REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 9, 2024
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management
SUBJECT
Title
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the San Timoteo Sanitary Landfill Stockpile 3 Project in the Redlands Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed San Timoteo Sanitary Landfill Stockpile 3 Project, in the Redlands area.
2. Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the San Timoteo Sanitary Landfill Stockpile 3 Project.
3. Approve the San Timoteo Sanitary Landfill Stockpile 3 Project as defined in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration.
4. Direct the Department of Public Works to file the Notice of Determination in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) is financed by fee revenue. SWMD establishes fees that are charged to the public and other agencies for utilization of the County’s Waste Disposal System. Sufficient appropriation for the San Timoteo Sanitary Landfill Stockpile 3 Project (Project) is included in the SWMD 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets, as needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The San Timoteo Sanitary Landfill (STSL) is a regional Class III landfill located in the City of Redlands at 31 Refuse Road. Since operations at the site commenced in 1980, the STSL has been accepting municipal solid waste from various cities within San Bernardino County (County). The STSL occupies approximately 366 acres of which 114 are permitted for refuse disposal and consists of Unit 1 and Unit 2 of waste management, which were developed in phases.
In order to accommodate future use of the STSL for landfilling refuse, native earthen materials must be excavated from the Unit 2, Phase 5 portion of the landfill. During the future construction of the Project (Unit 2, Phase 5), approximately 2,620,000 cubic yards of excavated earthen materials would be stockpiled in an area designated as Stockpile 3 for future use. The stockpile would be within the current landfill property limits but outside the current limits of disturbance associated with the landfill. The limits of disturbance are the boundaries that were previously or are currently permitted and analyzed via the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is disturbed ground (ground that has been disturbed via equipment travel, construction, or other activity that has impacted the native vegetation or drainage flows).
In accordance with the CEQA and CEQA Guidelines, an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was prepared to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts resulting from the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project. The IS/MND was prepared by a County consultant, under the supervision of the SWMD, and circulated to the public pursuant to CEQA Section 15063. The IS/MND determined that no significant environmental effects would occur as a result of the Project with the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Project was published in the San Bernardino County Sun on November 22, 2023. Copies of the IS/MND were circulated to responsible and trustee agencies and interested parties. The IS/MND was also submitted to the Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse for state agency review for a period of 30 days beginning on November 21, 2023 (State Clearing House No. 2023110564) and concluded on December 26, 2023.
During the NOI public review period, one comment letter from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery was received on December 13, 2023, however, the comment did not require any changes to the IS/MND. Therefore, SWMD staff recommends adoption of the MND and approval of the Project and mitigation measures as described in the IS/MND and corresponding Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
This item supports the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of providing for the safety, health, and social service needs of County residents by operating in a responsible manner to provide continued disposal services.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 21, 2024; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on March 19, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on March 24, 2024.