM PHASES 1-4
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
MARCH 2O02
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
SSF302F2-4182.CDR
PRC POSED IMPROVEMENTS
The improvements discussed in this section are needed to mitigate existing system
capacity deficiencies and to provide additional capacity for anticipated future users. The
identified improvements have been assigned a number that is cross-referenced to Figure
5.1.
· Improvement I - Pump Station No. 1
P amp Station No. 1 requires the replacement of two existing centrifugal pumps with dry
well submersible pumps. The pump. station also needs variable speed controls and a
standby generator.
· Improvement 2 - Pump Station No. 2
T ~e hydraulic capacity analysis indicates the existing pumps need to be replaced with
larger pumps to handle anticipated future flows. Other station improvements include
provisions for variable speed controls for the pumps and a standby generator.
· Improvement 3 - Pump Station No. 3
P amp Station No. 3 requires the replacement of the existing centrifugal pumps with dry
well submersible pumps and the installation of variable speed controls for the pumps.
Other needed station improvements include: ,the installation of a standby generator, the
irstallation of a crane/davit for pump and equipment removal, raising the vent stack,
reconstructing the driveway retaining wall, and upgrading the electrical service.
Inprovement 4 - Pump Station No. 4
T ~e hydraulic capacity analysis indicates the two existing pumps should be replaced
a3d two new pumps be added to the station to handle the future firm capacity of 9,000
g3m. Other station improvements include: installation of variable speed controls for the
p amps, provision of a standby generator, installation of crane/davit for pump and
equipment removal, construction of a channel monster grinder at the influent channel to
the pump station, and an electrical service upgrade.
Improvement 5 - Pump Station No. 6
Pump Station No. 6 requires a new motor control center and other miscellaneous
required improvements. The pump station has settled approximately 2 feet from the
original construction and may require a new pump station structure.
· Improvement 6 - Pump Station No. 7
At buildout conditions, flows tributary to Pump Station No. 7 increase significantly
requiring the replacement of the existing pumps with larger capacity pumps. Other
improvements include the provision of a new motor control center and the installation of
In emergency generator.
· I ~provement 7 - Pump Station No. 8
The capacity analysis indicates that this pump station is deficient and requires a
capacity upgrade to handle anticipated future flows. The pump firm capacity needs to
be upgraded by replacing the two existing pumps with three new pumps. Other needed
improvements include the addition of variable speed controls for the pumps and the
i~stallation of an emergency generator.
May 7, 2002
C:\Wll~ DOWS~,TEMP~SF-Improvements.doc
· .Improvement 8 - Pump Station No. 10
To mitigate the hydraulic deficiency at Pump Station No. 10, the two existing pumps
need to be replaced with two new pumps designed to handle future flows. Other
needed improvements include upgrading the dry well entrance and the addition of an
emergency generator.
· Improvement 9 - Force Main Pump Station No. 2
This improvement consists of a new 10-inch force main paralleling the existing 10-inch
force main along Gateway Boulevard.
· Improvement 10 - Force Main Pump Station No. 4 '
This improvement consists of a new 21-inch force main that parallels the existing
21-inch force main between Pump Station No. 4 and the South San Francisco San
Bruno Water Quality Control Plant.
· Improvement 11 - Force Main Pump Station No. 8
This improvement consists of a new 1 O-inch force main that parallels the existing 10-
inch main along Forbes Boulevard, between Pump Station No. 8 and Allerton Ave.
· Improvement 12 - Oyster Point Subtrunk
The Oyster Point Trunk begins approximately 240 feet south of Oyster Point Boulevard
on Eccles Avenue and continues westward to Pump Station No. 2. This improvement
consists of a new 18-inch pipe to replace the*existing 12-inch sewer that continues on
Gateway Boulevard from Pump Station No. 2. The portion that continues eastward
along Oyster Point Boulevard from Gateway Boulevard consists of a new 15-inch pipe
that replaces the existing 1 O-inch and 12-inch sewer. A new 12-inch pipe is needed to
replace the existing 880 feet of 8-inch pipe, which continues along Oyster Point
Boulevard and then jogs southerly along Eccles Avenue.
· Improvement 13-Allerton Subtrunk
The capacity analysis indicates that future flows will exceed the capacity of this trunk
sewer. A new 18-inch pipe is needed to replace the existing 15-inch sewer along
Allerton Way and East Grand Avenue to Littlefield Avenue.
· Improvement 14- East Grand Trunk
This improvement for the East Grand Trunk consists of a new 27-inch pipe to replace
the existing 18-inch along East Grand Avenue to 150 feet east of Roebling Ave. The
portion that continues southeast along East Grand consists of a new 24-inch pipe to
replace the existing 18-inch, then 15-inch to Littlefield Avenue. Finally, a new 21-inch
pipe along East Grand Avenue, from Littlefield Avenue to Allerton Way (parallel to the
downstream portion of the Allerton Trunk), is needed to replace the existing 15-inch
pipe.
· Improvement 15- Forbes - DNA Subtrunk
The existing 10-inch pipe along Forbes Boulevard from Kaufmann Court to 300 feet
west of DNA Way needs to be replaced with a new 12-inch sewer. The smaller reach
along DNA Way, from the Southern Pacific Railroad alignment to 530 feet north of
Grandview Drive, consists of a new 1 O-inch pipe to replace the existing 8-inch.
· Improvement 16- Swift Subtrunk
May 7, 2002
C:\WIN DOWS\TEMl:ASSF-Improvements.doc
2
Amicipated future flows will require the replacement of this existing 15-inch trunk sewer
along Swift Avenue· Poor soil conditions along the alignment of this sewer have caused
sags along the Swift Subtrunk, resulting with a reduced capacity. This trunk currently
handles existing flows, but requires replacement when additional users are added. The
pm posed improvement consists of a new 15-inch pipe to replace the existing 15-inch
sewer terminating at Pump Station No. 3.
· Im ~rovement 17 - Littlefield North Subtrunk
Th's improvement consists of a new 8-inch pipe to replace the existing 8-inch pipe
wh'ch is experiencing settlement along Littlefield Avenue, west of Pump Station No. 3.
· Im 3rovement 18 - Littlefield South Subtrunk
Th's improvement consists of a new 10-inch then an 8-inch pipe to replace the existing
10- and 8-inch pipes, respectively. It is reported that portions of the subtrunk sags,
possibly the result of poor soil conditions.
· Im 3rovement 19 - Executive Subtrunk
As a result of root intrusion, the existing 18-inch pipe along Executive Drive needs to be
replaced. The analysis indicates that new pipe size can be reduced to 15-inches in
di;.meter.
· Im 3rovement 20 - Harbor Way Subtrunk
Th's improvement consists of replacing the existing 8-inch sewer along Harbor Way
with a new 10-inch pipe from Utah Avenue to approximately 80 feet north of Mitchell
Avenue.
3
May 7, 2002
C:\WlNDOWS\TEMP~SF-Improvements.doc
N.T.S. (~
LEGEND
STUDY AREA BOUNDARY
"-"MODELED SEWER PiPE & SIZE
E ,,..:
EXISTING PUMP STATION & NUMBER :~ PS5
PROPOSED SEWER PIPE
IMPROVEMENT & SIZE
PROPOSED FORCE MAIN IMPROVEMENT
PROPOSED PUMP STATION UPGRADE
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT NUMBER
SEE TABLE 6.2 FOR DETAILS
· 8" :15"
27'
FIGURE 5.1
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
F..A~T OF HIGHWAY 101
SEWER SYSTEM MASTER PLAN
APP~NI)IX B
Carollo Engineers Project Phase 1 Plan Drawings
South San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project
by
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Historical Archaeologist
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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO WET WEATHER PROGRAM PHASE
L0WRIE AVENUE FORCE MAIN
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JOB NO.
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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO WET WEATHER PROGRAM PHASE 1 VERIFY SCALES
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PLANS AND SECTIONS ~ ~==o~.,
JOB NO.
4182010
DRAWING NO.
X OF XXX
South San Francisco Wet Weather Program Project
Repo~ prepared by: Christopher M. Lee
For:
Holman & Associates
Archaeological Consultants
3615 Foisom Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
South San Francisco
The history and development of South San Francisco is, like most other cities in the Bay
Area, linked to the activities of San Francisco to the immediate north. Sometimes
referred to as "South City," and with the self-tiffed nickname '°the Industrial City," South
San Fra.-~cisco has long been the home of hardworking people who exhibit pride in their
city. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this project is mostly contained within the
peninsu'_a on which are located San Bruno Point and Oyster Point where the majority of
the historic and current industries of the city have been located. ,
As demonstrated in later times, cattle were'long a part of the economy of the region now
known as South San Francisco. As early as the 1790s the Presidio of San Francisco and
Mission Dolores (also in San Francisco) came into competition with each other for space
to graze their respective herds of cattle, sheep, and mules. For a time it seemed the
Franciscan padres had won the fight to consolidate both herds under the church, but after
five years of State dependence on the Mission, then Governor Diego Bodca re-
established the Rancho del Rey (the King's Ranch) at San Francisco (Stanger 1963:25).
Cattle grazing land was already in the process of moving down the San Francisco
Peninsula so Governor Borica declared that the region known as Buri' Burl would be used
by the Presidio for its pastureland (Stanger 1963:26). The padres did not end their
arguments. The Franciscans pointed out that sint:e the land legally belonged to the
natives, government (military) control would prejudice the natives' rights. The fact that
the Mission served as guardian to the natives their possessions likely influenced this
argument. While the padres took their argument to the head of their order in Mexico the
army appealed to the Viceroy, who ultimately had the final word in the matter. This turf
war did not end uritil, under the Republic of Mexico, all enterprises of the Church and of
the Sta:e were consolidated into private ventures. Thus began the distribution of land
grants to individuals (Dwinelle 1978:60; Stanger 1963:26).
Jose Antonio Sanchez was the beneficiary of one such grant in 1835 (Hynding 1982:102;
Stanger 1963:35). On November 5 of that year he received title to the Rancho Buri Bud
(Figure 1). A former soldier of the Presidio of San Francisco he now found himself in
possession of the very tract of land that had been such a point of contention between the
Church and State. As was the custom at the time, the land was surveyed by a group of
people who had an interest in the boundaries. A haphazard survey ensued with Sanchez's
son-in-aw serving as the impartial witness (Stanger 1963:36). Years later their methods
were called into question when the boundaries of Buri Buri were disputed as infringing
on lancs, previously granted to natives. Then Governor Gutierrez ordered a new survey
(Dwinelle 1978:60). Even still, due to laziness on the part of the surveyors, the United
States government later called all of the survivors of the survey party into court to attest
to the methods. It was determined that at the very beginning of the survey the northern
border of Buri Buri should have gone almost straight up the steepest hill of the San Bruno
Mountains. Instead of climbing it they circumvented the hill and estimated the boundary
line. This, of course, did not satisfy the U.S. court and Buri BUd was redrawn following
their p~.th around the hill instead of over it (Stanger 1968:37). Nevertheless, Rancho Buri
Buri covered nearly 15,000 acres. When Sanchez died in 1843 he left the land to his wife
2
and ten children who lost it all through sale or debt within 25 years CKaufC, uuan 1976:1;
Stanger 1968:47).
In 1853, Alfred Edmonson purchased 1,500 acres of the former Rancho from Jose
Sanchez's son, Isidrio Sanchez, for $10,000 and in turn sold the land to Charles Lux in
1856 for $18,000 (Hynding 1982:102; Kanfrman 1976:1). A small fanning community
was developing along Colma Creek and became known .as Baden. Lux built his
"mansion" along the east bank of the creek. The surrounding land consisted of small
dairies, vegetable farms, and flower fields (mostly violets). Colma Creek, then called
San Bruno Slough, was a tidal slough that affected the area as far inland'as Baden
(currently the residential area of South S~an Francisco), which allowed farmers to build
piers to get their goods onto boats during high tide.
Charles Lux formed a parmership with another cattlenma, Henry Miller, in 1858. Their
enterprise evolved into the largest livestock company on the West Coast in the nineteenth
century (Hynding 1982:102). By the time Charles Lux died in 1887 the company owned
over 700,000 cattle in Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon as well as 80,000 in California.
Their ranches were connected via private telegraph lines and in 1897 the corporation's
land and cattle holdings were merged with the resulting corporation valued at $12 million
(Kanffman 1976:2).
The death of Charles Lux proved to be a time of transition for northern San Mateo
County. His land was sold in 1888 just when Gustavus Swift arrived in the area from
Chicago. Swift was a well-established member of a meat packing cartel informally
referred to as the "Beef Trust" (Svanevik 1987). He had increased the profitability of
meat packing by introducing refrigerated raikoad cars to the business. He could now
deliver prepared meat to destinations many miles fi-om the point of slaughter (Svanevik
1987). Swift now set his sights on the Bay Area for expansion. He established a
partnership with Philip Armour and hired Peter Iler to find an area suitable for their
needs. Iler had previously worked for Swift in 1879 helping to create South Omaha,
which was another company-owned meat packing town located in Nebraska (Hynding
1982:103).
Peter Iler chose San Bruno Point, which was the eastern tip of Charles Lux's Baden ranch
to be the site for the new meat packing emerprise. This area provided pasture nearby, a
deep-water inlet for shipping, and access to railroad lines in Baden. Later, due to the
booming industries, Southern Pacific redirected its railroad line to go through Baden.
With the backing of other "Beef Trust" magnates such as Michael Cudahy and Nelson
Morris and San Franciscan bankers Henry Crocker and Philip Lilienthal the group
established the South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company and purchased
3,500 acres, including the Lux estate, for $750,000 in 1890 (Hynding 1982:103;
Kauffman 1976:4; Svanevik 1987). Michael Svanevik notes in his 1987 article in the San
Mateo Times that Swift had previously worked with Philip Armour, Nelson Morris, and
Michael Cudaby in setting up large scale meat packing centers and in the process creating
the towns of South Chicago and South Omaha. However, Alan Hynding states in his
book From Frontier to Suburb (1982) that Philip Armour worked his way into the
business first as a hog butcher in Placerville during the Gold Rush days. Hynding does
go on to say later that Armour was indeed a member of the "syndicate of Chicago meat
packers" (103) so his origin at this point is somewhat ora mystery.
The So'~th San Francisco Land and Improvement Company divided its land into two
funetior_ally separate areas that were intersected by the San Bruno toll road. West of the
road the new town was laid out and named South San Francisco keeping with the eartel's
system of naming their company meat packing towns. East of the road and extending to
San Brcno Point the investors built a meat packing plant, stockyards, wharves, and a ship
channel in 1890 and named their enterprise the Western Meat Company in 1894
(Kaufl~an 1976:4; Hynding 1982:104)..The new facilities covered 82 acres with the
stockyards alone costing $25,000 and the abattoirs were near $100,000. Over 800
workers were employed constructing the pens and stables. The result was one of the
most sanitary and efficient meat packing plants in the nation (Svanevik 1987). Reached
via electric streetcar, which ran from Baden through the new town and out to the meat
packing plant, South San Francisco literally became the company town for the Western
Meat Company. The Land and Improvement Company assumed all responsibilities for
utilities and land management. However, the initial success of Western Meat Company
did not go unnoticed and certainly was not appreciated by the consortium of butchers just
to the north in San Francisco (Svanevik 1987). Despite the name, Western Meat
Company was comprised of trod-westerners. This, gompounded with the introduction of
new types of meat processing and storage in the form of refrigeration and the fact that
Swift brought experienced workers from Omaha and Chicago instead of hiring locally,
sent paags of fear through the already established businesses in "butehertown" around
Third Street in San Francisco (Hynding 1982:104). Not only did a boycott of Western
Meat Company products ensue, but propaganda was also spread outlining the risks
involved with refrigerated beef and that digestive problems were certain to follow if it
was ingested. Local physicians were hired and gave testimony to the health hazards
involved with refrigerated beef (Svanevik 1987). Hynding (104) states that Swifts
partners pulled out of South San Francisco as a result of the depression of 1893 while
SvanevJc says their departure was due to the bitter conflict with the San Francisco
"butehertown" meat industry. Whatever the reason Swift was on his own for a short
while u.atil the arrival of William Martin and Ebenezer Cunningham.
With the improving economic conditions of the late 1890s and the help of Martin and
Cunnin~mm the Land and Improvement Company was able to sell more lots of the new
town to employees. In 1896 Martin brought in the city's first outside industry, the
Steiger Terra Cotta Company. Originally based in San Jose but destroyed by fire, the
brick ~nd pottery factory finally found a new site for its operations in South San
Francisco (Hynding 1982:104). As the depression lessened other companies moved into
the area. Some of these included the Fuller Paint Company (1898), two steel mills
(1904), a tannery, two more brickyards, and a lumber mill. The South San Francisco
Railroad and Power Company took over the electric trolley in 1903 and built a power
plant for the city, which already had telephone service that began the year before
(Hynding 1982:105).
4
Many residents of the peninsula apparently became concerned that the growing city of
San Francisco would try to annex some, if not all, of the lands in current San Mateo
County. ProPositions were introduced that would have incorporated all of the cities of
San Mateo County in order to stop the perceived threat of urban encroachment of San
Francisco. Instead, voters in South San Francisco decided to incorporate their town on
September 19, 1908. (San Bruno Point can be seen shortly at~er this time in Figure 2)
With nearly 2000 inhabitants "South City" became the fourth largest city in San Mateo
County OCaulY,,,an 1976:15). Then, with the outbreak of World War I the South San
Francisco waterfront was built up more with piers and bulkhead lines that were ordered
by the War Department. The geographic location of the city and inexpensive rates for
shipping cargo via rail, water, or truck .expanded the city's importance as a major
industrial region of California. The Southern Pacific had its main line through the city
and at this time was making 52 trips per day (KauFauan 1976:40).
Oyster Industry
Bay Area shell mounds attest to the prehistoric importance of oysters in local human diet.
The native ostrea lucida is a small oyster, but it was supplemented later by imported East
Coast oysters. The area around San Bruno Point/Oyster Point also has a history that
involves the oyster and shrimp industry. As early as the 1850s there is a report of a storm
destroying commercial oyster beds at Oyster Point in South San Francisco (La Peninsula
1968:4).
The most influential person in the San Mateo County (and entire Bay Area) oyster
business was Captain John Stillwell Morgan. Originally employed in the New York
oyster business he came to California seeking gold in 1849 but realized quickly that
easier money could be had by assuming his former profession transplanted to the San
Francisco Bay Area (La Peninsula 1968:4; Postel 1988:27). Disease damaged many of
the local oysters and Morgan and others turned to a Mexican source in 1868 to supply
their market. This turned out not to be necessary as the year 1869 brought so many
changes to the United States with the completion of the transcontinental railroad. A.
Booth and Company, a Chicago firm, brought three train cars of eastern oysters to San
Francisco, thus flooding the market. Instead of allowing the price to drop too drastically
the remaining oysters from this venture were stored in the Bay off Sausalito. Not only
did they survive, they unexpectedly fattened tremendously. Morgan and others began
buying up tidal lots all over the Bay for the purpose of farming transplanted eastern
oysters. By 1890 usable tidal lots were selling for $100 an acre in San Marco County (La
Peninsula 1968:4; Postel 1988:28; Tallent 1974). At the peak of his operations Morgan
owned 16,000 acres of San Mateo tidelands (Svanevik 1986).
The imported oysters never reproduced however. They grew extremely fast, but due to
the water temperatures reproduction was not possible. As a result, seedlings continued to
be shipped to the area. "Seed" oysters came from Newark Bay and were just past the
infant stage so that several thousand could fit in one barrel. The young oysters were
spread around the bay to mature. Eventually they were transplanted to shallow areas
where tide and river waters brought plenty of food for them until harvest time. At the
time there were two main dangers to the oyster farms: the bat-stingray and the oyster
pirate. The stingray could be kept away with makeshi~ barriers. But the oyster pirate
raided 'n the middle of the night from bases of operation in the East Bay, Oakland in
partic, flar. Perhaps the most famous oyster pirate was then 16 year-old Jack London.
Although very dangerous work (occasionally gun baffles ensued and an oyster pirate
could be hanged if caught in the act of theft), it was very profitable. Jack London noted
that a sSngle night of work could bring in up to $200 from San Francisco restaurants. The
"oyster wars" ended after the mm of the century due mainly to pollution of the Bay. The
year 1899 saw 2,700,000 pounds of oysters harvested. By 1923 the amount was only
17,000 pounds (La Peninsula 1968:4-5; Postel 1988:29; Svanevik 1986). ·
The completion of the transcontinental railroad brought other newcomers to the South
San Fr',m¢isco area. Many Chinese, having been recently unemployed, sometimes sought
work in ways traditional to theft former lifestyle in China. They set up shrimp camps all
over the Bay. One such camp was near San Bnmo Point. Hynding (108) states that the
camp was near Dry Laguna Cove which would place it approximately half way between
San Brmo Point and Oyster Point in area currently under fill. La Peninsula, the journal
of the San Mateo County Historical Association (5), said in 1968 that the location of the
Chinese shrimp camp was actually at San Bruno Point stating that at the time it was
referred to as "China Point." Figure 3 is a photograph of the Chinese shrimp camp fi'om
1888-1889. The handwritten label says the photo i~ from Point San Bruno. However, a
1986 article in the San Francisco Progress claims that the Chinese shrimp camp was
actually located at Oyster Point (Shoecraft 1986). Regardless, care should be used when
excavating in these areas.
Whatever the exact location of this camp it nevertheless is important in the development
and history of Chinese-American culture in the Bay Area. This camp was owned by San
Francisco Chinatown's Lung Sing & Co. (also spelled Lun Sing & Co. [Shoecrafi 1986]).
The camp was comprised of about 20 shacks and sheds, cooking bins, drying floors, nets,
and other fishing gear (Hynding 1982:108). Although the majority of shrimp caught by
Chinese fisherman were dried and exported to China locals still saw the Chinese as
compe-Jtion and when the yields of shrimp began to diminish from Bay waters people
blamer'~ the large scale fishing methods of the Chinese. Many laws were passed
restricting types of nets used and other equipment, but in the end they were basically anti-
Chinese legislations that were circumvented through bribery and later through the study
of the laws by the Chinese and hiring attorneys to contest discrimination. By 1910
however, the bag net was outlawed which effectively destroyed the Chinese shrimp
business (Postel 1988:36). The camp in the San Bruno Point/Oyster Point area was
actually destroyed by fire in 1912 (Hynding 1982:108).
Bay Fill
The filing of the Bay in the Oyster Point area is documented by Caltrans and Tetra Tech
in their document entitled "Remedial Investigation Report, Oyster Point, South San
Francisco, California" (1994) and by analyzing the series of maps supplied in this report
(Figures 4 through 9). Filling seems to have begun in the late 1800s when a road was
6
built around Sierra Point. The cuttings were used to reinforce the road by dumping them
in the Bay. Southern Pacific began constructing a double-track line from Mission Bay
through Sierra and Oyster Points and into South San Francisco in 1903. Some of the
track was constructed directly in reclaimed tidal marshes. The area south of Sierra Point
Boulevard and East of the railroad tracks was filled by Sunset Scavenger Company and
the Golden Gate Disposal Company in the 1940s through the 1960s (Garbarino 1992 in
Tetra Tech 1994). In 1990 Caltrans tested the right of way of the railroad tracks by
Oyster Point and determined that the area directly below the tracks comained no debris,
but that the widened portions of the right of way comained trash from the 1906
earthquake as evidenced from makers marks and date stamps on ceramics 'and glass
bottles.
Although the area around San Bruno Point and Oyster Point continues to physically and
economically evolve it has remained tree to its industrial origins. The history of this area
is important to the community of South San Francisco and San Mateo County. This
project has the potential to provide valuable archaeological material to supplement the
written historical data of area and should benefit all involved.
7
References Cited
Dwinelle, J.W.
1978 (1867) Colonial History of San Francisco. Ross Valley Book Company.
H~ding, A.
1982 From Frontier To Suburb: The Story of The San Mateo Peninsula. Star
Publishing Company, USA.
Kauffman, L.
1976 South San Francisco: A History. Linda Kauffman.
La Peninsula Journal of the San Mateo County Historical Association
1968 The Bay Shore: Otter, Oysters, China Camps, Salt, and Land. Volume XIV
No. 5, October, 1968.
Postel, .M.
1988 A Lost Resource: Shellfish in San Francisco Bay. California History,
March, 1988. pp. 24-40.
South San Francisco Public Library Web site ,
2002 1916 Photograph of Point San Bruno (Figure 2) and China Camp
photograph (Figure 3) and http://plsinfo.org/imagesprojeetfmdex.html
Shoeeratt, D.
1986 East of Bayshore: Locale has never lost its advantages. San Francisco
Progress. March 16:C5.
Svanev:k, M.
1986 Once upon an oyster empire. San Mateo Times. February 28.
Svanev'k, M.
1987 Swiit winds of change blow in SF stockyards. SanMateo Times. July31:B3
Tallent, O.
1974 When San Francisco Bay was a big oyster bed. (newspaper unknown--
obtained from the San Mateo County I-Iistorieal Association Archives in
Redwood City). March 16.
Tetra Tech
1994 Remedial Investigation Report, Oyster Poim, South San Francisco,
California. Prepared for Caltrans District 4. February. Pp. 4.10 - 4.28.
8
Ii t:
Figure 1. 1871 map of a Rancho Bud Buff. Obtained from the South San Francisco
Public Library.
9
Figure 2. "About 1916 -fi.om left to fight; Ship Yards, Baden Brick, American Berrium
and Shaw Bateher". Photo obtained from South San Francisco Public Library web site:
10
Figure 3. Chinese Shrimp Camp circa 1888-1889 at Point San Bruno. Photo obtained
from the San Mateo County Historical Association Archives in Redwood City, CA.
11
Figure 4.
1896 15 minute San Mateo Quadrangle.
United States Geological Survey.
12
Figure 5. 1915 15 Minute San Mateo Quadrangle. United States Geological Survey.
13
Figure.- 6. 1939
15 Minute San Mateo Quadrangle. United States Geological Survey.
14
Figure 7. 1947 15 Minute San Mateo Quadrangle. United States Geological Survey.
15
,.~eap/an,e
Harbor' ~'e~TM
Figure 8.
Survey.
1995
7.5 1Wmute South San Francisco Quadrangle.
United States Geological
16
tOSS ~m
EXIt4 o4 Hl~rlc
;eSl
Figure 9. Caltrans map of Bay Fill activities. From "Remedial Investigation Report,
Oyster Point, South San Francisco, California."
AP~'END~X D
Initiation of Consultation:
List of Contactees and Examples of Contact Letters
The following potential consulting parties were sent contact letters as seen in the following
examples:
Native Amefimn Indian (Ohlone) Representatives:
Ella Rodriquez (Ohlone/Costanoan/Esselen
PO Box 1411
Salims, CA 93902
Jakki Kehl (OhlonedCostanoan)
720 North 2~ Street
Patterson, CA 95363
Katherine Erolinda Perez (Ohlone/Costanoan/ .
1234 Luna Lane Northern Valley Yolmt/
Stockton, CA 95206 Bay Miwok)
Marjorie Ann Reid (Ohlone/Costanoan)
19279 Lexington Lane
Redding, CA 96003
Amah/Mutsun Tribal Band (Ohlone/Costanoan)
Irene Zwierelein, Chairperson
789 Canada Road
Woodside, CA 94062
Amah/Mutsun Tribal Band (Ohlone/Costanoan)
Michelle Zimmer
4952 McCoy Avenue
San Jose, CA 95130
The Ohlone Indian Tn'be, Inc.
Andrew Galvan (Ohlone/Costanoan)
PO Box 3152
Mission San Jose, CA 94539
Thomas P Soto (Ohlone/Costanoan)
Howard S. Soto
PO Box 56802
Hayward, CA 94539
Indihn Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan
Ann Marie Sayer, Chairperson
PO Box 28
Hollister, CA 95024
Trina Marine Ruano Family (Ohlone/Costanoan)
Ramona Garibay, Representative
37974 Canyon Heights Drive
Fremont, CA 94536
Native American Heritage Commission. State of California:
Debbie Pilas-Treadway
Native American Heritage Commi~ion
915 Capitol Mall Room 364
Sacramento, CA 95814
-D1-
501:5' FOLSOM ST. SAN FRANCISCO.
CALIFORNIA .04110
Thomas P. Soto
Howard S. Soto
474 Grove Way
Hayward, CA 94541
11 May 2£02
Dear Mr. Soto,
The City of South San Francisco in San Mateo County is planning for a major rehab'flitation and
expansion of their sanitary sewer and water treatment system. The Project is located on the USGS
"San Francisco South" topographic quadrangle (see enclosed). The purpose ofHolman & Associates
study is to identify cultural resources within the Project's "Area of Potential Effects" that might be
impacted by the proposed project. Please review the enclosed information to identify any.cultural
resources .mown to you that may be within or adjacent to the study area, as depicted on the enclosed
aerial pho-.ographs. The red lines and squares show the actual project impact areas, and the attached
two pages briefly describe the various Project elements.
We ask if you, or any individuals known to you, have information they feel is pertinem and
should be considered in evaluating cultural ~urces or Project impacts, as required by the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the consultation requirements of Section 106 of the National
I4_istorie Preservation Act. We also ask you this question: in your opinion, would the proposed
project effect cultural resource values known to you?
Your input will be valuable in identifying and evaluating potential project impacts. We request
that you address this matter and provide a written response within 15 days of this letter' s date, which
we will incorporate into our report. If you or anyone else known to you would like to contact me,
please use my home office phone (650-726-6269), email [mre~ttbi.eom], or mail to my home
office adC.ress, P.O. Box 652, E1 Granada, 94018.
Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially yours,
Matthew R. Clark, RPA
Senior Associate
eno: Tol~) Map, SSF-WWP Caroilo aerials and Proposed Facilities
Debbie Pilas-Treadway
Native American Heritage Commission
915 Capitol Mall, Room 364
Sacramento, CA 95814
08 May 2002
Dear Ms. Pilas-Treadway,
The City of South San Francisco in San Mateo County is in the planning process for a major
rehabilitation and expansion of their sanitary sewer and water treatment system. The purpose of
Holman & Associates study at this point is to identify cultural resources within the Project's "Area
of Potential Effects" that will or might be im.nacted by the proposed project. We ask ffyou, or any
individuals known to you, have information they feel is pertinent and should be considered in
evaluating cultural resources or Project impacts, as requirea by the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) and the consultation requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act.
Please review NAHC files and the enclosed information to idemify any Native American cultural
resources or sacred lands that may be within or adjacent to the study area, as depicted on the enclosed
aerial photographs. The red lines and squares show the actual project impact areas, and the attached
two pages briefly describe the various project elements.
We also request a list of Native American individuals and groups who may have knowledge of
cultural resources in the Project Area. Please notify us if yOu have any information or concerns. To
reach me, please call or fax to my home office number (650-726-6269) or use my email
[mrccrm~tttbi.com], not the main office number, unless you can't reach me or would like to talk to
Miley about the project.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Cordially yours,
Matthew R. Clark, RPA
Senior Associate
enc: SSF-WWP Carollo aerials and Proposed Facilities
Local Historical Societies:
Mitch Postel, Director
San Mateo County Historical Association
777 Ham3ton Street
Redwood. City, CA 94063
Kathleen Kay; City Historian'
South San Francisco History Room
306 Wakut Avenue
South Saa Francisco, CA 94080
South San Francisco Historical Society
Atten: Bertha Iskra
P.O. Box 711
South San Francisco, CA 94083
Mitch Pos'teL Director
San Mateo County Historical Association
777 Hamilton Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
08 May 2002
Dear Mr. Postel,
The City of South San Francisco in San Mateo County is in the planning process for a major
rehab'flitation and expansion of their sanitary sewer and water treatment system. We are evaluating
historic resources in the Project Area that will or might be impacted by the proposed project. Please
review the Association's files for any historic cultural resources that may be within or adjacent to the
study area, as depicted on the enclosed aerial photographs. The red lines and squares show the actual
project impact areas, and the enclosed two pages briefly describe the various project elements. The
purpose of our study is to identify cultural resource concerns within the study area.
We ask if the SMCHA, or any individual members, has information they feel is pertinent and
should he considered in evaluating historical resources, as required by the California Enviromnemal
Quality Act (CEQA) and the consultation requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, and as requested by the City. We also ask the Association to address these
questions: in your opinion, would the proposed project adversely effect historic values known to you?
If so, what forms might mitigation of those impacts take?
The SMCHA's input will be valuable in identifying and evaluating potential project i ~mpacts.
We request that you address this matter at your next meeting and provide a written response, which
we will incorporate into our report. Ifyou or any other Society members would like to contact me,
please use my home office phone (650-726-6269), email [mr~bi. com], or mail to my home
office address, P.O. Box 652, El Granada, 94018.
Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially yours,
Matthew 1L Clark, RPA
Senior Associate
enc: SSF-WWP Carollo aerials and Proposed Facilities
Kathleen Kay, City Histo~
South San Francisco History Room
306 Walnut Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
16 May 2002
Dear Ms. Xay,
The City of South San Francisco is planning a major rehab'flitation and expansion of their
sanitary sewer and water treatment system. The Project is located on the USGS "San Francisco
South" to)ographic quadrangle (see enclosed). We are evaluating historic resources in the Project
Area that :night be impacted by the proposed Project. Please review the Association's files for any
historic cultural resources that may be within or adjacent to the study area, as depicted on the
enclosed ~ photographs. The red lines and squares showy the actual project impact areas, and the
enclosed two pages briefly describe the various project elements.
We ask ifyou, as City Historian, or any individuals known to you, have information they feel
is pertinect and should be considered in evaluating historical reso~, as required by the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the consultation requirements of Section 106 ofthe National
Historic Preservation Act. We also ask the Association to address these questions: in your opinion,
would the proposed project adversely effect historic values known to you? If so, what forms might
mitigatior_ of those impacts take?
Youz input will be valuable in identif34ng and evaluating potential project impacts. We request
that you address this matter and provide a written response, which we will incorporate into our
report. If you or any other individuals or groups would like to contact me, please use my home office
phone (650-726-6269), email [~ttbi.com], or mail to my home office address, P.O. Box
652, El Granada, 94018.
Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially yours,
Matthew IL Clark, RPA
Senior Associate
enc: SSF-WWP Carollo aerials and Proposed Facilities
South San Francisco Historical Society
Atten: Bertha Iskra
P.O. Box 711
South San Francisco, CA 94083
16 May 2002
Dear Ms. Iskra,
The City of South San Francisco is planning a major rehabilitation and expansion of their
sanitary sewer and water treatment system. The Project is located on the USGS "San Francisco
South" topographic quadrangle (see enclosed). We are evaluating historic resources in the Project
Area that might be impacted by the proposed Project. Please review the Association's files for any
historic cultural resources that may be within or adjacent to the study area, as depicted on the
enclosed aerial photographs. The red lines and squares show the actual project impact areas, and the
enclosed two pages briefly desenq~e the various project elements.
We ask if the SSFHS, or any individual members, have information they feel is pertinent and
should be considered in evaluating historical resources, as required by the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and the consultation requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act. We also ask the Association to address these questions: in your opinion, would
the proposed project adversely effect historic values known to you? If so, what forms might
mitigation of those impacts take?
The SSFHS's input will be valuable in identifying and evaluating potential project impacts. We
request that you address this matter and provide a written response, which we will incorporate into
our report. If you or any other Society members would like to contact me, please use my home office
phone (650-726-6269), email [mree~ttbi. eom], or mail to my home office address, P.O. Box
652, E1 Granada, 94018.
Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially yours,
Matthew 1L Clark, RPA
Senior Associate
enc: SSF-WWP Cat'oHo aerials and Proposed Facilities
City of South San Francisco
Initial S~udy/Sewer Improvement Program
Appendix 3
Historical Resource Evaluation
(Carey & Co.)
Page 67
July 2002
HISTORIC RESOURCES EVALUATION REPORT
DRAFT
Wet Weather Program Phases 1-4
Proposed Improvements
South San Francisco, California
May 9, 2002
Prepared for
Jerry Haag, Urban Planner
Historic Resources Evaluation Report
DRAFT
Wet Weather Program Phases 1-4
Proposed Improvements
South San Francisco, California
May 9, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ..................................................... 2
PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................... 2
RESEARCH METHODS ....................................................... 3
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW .................................................... 3
DESCRIPTION OF RESOURCES .............................................. 10
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ............................................. 20
CONCLUSIONS ............................................................ 20
ENDNOTES ................................................................ 20
PHOTOGRAPHS ...................................................... included
APPENDIX ........................................................... included
HISTORIC RESOURCES EVALUATION REPORT
DRAFT
Wet 'Weather Program Phases 1 4
Proposed Improvements
South San Francisco, California
May 9, 2002
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
At the request of Jerry Haag, Urban Planner, Carey & Co. has undertaken an evaluation of properties
for their h".storic significance within various Area of Potential Effect (APE) associated with the
proposed Wet Weather Program, Proposed Improvements project located in the City of South San
Francisco. The properties are situated on Point San Bruno and the area directly west of Highway 101, as
well as a small area further west of downtown South San Francisco on El Camino Real and Hickey
Boulevard. This report is being prepared for Section 106 review of the Wet Weather Program Phases 1-
4, Proposed Improvements project.
After surveying the area, researching sources at local agencies, and examining the City of South San
Francisco "List of Designated and Potential Historic Resources," Carey & Co. has determined that no
resources within the APE are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or the California
Register of Historical Resources. Two properties, 224-233 East Grand Avenue and 249 East Grand
Avenue, are identified in the South San Francisco Historical Market Site Tour Map. The tour map was
created by the Historic Preservation Commission in order to identify historically or culturally significant
sites throughout South San Francisco - none have been designated as historic resources. After surveying
and researching the two structures, Carey & Co. has determined that they are not eligible for the
National Register of Historic Places, nor are they eligible for the California Register of Historical
Resources.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Wet Weather Program Phases 1-4 will be undertaken by the City of South San Francisco. The
majority o5 the proposed improvements occur on Point San Bruno, a land mass east of Highway 101 and
downtown South San Francisco, and bounded on the east by the San Francisco Bay. Three streets where
improvements will occur are located west of Highway 101 south of downtown South San Francisco. A
separate area of improvement is located west of downtown South San Francisco on E1 Camino Real at
the juncture of Hickey Boulevard. The streets referred to in this report where improvements will occur
include: Airport Boulevard, Allerton Avenue, Beacon Street, Belie Air Road, DNA Way, East Grand
Avenue, Eccles Avenue, El Camino Real, Executive Drive, Forbes Boulevard, Gateway Boulevard,
Harbor Way, Hickey Boulevard, Linden Avenue, Littlefield Avenue, Lowrie Avenue, San Mateo
Avenue, Oyster Point Boulevard, Shaw Road, South Linden Avenue, Swift Avenue, Utah Avenue.
Some wo£¢ will take place in and around Colma Creek.
The proposed work will entail upgrading existing pump station (APE 1, 3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 21, 22 & 25),
construction of pipe lines (APE 17 & 18), sewer lines (APE 19, 20, 23, 24, 26 & 27), force mains (APE
V~ret Weather Program
South San Franc/sco, Ca//forn/a
DRAFT - Historic Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Page 3/21
2,4, 10 12 & 15), as well as sewer line up-sizing and repair (APE 6 & 7). Several improvements include
the and an effluent storage pond (APE 5), and restoration of the Colma Creek bank (APE 8).
RESEARCH METHODS
The survey areas considered in this report are located in South San Francisco and consist of twenty-
seven different APE with proposed improvements and includes twenty-one streets. Carey & Co. initially
reviewed background materials provided for this survey. The APEs defined within the overall Wet
Weather Program proposed improvements project area were listed and pinpointed on a map (see map
and list in Appendix). Using the map, Carey & Co. conducted a "windshield survey" on March 5 and
April 22, 2002 in the APEs. Further research was performed at the South San Francisco Public Library
and History Room, San Francisco Public Library, and the records of the City of South San Francisco.
Our evaluation was based on the eligibility criteria for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
which requires that the resource be at least fifty years old (except under special circumstances), that it
retain its historic integrity, and that it be significant under at least one of four criteria. These four
criteria include: association with historic events, association with important persons, distinctive design
or physical characteristics, and the potential to provide important information about history or
prehistoty. In determining National Register eligibility, we weighed known historical associations,
architectural merit, and the current level of integrity. We also evaluated the historic significance of the
building using the established criteria of the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) in
order to assess if it is eligible for listing in the state register.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Like today, in which a large hillside sign welcomes visitors to "South San Francisco, The Industrial
City," South San Francisco historically identified itself with industry and business. Indeed, from its
beginnings community leaders actively encouraged light and heavy industrial development. This is
particularly true in Point San Bruno, where the original solid bedrock peninsula could withstand heavy
loads, continual use, and natural disasters and where the area's typography could create strong winds to
blow unpleasant smells away from residential neighborhoods. The modes of production in South San
Francisco's Point San Bruno varied over time, often paralleling nation-wide trends such as the
decreasing popularity of heavy industry toward the end of the 20m century. Evolving land use priorities
led, in turn, to changes in Point San Bruno's physical attributes, including the infilling of large amounts
of marshland around the peninsula's original bedrock.
The development of what is today known as South San Francisco began in the mid-192 century, when
cattle ranchers from California's Central Valley purchased large expanses of open land immediately
south of San Francisco. As a place to hold and graze livestock before eventually driving them north to
the slaughterhouses in Hunter's Point, ranchers found this to be an extremely efficient arrangement in
the pre-refrigeration era.
When the largest land-owner, Charles Lux, died in 1888, Chicago-based meat packers Gustavus Swift
V/et V/eatJ~er P~'offram
Soud~ San Francisco, Cali£omia
DRAFT - Historic Resources Evcduadon Report. May 9, 2002
Page 4/21
and Philip Armour started considering the area for a possible West Coast expansion of their businesses.
Together with Michael Cudahy and Nelson Morris, two other meat packing industry leaders from
Chicago, the "Big Four" purchased 3,500 acres in 1890 and created a corporation to guide and control
development of their land. Well-known local investors in the South San Francisco Land and
Improvement Company included Henry Crocker and Philip Lilienthal.
Based on Swift's earlier experiences successfully developing land for meat packing south of Omaha and
Chicago, the South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company designed separate residential and
industrial neighborhoods.~ In this case, the existing San Bruno Toil Road provided a north-south line
through the property dividing the flat agricultural land to the west from the windy bedrock peninsula
projecting into San Francisco Bay to the east. Thus, homes, small businesses, and farms were planned for
the west section while Point San Bruno was earmarked for heavy industry. Extant streets from this
original plan include Grand Avenue (now Grand and East Grand Avenues), Butler Avenue (now
Oyster Point Boulevard), and Linden Avenue. While no longer used, also still visible are some tracks
from the South San Francisco Land & Improvement Company's early private railroad system. South San
Francisco's first business on Point San Bruno was the Western Meat Company, created by Swift and his
parmers in 1894 and constructed along Grand Avenue2. It included a meat packing plant, large
stockyards, a wharf, and a ship channel.
The new town did well during its first few years, despite an initial boycott by San Francisco's meat
retailers, but was threatened by the 1893 nation-wide economic downturn that forced most of Swift's
parmers to back out of the undertaking. Turning to more creative land agents, who instituted new
strategies such as "weekend excursion boats and trains sponsored by the land company,''3 South San
Francisco survived. Beginning at this time and continuing for many decades, the importance of bringing
different industries to Point San Bruno was integrated into marketing plans. In the 1890s, this included
Steiger Terra Cotta & Pottery Works and the Fuller Paint Company, located in the southeast comer of
the peninsula along the private tracks. By the middle of the next decade, steel, lumber, and leather
companies had also set up factories there, increasing the town's industrial base. Related to this
diversification, and contributing to it, was the Southern Pacific Railroad's decision by 1906 to "redirect
its main line through South City," providing not only much-needed transportation for the goods being
produced on Point San Bruno but also allowing people in nearby cities to find jobs at South San
Francisco's new factories.4
While Sou-.h San Francisco sustained some damage during the 1906 earthquake and fire, Point San
Bruno's solid bedrock base protected the town's economic engine from disaster. With its industry almost
entirely intact, business leaders benefitted from the contrast between their good fortune and San
Francisco's devastation. This was particularly true for Western Meat Company, whose advocacy of
refrigeratec railcars had been strongly challenged by their competitors to the north before the
earthquake and fire destroyed much of San Francisco's meat packing infrastructure. With the benefits of
refrigeration being proven by the ready availability of fresh meat despite the calamity, meat packing in
South San Francisco took over the Bay Area's meat industry. Indeed, meat packers and retailers in San
Francisco, -xaditionally located in the Hunter's Point neighborhood, never fully recovered from this
aspect of the 1906 disaster.
As more factories established themselves in South San Francisco, community leaders began to
implement policies to make the physical infrastructure of Point San Bruno more attractive. This
Wet Weather Program
South San Francisco, California
DRAFT - Historic Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Page 5121
included constructing new docks, improving and expanding the private railway system, controlling
Colma Creek with a man-made canal, and infilling some areas of the peninsula to add more sellable
land. This effort paid off; by the time the City of South San Francisco was incorporated in 1908, it was
home to 14 major industries? By 1919, the "improved" Point San Bruno area hosted a range of light and
heavy industrial sites. Along the southeast edge, corresponding to Grand Avenue and the new canal,
industries included meat packing, rice distribution, marble and mosaic manufacturing, paint production,
and chemical plants. Running north-south on both sides of the Southern Pacific Railroad line,
development tended toward heavy industries such as foundries, steel processing, oil distribution, and
machine parts manufacturing. Additionally, the federal government's communications equipment and
towers may have been installed on the top of Point San Bruno's low bedrock "mountains" by this time as
well?
From the 1920s until the beginning of World War II, a number of forces acted on South San Francisco
that led to changes on Point San Bruno. Improved transportation and lower land costs caused meat
packing companies to gradually move away from South San Francisco toward the Central Valley. By the
early 1930s, the steel industry had taken hold of much of Point San Bruno, including a large factory site
at the west edge of the peninsula owned by Bethlehem Steel that continued operations for almost fifty
years. Roughly simultaneous with this transition from meat packing to the dominance of the steel
industry was the beginning of the Depression. South San Francisco weathered the country's economic
difficulties in part due to a variety of federal programs, many of which put people to work filling the mud
fiats south of Point San Bruno and around Bel Air Island for future factory sites.
The development of Point San Bruno during the second half of the 20a' century consists of a series of
large events or projects that resulted in changes in the area's industrial and physical landscape. The first
of these was World War II, in which South San Francisco's priority shifted to supporting ship building
on Point San Bruno and the construction of large housing projects in the residential areas of the city.
Then, after the war, San Francisco Airport's redevelopment and subsequent inclusion of international
flights led to increasing interest in the southern areas of South San Francisco, particularly near the
recently infilled land near Bel Air Island. Third, beginning in 1955, the city "experienced a vast
industrial transformation," as it "embarked on one of the largest industrial expansion programs in the
state.''7 This program included more infill and encouragement of additional light industry such as
distribution or warehouse storage. The fourth project occurred a decade later, when businessmen
purchased a large swath of land through the center of Point San Bruno's original bedrock peninsula area.
Called the Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Industrial Park, this development added streets, leveled the area's
hilly topography, and improved other infrastructure to support an integrated community of light and
heavy industrial sites. 8 Marketing booklets for the industrial park highlight the proximity of South San
Francisco's recently-completed stretch of the Bayshore Highway, which followed the approximate
footprint of the earlier San Bruno Toll Road. The fifth factor that influenced Point San Bruno's
development, the Gateway Project, began in the early 1980s. Like the Cabot, Cabot & Forbes park, the
Gateway consisted of land on Point San Bruno's original peninsula, this time encompassing the
Bethlehem Steel factory site, abandoned since 1977. Also similar to the earlier industrial park, this
project included new streets and related infrastructure, however, unlike Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, who
prepared and sold sites for industrial use, the Gateway actually planned and built buildings, in an
"extensively landscaped, campus-like setting.''9 This signaled a shift away from manufacturing products
in a factory environment and toward a focus on activities such as offices and research and development.
It also resulted in a major change in Point San Bruno's landscape, in which the older modes of
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development, including outdated street patterns, railroad tracks, large warehouse~style buildings, and
other industrial infrastructure were demolished or heavily modified to make way for human~scale
development. Most recently, South San Francisco has encouraged the growth of the biotechnology and
internet~related industries on Point San Bruno, such as the city's largest employer, pharmaceutical giant
Genentech. This continues development priorities established in the early 1980s, in which Point San
Bruno's remaining historic industrial fabric has been replaced by infrasmacture more appropriately
engineere?_ for 21s~ century business models.
Airport Boulevard (APE 4 & 6)
Airport Boulevard follows the route of what was originally San Bruno Toll Road and then Bayshore
Highway during the mid-20m century. These historic roads provided the same function as Airport
Boulevard today, to connect San Francisco with neighboring communities to the south. When the
South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company purchased the future town site, San Bruno Toll
Road prov"_ded a logical dividing line between industry on the bedrock Point San Bruno peninsula to the
east and residences on the flat agricultural land to the west. Development continued along this pattern
as the roach's importance increased with the construction of Bayshore Highway and then Airport
Boulevard.
Allerton Avenue (APE 18)
Allerton Avenue was one of the first north~south streets on Point San Bruno. It originally divided
Western Meat Company's property roughly in half, with the stockyards northwest of Allerton Avenue
along Wal'.cer Avenue (now East Grand Avenue). It provided Selby Smelting & Lead Company, which
occupied t-ae northeast section of Point San Bruno, with the only non-rail connection between its
property and Walker Avenue. In the early 20~ century, Allerton Avenue became a minor axis of
development, featuring primarily meat packing-related businesses. It was retained in the plans for Cabot,
Cabot & Forbes Industrial Park, complete with an alee of trees marching down either side of the street.
Beacon Street (APE 4)
Beacon Street is located in southern South San Francisco, originally a marshy zone characterized by
frequent Colma Creek overflows. During the Depression, however, federal work programs employed
people for large infill projects there. Because of its proximity to the airport, after being filled the first
businesses to establish in the southern section of South San Francisco were airport-related. Later,
wartime ship building became an important industry in the area.
Belle Air Road (APE 4 & 8)
Belle Air Road is located in southern South San Francisco, originally a marshy zone characterized by
frequent Colma Creek overflows. Most streets in the area, such as Beacon Street, were first created as a
result of I~epression~era infill projects. However, today's Belle Air Road may follow an historic access
route to Bel Air Island, a small bedrock island south of Point San Bruno no longer visible today as a
result of the infilling.
Colma Creek (APE 5, 8 & 12)
In South San Francisco's early days, Colma Creek overflowed regularly, making the adjacent land
marshy and difficult to develop. As a result, by the turn of the 20~ century there were already efforts
underway to channelize the waterway. Colma Creek's path is controlled by a complete concrete channel
system dating to the 1970s.
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DNA Way (APE 20)
As seen today, DNA Way is approximately two years old, corresponding to the development of the
Genentech campus at the far eastern end of Point San Bruno. This area of the peninsula remained
relatively undeveloped until recently due to the low bedrock hills that characterized it however during
the 1960s, Cabot, Cabot & Forbes included this street with landscaping in their industrial park plans.
East Gram Avenue (APE 19)
East Grand Avenue is one only a handful of original streets laid out by Swift and his partners at
the beginning of their South San Francisco venture. Known then as simply Grand Avenue, this
east-west street crossed San Bruno Toll Road to provide the major axis for both the residential
and industrial halves of the city. Indeed, throughout its history, East Grand Avenue has
provided a spine along which much of Point San Bruno's development has concentrated.
Western Meat Company, as well as Steiger Terra Cotta & Pottery Works and the Fuller Paint
Company all located their factories along this artery. Unlike the west side of Grand Avenue, East
Grand Avenue has experienced a number of name changes. By 1910, Swift Avenue was the
name of the east-west section of the street that began at San Bruno Toll Road and continued
east until it turned toward the southeast. Beginning at this turn and heading southeast toward
the next turn, the street was called Walker Avenue. After this final turn, the road, here called
Railroad Avenue because of the private railroad tracks in the vicinity, continued for a short
distance and then stopped. By the beginning of World War II, the road had been extended
almost to the end of Point San Bruno, possibly to support the increased use of the peninsula's
Bay side by the ship building industry. Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Industrial Park plans clearly
feature the entire road east of Bayshore Highway as East Grand Avenue, indicating the name as
used today.
Eccles Avenue (APE 1 7)
Eccles Avenue first took concrete form in the 1960s with the planning of Cabot, Cabot &
Forbes Industrial Park. However, there appears to have been private railroad tracks along the
approximate route of Eccles Avenue beginning in the early years of the 2ffh century. By 1919,
industrial development appears to have also followed the outline of earlier usage patterns.
El Camino Real (APE 7)
E1 Camino Real, or "the royal road," is perhaps the most famous road in California, dating to
colonial days when a group of Spaniards and Mexicans traveled up the Pacific coast establishing
missions and religious communities each separated by one day's distance from each other. The
movement to protect the street began around the turn of the 20d' century. Today E1 Camino
Real has evolved into a series of linked state highways, most of which follow the road's actual
historic route. Unlike these, however, the section of E1 Camino Real running through western
South San Francisco, today also referred to as Highway 82, was re-routed in the 1920s because
Colma Creek's unpredictable flooding made development along this important axis
prohibitively difficult. Today's Mission Road, located parallel to Highway 82 from the point at
which the highway diverges until Chestnut Avenue, is the historic E1 Camino Real path.
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Executive Drive (APE 27)
Paralleling the path of Southern Pacific Railroad's South San Francisco spur line, Executive
Drive provided the western edge for the Bethlehem Steel factory until it was demolished in the
early 1980s. Executive Drive is referred to as "Industrial Way" in the plans for Cabot, Cabot &
Forbes Industrial Park plan dating to the 1960s, providing a more obvious connection to its
historical usage pattern.
Forbes Boulevard (APE 14, 15, 16 & 20)
Forbes Boulevard dates to the 1960s and the development of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Industrial
Park. Wit'.ain the plan for the new park, Forbes Boulevard, starting at East Grand Avene and
curving north and then east through the central section of Point San Bruno, served as the main
street off of which most development was located. True to standard boulevard design, Forbes
Boulevard featured regular, grassy medians running down its middle from beginning to end, as
well as the rows of trees that other streets in the park displayed. The earliest plans for the
development indicate several existing businesses along Forbes Boulevard, suggesting that the
route chosen for the street may have followed an extant, albeit informal, path of travel.
Gateway Boulevard (APE 9 & i O)
Gateway Boulevard was designed as a new road in conjunction with the early 1980s Gateway
Project. From the Depression until the late 1970s, almost the entire site of this development was
occupied by a Bethlehem Steel factory. Even before Bethlehem Steel took ownership of this
land, however, the area's large, undivided acreage and direct access to Southern Pacific's South
San Francisco line invited other heavy industrial interest, such as Benicia Iron Works at the
turn of the 20~h century and Pacific Coast Steel by 1910.
Harbor Way (APE 11 & 26)
Extending south from East Grand Avenue, Harbor Way covers much of what had been
marshlancl until the 20m century infill projects. This area was filled and developed by a private
corporation called the Utah Construction Company in the 1950s, roughly corresponding to the
post-war taterest in water-related industries such as ship building and distribution.
Hickey Bo alevard (APE 7)
Hickey Boulevard is named for Tom Hickey, a Western Meat Company supervisor who
relocated to South San Francisco from Chicago at the beginning of the town's history. Hickey
later became a community leader and South San Francisco's representative to the county
government. The intersection of Hickey Boulevard and E1 Camino Real has historically been a
way-station of sorts, providing a variety of traveler's needs such as food, gas, and lodging.
Although the businesses have changed many times, the usage pattern at this intersection as
remained consistent.
Linden Avenue (APE 6)
Linden Avenue is one of the original streets planned by Swift and his partners for South San
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Francisco. While Grand Avenue provided the major east-west axis, Linden Avenue provided a
residential-scale street roughly paralleling San Bruno Toll Road's path.
Littlefield Avenue (APE 12, 13 & 24)
Running alongside Colma Creek near the waterway's mouth to the Bay, the area where
Littlefield Avenue is today was originally one of the places where dredging and channelizing was
first attempted. With the infilling and development of the 1930s, Littlefield Avenue appears to
have finally taken shape at the edge of the filled marshland. The approximately one block that
today separated Littlefield Avenue from Colma Creek date to the post-war push to channelize
the waterway.
Lowrie Avenue (APE 2)
Lowrie Avenue is located on land infilled during the 1930s however it appears to have
developed as a street during World War II a full decade later. Lowrie Avenue was one of a
number of streets, including the southern extension of Linden Avenue, that were constructed as
part of large government housing projects in the area. After the war, these housing projects were
slowly demolished, leaving open land for new or relocating light industrial uses.
San Mateo Avenue (APE i & 2)
Like Lowrie Avenue, San Mateo Avenue was constructed as part of wartime government
housing projects on land that had been infilled in the 1930s. Along San Mateo Avenue, Cape
Esperanza Village opened on March 2, 1945, providing housing for a total of 176 Navy
personnel and their families. This project was eventually demolished and businesses appeared on
the street in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Oyster Point Boulevard (APE 9, 17 & 21)
Oyster Point Boulevard, originally Butler Road, was one of the first streets in South San
Francisco. Like Grand Avenue, Butler Road provided an east-west connection between the
residential and industrial halves of the city across San Bruno Toll Road. Butler Road, however,
did not develop as early or as extensively as Grand Avenue. Instead of hosting a row of relatively
small and diverse factories, a small number of large plants, such as Pacific Coast Steel Company
and Schaw-Batcher Pipe Works Company. A Butler Avenue exit/entrance was constructed for
the Bayshore Highway and then in the 1960s the road was incorporated into the Cabot, Cabot
& Forbes Industrial Park plan as Oyster Point Boulevard.
Shaw Road (APE 2, 3 & 4)
Like Lowrie and San Mateo Avenues, Shaw Road was constructed as part of wartime
government housing projects on land that had been infilled in the 1930s. Shaw Road provided
the southern edge of the Cape Esperanza Village project, opened on March 2, 1945. Cape
Esperanza was eventually demolished and businesses appeared on the street in the late 1950s and
early 1960s.
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South Linden Avenue (APE 2)
South Linden Avenue is the southern extension of Linden Avenue, one South San Francisco's
earliest streets. South Linden Avenue is located on former marshland that was infilled through
Depression-era work projects and as a result of the construction of Southern Pacific Railroads's
South San Francisco spur line. While most of this area of the city's development began to occur
after World War II, businesses began appearing along South Linden Street by the early 1930s,
making the street a key artery in the decades that followed.
Swift Avenue (APE 22 & 23)
Swift Avenue, located in the southeast comer of Point San Bruno, is part of a series of blocks
developed through infilling in the late 1950s as South San Francisco evolved and adapted to
post-war economic realities. Included in this era's land creation projects was infilling of a
prominent canal used heavily by early industry along Grand Avenue. Swift Avenue is named
after Gustavus Swift, one of the "Big Four" Chicago-based meat packers who purchased the land,
designed t~ae town, and guided its development for many years. Today's Swift Avenue is the
second such street; the original Swift Avenue consisted of a stretch of today's East Grand
Avenue.
Utah Avenue (APE 25 & 12)
Like Harbor Way, Utah Avenue in located on what had been marshland until the 20m century
infill projects. This area was filled and developed by a private corporation called the Utah
Construction Company in the 1950s, roughly corresponding to the post-war interest in water-
related industries such as ship building and distribution.
DESCRIPTION OF RESOURCES
(~enera/Description
The Wet Weather Program APEs are all located in the City of South San Francisco. The City of South
San Francisco occupies the land south of the curvature of the San Bnmo mountains and is bounded to
the east by the San Francisco Bay. Highway 101, the major thoroughfare between San Francisco and the
peninsula, passes through the east portion of the city. The majority of the proposed improvements are
located in Point San Bruno, a land mass east of Highway 101 and downtown South San Francisco, and
bounded by the San Francisco Bay. Three project areas are located west of Highway 101 and south of
downtown South San Francisco. A separate area of improvement is located further west of downtown
South San Francisco on E1 Camino Real at the juncture of Hickey Boulevard.
The streets referred to in this report where improvements will occur include: Airport Boulevard,
Allerton Avenue, Beacon Street, Belle Air Road, DNA Way, East Grand Avenue, Ecdes Avenue, E1
Camino Real, Executive Drive, Forbes Boulevard, Gateway Boulevard, Harbor Way, Hickey Boulevard,
Linden Avenue, Littlefield Avenue, Lowrie Avenue, San Mateo Avenue, Oyster Point Boulevard, Shaw
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Road, South Linden Avenue, Swift Avenue, Utah Avenue. Some work will take place in and around
Colma Creek. The streets within this study are either four-lane streets, two-lane streets, two-way streets
with no lanes marked, or one-way streets. The buildings located on these streets are typically low-rise
commercial or light industrial structures or business park development. Some residential buildings were
found near the downtown South San Francisco area (see matrix in Appendix).
Airport Boulevard, North (APE 6)
Airport Boulevard, divided by Highway 101 runs north to south. It is flanked on its northernmost leg by
downtown South San Francisco and Highway 101 but passes to the east side of 101 near Colma Creek
and continues south. Traffic runs both directions on the four-lane road with a concrete median divider.
The low-rise buildings characteristic of the north portion of the street stand primarily on the west side
separated from the road by a sidewalk and are part of the downtown South San Francisco urban fabric.
The buildings vary in use and age, with a majority containing commercial uses with some residential
intermingled. The buildings range in architectural styles. The following is a list of properties located
within the APE 6 on Airport Boulevard:
· 899 Airport Boulevard
· 905 Airport Boulevard
· 915 Airport Boulevard
· 935 Airport Boulevard
· 945 Airport Boulevard
· 955 Airport Boulevard
Shell Station
76 Station
Commons Auto Parts
Dot and Andy's club
Accurate Door
Various commercial
1000 Airport Boulevard, apartments
Airport Boulevard, South (APE 4)
The southern portion of Airport Boulevard, east of Highway 101, contains commercial structures,
however, only three buildings in this section are within the project area. These buildings are
characteristic of the one-story to three-story (low-rise), light industrial commercial buildings found
throughout the project areas. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 4 on Airport
Boulevard:
· 470 Airport Boulevard, Atlas Heating and Ventilating Company
· 454-456 Airport Boulevard, for sale
· 428-438 Airport Boulevard, Inner City Cleaners
Allerton Avenue (APE 18)
Allerton Avenue, located on Point San Bruno, runs southwest to northeast with two lanes of traffic. All
the buildings are low-rise commercial structures, set-back from the street to varying degrees and
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separated 1:¥ parking zones from the sidewalk. The buildings on the street's west side are smaller in scale
than their neighbors to the east but all are monolithic in character. A defunct railroad spur intersects
the street near its center and trees line the street. The following is a list of properties located within the
APE 18 on Allerton Avenue:
· 301 Allerton Avenue, Aura Hardwoods Inc.
· 311 Allerton Avenue, Toshiba
· 321 Allerton Avenue, for lease
· 323 Allerton Avenue, Machinists Union District Lodge 141
· 342-510 Allerton Avenue, Pacific Distribution Center
· 349 Allerton Avenue, Concurrent Control
· 371 Allerton Avenue, The Early Years
· 383 Allerton Avenue
· 405 Allerton Avenue, Elena's Foods
· 410 Allerton Avenue, See's Candies
· 434 Allerton Avenue, See's Candies
Beacon Street (APE 4)
Beacon Street is located in the southern portion of Point San Bruno, west of Airport Boulevard and
south of Colma Creek. The semi-circular two-way street begins and terminates on Airport Boulevard.
The buildL-xgs, slightly set-back from the street, are characteristic of the light industrial and commercial
buildings found throughout the project areas. The following is a list of properties located within the
APE 4 on 3eacon Street:
· 127-137 Beacon Street, New Method
· 130-14.8 Beacon Street, Sieger Engineering Inc.
Belle Air Road (APE 4 ~ 8)
Belle Air Road runs one block east of Airport Boulevard and south of Colma Creek. Traffic is two-way
along this street and terminates at a gated industrial compound. The one building is typical of "big box"
commercial construction separated from the road by a large expanse of parking. The following is a list of
properties -ocated within the APE 4 and 8 on Belle Air Street:
· 451 Belle Air, Costco
Co/ma Creek (APE 5, 8 ~ 12)
Colma Creek is a channel of water, artificially re-directed into its current pathway, that flows from the
CiW of South San Francisco into the San Francisco Bay. The Creek has two channels. Where the creek
splits the main channel flows north to pass under Utah Avenue and then turns west into the city. The
other channel continues west from the Bay and terminates near the juncture of Shaw Road and San
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South San Francisco, California
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Mateo Avenue. Two of the three areas, APE 8 and 12, are either in the creek or on its bank. The third
area, APE 5, which is inaccessible to the public, occupies the land south of the creek's mouth. From the
north bank, the viewer can see a collection of industrial outbuildings and tanks - the property is
currently under construction.
DNA Way (APE 20)
DNA Way runs north to south at the northeast edge of Point San Bruno. This two~way street travels
from the eastern termination of Forbes Avenue and runs up the main hill of Point San Bnmo. The
buildings located on either side of the street are of contemporary low-rise construction and house
biotechnology companies. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 20 on DNA
Way:
· 1601-1757 DNA Way, Genentech
East Grand Avenue (APE 19)
East Grand Avenue is the main corridor between Point San Bruno and downtown South San Francisco,
where it becomes Grand Avenue. Most roads in Point San Bruno lead to East Grand Avenue. The wide,
four-lane road runs west to east and curves a path from Highway 101 east and terminates short of the
San Francisco Bay. The road is characterized by its width and the large scale, low-rise commercial
structures and business park development on each side. These structures are almost all set far back from
the road, with expanses of parking areas between their monolithic presence and the travel corridor. Two
addresses, 224~233 East Grand Avenue and 249 East Grand Avenue, are included in South San
Francisco Historical Market Site Tour Map, which indicates historic sites in the city with a
concentration on the various businesses that occupied the site. The following is a list of properties
located within the APE 19 on East Grand Avenue:
· 100 Petrini Van and Storage
· 130 East Grand Avenue, "3-D"
· 120422 East Grand Avenue, Max's Kitchen
· 121 East Grand Avenue, Comfort Suites
· 101-290 East Grand Avenue, Celera
· 150-461 East Grand Avenue, Brittania Pointe Grande business park
· 181 East Grand Avenue, Power Substation
· 190 East Grand Avenue, gas station
· 2 !3 East Grand Avenue, Shaman
· 221 East Grand Avenue, JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc.
· 224-233 East Grand Avenue, United Cold Storage
· 249 East Grand Avenue, Georgia Pacific Corporation Packaging Division
· 284~286 East Grand Avenue, Michelin South San Francisco Tire Service
· 285 East Grand Avenue, Jetro
· 288 East Grand Avenue, U.S. Glass & Aluminum Inc.
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Sout~ San Fmr~isco, California
DRAFT - Hiswric Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Paie 14/21
Eccles A~erme (APE
Eccles Avenue begins at Oyster Point Boulevard on the north portion of Point San Bruno. The two-lane
road runs northeast to southwest. The street is characterized by medium to large scale low-rise
commercial structures, generally set back from the road with parking between. The project area travels
only a short distance along Eccles Avenue. The following is a list of properties located within the APE
17 on Eccles Avenue:
· 551 Eccles Avenue
· 561 Eccles Avenue
· 570 Eccles Avenue
· 571 Eccles Avenue, Aspira Biosystems
El Camiuo Real (APE 7)
E1 Camino Real runs south of South San Francisco and travels northwest to southeast. The four-lane
road is a w'_'de, major thoroughfare and travels the breadth of the San Francisco peninsula. The area of
proposed improvements is at the juncture of Hickey Boulevard and E1 Camino Real. The low-rise
commercial buildings in this area are typically set back from both roads and are of contemporary
construction. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 7 adjacent to E1 Camino Real:
· 1709 E1Camino Real, motel
Executive Drive (APE 27)
Executive Drive is a one-way frontage road that runs parallel to the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks.
Traffic travels north from the west terminus of East Grand Avenue and passes under the Grand Avenue
overpass to downtown San Francisco. All buildings are located on the east side of the street but either
have addresses on East Grand Avenue or Gateway Boulevard. Therefore, there are no properties listed
for this street..
Forbes Boulevard (APE 14, 15, 16 ~' 20)
Forbes Boulevard runs southwest to northeast, from East Grand Avenue to the northeast comer of Point
San Bruno. The four-lane street features a series of grassy median with light fixtures and supports a large
portion of Point San Bruno's traffic. Low-rise, large-scale biotechnology and commercial structures stand
on either side of the street and are characteristic of the area. Where DNA Way and Forbes Boulevard
intersect, there is almost entirely new construction for biotechnological companies. Most buildings are
set back from the road with a parking area filling the intervening space. Only the north half of Forbes
Boulevard is part of the proposed improvements. The following is a list of properties located within the
APE 14, 15, 16 and 20 on Forbes Boulevard:
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·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
493 Forbes Boulevard, Colombus Salame Company
494 Forbes Boulevard, Jessica McClintock Inc. Outlet
499-700 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech (15 & 20)
501 Forbes Boulevard, Repro Media Inc.
530 Forbes Boulevard,
543 Forbes Boulevard,
560 Forbes Boulevard,
573 Forbes Boulevard,
Japan Food Corporation Int'l Inc.
Keeco
Anderson Lithograph
UTI
660 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech parking
Pump Station # 8 (14)
657 Forbes Boulevard, United Parcel Service
644-646 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech parking structure
616-636 Forbes Boulevard, UCSF warehouse and parking
Pump Station # 10 (16)
Gateway Boulevard (APE 9, 10, 19 8 27)
Gateway Boulevard, located at the western portion of Point San Bruno, begins at East Grand Avenue
and travels a curved path to terminate at Oyster Point Boulevard. The four-lane road features a grassy
meridian and is characterized by commercial high-rises and Iow-rise business park development. These
buildings are set far back from the road with parking occupying the intervening spaces. Only the north
third of the street is subject to the proposed improvements although the one building at the south end is
adjacent to APE 27. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 10, 19 and 27 on
Gateway Boulevard:
· 250 Gateway Boulevard, Embassy Suites (19)
· 201 Gateway Boulevard, Fibrogin (27)
· 701-899 Gateway Boulevard, Actuate and parking (10)
· 670-690 Gateway Boulevard, Larkspur Landing Home Suite Hotel (10)
· 750-900 Gateway Boulevard, Gateway Business Park (10)
· 1000 Gateway Boulevard, Aesclup (10)
· Pump Station # 2 (9)
Harbor Way (APE 11 ~ 26)
Harbor Way, parallel to the north channel of Colma Creek, runs north to south between East Grand
Avenue and Litflefield Avenue. The two-way street is characterized by low-rise commercial and light
industrial buildings separated from the road by a small setback. Only a small portion between Utah
Avenue and Mitchell Avenue is part of the proposed improvements. The following is a list of properties
located within the APE 11 and 26 on Harbor Way:
· Pump station # 4 (11)
· 266 Harbor Way, Hertz Equipment Rental
· Harbor Way at Mitchell, Fire Station 62
Wet Weather Program
$ou~ San Francisco, California
· 271 Harbor Way
· 315 Harbor Way, EWI
· 325 Harbor Way
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Hickey Boulevard (APE 7)
Hickey Boulevard runs between El Camino Real and Highway 280 west of downtown South San
Francisco. Where it intersects E1 Camino Real, the four-lane road features large-scale, low-rise buildings
and structures with travel oriented uses such as gas stations. The area of proposed improvements is
located in a triangular plot at the juncture of Hickey Boulevard and E1 Camino Real. The following is a
list of properties located within the APE 7 adjacent to Hickey Boulevard:
· 100 Hickey Boulevard, motel
· 120 Hickey Boulevard, gas station
Linden Avenue (APE 6)
The north segment of Linden Avenue, between Armour Avenue and Airport Boulevard, rum east to
west. At Armour Avenue, this two.lane road tums south and passes through downtown South San
Francisco to become South Linden Avenue. The street is mainly residential in character including the
small-scale residence that stands at the juncture of Airport Boulevard and Linden Avenue, within the
area of proposed improvements. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 6 on Linden
Avenue:
· 985 Linden Avenue, residence
Little, field Avenue (APE 12., 13 8 2.4)
Littlefield Avenue runs from Harbor Way to Utah Avenue following the curve of Colma Creek where it
meets the San Francisco Bay. This two-way street is characterized by small to large scale low-rise
commercial structures, generally set back from the street and, on the north side, with parking in the
intervening space. Staggered trees and landscaping line the street. The following is a list of properties
located wi'lain the APE 12, 13, and 24 on Littlefield Avenue:
· 200 Littlefield Avenue, IMPCO (12)
· 202-204 Littlefield Avenue, Sing Tao Daily and Blue Shield
· 210-2:8 Littlefield Avenue, various offices
· 215 Littlefield Avenue, Sing Tao Daily
· 222 Littlefield Avenue, Fed Ex
· 229 L"ttlefield Avenue, vacant
· 240 Littlefield Avenue, Golden State Flooring
· 260-280 Littlefield Avenue, office park
· 258 Littlefield Avenue, J. Sosnick & Sons
Wet W'earJaer Program
South San Francisco, California
· 360 Littlefield Avenue
· Pump Station# 7 (13)
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Lowrie Avenue (APE 2)
Lowrie Avenue runs north to south and parallel to the nearby Southern Pacific Railroad. Lowrie
Avenue begins at San Mateo Avenue and terminates at the main branch of Colma Creek. This two-way
road is characterized by low-rise commercial and light industrial structures and business park
development. Parking fills the space where buildings stand back from the street. Most of the street's east
side displays the rear entries to buildings with San Mateo addresses. The following is a list of properties
located within the APE 2 on Lowrie Avenue:
· 1333-1336 Lowrie Avenue, Kayman
· 1341-1349 Lowrie Avenue
· 1353-1361 Lowrie Avenue
· 1350-1368 Lowrie Avenue
· 1355 Lowrie Avenue, vacant
· 1365 Lowrie Avenue, for lease
· 1373 Lowrie Avenue, warehouse
· 1375-1377 Lowrie Avenue, San Francisco Door Co.
· 1374-1376 Lowrie Avenue, Universal Fleet Supply
· 1381-1383 Lowrie Avenue, Interstate Batteries
· 1387-1389 Lowrie Avenue, The Burke Co.
· 1392 Lowrie Avenue
· 1394 Lowrie Avenue, for lease
· 1395 Lowrie Avenue, San Bruno Garbage
· 1399 Lowrie Avenue, Polywell Systems
San Mateo Avenue (APE 1 ~ 2)
San Mateo Avenue, runs parallel to Lowrie Avenue in a north to south direction. This two-lane street,
west of Highway 101, supports most traffic moving north to Airport Boulevard and downtown San
Francisco. Although the area of proposed improvements is not directly on San Mateo Avenue, except
between Shaw Road and Lowrie Avenue, the Lowrie Avenue buildings front San Mateo Avenue. These
buildings are typically low-rise, small to medium scale commercial and light industrial structures set
back from the street with parking in the intervening spaces. The following is a list of properties located
within the APE 1 and 2 on San Mateo Avenue:
· 1305 - 1341 San Mateo Avenue, Graniterock Industries
· 1331 San Mateo, vacant warehouse
· 1341-1343 San Mateo, Asia View Entertainment
· 1349 San Mateo Avenue, Moss Rubber & Equipment Corporation
· 1357-1361 San Mateo Avenue, Arco's Autobody & Taylormade Automotive
· 1367 San Mateo Avenue, Bayshore Truck Equipment Co.
Wet Weather Program
South San Francisco, California
DRAFT - Hiswr/c Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Page 18/21
· 1379 San Mateo Avenue, Grace Body Shop
· 1383 San Mateo Avenue, E & J Auto Repair
· 1387--399 San Mateo Avenue, Calpico
· 1405 San Mateo Avenue, Four Star Truck Repair
· 1409 San Mateo Avenue, various businesses
· 1415~2417 San Mateo Avenue
· 1423 San Mateo Avenue, R & W Concrete Contractors
· 1429 San Mateo Avenue, Tiffany's Caf~ and Bakery
· 1431 San Mateo Avenue, Michael's Rentals
· 1445 San Mateo Avenue, Johnstone Supply
· 1451 San Mateo Avenue, R & R Scaffolding
· 1459 San Mateo Avenue, Oscar Tiele
· San Mateo Pump Station (1)
Oyster Po",nt Boulevard (APE 17 ~ 21)
Oyster Point Boulevard travels along the north edge of Point San Bruno in an east to west direction.
Serving as an access road from Highway 101 to Point San Bruno, this four-lane street is wide in
character with few structures along its edges. The area north of the road is almost entirely under
construction. As there is a rise in topography on the road's south side, most of the low-rise commercial
or business park development address ancillary streets such as Eccles Avenue or Gateway Boulevard.
The few buildings within the area of proposed improvements, on the north side of the street, are a
collection of "big box" commercial structures grouped together as a Tech Center. The following is a list
of properties located within the APE 17 and 21 on Oyster Point Boulevard:
· Lots north side of Oyster Point Boulevard, "The Cove" under construction (biotech campus)
· 270 Oyster Point Boulevard, Monique Trading Co.
· 333-335 Oyster Point Boulevard, Oyster Point Tech Center/Alexandria Tech Center
· Pump Station# 1 (21)
Shaw Road (APE 2, 3 ~ 4)
Shaw Road runs adjacent to Highway 101 in a north to south direction but tums east to west at the area
of the proposed improvements. This two-way street is characterized by low-rise, medium-scale light
industrial and commercial structures set back from the road. Some have parking areas in the set-back
area. The :ollowing is a list of properties located within the APE 2, 3 and 4 on Shaw Road:
· 205 Shaw Road, Westside and Central Concrete (2)
· 213 Shaw Road (2)
· 212-228 Shaw Road, currendy light industrial warehouse/to be Shaw Business Center (2)
· 219 Shaw Road, A.G. Makellim Co. (2)
· 220 Shaw Road, for lease (2)
· 223 Shaw Road, under construction (2)
Wet ~X/eather Program
South San Francisco, California
DRAFT - H/stcrr/c Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Page 19/21
· Shaw Road Pump Station, to be demolished (3)
· 228-242 Shaw Road, Brenton Safety (4)
· 251 Shaw Road, McLellan Equipment Inc. (4)
· 304 Shaw Road, Pioneer Express (4)
· 300 Shaw Road, Manning Trading Company (4)
South Linden Avenue (APE 2)
South Linden is the south segment of Linden Avenue. The two-lane road roms south at Armour
Avenue and passes through downtown South San Francisco to become South Linden Avenue. At this
portion the street supports mainly commercial and light industrial uses. The low-rise commercial
structures in the area of proposed improvements stand at the comer of South Linden Avenue and San
Mateo Avenue. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 2 on South Linden Avenue:
· 205 South Linden Avenue, various businesses
· 220 South Linden Avenue, various businesses
Swift Avenue (APE 22 ~ 23)
Swift Avenue runs east to west at the southeast end of Point San Bruno, directly south of East Grand
Avenue. The two-way street spans between East Grand Avenue and Haskins Way and is characterized
by medium to large-scale commercial and business development structures set back from the road with
some parking between. The area of proposed improvement runs almost the entire length of Swift
Avenue. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 22 and 23 on Swift Avenue:
· Pump Station # 3 (22)
· 301 Swift Avenue, Unisys
· 328 Swift Avenue, Pro Source
· 333 Swift Avenue, Cintas
· 360-390 Swift Avenue, business park
· 351-355 Swift Avenue, Freight Solutions Int'l
· 377 Swift Avenue, office
Utah Avenue (APE 12 ~ 25)
Utah Avenue spans from Littlefield Avenue to the south portion of Airport Boulevard and crosses the
main branch of Colma Creek. The four-lane road supports most of the traffic traveling along the south
end of Point San Bruno. The street is characterized by low-rise, medium to large scale commercial
buildings and business developments. The area of proposed improvements runs along a Southern Pacific
Railroad spur that intersects Utah Avenue and also encompasses a pump station where the street crosses
Colma Creek. The following is a list of properties located within the APE 12 and 25 on Utah Avenue:
~r e£ 3X, reat. he~ Program
South San Francisco, California
DRAFT - Historic Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Page 20/21
· 152-156 Utah Avenue, for lease
· Utah Avenue at Colma Creek, Pump House # 6 (25)
· 209-211 Utah Avenue, Micheal S. Hensley
· 233-235 Utah Avenue, C.H. Bull Co. warehouse
· 206 Utah Avenue, Apex Starlink Warehouse
· 250 Utah Avenue, Cargo Warehouse
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
After surveying the area, researching sources at local agencies, and examining the City of South San
Francisco "List of Designated and Potential Historic Resources," Carey & Co. has determined that no
resources within the project areas are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or the
California _2.egister of Historical Resources. To be listed in the NRHP and CRHR, a property must first
be over fifty years old and, not only be shown to be significant under the evaluation criteria for the
respective registers, but it must also possess historic "integrity." Integrity is defined as "the ability of a
property to convey it significance." Both the National Register and California Register criteria
recognize seven aspects or qualities that define integrity: location, design, setting, materials,
workmanship, feeling and association. The properties identified within the proposed improvements
areas are either not yet fifty years old, or are not significant examples of a type or period of architecture,
nor are they associated with an important person or event, nor have they yielded or likely to yield
information about prehistory or history.
Two properties, 224-233 East Grand Avenue and 249 East Grand Avenue, are identified in the South
San Francisco Historical Market Site Tour Map. The tour map was created by the Historic Preservation
Commission in order to identify historically or culturally significant sites throughout South San
Francisco - none have been designated as Historic Resources. After surveying the two structures, Carey
& Co. has determined that they are not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, nor are
they eligib:e for the California Register of Historical Resources. The two properties identified are not
significant examples of a type or period of architecture, nor are they associated with an important person
or event, nor have they yielded or are likely to yield information about prehistory or history.
CONCLUSI ON
Through a site survey and examination of researched information regarding the Wet Weather Program
Phases 1-4, Proposed Improvements APEs in South San Francisco, Carey & Co. has determined that the
project areas do not include any historic resources within their boundaries.
ENDNOTES
1. At the zime they arrived in South San Francisco, Swift and other meat packers were
experienc;_ng some challenges to their stockyards in Chicago. Citizens "disturbed by the rank
orders from the packing houses and concerned about the pollution of the Chicago River"
eventually managed to get meat packers to move away from populated areas of Chicago. (Powell
Wet Weather Program
South San Francisco, California
DRAFT. Historic Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
Page 21/21
A. Moore, The Calumet Region [n.p.: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1959]: 131-2.)
2. Linda Kauffman, South San Francisco: A History (South San Francisco: Linda Kauffman,
1976): 11; Map of South San Francisco, c. 1910, South San Francisco Public Library History
Room, South San Francisco, California.
3. Alan Hynding, From Frontier to Suburb: The Story of The San Mateo Peninsula (n.p.: Star
Publishing Company, 1982): 104.
4. Hynding 106 & 108.
5. Kauffman 15.
6. Map of South San Francisco, 1919, South San Francisco Public Library History Room, South
San Francisco, California.
7. Progress Report 1958-59 (South San Francisco: City of South San Francisco, 1959): n.p.,
South San Francisco Public Library History Room, South San Francisco, California.
8. Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Industrial Park, South San Francisco (n.p.: Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, c.
1965): n.p., South San Francisco Public Library History Room, South San Francisco, California.
9. Arnold & Palmer & Noble, The Gateway photographs, c. 1981, South San Francisco Public
Library History Room, South San Francisco, California.
Wet Weather Phases 1-4 Proposed Improvements
South San Francisco, California
PROPERTY MATRIX
ID/APE No. Proposed Facility
1 San Mateo Pump Station
Street
San Mateo Ay.
Property
San Mateo Pump Station
Colma Creek
2 San Mateo Force Main Forbes Blvd.
Lowrie Av.
San Mateo Ay.
499-700 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech
500 Forbes Boulevard, Repro Media Inc.
529 Forbes Boulevard, Japan Food Corporation Int'l Inc.
542 Forbes Boulevard, Keeco
559 Forbes Boulevard, Anderson Litho§raph
572 Forbes Boulevard, UTI
659 Forbes Boulevard, Cenentech parkin§
1333-1336 Lowde Avenue, K~yman
1341-1349 Lowrie Avenue
1353-1361 Lowrie Avenue
1350-1368 Lowrie Avenue
1355 Lowrie Avenue, vacant
1365 Lowrie Avenue, for lease
1373 Lowrie Avenue, warehouse
1375-1377 Lowrie Avenue, San Francisco Door Co.
1374-1376 Lowrie Avenue, Universal Fleet Supply
1381-1383 Lowrie Avenue, Interstate Batteries
1387-1389 Lowrie Avenue, The Burke Co.
1392 Lowrie Avenue
1394 Lowrie Avenue, for lease
1395 Lowrie Avenue, San Bruno Garba§e
1399 Lowrie Avenue, Polywell Systems
1305 - 1341 San Mateo Avenue, Graniterock Industries
1331 San Mateo, vacant warehouse
1341-1343 San Mateo, Asia View Entertainment
1349 San Mateo Avenue, Moss Rubber
& Equipment Corporation
1357-1361 San Mateo Avenue, Arco's Autobody
& Taylormade Automotive
1367 San Mateo Avenue, Bayshore Truck Equipment Co.
1379 San Mateo Avenue, Grace Body Shop
1383 San Mateo Avenue, E & J Auto Repair
1387-1399 San Mateo Avenue, Calpico
1405 San Mateo Avenue, Four Star Truck Repair
1409 San Mateo Avenue, various businesses
1415-1417 San Mateo Avenue
1423 San Mateo Avenue, R & W Concrete Contractors
1429 San Mateo Avenue, Tiffany's Caf~ and Bakery
Shaw Road Pump Station
S. Linden Av.
Shaw Rd.
Shaw Rd.
1431 San Mateo Avenue, Michael's Rentals
1445 San Mateo Avenue, Johnstone Supply
1451 San Mateo Avenue, R & R Scaffoldin§
1459 San Mateo Avenue, Oscar Tiele
205 South Linden Avenue, various businesses
220 South Linden Avenue, various businesses
205 Shaw Road, Westside and Central Concrete
213 Shaw Road (4)
212-218 Shaw Road, currently li§ht industrial warehouse
/ to be Shaw Business Center
219 Shaw Road, A.G. Makellim Co.
220 Shaw Road, for lease
Shaw Road Pump Station, to be demolished
223 Shaw Road, under construction
251 Shaw Road, McLellan Equipment Inc.
Shaw Road Force Main
Airport Blvd.
Beacon St.
Belle Air Rd.
Shaw Rd.
469 Airport Boulevard, Atlas Heating
and Ventilating Company
454-456 Airport Boulevard, for sale
428-438 Airport Boulevard, Inner City Cleaners
127-137 Beacon Street, New Method
130-148 Beacon Street, Sieger Engineering Inc.
451 Belle Air, Costco
228-242 Shaw Road, Brenton Safety
251 Shaw Road, McLellan Equipment Inc.
304 Shaw Road, Pioneer Express
300 Shaw Road, Manning Trading Company
6
Airport Boulevard Sewer
Airport Blvd.
Linden Av.
898 Airport Boulevard, Shell Station
904 Airport Boulevard, 76 Station
914 Airport Boulevard, Commons Auto Parts
934 Airport Boulevard, Dot and Andy's club
944 Airport Boulevard, Accurate Door
954 Airport Boulevard, Various commercial
999 Airport Boulevard, apartments
985 Linden Avenue, residence
Winston Manor Sewer
El Camino Real
Hickey Blvd.
1709 El Camino Real, motel
100 Hickey Boulevard, motel
119 Hickey Boulevard, gas station
8 Colma Crk Bank Rest. Colma Creek 451 Belle Air, Costco
Pump Station 2
Gateway Bvld 1000 Gateway Boulevard, Aesclup
10
11
Gateway Blvd.
701-899 Gateway Boulevard, Actuate and parking
670-690 Gateway Boulevard, Larkspur Landing Hotel
750-900 Gateway Boulevard, Gateway Business Park
1000 Gatewa_Y Boulevard, Aesclup
Pump station # 4
Harbor Way at Mitchell, Fire Station 62
266 Harbor Way, Hertz Equipment Rental
12
Littlefield Av.
Utah Ay.
200 Littlefield Avenue, IMPCO
152-156 Utah Avenue, for lease
209-211 Utah Avenue, Micheal S. Hensley
233-235 Utah Avenue, C.H. Bull Co. warehouse
206 Utah Avenue, Apex Starlink Warehouse
250 Utah Avenue, Cargo Warehouse
13
14
Forbes Blvd.
Pump Station # 7
202-204 Littlefieid Avenue, Sing Tao Daily and Blue Shield
215 Littlefield Avenue, Sing Tao Daily
212-218 Littlefield Avenue, various offices
Pump Station # 8
657 Forbes Boulevard, United Parcel Service
660 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech parking
15
16
Forbes Blvd.
493 Forbes Boulevard, Colombus Salame Company
494 Forbes Boulevard, Jessica McClintock Inc. Outlet
499-700 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech
501 Forbes Boulevard, Repro Media Inc.
530 Forbes Boulevard, Japan Food Corporation Int'l Inc.
543 Forbes Boulevard, Keeco
560 Forbes Boulevard, Anderson Lithograph
573 Forbes Boulevard, UTI
660 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech parking
657 Forbes Boulevard, United Parcel Service
644-646 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech parking structure
616-636 Forbes Boulevard, UCSF warehouse and parking
Pump Station # 10
616-636 Forbes Boulevard, UCSF warehouse and parking
17
£ccles Blvd.
Oyster Point Blvd.
570 Ecdes Avenue, Aspira Biosystems
Lots north side of Oyster Point Boulevard,
"The Cove" under construction (biotech campus)
270 Oyster Point Boulevard, Monique Trading Co.
333-335 Oyster Point Boulevard, Oyster Point Tech Center/
Alexandria Tech Center
18
Allerton Ave.
300 Allerton Avenue, Aura Hardwoods Inc.
310 Allerton Avenue, Toshiba
320 Allerton Avenue, for lease
322 Allerton Avenue, Machinists Union District Lodge 141
342-510 Allerton Avenue, Pacific Distribution Center
348 Allerton Avenue, Concurrent Control
370 Allerton Avenue, The Early Years
382 Allerton Avenue
404 Allerton Avenue, Elena's Foods
410 Allerton Avenue, See's Candies
434 Allerton Avenue, See's Candies
19
E. Grand Ay.
Gateway Blvd.
100 Petrini Van and Storage
129 East Grand Avenue, "3-D"
120-122 East Grand Avenue, Max's Kitchen
120 East Grand Avenue, Comfort Suites
101-290 East Grand Avenue, Celera
150-461 Fast Grand Avenue, Brittania Pointe
Grande business park
180 East Grand Avenue, Power Substation
189 East Grand Avenue, gas station
212 East Grand Avenue, Shaman
220 East Grand Avenue, JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc.
224-233 East Grand Avenue, United Cold Storage
248 East Grand Avenue, Georgia Padfic Corporation
284-286 East Grand Avenue, Michelin SSF Tire Service
284 East Grand Avenue, Jetro
287 East Grand Avenue, U.S. Glass & Aluminum Inc.
250 Gateway Boulevard, Embassy Suites
20
DNA Way
Forbes Blvd.
1601-1757 DNA Way, Genentech
499-700 Forbes Boulevard, Genentech
21
Oyster Point Blvd. Pump Station # 1
385 Oyster Point Boulevard
May 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco Wet Wear. her Program, Phases I-4
. ' ................... : . . ~ , .... ,~ .,. ~. ,'73~ .,..~y:,, ~
':' '-""~ ......................... :.-:,-.~..,= ', ~'- 31~¥, .... :' ,,. >t,
~.' ' .::i: '. ?:: ,~;,, ? ' :.' : ~. .
", : '...;'~'~" '. ~, .i ':. ;: .' ':~
Photo I:APE 2, San Mateo/Lowrie Avenues, streetscape
Photo 2: APE 2, Shaw Road, typical light industrial
Carey & Co. 5nc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
400 Oyster Point Boulevard
22
23
Swift Av.
Swift Ay.
Pump Station # 3
301 Swift Avenue, Unisys
301 Swift Avenue, Unisys
328 Swift Avenue, Pro Source
333 Swift Avenue, Cintas
360-390 Swift Avenue, business park
351-355 Swift Avenue, Freight Solutions Int'l
377 Swift Avenue, office
24
25
Littlefield Av.
Utah Av.
202-204 Littlefield Avenue, Sing Tao Daily and Blue Shield
210-218 Littlefield Avenue, various offices
215 Littlefield Avenue, Sing Tao Daily
222 Littlefield Avenue, Fed Ex
229 Littlefield Avenue, vacant
240 Littlefield Avenue, Golden State Flooring
260-280 Littlefieid Avenue, office park
258 Littlefield Avenue, J. Sosnick & Sons
360 Littlefield Avenue
Utah Avenue at Colma Creek, Pump House # 6
Colma Creek
152-156 Utah Avenue, for lease
26
Harbor Way
266 Harbor Way, Hertz Equipment Rental
Harbor Way at Mitchell, Fire Station 62
271 Harbor Way
315 Harbor Way, EWl
325 Harbor Way
27 Gateway Blvd. 201 Gateway Boulevard, Fibrogin
May 9, 2002 City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Pro.am, Phases I-4
Photo 3: APE 3, Shaw Road, Shaw Road Pump Station
Photo 4: APE 4, Beacon Avenue, commercial
Carey & Co. I.~c.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002 City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases I-4
Photo 5: APE 5 vicinity, proposed effluent storage pond area
Photo 6: APE 6, Airport Boulevard, streetscape looking north
Carey & Co. Inc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
· May 9, 2002 City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Pro.am, Phases I-4
Photo 7: APE 7, E1 Camino Real/Hickey Avenue, commercial
Photo 8: APE 8, Colma Creek looking south
Carey & Co. ~nc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
Ma? 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Pro.am, Phases I-4
Photo 9: APE 10, Gateway Boulevard, typical offices. Vicinity of APE 9
Photo 10: APE 11, Harbor Way, Pump Station ~4
Carey & Co. Inc. DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002
,~q?:~~~:.:.?' .~ :";5. .
~. :,
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases 1-4
Photo 11: APE 13, Swift Avenue, Pump Station #7
Photo 12: APE 14, Forbes Avenue, Pump Station ~4
Carey & Co. Inc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases i-4
Photo 13: APE 15, Forbes Avenue, typical offices
Photo 14: APE 16 vicnity, Forbes Avenue, vicinity of Pump Station #10
Carey & Co. Inc. DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002
Photo 15:
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases 1-4
APE 17, Eccles Avenue, typical offices
Photo 16: APE 17, Oyster Point Boulevard, north side under construction
Carey & Co. ;nc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002 City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Pro.am, Phases 1-4
iil
Photo 17: APE t8, Allerton Avenue, typical commercial
Photo 18: APE 19, East Grand Avenue, location of historic site marker
Carey & Co. Inc. DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002
Ci~ of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases
Photo 19: APE 19, East Grand Avenue, location of historic site marker
Photo 20: APE 19, East Grand Avenue, historic site marker
Carey & Co.. 5nc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco
·, ~:.~ l !,.:.
Wet Weather Program, Phases I-4
Photo 21: APE 19, East Grand Avenue, ts-pical offices
Photo 22: APE 20, Forbes Avenue, typical offices
Carey & Co. Inc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002 City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases
Photo 23: APE 22 and 23, Swift Avenue, streetscape
Photo 24: APE 24, Littlefield Avenue, t3'pical offices
Carey & Co. Inc.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
M~y 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases 1-4
Photo 25: APE 24, Littlefield Avenue, rear of typical light industrial
Photo 26: APE 25, Utah Avenue, Pump Station #6
Carey & Co. Inc. DRAFT -Historic Resources E~,aluation
May 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases 1--4
Photo 27: APE 26, Harbor Way, firestation
Photo 28: APE 27, Executive Drive, typical offices
Carey & Co. I,~c.
DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
May 9, 2002
City of South San Francisco Wet Weather Program, Phases 1-4
-~-..
,,!.' :, , :~,~'i,?~,~:
Photo 29: APE 27, Executive Drive, typical commercial
Carey & Co. Inc. DRAFT -Historic Resources Evaluation
City of South San Francisco
Proposed facirties WWP Phases 1-4
ID Proposed
No. Facility
I San Mateo Pump Station
2 San Mateo Force Main
3 Shaw Road Pump Station
4 Shaw Road Force Main
5 Effluert Storage Pond
6 Airport Blvd. Sewer
7 Winston Manor Sewer
8 Colma Creel Bank Restoration
9 Pump Station No. 2
10 Pump Station No. 2 Force Main
11 Pump Station No. 4
12 Pump Station No. 4 Force Main
13 Pump Station No. 7
14 Pump Station No. 8
15 Pump Station No. 8 Force Main
Description
Upgrade existing pump station by converting dry well to wet well and
adding new pumps. New electrical and control building will be
constructed.
Construct approximately 4, 400' of new 36" force main between the
San Mateo pump station and the Shaw Road pump station. One half
of the installation will be done by pipe bursting an existing 27"
sanitary sewer line, the other half will be installed by a conventional
trenching method. Force main includes a crossing of Colma Creek
that will be constructed by the County in conjunction with the Creek
channelization project.
A new pump station will be constructed on the site of the existing
pump station. Once construction is complete, the existing pump
station will be demolished.
Construct approximately 2,800' of new 42" force main between the
Shaw Road pump station and the WQCP. Installation will include a
microtunneling crossing of Highway 101 via a proposed 54" steel
casing.
A new effluent storage pond will be constructed on the WQCP
property. The area in the past has been used as sludge drying beds.
A portion of the area is currently being used by the WQCP expansion
project contractor. The completed pond will consist of an earthen
reservoir (approximately 3.0 MG) with a plastic liner. A pump station
will be constructed adjacent to the pond to both fill and drain the
reservoir.
This project involves the upsizing of an existing 8" sewer line in
Airport Blvd. between Chapman and Armour. Alternatives to be
evaluated will include constructing a new parallel sewer main
adjacent to the existing line or upsizing the existing line by pipe
bursting.
Rehabilitate an existing 6" sewer main that has been damaged by
root intrusion and settlement. Various forms of trenchless methods
will be evaluated to replace this line. The line begins in the
intersection of Hickey Blvd. and Camaritas Ave and continues
northeast to a manhole just west of El Camino Real.
This project consists of adding creek bank protection on the south
side of Colma Creek at the WQCP. The south bank of Colma Creek
has eroded due to high velocities during wet weather flows in Colma
Creek. The erosion is threatening the WQCP facilities near the creek
bank. Bank protection is expected to include sheet piling and rip rap.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 850' of new 10" force main in Gateway Blvd
south of Oyster Point Blvd.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 2,800'. of new 21" force main between
Pump station No. 4 and the WQCP.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 2,800' of new 10" force main between
Pump station No. 8 and Allerton Ave.
h:~ctient~outhst~182g.10~Project Descriptions (Phases 1-4)
I 3/19/02 4:14 PM
City of South San Francisco
Proposed facilities WWP Phases 1-4
16 Pump Station No. 10
17 Oyster Point Blvd. Trunk Sewer
18 Allerton Ave. Trunk Sewer
19 East Grand Ave. Trunk Sewer
20 DNA Way Subtrunk Sewer
21 Pump Station No. 1
22 Pump Station No. 3
23 Swift Subtrunk
24 Littlefield Subtrunk
25 Pump Station No. 6
26 Harbor Way Subtrunk
27 Executive Subtrunk
Upgrades to existing pump station.
This project consist of two new pipelines. The first line which will be
12" and approximately 900' in length begins in Eccles Avenue 240'
south of Oyster Point Blvd. and continues west in Oyster Point Blvd.
to approx. 640' west of Eccles Ave. The second line will be 15" and
approximately 1,800' in length. It Will be located in Oyster Point Blvd.
and will extend from Eccles Ave. to Pump Station No. 2.
Construct approximately 2,200' of 18" pipe in Allerton Ave between
East Grand Ave. and Forbes Blvd. and approximately 600' of 18"
pipe in East Grand Ave. between Allerton Ave. and Littlefield Ave.
Construct approximately 2,300' of new trunk sewer ranging in size
from 21" to 27". The new line will be located in East Grand Ave.
between Allerton Way and Harbor Way.
Construct approximately 200' of 10" sewer in DNA Way south of
Forbes Blvd. and 600' of 10" sewer from 300' west of DNA to 90'
east of Kaufmann.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 3,200' of 15" sewer in Swift Ave and along
the RR spur.
Construct approximately 2,400' of 8" and 10" sewer in Littlefield
Avenue.
Upgrades to existing pump station.
Construct approximately 1,000' of 8" sewer in Harbor Way between
Utah Ave. and 80' north of Mitchell Ave.
Construct approximately 2,100' of 15" sewer in Executive north of
East Grand Ave. and in East Grand Avenue between Executive and
Gateway.
h:~client~southst~182g.10'~Project Descriptions (Phases 1-4) 2 3/19/02 4:14 PM
0 5OO 10OO
SCALE IN FEET
Note: See attached Table 1 for
description of proposed
improvements.
COr'OgL, C)
engineers
,'-,. : ..' ,.,f....:-- ..... : ....
Oyster Point Blvd.
~j ·
- >'"; Shaw Road
.\
Forbes Blvd. !
· ..~~,~- ·
;PRR ROW
Figure 1
WET WEATHER PROGRAM PHASES 1-4
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
MARCH 2002
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
ssf302f1-4182.cdr
0 40 80
SCALE IN FEET
Note: See attached Table I for
description of proposed
improvements.
eCOT'OLL. O
engineers
SSF302F2-4182.CDR
Figure 2
WET WEATHER PROGRAM PHASES 1-4
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
MARCH 2002
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
Wet Weather Program
South San Francisco, California
CREDITS
DRAFT - Historic Resources Evaluation Report - May 9, 2002
The following individuals participated in this historic resource evaluation report:
Carey & Co. '_nc.
Alice Carey, Principal
Hisashi B. Sugaya, Project Manager
Sarah M. Dreller, Architectural Historian
Connor E. Turnbull, Preservation Specialist
Carey & Co. Inc.
Histor/c Resource Evaluation