4.2 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

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1 4.2 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES PHYSICAL SETTING The Project traverses a 2.9-mile area within the 290,000-acre Santa Maria Valley which consists of the largest amount of agricultural acreages in the County and accounts for more than half of the County s agricultural value. The Santa Maria Valley is an area of intensive vegetable production and contains the largest concentration of prime agricultural land in the County. The Santa Maria and Sisquoc river flood plains have given the Valley level fields and highly fertile soils. The cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe provide a majority of the area s agricultural support facilities. High value row crops including strawberries, lettuce, cauliflower, and celery are the predominant agricultural endeavors on the Valley floor. The surrounding foothills are used for vineyards and cattle grazing. Oil production, in combination with agricultural operations and cultivation, is a common practice within the Valley and is generally a compatible use pursuant to the County Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Development Code. The proposed pipeline would begin at the existing Cantin Tank Battery and tie into the Phillips 66 Sisquoc Pipeline north of Santa Maria Mesa Road. The subject parcels are located within the Cat Canyon Oil field and are zoned primarily for agricultural and rural residential uses, with some neighborhood commercial and light industrial-zoned properties. Detailed maps of the parcels affected by the proposed project are included in Appendix 2. The proposed pipeline route is located predominantly within public rights-of-way (ROW) but would also traverse private land through acreage which is currently used for agriculture and oil production. This acreage includes the Cantin Tank Battery, cattle grazing and oil production on Class VI soils on Assessor s Parcel Number (APN) Parcels and include cattle grazing, are enrolled in a Williamson Act contract, and contain Class VII soils. Approximately 3,830 linear feet of pipeline would traverse these two parcels. Parcel includes irrigated row crops, is enrolled in a Williamson Act contract, and contains Class I soils. Approximately 780 linear feet of pipeline would traverse this parcel. The remainder of the proposed pipeline route would traverse the public ROW in denuded areas adjacent to residential, commercial, light industry, and agricultural parcels. Assessor s parcel includes irrigated row crops, is enrolled in a Williamson Act contract, and contains Class II and Class III soils. Approximately 2,600 square feet of this 34- acre parcel would be converted from agriculture for the equipment to tie into the Phillips 66 Sisquoc pipeline REGULATORY SETTING State Regulations California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act) The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, commonly referred to as the Williamson Act, enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. In return, landowners receive reduced property tax assessments because they are based upon actual land use (i.e., 4.2-1

2 farming and open space uses) as opposed to full market value of the property. According to the California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection, as of 2013, all counties within the State offer Williamson Act contracts except Del Norte, San Francisco, Inyo, Imperial and Yuba (California Department of Conservation, 2014a). California Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program The Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) was established in 1982 and is maintained by the California Department of Conservation with the goal of providing consistent and impartial data to decision makers for use in assessing present status, reviewing trends in land use, and planning for the future of California s agricultural land resources (California Department of Conservation, 2014b). The FMMP is a non-regulatory program that provides an impartial analysis of agricultural land use in the State. However, Important Farmland Maps prepared under FMMP are utilized to determine the location of agricultural lands throughout California. FMMP specifies that land must meet both of the following criteria in order to be mapped as Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance: 1. Land Use: Has been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the Important Farmland Map date. Irrigated land use is determined by FMMP staff by analyzing current aerial photos, local comment letters, and related geographic information system (GIS) data, supplemented with field verification. 2. Soil: The soil must meet the physical and chemical criteria for Prime Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance as determined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS compiles lists of soils in each survey area that meet the quality criteria. Factors considered in qualification of a soil by NRCS include: - Water moisture regimes, available water capacity, and developed irrigation water supply; - Soil temperature range; - Acid-alkali balance; - Water table; - Soil sodium content; - Flooding (uncontrolled runoff from natural precipitation); - Erodibility; - Permeability rate; - Rock fragment content; and - Soil rooting depth. The list below provides a comprehensive description of all categories mapped by the California Department of Conservation. Collectively, lands classified as Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Unique Farmland are referred to as Farmland. Prime Farmland. Farmland that has the best combination of physical and chemical features and is able to sustain long-term agricultural production. This land has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to sustain high yields. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the 4 years prior to the mapping date. Farmland of Statewide Importance. Farmland similar to Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings, such as greater slopes or less ability to store soil moisture. Land must have been 4.2-2

3 used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the 4 years prior to the mapping date. Unique Farmland. Farmland with lesser quality soil that is used for production of the State s leading agricultural crops. This land is usually irrigated but may include non-irrigated orchards or vineyards, which are found in some climatic zones in California. Land must have been used for crops at some time during the 4 years prior to the mapping date. Farmland of Local Importance. Land of importance to the local agricultural economy as determined by each county s board of supervisors and a local advisory committee. Grazing Land. Land on which the existing vegetation is suited to the grazing of livestock. This category was developed in cooperation with the California Cattlemen s Association, University of California Cooperative Extension, and other groups interested in grazing activities. The minimum mapping unit for Grazing Land is 40 acres. Urban and Built-up Land. Land occupied by structures with a building density of at least 1 unit to 1.5 acres, or about six structures to a 10-acre parcel. This land is used for residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, and public administrative purposes; railroad and other transportation yards; cemeteries; airports; golf courses; sanitary landfills; sewage treatment facilities; water control structures; and other developed purposes. Other Land. Land not included in any other mapping category. Common examples include low-density rural developments; brush, timber, wetland, and riparian areas not suitable for livestock grazing; confined livestock, poultry, or aquaculture facilities; strip mines and borrow pits; and water bodies smaller than 40 acres. Vacant and nonagricultural land surrounded on all sides by urban development and greater than 40 acres is mapped as Other Land. Forest and Resource Assessment Program The Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) is implemented by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Pub. Res. Code 4789, which mandates periodic assessments of California s forest and rangeland resources (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 2010). In 2008, the Federal Farm Bill added a provision to federal law that required states to do assessments of forest resources. The FRAP provides a variety of products, including the Forest and Range Assessment, which is a detailed report on California s forests and rangelands. The most recent Forest and Range Assessment was published in June 2010 with the intention of meeting both the state and federal mandates, covering both forest and rangeland resources, on private as well as publically managed lands. As required by the 2008 Farm Bill, the 2010 assessment presents an analysis of trends, conditions, and the development of priority landscapes (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 2010), which are defined as spatial areas to be delineated in order to help focus investments and other programs to deal with associated issues. Forest Legacy Program The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is implemented by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to protect environmentally important forestland threatened with conversion to non-forest uses, such as subdivision for residential or commercial development. The FLP comprises both the Federal Forest Legacy Program and the California Forest Legacy Program and is entirely voluntary. Landowners who wish to participate may sell or transfer particular 4.2-3

4 rights, such as the right to develop the property or to allow public access, while retaining ownership of the property and the right to use it in any way consistent with the terms of the easement. The agency or organization holding the easement is responsible for managing the rights it acquires and for monitoring compliance by the landowner (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 2011). Public Resources Code Section PRC Section defines agricultural land for the purposes of assessing environmental impacts under the FMMP. As stated previously, the FMMP was established in 1982 to assess the location, quality, and quantity of agricultural lands and analyze the conversion of these lands. The FMMP looks at agricultural land use and land use changes throughout California Local Regulations Santa Barbara County Comprehensive Plan The Santa Barbara County Comprehensive Plan provides a general framework or blueprint for development and physical growth in the County. The Plan s Agricultural and Land Use Elements contain various goals and policies that address agricultural resources, including the preservation and expansion of agricultural land use within rural areas of the County. Such lands are designated AC (Agricultural Commercial) or A-II (Agriculture II) by the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan and provide opportunities for a range of commercial agricultural operations. Oil drilling uses which are found to be compatible with agricultural may be permitted on lands designated A-I, A-II or AC and zoned AG-I and AG-II. There is no Specific Plan or Community Plan for region of the County in which the Project is proposed. Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones The Santa Barbara County Uniform Rules of Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones (Uniform Rules) is the set of rules the County uses to administer its Agricultural Preserve Program under the Williamson Act. The County s Uniform Rules implement the Williamson Act by defining eligibility requirements and compatible uses which each participating landowner must adhere to in order to receive a reduced tax assessment. On August 20, 2012, the Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee (APAC) found the Project consistent with the Uniform Rules for APN (now APNs and ). Parcels and are pending an APAC consistency determination however, Uniform Rule 2-10 Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Facilities, states that incidental oil and gas drilling and production facilities and pipelines are compatible uses. Land Use Development Code The Santa Barbara County Land Use and Development Code, hereafter referred to as the LUDC, constitutes a portion of Chapter 35 of the Santa Barbara County Code. The LUDC carries out the policies of the Santa Barbara County Comprehensive Plan and Local Coastal Program by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the County, consistent with these legislative acts. The LUDC is adopted to protect and to promote the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of residents and businesses in the County (Section Purpose of LUDC)

5 Oil development projects are a permitted uses in the AG-I and AG-II zone districts (LUDC Section , Agricultural, Mining, Energy Facilities) subject to the requirements of the LUDC (Chapter 35 of the County Code), and the Petroleum Ordinance (Chapter 25 of the County Code). County Code, Chapter 3, Article V, Right-to-Farm Ordinance The purpose of this division is to protect agricultural land uses on land designated on the Comprehensive Plan/Coastal Plan Land Use Maps as A-I or A-II, or on land zoned exclusively for agricultural use from conflicts with non-agricultural land uses that may result in financial hardship to agricultural operators or the termination of their operation. The purpose of the ordinance is to preserve and protect for exclusive agricultural use those lands zoned for agricultural use; to support and encourage continued agricultural operations in the county; and to forewarn prospective purchasers or residents of property adjacent to or near agricultural operations of the inherent potential problems associated with such purchase or residence including, but not limited to, the sounds, odors, dust, and chemicals that may accompany agricultural operations. Projects that are proposed and/or approved in the County proximate to agriculturally zoned lands are often required to provide notice to future residents, tenants, and users of the Right-to-Farm COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLDS Agricultural lands play an important economic and environmental role in Santa Barbara County. Sustaining agricultural land not only protects open space but maintains the rural lifestyle prevalent in the region. Agricultural lands also provide numerous public benefits. Therefore, the County has recognized the need to preserve these lands and discourages conversion to nonagricultural uses through the CEQA Thresholds and Guidelines as well as the Agricultural Element of the Comprehensive Plan. The County s Thresholds and Guidelines Manual provides a point system to assign relative values to characteristics of a site s agricultural productivity (e.g., soils, parcel size, water availability, land use designation, and a range of other issues) to determine whether a proposed project s impact on loss or impairment of agricultural resources will be considered to have a potentially significant impact. This point system was not used in this case because: The proposed pipeline would not be located within agricultural fields used for crop production and, once constructed, would not permanently interfere with grazing operations. The 2,600 square feet that would be occupied by the tie-in equipment is known to be agriculturally viable. Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines direct that a project would normally have a significant impact on the environment if it would: Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance to non-agricultural use. Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract

6 4.2 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could individually or cumulatively result in the conversion of farmland to nonagricultural use IMPACT ASSESSMENT Impact Number Ag-1 Impact Description Temporary disruption of 0.71 acres of grazing land and movement of agricultural equipment along road shoulders Project Phase Construction Impact Class The oil storage tanks and accessory equipment would be constructed at the Cantin Tank Battery on an existing disturbed pad located on APN No new permanent site disturbance would occur on this site. Approximately 280 linear feet of the pipeline route is located adjacent to farmland of Statewide Importance, however this agricultural land would not be directly impacted by the proposed trenching activity. The Project would temporarily disrupt approximately 0.71 acres of grazing land as a result of trenching activity between the existing Cantin Tank Battery and the public ROW along Foxen Canyon Road. Additionally, trenching along the road shoulder may temporarily disrupt the movement of agricultural equipment. All such impacts would be temporary and confined to the approximate 90-day period of construction. Therefore, construction of the proposed pipeline would result in adverse, but less than significant impacts to agricultural resources (Class III). III Impact Number Ag-2 Impact Description Conversion of 2,600 square feet of irrigated row crops, partially underlain by Prime soils, to a non-agricultural use. Project Phase Construction and Operation Impact Class The Phillips 66 Sisquoc Pipeline tie-in equipment would be located near Santa Maria Mesa Road on APN , a 34-acre parcel with Class II and III soils and which is enrolled in a Williamson Act contract (70AP158). Construction and operation of the tie-in equipment would convert approximately 2,600 square feet of irrigated row crops to a non-agricultural use. Due to the location of the tie-in near the roadway and its relatively small size, conversion to nonagricultural use would not affect the continued viability of this parcel to produce irrigated row crops. The County s Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee determined the Project is consistent with the Uniform Rules, specifically Section 2-10, at its August 10, 2012 meeting. The County s Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee (APAC) determined that the Project would be consistent with the County s Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves for Parcel at its February 6, 2015 meeting. The proposed pipeline system would pass also through former parcel APN (now APNs and ) which is enrolled in a Williamson Act Contract (71AP04). The APAC determined that the Project would be consistent with the County s Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves for this parcel at its August 10, 2012 meeting. III 4.2-6

7 Based on the foregoing, construction and operation of the tie-in to the Phillips 66 pipeline would result in adverse, but less than significant impacts to agricultural resources (Class III) CUMULATIVE IMPACTS The geographic scope for analysis of the Project s contribution to agricultural resources includes the area surrounding the Project site within the Santa Maria Valley, Orcutt, and San Antonio Creek areas in northern Santa Barbara County. The Santa Maria Valley is an area of intensive vegetable production and contains the largest concentration of prime agricultural land in the County. High value row crops including strawberries, lettuce, cauliflower, and celery are the predominant agricultural endeavors on the valley floor. The surrounding foothills are used for vineyards and cattle grazing. Oil production, in combination with agricultural operations and cultivation, is a common practice within the Valley and is generally compatible with agriculture pursuant to the County Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Development Code. Future oil projects include the recently approved Santa Maria Energy and North Garey oil production plans, the pending PCEC and ERG West Cat Canyon oil production plans, and the potential future AERA oil development project. These projects are located to the west and south of the proposed Project, except for the North Garey project, which is located off Foxen Canyon Road in the vicinity of the proposed pipeline corridor (see Figure 3-1). Future projects, both oil-related and non-oil related could contribute to potentially significant conversion of agricultural land uses to non-agricultural uses. However, the proposed Project s contribution to cumulative impacts to agriculture would not be significant, as discussed above. Pipeline trenching on land currently used for both grazing and oil production could temporarily impact agricultural operations (grazing). The conversion of 2,600 square feet of land currently in crop production would be compatible with, and would not affect the continued viability of, the surrounding agricultural operations. Therefore, the Project s contribution to cumulative impacts to agriculture in the Santa Maria Valley would not be considerable MITIGATION AND RESIDUAL IMPACT Impacts to agriculture would be adverse but less than significant, Class III, and no mitigation is required. References California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Department website: Department website: California Department of Conservation, 2014a. Department website: b. Department website:

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