3.7 MINERAL RESOURCES

LAUSD New School Construction Program 3.7-1 3.7 Mineral Resources Draft Program EIR March 2004

3.7.1 Introduction

This section describes the environmental setting, regulations and policies, and the impacts associated with mineral resources as they may relate to the Program.

3.7.2 Environmental Setting

Mineral Resources. Natural mineral deposits are nonrenewable resources that cannot be replaced once they are depleted. The primary mineral resources within the Los Angeles Basin are rock, gravel, and sand deposits. Sand and gravel deposits follow the Los Angeles River flood plain, coastal plain and other water bodies and courses. State geologists have identified significant potential mineral resource deposit sites along the flood plain from the San Fernando Valley through the downtown area (see Figure 3.7-1). Much of the area identified has been developed with structures and is currently inaccessible for mining extraction (Los Angeles, 2001).

Fossil Fuel Resources. Fossil fuel extraction in the form of petroleum, or oil, began in 1892 after oil was discovered near what is now Glendale Boulevard and Second Street. Petroleum extraction and refining continue to be important industries in Los Angeles. Petroleum deposits underlie portions of downtown and west Los Angeles, the harbor area and the Santa Monica and San Pedro bays (refer to Figure 3.7-1). Thirty-two producing oil fields are at least partially within LAUSD boundaries, while twenty producing oil fields lie wholly or partially within the City of Los Angeles. The majority of the fields are located in Local Districts A, D, and K. The Wilmington field, located partially in Local District K, is the largest field within the LAUSD boundaries and is one of the largest in the State. Its 1,332 wells produce 54,612 barrels of oil per day (Los Angeles, 2001).

3.7.3 Applicable Regulations, Plans, and Standards

California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA). SMARA (Public Resources Code Section 2710 et seq.; subsequently amended) 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 (Division of Mines and Geology) 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. Local jurisdictions are required to enact specific plan 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 (Los Angeles, 2001).

The State geologist classified Mineral Resources Zone-2 (MRZ-2) sites within Los Angeles. MRZ-2 sites contain potentially significant sand and gravel deposits that are to be conserved.

LAUSD New School Construction Program 3.7-2 3.7 Mineral Resources Draft Program EIR March 2004

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 MRA-2 classification, and therefore, is unavailable for extraction (Los Angeles, 2001).

3.7.4 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

3.7.4.1 Thresholds of Significance

The Program would have a significant impact on mineral resources if it would render known mineral and/or energy resources inaccessible.

3.7.4.2 Environmental Impact Analysis

Impact M-1: Program facilities could render known mineral and/or energy resources inaccessible. Impact Determination-Less than Significant.

If proposed Program facilities would be sited on known mineral (e.g., gravel and sand) or energy (e.g., crude oil and natural gas) resource sites as identified on Figure 3.7-1, such sites would be inaccessible for resource development. However, the Program would not likely impact mineral resource areas because mineral and energy resource areas are generally located on industrial lands that are not suitable for school facilities. In many cases, the LAUSD’s initial site screening process would eliminate such sites from further consideration. In addition, urban development has already occurred at many of the sites illustrated on Figure 3.7-1, which has already made the sites inaccessible to resource development (Los Angeles, 2001). Therefore, potential impacts associated with rendering known mineral and/or energy resources inaccessible are considered less than significant. No significant impacts have been identified during this first-tier stage of review.

Mitigation Measures. No mitigation is required.

A B

C

DE

F

G

H

IJ

K

118

210

405

101170

101

10

710

91

110

405

5

N

100 5

Scale in Miles

PACIFIC OCEAN

LAUSD Boundary

GLocal Districts

Within LAUSD

Boundary

LAUSD New School Construction ProgramDraft Program EIR

3.7-3 3.7 Mineral ResourcesMarch 2004

AspenEnvironmental Group

Figure 3.7-1

Mineral Extraction Zoneswithin LAUSD Local Districts

LAUSD New School Construction

Source: Adapted from www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/new/announce/supintendent_search/11districts.html

Mineral Extraction - other than oil and gas

Mineral Extraction - oil and gas