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4.4 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
4.4.1 Introduction
This section addresses potential public health and safety issues associated with
the project site, including exposure of people, animals, and structures to hazards
and hazardous substances, including pesticides, fire hazards, and septic tanks.
This section also identifies feasible mitigation measures to reduce any identified
significant impacts to a less than significant level.
A number of properties may cause a substance to be considered hazardous,
including toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity, or reactivity. According to the State of
California, a hazardous material is defined as "a substance or combination of
substances which, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical or
infectious characteristics, may either (1) cause, or significantly contribute to, an
increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating
irreversible illness; or (2) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human
health or environment when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed
of or otherwise managed."
This section is based in part on a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
prepared for the project site by ACC Environmental Consultants, Inc. (ACC) in
December 2002, prior to demolition of on-site structures, as well as a Summary of
Environmental Issues prepared by Geomatrix in June 2006.
4.4.2 Existing Conditions
4.4.2.1
Agency Database Research
Available federal, state, and local agency databases were reviewed to identify the
presence of any government-regulated properties, either on site or adjacent to the
project site that could potentially result in hazardous on-site conditions.
Complete copies of the database review report are provided as an appendix to
the Phase I ESA report found in Appendix 4.4 of this Draft EIR.
Environmental assessment documents prepared for the site conform to American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) requirements, as described in ASTM
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Bulletin E 1527 97, Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase
I Environmental Site Assessment Process. Federal and state records searches
includes a summary and description of the specific agency database reviewed,
the ASTM-specified search radius distances (up to 1 mile), and figures showing
all identified documented sites having hazardous materials storage, generation,
disposal or contamination.
Searches of federal and state databases, including the National Priority List,
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Information (RCRAInfo), the Leaking
Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Database, and the State Contamination List,
determined that hazardous sites were recorded in the vicinity of the project site.
This database search identified two Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) Corrective Action Sites; four State Contamination List sites; one RCRIS-
listed treatment, storage, and disposal facility site; thirty LUST database sites;
two California Solid Waste Landfills, Incinerators, or Transfer Station database
sites; one RCRA Large Quantity Generator; and seven RCRA Small Quantity
Generator sites in the vicinity of the project site.
Several sites with documented releases of hazardous substances and/or
petroleum products are within 1 mile of the project site, but, due to their
locations, only one has the potential to affect the environmental conditions of the
project site. The Phase I ESA concluded that, with the exception of the property
located at 485-489 Cabot Road, there was no documented evidence of constituent
plumes originating from any of the identified hazardous sites migrating to the
proj ect site.
To evaluate the presence of groundwater impacted by volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) emanating from the nearby 485-489 Cabot road property,
Geomatrix conducted environmental due diligence activities in April and May
2006. Results indicated that VOCs in groundwater would not limit the continual
use of the property for commercial or industrial purposes. Geomatrix also
conducted a soil vapor survey to evaluate intrusion of VOCs into the on-site
warehouse structure before it was demolished. Results indicated that soil vapors
beneath the warehouse did not contain VOCs that would limit the use of the
property for R&D, office, residential commercial or industrial purposes. This
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report was submitted to the San Mateo County Health Services Agency
(SMCHSA) and no additional environmental work was requested.
4.4.2.2 Site History
The Phase I ESA included a review of City of South San Francisco Building and
Planning Department records for the project site. The Phase I ESA also included
historical information from the Haines City Directories and aerial photographs
available at Pacific Aerial Surveys that were used to determine previous uses of
the project site and adjacent properties. This information could provide potential
clues to previous hazardous materials use or storage.
The project site has been occupied by numerous users since approximately 1938.
From 1967 through 2006, the project site was occupied by various clothing
businesses within a two-story, 161,845-square-foot concrete warehouse and office
building. The property also included a parking lot and two loading docks. The
concrete building was demolished in May of 2006 and no structures are currently
located on the site.
The project site is approximately 7.48 acres in size and at the time of the ACC's
site reconnaissance, consisted of a two-story 161,845-square-foot concrete block
warehouse and office building with a parking lot and two loading docks.
During the Phase I ESA, ACC observed four 5-gallon buckets of floor finish, two
5-gallon buckets of wax stripper, and various other I-gallon containers of
cleaners. There was no leaking or staining in the vicinity of these materials. The
amounts of materials stored on site were below the State of California Health and
Safety Code 25506(b) threshold levels for reporting. The Phase I ESA concluded
that the presence of these materials posed a low potential to impact the
environment. These materials have already been removed from the site.
Prior to demolition, two rectangular subsurface structures with tracks running
through them and around the floor located were observed in the warehouse area.
A cement pad with several cut off pipes was observed in the rear of the building
in the landscaping. The use of these structures was undetermined. The Phase I
ESA determined that the structures should be further investigated to determine if
some type of machinery existed within them and that the cut off pipes should be
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capped. These structures, along with the cement pad have since been
demolished. No machinery was identified during slab demolition activities
(Geomatrix 2006).
The Phase I ESA identified staining in the parking lot and loading dock resulting
from leaking fluids from vehicles and trucks. Staining in the air handling room
was also identified to be the result of leaking oil from the machines. The Phase I
ESA recognized the presence of the staining in the structure as having a low
potential to impact the environment. As previously mentioned, the structures
have been demolished since the Phase I ESA was conducted.
The Phase I ESA determined that there was no staining in the vicinity of several
storm drains located throughout the property. The Phase I ESA determined that
the presence of these drains posed a low potential to impact the environment.
The Phase I ESA also identified building materials suspected to contain asbestos
at the property. During the site reconnaissance, chipped and/or peeling paint
was not observed. A structure on the project site, which was constructed prior to
1978, had painted surfaces that may have met the definition of lead-baked paint.
There are state and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) regulations and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines
that are designed to protect residents and workers who disturb lead-based paint.
Since the structures have been demolished and disposed of, lead paint and
asbestos hazards are no longer a potential environmental issue.
4.4.2.3 Present Conditions
According to subsurface investigations performed in the vicinity of the project
site, the area is underlain by a thin layer of soil over resistant bedrock that
appears to be the buried surface of a former topographic high (ACC 2002).
Unconfined groundwater occurs at approximately 14 feet below ground surface
(bgs). A second water-bearing zone occurs from 30 to 41 feet bgs and is
separated from the overlying zone by a 10-foot-thick clayey silt deposit.
Groundwater flow direction has been determined to flow toward the south-
southwest.
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As previously mentioned, there are several sites within 1 mile of the project site
with documented releases of hazardous substances and petroleum products.
Because the regional groundwater flow direction is south-southeast in the
vicinity of the project site, constituents originating from sites located to the north-
northwest would be more likely to migrate to the project site than would
constituents originating at sites in other locations. There is no documented
evidence that constituent plumes originating from any sites have migrated to the
project site, except for the property at 485-489 Cabot Road (ACC 2002).
Two groundwater monitoring wells were located on-site. One of these has been
decommissioned according to SMCHSA requirements (Geomatrix 2006). The
other well is monitored quarterly to determine concentrations of the VOCs
associated with 485-489 Cabot Road property by TEC Accutite, per the
requirements of SMCHSA.
4.4.3 Regulatory Considerations
4.4.3.1 National Hazardous Materials Regulatory Framework
The U.S. EP A is the main federal agency responsible for enforcing regulations
relating to hazardous materials and wastes, including evaluation and
remediation of contamination and hazardous wastes. The U.S. EP A works
collaboratively with other agencies to enforce materials handling and storage
regulations and site cleanup requirements. OSHA and the Department of
Transportation (DOT) are authorized to regulate safe transport of hazardous
materials.
Primary federal laws pertaining to hazardous materials and wastes include the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and the Comprehensive
Environmental Responsibility, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(CERCLA). RCRA includes procedures and requirements for reporting releases
of hazardous materials, and for cleanup of such releases. RCRA also includes
procedures and requirements for handling hazardous wastes or soil or
groundwater contaminated with hazardous wastes. CERCLA delineates the
liability for contamination between current property owners and others. The
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act is administered by the DOT via its
issuance of inspections, training and transportation requirements and
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information; the federal government delegates enforcement authority to the
states.
4.4.3.2 California Hazardous Materials Regulatory Framework
State agencies that regulate hazardous materials and contamination include the
Department of Health Services (DHS), the Department of Toxic Substances
Control (DTSC), and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The
DTSC administers U.S. EP A's standards regarding public health effects of soil
contamination, while the RWQCB administers State water quality standards for
surface and groundwater. Lead responsibility for remediation depends on the
proposed use of a parcel, the character of waste contaminants and the need for
site monitoring. Transport of hazardous materials is administered by the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and enforced by the
California Highway Patrol.
State regulations applicable to hazardous materials are contained in Titles 8, 22,
and 26 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) and include the State Water
Code, Underground Storage Tank Code, Cortese Act (listing of hazardous waste
and substances sites), and Proposition 65 (safe drinking water and toxics
enforcement) .
4.4.3.3 California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics
The California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics fosters and
promotes the development of a safe, efficient, dependable, and environmentally
compatible air transportation system. The State Aeronautics Act, Public Utilities
Code (PUC) section 21001 et seq., is the foundation for the Department's aviation
policies. The Division issues permits for and annually inspects hospital heliports
and public-use airports, makes recommendations regarding proposed school
sites within 2 miles of an airport runway, and authorizes helicopter landing sites
at or near schools. Aviation system planning provides for the integration of
aviation into transportation system planning on a regional, statewide, and
national basis.
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4.4.3.4 San Mateo County Environmental Health Department
Regulation of toxic and hazardous substances is locally administered through the
San Mateo County Environmental Health Department. The department
administers several programs to regulate and monitor the use of hazardous
materials, including the hazardous materials business plan program, hazardous
waste generator program, California accidental release program, underground
storage tank program, groundwater protection program, and the stormwater
pollution prevention program. These programs, which are mandated by State
and Federal Laws, are aimed at protecting public health and the environment.
The Hazardous Materials Business Plan is used to keep track of the use of
hazardous materials by businesses in accordance with both state and federal
laws. The Hazardous Waste Generator Program was started in 1984 when the
State of California DTSC authorized the Health Department to inspect and
regulate non-permitted hazardous waste generators in San Mateo County based
on the Hazardous Waste Control Law found in the California Health and Safety
Code Division 20, Chapter 6.5 and regulations found in the California Code of
Regulations, Title 22, Division 4.5.
4.4.4 Consistency with Applicable Regulations
The project would be consistent with all local, state, and federal regulations
controlling the management of hazardous materials and contaminated soils. The
project would also be consistent with requirements set forth by the San Mateo
County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) and the Federal Aviation
Administration. Therefore, the project would be in compliance with all
applicable regulations regarding the management and cleanup of hazardous
materials.
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4.4.5 Impacts and Mitigation
4.4.5.1 Significance Criteria
In accordance with Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines and City of South San
Francisco environmental guidelines, implementing the project could have a
significant effect on the environment if it would:
. create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the
routine transport, use, handling or disposal of hazardous materials;
. 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;
. emit hazardous emissions or handling of hazardous or acutely hazardous
materials, substances or waste within 0.25 mile of an existing or proposed
school;
. be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous material sites
compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result,
creates a significant hazard to the public or the environment;
. be located within an airport land use plan, within two miles of a public
airport, or located within the vicinity of a private airstrip, resulting in a
safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area;
. be located within the vicinity of a private airstrip, resulting in a safety hazard
for people residing or working in the project area;
. impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation plan; or
. expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death
involving wildland fires, including where wildland is adjacent to urbanized
areas or where residences are intermixed with wildland.
Hazards and Hazardous Materials Issues Not Discussed Further
Analyses of impacts relating to construction emissions (dust and particulates),
noise, and traffic are addressed in Section 4.2, Air Quality, Section 4.7, Noise,
and Section 4.8, Transportation, respectively. These analyses indicate that these
construction impacts can be mitigated to a less than significant level. No further
discussion of these issues is necessary in this section.
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Implementing the project would not result in hazardous emissions or handling
of hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances or waste within 0.25
mile of an existing or proposed school. However, a child care facility has been
approved for the parcel located across the street from the project site, for which
environmental documentation has been prepared.
No schools are located within 0.25 mile of the project site and therefore, no
additional discussion related to this issue is required.
The project site is not included on the list of hazardous materials sites compiled
pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5.1 Therefore, no additional
discussion related to this issue is required.
Review of area maps shows that the project site is not located within the vicinity
of a private airstrip. Therefore, implementing the project would not result in a
safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area as it relates to
aviation issues. No further discussion related to this issue is necessary.
Implementing the project would not impair implementation of or physically
interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation
plan. The project includes commercial development on a site that was already
developed with commercial uses; access to the site would be adequate. Traffic
impacts due to implementing the project would be mitigated as necessary as
described in Section 4.8 of this document. Therefore, no additional discussion
related to this issue is needed.
Implementing the project would not expose people or structures to a significant
risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildland is
adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildland.
The project site is located in an urban and developed are with commercial uses.
No further discussion of the issue is needed.
1 .ACC 2002.
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4.4.5.2 Project Impacts
Impact 4.4-1: Contaminated soil and groundwater could be exposed during
excavation and grading activities, exposing construction
workers to hazardous materials. (S)
As previously discussed there is a potential contaminated plumes from the 485-
489 Cabot Road property to affect the project site. The 2004 Geomatrix study
concluded that VOCs in groundwater and soil vapors beneath the warehouse
(which has been demolished) did not contain VOCs that would limit the use of
the property for residential or commercial or industrial purposes. However, it is
possible that during construction contaminated soil or groundwater could be
exposed and create hazards to construction workers.
Mitigation Measure 4.4-1: While not expected to occur on-site, if contaminated
soil and/or groundwater is encountered during excavation and/or grading
activities, the construction contractor(s) shall stop work and immediately inform
the appropriate applicant representative. An on-site assessment shall be
conducted to determine if the discovered materials pose a significant risk to the
public or construction workers. If the materials are determined to pose such a
risk, a remediation plan shall be prepared and submitted to comply with
applicable legal requirements to assure the proper handling and management of
contaminated soil and/or debris, and the protection of human health and the
environment for the new building. Soil remediation methods shall include, but
are not necessarily limited to, excavation and on-site treatment, excavation and
off-site treatment or disposal, and/or treatment without excavation.
Remediation alternatives for cleanup of contaminated groundwater shall
include, but are not necessarily limited to, on-site treatment, extraction and off-
site treatment, and/or disposal. The construction schedule shall be modified or
delayed to ensure that construction will not inhibit remediation activities and
will not expose the public or construction workers to significant risks associated
with hazardous conditions.
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Impact After Mitigation: Less than significant.
Impact 4.4-2: Accident conditions during the transportation or use of
hazardous substances during project operation could create a
spill of hazardous materials which could create a significant
hazard to the public or environment. (S)
The precise increase in the amount of hazardous materials transported to or from
the 494 Forbes Boulevard Office/R&D site as a result of implementation of the
project cannot be definitively predicted due to varying research needs over time,
and changes in the classification of hazardous materials. Furthermore, the type
of hazardous materials that will be used depends on the nature of the research
planned at the proposed facility, for which detailed information has not yet been
provided. There are likely to be both hazardous and potentially hazardous
materials stored and used on site that will eventually require disposal. This
could include both biohazards as well as chemical hazards. There is also likely to
be transportation of hazardous materials to and from the site, probably traveling
along Highway 101 and East Grand Avenue. Transportation of hazardous
materials can result in accidental spills, leaks, toxic releases, fire, or explosion.
As a result, the project would create a risk of accidental upset and environmental
contamination from routine transport, storage, use and disposal of hazardous
and potentially hazardous materials to the public and environment.
Mitigation Measure 4.4-2: All transportation of hazardous materials and
hazardous waste to and from the site shall be in accordance with Title 49 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, US Department of Transportation regulations, Title
13 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 31303 of the California Code of
Regulations, hazardous materials transportation regulations established by the
California Highway Patrol pursuant to the California Vehicle Code, the South
San Francisco Fire Department (SSFFD), and all other state and local laws,
ordinances and procedures including the posting of placards, signs and other
identifying information.
Mitigation Measure 4.4-3: Tenants occupying the project shall complete a
Hazardous Materials Business Plan for the safe storage and use of chemicals.
The Business Plan shall include the type and quantity of hazardous materials, a
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site map showing storage locations of hazardous materials and where they might
be used and transported from, risks of using these materials, material safety data
sheets for each material, a spill prevention plan, an emergency response plan,
employee training consistent with OSHA guidelines, and emergency contact
information.
Impact After Mitigation: Less than significant.
Impact 4.4-3: The project would be located within the jurisdiction of the
Airport Land Use Plan for the San Francisco International
Airport and could conflict with the Plan's policies. (PS)
The project site is located within two miles of the San Francisco International
Airport. Both the existing and the proposed Genentech R&D Overlay District
areas are within the San Francisco International Airport Flight Zone and are
subject to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Height Limits
established in the San Mateo County Airport Land Use Plan. In addition to FAA
standards, the 2006 FMPU keeps a maximum building height limitation of 150
feet above ground level on buildings within the project site, which is in
compliance with the FAA standards. As a result, there would be no impact to
safety from proximity to an airport.
Mitigation Measure 4.4-4: To ensure compliance with the requirements of
Public Utilities Code, Section 21659, "Hazards Near Airports Prohibited", which
prohibits structural hazards near airports, the applicant shall submit a Notice of
Proposed Construction or Alteration (Form 7460-1) to the Federal Aviation
Administration. An FAA permit for construction would not be required if the
Federal Aviation Administration determines that the construction, alteration, or
growth does not constitute a hazard to air navigation or would not create an
unsafe condition for air navigation.
Impact After Mitigation: Less than significant.
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Impact 4.4-4: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated
groundwater may pose a risk to site users through inhalation
of vapors released from the subsurface into indoor air. (PS)
Exposure to hazardous vapors occurs when elevated concentrations of VOCs are
present in soil and/or groundwater. As discussed previously in this EIR, a water
monitoring well was installed on the project site in January, 2003 to monitor the
presence of VOCs associated with groundwater contamination at the nearby 487
Cabot Road property. Currently, the well is monitored on a quarterly basis by
TEC Accutite per requirements of the SMCHSA. Historically, samples collected
from this monitoring well have contained low concentrations of VOCs (e.g.,
below regulatory thresholds).
Additionally, as determined in the 2004 Geomatrix study of the site, VOCs were
not present in soil at high concentrations and would not limit the use of the
property for office/R&D purposes.
Mitigation Measure 4.4-5: The applicant shall continue to provide TEC Accutite
access to the project site in order to monitor groundwater at monitoring well
MW -12, as required by the SMCHSA. Access to the monitoring well shall be
provided until the SMCHSA has determined that the monitoring well is no
longer required. All monitoring shall be conducted according to SMCHSA
guidelines.
Impact After Mitigation: Less than significant.
4.4.6 Cumulative Impacts
Potential hazards at the project site are due to past land uses. Implementing the
project would not significantly increase the risk or release of hazardous materials
to the environment. Therefore, the cumulative impact of implementing the
project with respect to hazards and hazardous materials would not be
significant.
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