S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis

June 2014 Page 5.11-1

5.11 MINERAL RESOURCES This section of the program EIR evaluates the potential for implementation of the SUP to impact mineral resources in the District. This section discusses plans and policies from several jurisdictional agencies along with the existing mineral resources throughout the SUP area, and possible environmental impacts that may occur during future phases of the SUP and site-specific projects implemented under the SUP.

TERMINOLOGY

Minerals are defined as any naturally occurring chemical elements or compounds, formed from inorganic processes and organic substances.

Minable minerals or an “ore deposit” is defined as a deposit of ore or mineral having a value materially in excess of the cost of developing, mining and processing the mineral and reclaiming the project area.

Fossil Fuel Resources. Fossil fuel resources are oil, natural gas, and coal. There are no coal mines in Los Angeles County; thus, the discussion of fossil fuel resources in this section focuses on oil and natural gas.

Mineral Resources. Natural mineral deposits are nonrenewable resources that cannot be replaced once they are depleted. Mineral resources include rock, sand, gravel, and fossil fuel resources such as oil and natural gas. The primary mineral resources within the Los Angeles Basin are rock, gravel, and sand deposits.

Mineral Resource Sectors. Areas where mineral resources of regional or statewide significance are considered to be present or likely to be present and that have current land uses deemed compatible with potential mining.

Mineral Resource Zones (MRZ). Land classification by presence, potential presence, or absence of sand and gravel—that is, aggregate mineral resources.

Portland Cement Concrete (PCC)-Grade Aggregate is aggregate suitable for use in Portland Cement Concrete (PCC), the type of concrete most often used in construction. Portland cement, the cement used in such concrete, consists of a ground-up mixture of limestone, gypsum, and clay.

Production-Consumption Region (P-C Region). An aggregate production district plus the market or consumption area for the aggregate produced.

Portland Cement Concrete (PCC)-Grade Aggregate Reserves. Aggregate that has been determined to be acceptable for commercial use, is in properties owned or leased by aggregate-producing companies, and for which permits have been issued allowing mining and processing of the material.

Portland Cement Concrete (PCC)-Grade Aggregate Resources. Include reserves and all of the potentially usable aggregate materials that may be mined in the future, but for which no permit allowing mining has been issued, or for which marketability has not yet been established.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

Page 5.11-2 PlaceWorks

Mineral Resource Classification

The California Geological Survey Mineral Resources Project provides information about California’s nonfuel mineral resources. The Mineral Resources Project classifies lands throughout the state that contain regionally significant mineral resources as mandated by the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) of 1975.1 Nonfuel mineral resources include metals such as gold, silver, iron, and copper; industrial metals such as boron compounds, rare-earth elements, clays, limestone, gypsum, salt, and dimension stone; and construction aggregate including sand, gravel, and crushed stone. Development generally results in a demand for minerals, especially construction aggregate. SMARA requires all cities and counties to incorporate in their general plans the mineral designations approved by the State Mining and Geology Board.

The classification process involves the determination of Production-Consumption (P-C) Region boundaries, based on identification of active aggregate operations (Production) and the market area served (Consumption). The P-C Regional boundaries are modified to include only the portions of the region that are urbanized or urbanizing and are classified for their aggregate content. An aggregate appraisal further evaluates the presence or absence of significant sand, gravel, or stone deposits that are suitable sources of aggregate. The classification of these mineral resources is a joint effort of the state and the local governments. It is based on geologic factors and requires that the State Geologist classify the mineral resources area as one of the four Mineral Resource Zones (MRZs), Scientific Resource Zones (SZ), or Identified Resource Areas (IRAs), described below.

MRZ-1: An MRZ where adequate information indicates that no significant mineral deposits are present or likely to be present.

MRZ-2: An MRZ where adequate information indicates that significant mineral deposits are present or a likelihood of their presence and development should be controlled.

MRZ-3: An MRZ where the significance of mineral deposits cannot be determined from the available data.

MRZ-4: An MRZ where there is insufficient data to assign any other MRZ designation.

SZ Areas: Scientific Resource Zones containing unique or rare occurrences of rocks, minerals, or fossils that are of outstanding scientific significance shall be classified in this zone.

IRA Areas: County or State Division of Mines and Geology Identified Resource Areas where adequate production and information indicates that significant minerals are present.

As part of the classification process, an analysis of site specific conditions is utilized to calculate the total volume of aggregates within individually identified Resource Sectors. Resource Sectors are those MRZ-2 areas identified as having regional or statewide significance. Anticipated aggregate demand in the P-C Regions

1 California Public Resources Code, Sections 2710–2796.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

June 2014 Page 5.11-3

for the next 50 years is then estimated and compared to the total volume of aggregate reserves identified within the P-C Region.

5.11.1 Environmental Setting 5.11.1.1 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

State and local laws and regulations are summarized below. The following regulatory framework discussion does not include all plans and policies that relate to minerals in the District. Site-specific projects have not been identified, and there may be local jurisdictional plans and policies that are applicable depending on the project site. Specific requirements of these laws, regulations, plans, and guidelines might not be up to date when a proposed site-specific school project undergoes review. Therefore, this section provides a general discussion of the most important plans and policies that apply to SUP-related projects. Although these are not directly applicable to the SUP or site-specific projects implemented under the SUP, they are included to assist in identifying potential impacts and significance thresholds. See Applicable Regulations and Standard Conditions at end of this chapter for those that require District compliance.

State

California Public Resources Code, Sections 2710 et seq.

The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA) is the primary regulator of on-shore surface mining in the state. It delegates specific regulatory authority to local jurisdictions. The act requires the state geologist (California Geological Survey) to identify all mineral deposits within the state and to classify them as: (1) containing little or no mineral deposits; (2) significant deposits; or (3) deposits identified but further evaluation needed; lands where such deposits are identified are designated Mineral Resource Zones (MRZ) 1, 2, or 3, respectively. Local jurisdictions are required to enact specific procedures to guide mineral conservation and extraction at particular sites and to incorporate mineral resource management policies into their general plans. A particular concern of the state legislators in enacting SMARA was premature loss of minerals and protection of sites threatened by development practices that might preclude future mineral extraction.

Local

City of Los Angeles Municipal Code, Section 13.03

The City of Los Angeles adopted the ‘G’ Surface Mining supplemental use provisions in 1975, which, with subsequent amendments, have brought the city’s provisions into consistency with new state requirements. The ‘G’ provisions are land use, not mineral conservation regulations. They regulate the establishment of sand and gravel districts, extraction operations, mitigation of potential noise, dust, traffic, and other potential impacts, as well as post-extraction site restoration. Other conditions may be imposed by the city if deemed appropriate.2

2 City of Los Angeles 2001.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

Page 5.11-4 PlaceWorks

5.11.1.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS

Regional Setting

The state geologist classified MRZ-2 sites within Los Angeles. MRZ-2 sites contain potentially significant sand and gravel deposits that are to be conserved. Any proposed development plan must consider access to the deposits for purposes of extraction. Much of the area within the MRZ-2 sites in Los Angeles was developed with structures prior to the MRZ-2 classification, and therefore is unavailable for extraction.3

Mineral Production California is divided into 12 districts for the purpose of reporting minerals production statistics in the Minerals Yearbook published by the US Geological Survey. The most recent yearbook available is for 2009, published in August 2013. Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Orange County make up District 11. Minerals production in District 11 in 2009 is summarized in Table 5.11-1.4

Table 5.11-1 District 11 Mineral Production Mineral Type Production, metric tons Production, dollar value

Concrete aggregate and concrete products 5,580,000 $68,700,000 Asphaltic concrete aggregates and road base materials 575,000 $3,910,000 Other miscellaneous uses 302,000 $3,000,000 Unspecified 4,960,000 $59,000,000 Other production materials 184,000 $2,340,000

Total 11,601,000 $136,950,000 Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS). 2013, August. 2009 Minerals Yearbook: California. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/state/2009/myb2-2009-ca.pdf. One metric ton is 2,205 pounds.

Aggregate Reserves Compared to Aggregate Demand

1994 Mineral Land Classification, Los Angeles County

The 1994 Mineral Land Classification for Los Angeles County identified the reserves, resources, and forecast 50-year aggregate demands, shown in Table 5.11-2.

Table 5.11-2 Los Angeles County Aggregate Supply and Demand Category Tons

Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) Resources 11.9 billion PCC-grade aggregate reserves 750 million 50-year demand, all aggregate 2.01 billion 50-year demand, PCC-grade aggregate 1.11 billion Source: California Geological Survey (CGS). 1994. Update of Mineral Land Classification of Portland Cement Concrete Aggregate in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange

Counties, California. Part II – Los Angeles County. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dmg/pubs/ofr/OFR_94-14/OFR_94-14_Text.pdf.

3 City of Los Angeles. 2001, September 26. Conservation Element of the City of Los Angeles General Plan. http://cityplanning.lacity.org/cwd/gnlpln/consvelt.pdf. 4 United States Geological Survey (USGS). 2013, August. 2009 Minerals Yearbook: California. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/state/2009/myb2-2009-ca.pdf.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

June 2014 Page 5.11-5

2010 Mineral Land Classification, San Gabriel Valley Production-Consumption Region

PCC-grade aggregate resources, reserves, and forecast 50-year demands in the San Gabriel Valley P-C Region are summarized below in Table 5.11-3. As shown, PCC-grade aggregate reserves in that production – consumption region are forecast to be depleted by 2028.

Table 5.11-3 San Gabriel Valley Aggregate Supply and Demand Category Tons

PCC-grade aggregate reserves 328 million 50-year demand, PCC-grade aggregate 638 million Estimated Depletion of PCC-Grade Aggregate Reserves Year 2028 Source: California Geological Survey (CGS). 2010a. Update of Mineral Land Classification for Portland Cement Concrete-Grade Aggregate in the San Gabriel Valley

Production-Consumption Region, Los Angeles County, California. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dmg/pubs/sr/SR_209/SR_209_Text.pdf.

Oil and Natural Gas Production

Oil production in Los Angeles County in 2012 was about 24 million barrels (1 barrel = 42 U.S. gallons). Natural gas production in Los Angeles County in 2012 was about 18.5 billion cubic feet. There were 3,690 active oil and gas wells in the county in 2012.5

District Setting

Mineral Resource Zones

The District is in the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, and Saugus-Newhall P-C Regions (see Figure 5.11-1, Mineral Zones). There are MRZ-2 areas in the following parts of the District:

In the San Gabriel Valley P-C Region in the central Los Angeles area

In the San Fernando Valley P-C Region in a swath of the east-central San Fernando Valley extending from North Hollywood to north and east of the City of San Fernando. The northern end of this area has two branches, one extending north along Pacoima Wash and the other extending east along Tujunga Wash6,7,8.

There are no MRZ-2 areas in the parts of the Saugus-Newhall or Simi Valley P-C Regions that are in the District.

5 Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). 2013, September 20. Well Counts and Production of Oil, Gas, and Water by County – 2012. http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/Documents/2012%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Production%20by%20County.pdf. 6 California Geological Survey (CGS). 2010a. Update of Mineral Land Classification for Portland Cement Concrete-Grade Aggregate in the San Gabriel Valley Production-Consumption Region, Los Angeles County, California. Plate 1. San Gabriel Valley P-C Region Showing MRZ-2 Areas and Active Mine Operations. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dmg/pubs/sr/SR_209/Plate%201.pdf. 7 California Geological Survey (CGS). 1994a. Generalized Mineral Land Classification Map of Los Angeles County: South Half. Open File Report 94-14, Plate 1B. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dmg/pubs/ofr/OFR_94-14/OFR_94-14_Plate1B.pdf. 8 California Geological Survey (CGS). 1994b. Generalized Mineral Land Classification Map of Los Angeles County: North Half. Open File Report 94-14, Plate 1A. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dmg/pubs/ofr/OFR_94-14/OFR_94-14_Plate1A.pdf.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

Page 5.11-6 PlaceWorks

Mineral Resource Sectors

No mineral resource sectors are designated in the part of the San Gabriel Valley P-C Region in the District. Three sectors are designated in the part of the San Fernando Valley P-C Region in the District:

Sector A in the Tujunga Valley in and west of the community of Lake View Terrace in the City of Los Angeles.

Sector B in the Hansen Dam Flood Control Basin in the City of Los Angeles.

Sector C centered around the Tujunga Wash between Hansen Dam and Interstate 5 in the Community of Sun Valley in the City of Los Angeles.

Much of Sectors A, B, and C are mapped as lost to urbanization.9 No schools were identified within the portions of the three sectors not mapped as lost to urbanization on Google Earth in January 2014.

Active Mines

No active mines in the District are shown on the Office of Mine Reclamation’s “Mines Online” map.10

Oil and Gas Fields

Oil fields in the District include the Wilmington Field in the City of Los Angeles communities of Wilmington, Harbor City, and Harbor Gateway, and the City of Lomita; the Dominguez Field in the City of Carson; the Rosecrans and Howard Townsite fields in the City of Gardena; the Hyperion Field in Playa Del Rey; the Playa Del Rey field in Marina Del Rey; the Bandini Field in the cities of Commerce and Vernon and the Community of East Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Downtown, Union Station, Las Cienagas, Los Angeles City, Inglewood, Salt Lake, Beverly Hills, Cheviot Hills, and Sawtelle fields, all in the City of Los Angeles; and the Aliso Canyon and Oat Mountain fields in the Santa Susana Mountains in unincorporated Los Angeles County (see Figure 5.11-1). 11,12

9 California Geological Survey (CGS). 1994c. Mineral Land Classification of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Designated Areas Urbanized, San Fernando Valley Production-Consumption Region.: Open File Report 94-14, Plate 4. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dmg/pubs/ofr/OFR_94-14/OFR_94-14_Plate4.pdf. (The Mineral Resource Sectors map showing those three Sectors was prepared in 1979.) 10 Office of Mine Reclamation (OMR). 2014, January 17. Mines Online. http://maps.conservation.ca.gov/mol/mol-app.html. 11 Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). 2001, April 16. District 1 Oil Fields. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/oil/maps/dist1/Dist1_fields.pdf. 12 Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). 2001, March 22. District 2 Oil Fields. ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/oil/maps/dist2/Dist2_fields.pdf.

Santa MonicaMountains National

Recreation Area

Angeles NationalForest

Los Angeles County

Ventura County

Los Angeles

County

Orange County

Los Angeles County

Ventura County

405

710

10

105

5

110405

210

5

110

405

10

5

10

405

105 105

210

710

210

210

405

210

5

5

5

405

605

605

10

2

47

90

91

14

105

170

110

134

1

1071

105

1

60

90107

1

2

134

105

91

2

1

1

118

107

91

101

101 101

101

SimiP-C Region

Saugus NewhallP-C Region

SimiP-C Region

San FernandoP-C Region

San Gabriel ValleyP-C Region

Orange CountyTemescal Valley

P-C Region

Los Angeles

Long Beach

Glendale

CarsonTorrance

Pasadena

Burbank

Downey

Calabasas

Compton

Inglewood

Lakewood

Alhambra

Malibu

Montebello

Vernon

Gardena

South Gate

Bell

Rancho Palos Verdes

Bellflower

Norwalk

Santa Monica

Commerce

HawthorneLynwood

Monterey Park

Pico Rivera

El Segundo

Beverly Hills

Paramount

San Marino

Lomita

Culver City

Santa Clarita

La Canada Flintridge

Redondo Beach

San Gabriel

Cerritos

Rolling Hills

Palos Verdes Estates

Manhattan Beach

Signal Hill

South Pasadena

Lawndale

Bell Gardens

Huntington Park

Rolling Hills Estates

San Fernando

Cudahy

Hidden Hills

Maywood

West Hollywood

Hermosa Beach

SCHOOL UPGRADE PROGRAM EIRLOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

0 6 Miles

Source: California Geological Survey, 2013; Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources, 2005

LegendSchoolsESC OfficeDistrict HeadquatersLos Angeles Unified School DistrictMineral ResourcesCounty BoundaryOil and Gas FieldsSaugus Newhall P-C RegionSimi P-C RegionSan Fernando P-C RegionSan Gabriel Valley P-C RegionOrange County Temescal Valley P-C Region

5. Environmental AnalysisFigure 5.11-1 - Mineral Zones

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

Page 5.11-8 PlaceWorks

This page internationally left blank.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

June 2014 Page 5.11-9

5.11.2 Thresholds of Significance According to CEQA Guidelines Appendix G a project would normally have a significant effect on the environment if the project would:

M-1 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.

M-2 Result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan.

5.11.3 Environmental Impacts The applicable thresholds are identified in brackets after the impact statement.

Impact 5.11-1: SUP implementation would not result in the loss of availability of any known mineral resource or recovery site. [Thresholds M-1 and M-2]

New Construction on New Properties

If schools were expanded and new facilities were constructed in areas designated MRZ-2, they could have an effect on the availability of mineral resources. Two regions in the District are designated MRZ-2: one in central Los Angeles, and the other in the east-central San Fernando Valley. One available aggregate deposit site is identified in the City of Los Angeles General Plan, the Tujunga Alluvial Fan in the Lake View Terrace–Sun Valley area.13 There are no schools sites proximal to these areas, therefore no impacts to mineral resources will occur.

New Construction and Modernization on Existing Schools

All of these projects would occur at existing schools. School campuses are not available as mining sites. No impact would occur.

5.11.4 Applicable Regulations and Standard Conditions

None

5.11.5 Level of Significance Before Mitigation Impact 5.11-1 would be less than significant.

5.11.6 Mitigation Measures No mitigation measures are required.

13 City of Los Angeles. 2001, September 26. General Plan Conservation Element. http://cityplanning.lacity.org/cwd/gnlpln/consvelt.pdf.

S C H O O L U P G R A D E P R O G R A M E I R L O S A N G E L E S U N I F I E D S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

5. Environmental Analysis MINERAL RESOURCES

Page 5.11-10 PlaceWorks

5.11.7 Level of Significance After Mitigation Impacts would be less than significant.