04-13 Hazardous Materials and Safety 2014-04-07

Transcription

4.13.1 Introduction
Riverside County is vulnerable to a wide range of threats or hazards to public safety and property. This section
focuses on the risks posed by hazardous materials (hazmat) and safety hazards, including airports and wildfires.
Safety hazards relating to landslides, wind erosion, earthquakes and other geotechnical constraints are discussed in
Section 4.12 (Geology and Slopes) of this EIR, while hazards related to flooding and dam inundation are discussed in Section 4.11 (Flooding and Dam Inundation). Also, in terms of wildfire, this section focuses on the
hazards and fire prevention; for specifics on the entities providing fire services in Riverside County, as well as
their equipment, staffing, response times, etc., see Section 4.17 (Public Facilities).
At the outset of this section, it should be noted that there is a difference between “hazard” versus “risk.” As
described by the State of California in its 2010 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP), page 243: Hazard is the
physical condition that can lead to damage to a particular asset or resource. For example, the term “fire hazard”
is related to those physical conditions related to fire and its ability to cause damage, specifically how often a fire
burns in a given locale and what the fire is like when it burns (its fire behavior). Thus, “fire hazard” only refers to
the potential characteristics of the fire itself.
“Risk,” on the other hand, is the “likelihood of a fire occurring at a given site (burn probability) and the associated mechanisms of fire behavior that cause damage to assets and resources.” This includes the impact of fire
brands (embers) that may be blown some distance igniting fires well away from the main fire. Thus, in this
section, for example, fire “hazards” are addressed through identification (mapping), land use restrictions, building
code requirements, etc., to minimize the hazard on a regional basis. Fire “risks” are generally addressed at the
site-specific level through requirements for roofing types, fire-fuel modification zones, weed abatement and the
like. As with fire, most of the safety hazards discussed in this section are addressed through programmatic,
regional policies and regulations, since they have the greatest ability to reduce risks to future development and are
the principal means under the control and jurisdiction of Riverside County and subject to the Riverside County
General Plan.
A.
Background on Hazardous Materials
Our modern world, with its myriad of urban and suburban land uses, contains a vast number of facilities that
routinely generate, utilize, store and transport a wide variety of hazardous materials through and within Riverside
County. At present, there are thousands of different chemical compounds in regular use, and new or modified
chemicals are being introduced every day. Large quantities of these materials are refined, manufactured, transported, stored and disposed of in Riverside County. Many of these compounds are also potentially hazardous and
can contaminate the soil, air or water upon which human life and activity depends. If improperly handled,
County of Riverside Environmental Impact Report No. 521
Public Review Draft  March 2014
4.13-1
transported, stored, used or disposed of, these materials can exert harmful effects to humans and the environment. Potential contaminants can enter the environment through a variety of pathways, such as improper application or use, improper storage or disposal, or accidental discharge. Hazardous materials are commonly used by
all segments of society including manufacturing and service industries, commercial enterprises, agriculture,
military installations, hospitals, schools and households. The General Plan indicates that anticipated residential,
commercial and industrial growth within Riverside County in the coming years would make dealing with potential
problems associated with the handling, transport, storage and disposal of hazardous materials an increasingly
important consideration.
B.
Background on Airports and Aircraft Hazards
Airports and air-related facilities represent a potential safety hazard to the public and to property due to aircraft
accident risks. Public airports are required to maintain airport land use compatibility plans (ALUCPs) to promote
compatibility between airports and surrounding land uses (within an established influence area) for the purpose of
public safety. The Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) is responsible for reviewing private
development and public works projects near airports to make sure they are consistent with approved ALUCPs. In
2004, ALUC adopted the Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan policy document that establishes
land use compatibility planning and policies near airports throughout Riverside County.
The guidelines and operating parameters for the ALUC come from the California Aeronautics Act (California
Public Utility Code [CPUC] Section 21670, et seq.). The fundamental purpose of ALUC is to promote land use
compatibility around airports and to “protect public health, safety and welfare by ensuring the orderly expansion
of airports and the adoption of land use measures that minimize the public’s exposure to excessive noise and
safety hazards within areas around public airports to the extent that these areas are not already devoted to
incompatible uses.”
The statutes give ALUC two primary powers by which to accomplish this objective. First, it must prepare and
adopt ALUCPs. Second, its staff must review the plans, regulations and other actions of local agencies and airport
operators for consistency with that plan. ALUC has no authority over either existing land uses [CPUC Section
21674(a)] or the operation of airports [CPUC Section 21674(e)]. There is little guidance in the statute on airport
land use compatibility criteria; however, the law refers that issue to the Airport Land Use Planning Handbook
published by the California Division of Aeronautics. Specifically, the statutes say that when preparing
compatibility plans (i.e., ALUCPs) for individual airports, an ALUC shall be guided by the information contained
in the Handbook. The policies in the ALUCP, including the individual airport compatibility maps, incorporate
guidance in the current Handbook.
C.
Background on Wildfire Hazards
Wildland fires are a serious and growing hazard in Riverside County, as development slowly encroaches on
outlying hills and grasslands. At present, more than 8 million people have homes and businesses in California’s
wildland areas. As wildland fires meet structural developments, vegetation ceases to burn, but catastrophic fire
can continue, sustained by structures igniting. Major wildland and earthquake-induced fires can overwhelm local
emergency response resources and cause substantial loss of life and property damage. In Riverside County, more
and more people are living in areas of wildland-urban interface, which pose the most danger for wildfire conditions because of the complex mix of fuels (vegetation), topography (hills), accessibility (roads) and structures
(homes). This mixture creates the perfect situation for a serious threat to the safety of both the public and firefighters.
4.13-2
Wildland fires are a natural part of the ecological processes in Southern California. In the past, it was presumed
that all wildland fires should be extinguished promptly. This has caused “protected” vegetation to grow denser,
weakening vegetation in a struggle for living space and increasing destruction by pests and disease. Dead and
dying plants add fuel for fire. In addition, the absence of fire can alter or disrupt the cycle of natural plant
succession and the associated habitats that form. Recognizing this, land management agencies are now
committed to finding ways, such as prescribed burning, to reintroduce fire into natural ecosystems.
Wildland fires are more costly to control and create greater risk of losses to the people, resources and
improvements than urban or more isolated fires in outlying areas. In addition, many other factors contribute to
making wildfires hotter and more destructive. California has extended droughts, which increase dead and dying
vegetation, dry fuel per acre volumes and many days of low humidity. Furthermore, federal policy that sets aside
federal lands without requiring an aggressive pre-fire management program, further limits fuel management and
increases ignition sources. In some parts of Riverside County, fire danger can be worsened by steep, rugged
topography, which would allow wildland fire to spread quickly and make it more difficult to fight.
Santa Ana winds also greatly increase fire danger. These hot, dry winds typically develop when a strong, but
stalled, high-pressure system between Idaho and Utah’s Salt Lake (the Great Basin High) meets a weak lowpressure system just offshore in Southern California. In these conditions, the easterlies (winds from the east) are
turned north and south, where they are channeled and strengthened by the many canyons in the Great Basin. The
result is hot, powerful and very dry winds that blow across Southern California and especially through the
mountain passes.
The greatest demands on fire suppression resources occur when there are multiple ignitions. For example,
widespread fires following an earthquake coupled with Santa Ana winds would constitute a worst-case fire
suppression scenario. Because of dry vegetation and recurring Santa Ana winds, the fire danger for Riverside
County is considered extremely high during 25% of each year, throughout the months of August, September and
October. Because of many large active faults in Riverside County, the probability of a major earthquake is high
year-round. Therefore, there is a statistically significant chance that this worst-case fire suppression scenario
could occur.
D.
Baseline Data Sources
Pursuant to CEQA, the descriptions of the physical environmental conditions provided in this EIR are as they
generally existed at the time the issuance of the Notice of Preparation (NOP), that is, April 13, 2009. This
environmental setting constitutes the baseline physical conditions by which the County of Riverside, as Lead
Agency under CEQA, determines whether an impact is significant. Because of the countywide scope and nature
of this project and its programmatic EIR, much of the data presented herein cannot all be said to represent a
single point in time (i.e., April 13, 2009). In such cases, the data set that is best supported by substantial evidence
is used.
For the hazardous materials baseline data presented and used herein, the following sources were determined to be
the best-supported and most current substantial evidence available in the preparation of this section:

Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, California Government Code
(GC) Section 56377; California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) database, searched
March 10, 2011.

EnviroStor Database, DTSC. Listings for federal Superfund and State Response sites, including Cortese
List sites, searched March 10, 2011.
4.13-3

GeoTracker Database, California Water Resources Control Board (WRCB), searched March 11, 2011.
For the airport and aircraft-related baseline data presented and used herein, the following sources were
determined to be the best-supported available and were used in this section:

Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (2004 or 2009, as applicable) for the 13 public-serving airports and
air facilities in Riverside County and the Chino Airport in San Bernardino County (see Table 4.13-C (Air
Facilities In and Around Riverside County) for full listings).

For military airspace and safety information, the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Draft Legislative
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft LEIS), dated August 2012, for the Chocolate Mountain Aerial
Gunnery Range (CMAGR) Land Withdrawal Renewal. (The Draft LEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of continuing to use CMAGR for military training activities for another 25 years beyond
2014.)
For the wildland fire and emergency planning baseline data presented and used herein, the following sources were
determined to be the best evidence available and were used for this section:

Riverside Unit Strategic Fire Plan. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).
2012.

Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP). California Emergency
Management Agency (CalEMA), March 2005.

Riverside County Operational Area Emergency Operation Plan. CalEMA, February 2006.

State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. CalEMA, October 2010; source for information on
natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, etc., and for regulatory background.
4.13.2 Existing Environmental Setting – Hazardous Materials and
Safety
A.
Hazardous Materials
1. Major Areas of Known Hazardous Materials Contamination
Search of federal and state databases identified 36 major sites of hazmat contamination in Riverside County; i.e.,
federal Superfund or National Priorities List (NPL), State Response or Cortese List sites. Figure 4.13.1 (Locations
of Major Hazardous Material Sites) shows the locations of these major hazmat sites in Riverside County as per the
State of California EnviroStor database, and Table 4.13-A (Major Hazardous Material Sites in Riverside County)
provides descriptions for each of these major sites. Riverside County contains four “Superfund” or federally-listed
hazmat sites, 26 “State Response” sites and 19 contaminated sites on the “Cortese List” (some of which overlap
with Superfund and State Response sites).
These hazmat sites may represent potentially significant impacts for any areas of future development accommodated by the proposed project, GPA No. 960, if they are proximate to these hazmat sites. In addition,
4.13-4
information from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health (RCDEH) and Planning
Department indicates there are nearly 9,000 individual sites in Riverside County permitted to transport, generate,
handle or dispose of hazardous materials. Many of these are concentrated along major freeways (e.g., SR-91, I-10,
I-215, SR-60, etc.). Many are located within the hundreds of industrial business parks or in the large expanses of
land dedicated for medium to heavy industrial uses within the county. According to state records, there are also
15 voluntary cleanup sites, 14 school cleanup sites, 12 corrective action sites and 21 tiered permit sites, although
some of these include the 36 major sites identified in Table 4.13-A (EnvironStor 2011). With the extensive
distribution of hazmat sites throughout Riverside County, it is therefore reasonable to assume that some of the
future development resulting from the project would be near sites or facilities where hazardous materials are
present.
The following subsections describe various categories of uses and facilities that transport, generate, utilize or
dispose of hazardous materials throughout Riverside County.
Table 4.13-A: Major Hazardous Material Sites in Riverside County
(Map #)* Facility Name-Description-Address
(1A) March Air Reserve Base (MARB): 3,545 acres total; 3430 Bundy Avenue, Riv., CA 92518
MARB was renamed the March Air Reserve Base (MARB) in 1996. It is on the federal Superfund list as an
active cleanup site. Operations at the base include: maintenance and repair of aircraft, vehicles and
equipment; operation of a photo lab and printing plant; and fuel management. MARB has historically
generated the following hazardous wastes: petroleum, oil and lubricants (POLs), chlorinated and nonchlorinated solvents, corrosives, antifreeze, paint and paint strippers, carbon removers and photographic
chemicals. Past activities which have resulted in contamination at the base include burning waste in fire
fighting training exercises and discharges to sanitary sewers and storm drains. Groundwater, the primary
source of potable water in the area, has been contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). There is potential
for contamination of soils and surface water. This base was included on the National Priority List (NPL or
Superfund) in 1989. A Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) was signed between the Environmental Protection
Agency (US-EPA), California Department of Health Services (DHS), the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality
Control Board (RWQCB) and the Air Force in September 1990 to provide for the remediation of the base.
MARB was divided into three groups, or operable units, similar to the State of California's removal actions, for
remediation. These groups are: 1) groundwater and soil for areas along the east boundary and off-base
contamination plume; 2) groundwater and soil for areas not included in units 1 & 3; and 3) groundwater and
soil in Area 33. Parcel G is a sector located near MARB’s southern boundary that consists of approximately
75 acres of open land with remnants of surface streets from World War II-era military activities.
1B) March [Joint] Air Reserve Base (MARB): This facility is an active U.S. Air Reserve Base and part of
the Air Mobility Command (AMC). The base's mission is to maintain an effective air-to-air refueling operation
capability. For current operations and remediation activities, see 1A above.
(2) Stringfellow Acid Pits: 3450 Pyrite Street, Riverside, CA 92509
This site operated as a Class I industrial waste disposal site from 1955 to 1972, taking wastes from metal
finishing, electroplating, DDT production and aerospace propulsion. The site was composed of unlined ponds
placed on alluvium encompassing approximately 17 acres. Quarrying and blasting on the adjacent property
have been ongoing throughout the site’s existence. Predominant compounds of concern at the site include
TCE, heavy metals, pesticides, chloroform and perchlorate. During its life, the site accepted over 34 million
gallons of industrial waste, primarily from metal finishing, electroplating and pesticide production, that was
deposited in to the evaporation ponds. Spray evaporation procedures were used to accelerate the reduction
of pond content volume. In 1969, heavy rainfall caused the disposal ponds to overflow and resulted in the
contamination of Pyrite Creek. In 1978, heavy rains caused the RWQCB to authorize the controlled release
of 800,000 gallons of wastewater from the site to prevent further wastewater pond overflow and more massive
releases. An additional 500,000 gallons of liquid waste were removed to a federally approved facility. In
1979 and 1980, heavy rains again threatened releases from the waste ponds. Between the years 1975 and
1980, approximately 6.3 million gallons of liquid wastes and materials contaminated with pesticides were
removed from the site. Groundwater in the vicinity of the Stringfellow site contains various volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel, chromium and manganese. Soil at the site is
also contaminated with pesticides, PCBs, sulfates and heavy metals. In 1981, the site was drained and
capped. A plume of contaminated groundwater has migrated south from the site approximately four miles
Facility
Type
Federal
Superfund
Listed
Federal
Superfund
Listed
Federal
Superfund
Listed
Cleanup Status
Active – Land Use
Restrictions and
included on
Cortese List
Active and
included on
Cortese List
Active - Land Use
Restrictions and
included on
Cortese List
4.13-5
towards the Santa Ana River. As it travels southward, the plume reaches neutral acidity and most
contaminants are stopped within the first 3,000 feet, near the 60 Freeway. Farther south, the only site-related
contaminants still detectable are TCE and perchlorate. There are approximately 80 extraction wells and 400
monitoring wells throughout the plume. The extraction wells have been effective in reducing plume migration
and removing contamination.
(3) Alark Hard Chrome: 2777 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
This facility was an industrial machining and plating shop where plating solutions were disposed of or spilled
onto soils from tanks. The site encompasses approx. 10,000 square feet (0.23 acres) and is located in a light
industrial area. Operations at the site ceased in 1985 and the facility has since remained unoccupied. The
facility used an electroplating process that involved plating metal parts using chemical baths containing
cadmium, chromium and nickel. Grinding equipment and chemical rinse baths were also used during the
electroplating process, contributing to the contamination. The soil at the site was contaminated as a result of
spills, drips and possible discharge of plating bath solutions during the 14 years of operation. A preliminary
investigation completed in 1983 included soil sampling under the building and found higher than normal levels
of the three metals. Exposure to these hazardous metals can occur from inhalation, ingestion or direct
contact. The contaminated area is inside a secured building and thus no general exposure is anticipated. In
February 1987, a Remedial Order (RAO) was issued to the responsible parties (RPs) requiring characterization and remediation of the hazardous substances at the site. In July 1989, a Final Determination of
Noncompliance was issued for failure to submit required documents. Although the RPs were briefly in
compliance, the California DTSC ultimately conducted the remediation activities. Because of the RP’s
noncompliance, this case was referred to the State Attorney General’s office for enforcement. In July 1990,
the DTSC conducted a soil investigation to determine the extent of the remaining contamination. The
investigation confirmed high levels of chromium and lead. In June of 1994, DTSC conducted a removal action
excavating the highest concentration of heavy-metal contaminated soil from the facility’s middle room. A total
of 1,810 tons of contaminated soil were excavated and transported to a treatment and disposal facility. The
excavated area was backfilled and a temporary cap was constructed. DTSC conducted a groundwater
investigation in January of 1995. Groundwater monitoring wells were constructed around the Alark facility,
and initial results of the groundwater investigation detected hexavalent chromium in the groundwater. DTSC
conducted an additional groundwater investigation; constructing monitoring wells and sampling from 1995 on.
Due to the site’s high threat to human health and a lack of state and PRP funds to perform necessary work,
DTSC requested the U.S. EPA become lead agency and conduct the necessary remedial activities at the site.
As a result, U.S. EPA is now the lead agency and the site is on EPA's National Priorities List (NPL). The EPA
is conducting a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) and the RI is being performed in several
phases.
(4) Camp Haan Rifle Range: Southwest of MARB west of SR-215, CA 92518
The camp was developed in November 1940 as the Coast Artillery Antiaircraft Replacement Training Center
on property adjacent to March Army Air Field. The military reservation was a trapezoidal area about four miles
long and three miles wide, encompassing some 8,058 acres.
(5) Camp Haan - Site Y (J09CA029): West and north of the intersection of Nandina Ave. and SR-215, CA
92518
Firing range associated with Camp Haan; it is being remediated for lead contamination, plus explosives
(Unexploded (UXO) and Munitions and Explosives of concern (MEC)) and copper.
(6) Foster-Gardner: 1577 1st Street, Coachella, CA 92236
This property covers approximately 3 acres and is surrounded by a vacant lot to the north and west, a
residential area to the south and southeast, and a concrete septic tank/pipe manufacturing and storage yard
to the east. The site includes a truck-loading area, a service shop, a fertilizer blending room, an equipmentcleaning pad, two main storage sheds, an open area to the north of the storage sheds, two fertilizer tank
farms and a sales office. From 1959 through the early 1970s, operations at this site included formulation of
base fertilizer and repackaging and mixing (blending) of pesticides and fertilizers. From the early 1960s to
1990, this company formulated aqueous ammonia at the facility by mixing anhydrous ammonia with water.
The company ceased mixing pesticides in the early 1970s. Currently, this company stores herbicides, soil and
grain fumigants, insecticides, nematocides, fungicides and fertilizers onsite. Fertilizers are stored and sold in
bags and as bulk liquids. Other agricultural chemicals are stored and sold in the original bags and in small
metal containers. Operation and maintenance is on-going at the site for natural attenuation. Past manufacturing uses has left pesticides as the contaminant of concern for the site. DTSC is evaluating if monitored
natural attenuation is working at the site.
4.13-6
Facility
Type
Cleanup Status
Federal
Superfund
Listed
Active and
included on
Cortese List
State
Response
Active and
included on
Cortese List
State
Response
Active and
included on
Cortese List
State
Response
Active - Land Use
Restrictions and
included on
Cortese List
(7) Lockheed – Propulsion, Beaumont No. 1: Highland Springs Road, Beaumont, CA 92223
Historically, the predominant activity at this site was ranching. In the 1950s, the Grand Central Rocket
Company purchased the land and began a remote testing facility for space and defense programs. The
Lockheed Propulsion Company purchased the property in 1960 and began operations at the testing facility in
1963. The Beaumont facility is comprised of two sites. Site #1 consists of approximately 9,100 acres where
the majority of the testing activities were conducted. Site #2 consists of 2,500 acres and is located approx. 5
miles from Site #1. The two sites were used for the processing, testing and disposal of solid rocket propellant,
among other products, in the 1960s and early 1970s. Operations at the facility ceased in 1974. Between 1974
and 1986, portions of the overall site were used for sheep ranching and training heavy equipment operators.
These practices were ceased when the potential for contamination was discovered. Hazardous substances
that were stored or released onsite during Lockheed's operations include: solvents, purgable organics, TCE,
1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), 1, 1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCA), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) and
beryllium. Initial sampling in 1986 confirmed the presence of solvents used to clean and degrease metals in
the upper groundwater aquifer. These solvents included DCE, DCA, trichloroethane (TCA), TCE, 1,2-DCA
and 1,2-DCE. This relatively small reservoir of groundwater, which is used only for dust control and fire
protection, is thought to be separated from the deeper aquifer by a layer of rock, so it is unlikely that the
chemicals have entered the deeper aquifer. In June 1989 an Assessment/Site Inspection and limited remedial
investigation was conducted at the site. It was agreed by both Lockheed and the DTSC to split the facility into
two separate sites. In September 1989, samples were collected from the burn pits, landfill and an area of
onetime low-level radioactive waste burial. Laboratory analysis of samples from the burial pit area found very
low, nonhazardous (background) levels of two radioactive materials: carbon-14 and tritium (H-3). Sulfur-35, a
third radioactive compound suspected to be present, was not detected (it has a short half-life). Principal areas
of concern at Site #1 are the pits where various wastes were burned and also a permitted sanitary landfill.
The main of exposure risks--inhalation from soil vapors and through consumption of groundwater--are considered very low because the site is located in a very remote area and is currently vacant. The Current
Riverside County General Plan designation is Specific Plan–Residential; Current zoning consists of a variety
of industrial zoning designations for Riverside County. Future development proposed for the site includes: a
proposed master planned community of 11,870 dwelling units with supporting commercial, office, civic, recreational, educational and open space uses. In 2002, perchlorate and 1,4-dioxane were also identified as
potential groundwater chemicals of concern. Appropriate treatment technologies being identified to remediate
both chemicals.
(8) Lockheed – Propulsion, Beaumont No. 2: Jack Rabbit Trail, Beaumont, CA 92223
See description for Site #1 above.
(9) MARB – Poorman Gunnery Range: Located two miles east of MARB near Lake Perris, in Sections 28,
29, 32 and 33 of Township 3 South, Range 2 West, Moreno Valley, CA
Firing range associated with MARB, it is being remediated for lead contamination, plus explosives (UXO and
MEC) and copper.
(10) Temecula Bomb Target #107: “Via Carlotta,” 5 mi. west of downtown Temecula, CA 92593
The Navy acquired use of the 160-acre property prior to October 1945 and established a bombing target for
rocket firing. Temecula Bombing Target No. 1 is located east of downtown Temecula in southern Riverside
County, on Via Carlotta. Disposal information for this site is neither complete nor specific. The termination
date of the lease is unknown but the Navy had restored the property (implying termination of use) by March
1946. The property is now located in a rural residential area of Temecula. No evidence of military improvements remains on the property.
(11) Thomas Ranch: South of Palisades Drive, West of Serfas Club Drive, Corona, CA 91720
This site consists of four former disposal ponds for oil field and refinery wastes, believed to have been in
operation from about the 1930s to 1950s. Sampling of the former ponds indicated naphtha, benzene, xylene,
ethyl benzene and acids in the tarry materials present. Groundwater has been found to contain thiopenes, an
odiferous substance found in crude oil fractions and refinery wastes. The four ponds are fenced, but may
present a threat of direct contact with acidic substances. Disturbances of the pits can release volatile aromatic
hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. The non-potable groundwater is contaminated. A residential development is
located within 300 feet of the site. The site is currently fenced to preclude public access and direct contact
with pond materials. Signs are posted on the fences to warn the public against unauthorized entrance to the
site. A Remedial Action Order was issued by DHS in August 1986. Onsite investigation and remediation
continued in 1990 along with groundwater sampling to clarify prior groundwater information. By the end of
1994, RP maintained the site and had sampled the groundwater. RP filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against
Facility
Type
State
Response
State
Response
State
Response
Cleanup Status
Active and
included on
Cortese List
Active
Active and
included on
Cortese List
State
Response
Active and
included on
Cortese List
State
Response
Active - Land Use
Restrictions and
included on
Cortese List
4.13-7
five oil refinery companies as generators responsible for disposal of the waste at the site and in 1995 a
Settlement Agreement was signed between the DTSC and the RP.
(12) Wyle Labs – Norco Facility: 1841 Hillside Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
This site encompasses 429 acres of land. Wyle started operation in 1957 on the western portion of the site
and then developed the site eastwards over time. The site is divided into several areas identified by letters
(Areas A, B, etc.). Each typically consists of one or more small buildings, structures and/or outdoor testing
areas built for specific testing procedures and to house specific testing apparatus. Testing for the defense,
aerospace and manufacturing industries occurred on the site. Components and systems tested include:
pumps, valves, piping, propulsion systems, electronic equipment, ordnance and weapons systems. Generally,
Wyle's activities were restricted to the central portion of the site; and the edges were left undeveloped to act
as a buffer zone between test areas and residential areas located beyond the site boundaries. Adjacent properties include residences to the south, west and north, and a golf course to the east. The site lies in a westward sloping drainage basin, with considerable topographic relief. An ephemeral stream runs through the site
and exits near its southwestern corner. Surface water, present in the stream only during and after rainfall
events, generally flows from east to west in the ephemeral stream channel. Groundwater on the site is limited
to areas adjacent to the stream channel and within a few feet below ground surface.
(13) Techalloy: 2500 A Street, Perris, CA 92370
This site contains unspecified sludge waste, pesticide containers and more than 30 gallons of unspecified
contaminants.
14) Cadiz Lake Sonic Target #7: 68 miles east of 29 Palms, Cadiz, CA 92277
The site encompasses 2,560 acres in eastern Riverside County, owned by the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) and known or suspected to contain military munitions and explosives of concern (e.g., unexploded
ordnance), which may present an explosive hazard. The site was used for desert warfare training and
Department of Defense (DoD) activities as early as 1942. The site was also used by the Fourth Air Force
stationed at March Field, California. Some of this training involved use of live ordnance. No known DoD
improvements to site were documented.
(15) Camp Young (J09CA029600): 25 miles east of Indio (SR-195/I-10)
Camp Young is located on approx. 3,280 acres in the Mojave Desert, east of Indio, and was headquarters for
the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA) during WWII. It was used to train conventional ordnance,
ammunition units and several chemical units. The camp is known or suspected to contain military munitions
and explosives of concern (unexploded ordnance) and may present an explosive hazard. The Army Corps of
Engineers is responsible for the investigation.
(16) Corona Annex (J09CA112000): Fifth Street and Hamner Ave., Corona, CA 91720
The 714-acre site was used by the Navy for testing and targeting activities during the 1940s, and included
land in-fee and direct purchased for the former Corona Naval Hospital, located north of the City of Corona.
The site is bounded by Fifth Street to the north and Hamner Avenue to the east. A former hospital site, it was
transferred to Bureau of Naval Weapons for use by the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in 1959. In 1962, 92
acres were transferred to the State of California for use as a Narcotics Rehabilitation Center. In 1962, 14.6
acres were transferred to the Corona Unified School District. Approx. 219 acres were transferred to Lewis
Homes and Crestwood Homes development, and 142 acres were also subsequently purchased by other
housing developers. The Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station currently owns 245.75 acres. Military munitions
were produced or demilitarized at this location and therefore may present an explosive hazard. Facilities
known to have existed as part of Corona Annex include a missile evaluation building, fuse assembly
examination lab, fuse detonator magazine, high-explosive magazine and an explosive disposal incinerator. An
identified burn pit/ordnance disposal incinerator, along with a nearby disposal area (landfill) have minor
potential for remaining munitions and explosives of concern (MEC). In 1990, the Riverside Community
College undertook a cleanup activity with oversight from the DTSC and removed incinerator ash material.
(17) Rice Valley Sand Dunes: Rice Valley, CA 92277
The 5,000-acre site is located in the Rice Valley Sand Dunes and the West Riverside, Riverside and Big
Maria Mountains. Current information indicates the site is owned and maintained by the Department of Interior
(DoI). This property is known or suspected to contain military munitions and explosives of concern (e.g.,
unexploded ordnance) and therefore may present an explosive hazard. During World War II, the site was
used for practice strafing and bombing runs as part of the Rice Army Airfield and Rice Divisional Camp
installation created as part of the CAMA Desert Training Center. The northwestern third of the site is believed
contaminated with subsurface unexploded ordnance. A handful of deteriorated 5-gallon cans marked as
automotive grease were also found on site.
4.13-8
Facility
Type
Cleanup Status
State
Response
Active and
included on
Cortese List
State
Response
Refer: RCRA
State
Response
Inactive – Action
Required
State
Response
Inactive – Action
Required
State
Response
Inactive – Action
Required
State
Response
Inactive – Action
Required
(18) Gavilan Plateau – Maneuver Area: Section 35, Township 4 S, Range 5 W, Perris, CA 92507
This is a former defense site with potential ordnance and explosives contamination. The site will remain idle
until the Army Corps of Engineers receives funding to start site investigations with DTSC oversight.
(19) Riverside Community College – Norco Campus: 2001 3rd Street, Norco, CA 92860
This Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) was part of the Corona Annex facility (see Site #16 above).
(20) State Lands Commission – Norco: Tract 23507, Sections 11-14, Township 3S, Range 7W, Norco, CA
91760
This State Lands Commission (SLC) property was once part of the U.S. Naval Fleet Analysis Center, Corona
Annex (see Site #16 above). In 1984, more than 300 acres of the Corona Annex, including the SLC property,
were declared excess by the U.S. Navy and transferred to the General Services Administration. The Navy
retained about 129 acres of the Corona facility, which are currently still in operation. An Initial Assessment
prepared in 1985 by the U.S. Navy identified various activities involving hazardous materials at the site,
including: use of chemicals in a research laboratory, painting and printing operations, auto shops, pesticide
application and testing of mechanical and electrical fuses. Lewis Homes of California is in escrow to
purchase the SLC property and plans to develop it into single-family dwellings. In 1989, a Preliminary Site
Assessment was performed, and subsurface and near-surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for
priority pollutants. Results did not indicate the presence of hazardous substances at the site. Therefore, no
further action is required at the site.
(21) University of California Riverside (UCR): 1060 Pennsylvania Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521
Site consists of seven pits in UCR’s Agricultural Operations yard on-campus. The pits were used from the
mid-1950s to late 1960s for disposal of agricultural wastes. The site was also used for research on
experimental pesticides; a wide variety of organic chemicals have been identified at the pit, including organochlorine pesticides, chlorinated herbicides, solvents, hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
The disposal pits are not lined and there is potential for contamination of groundwater used for domestic
supply. The pits are covered and there is little potential direct exposure. The first stage of a two-stage RI/FS,
which identified the types of soil contamination and location of the pits, has been completed.
(22) Certainteed – Riverside: 2100 Avalon Street, Riverside, CA 92509
The facility is a former cement pipe manufacturing plant that routinely used raw asbestos to produce cement
pipes and fittings. During its operation, it was suspected through neighbor complaints that asbestos was being
improperly disposed and stored at the site. Contamination of soil onsite was confirmed from improper
cleaning of a storage area and storing bags of asbestos on the ground instead of immediately transporting
waste to a landfill. Facility operations did not contribute to contamination. The site was investigated in 1983
and asbestos soil contamination was found. In 1984, it was confirmed by DHS that the site had been cleaned
up properly and a certification was issued.
(23) Crossroads Investors III, LLC: 24250 Adams Avenue, Murrieta, CA 92562
The approx. 20-acre site is a vacant lot bounded by a private elementary school to the southeast, Jefferson
Ave. to the northeast, single-family dwellings to the northwest and Adams Ave. to the southwest. In the
1950s, part of the site was used for a lead acid battery reclamation and processing facility. Some buildings
were used as a Christian school between 1960-1977. Due to lead contamination from the battery recycling
operation, in 1988 the U.S. EPA conducted site investigation and emergency remediation at the request of
RCDEH. The emergency remediation work included scraping up contaminated soil and capping it beneath an
asphalt cover onsite. A draft Removal Action Workplan proposes removal of all contaminated soil posing
health risk and offsite disposal at a regulated facility. Some less-contaminated soil posing a lower health risk
will also be removed from the site and may be processed elsewhere for reuse.
(24) Liston Aluminum Company Site: 9107 Cajalco Road, Corona, CA 92881
The site is adjacent to a stream bed and near drinking water wells. Approximately 25 tons of hazardous
waste were deposited at Liston Aluminum Company site in June 1984. This material was sampled, tested and
found to contain hazardous levels of zinc and lead.
(25) MARB – Site 24: 7,123 acres, east of Riverside, CA 92518
This is a former landfill at West March Air Reserve Base. The landfill occupied an area of approx. 4 acres and
received approximately 12,000 cubic yards of waste ash from the Camp Haan solid waste incinerator
between 1941 and 1965. The southwestern portion of the landfill also received domestic solid waste, shop
waste and demolition debris. There is no apparent remaining threat to groundwater, public health or the
environment. Site 24 has been clean closed. Future land use for Site 24 is industrial.
(26) MARB – Site 40: 7,123 acres, east of Riverside, CA 92518
This is a former landfill used for disposing wastes from March ARB. It occupies approximately 18 acres of
Facility
Type
State
Response
Cleanup Status
Inactive – Action
Required
State
Response
State
Response
Inactive – Needs
Evaluation
De-Listed
State
Response
Certified Operation
and Maintenance
– Land Use
Restrictions Only
State
Response
Certified
State
Response
Certified
State
Response
Certified
State
Response
Certified
State
Response
Certified
4.13-9
rolling land and a pond in the central portion of the property accumulates surface runoff. Buried drums at this
landfill were filled with sodium hydroxide, roofing tar, asphalt solids and waste as well as oil and grease.
There is potential contamination of surface water and storm water due to exposure to the drums and debris.
March ARB was included on the NPL in 1989. An FFA was signed between the U.S. EPA, DHS, Santa Ana
RWQCB and U.S. Air Force in September 1990 to provide for the remediation of the base. For details on
other efforts at March AFB refer to March ARB site IDNUM 33970002.
(27) Riverside National Cemetery: East of Riverside, CA 92518
Formerly a part of March Air Reserve Base, this site is part of Operable Unit #2, which is an inactive landfill
that overlaid Site 20 and received lime and soda ash precipitate between 1941 and 1984, from Colorado
River water treated at settling and evaporation impoundments. The landfill was located on a relatively thin
zone of soil or unconsolidated sediments overlying decomposed granitic bedrock. Monitoring results indicate
no apparent degradation of groundwater quality at the site. The clean-up required the complete removal of
contaminated soil and waste to other sites. And, as confirmed by sampling results, no additional remedial
work is necessary at the site. The site is clean and closed.
(28) Parkside Drive Site: Parkside Drive and American Canal North Shore, North Shore, CA 92254 The
site was formerly referred to as part of the All-American Canal and consisted of approx. one acre with
scattered, deteriorated drums and spilled chemical materials thought to be from plating operations. In 1985,
the site underwent removal of drums and soil. Post-cleanup soil sampling and field screenings indicated that
cleanup was completed to acceptable levels.
(29) Universal Propulsion: Pyrite Canyon, Riverside, CA 92509
The site first came to DTSC attention as a result of illegal dumping of hazardous materials there. After
investigations it was concluded that wastes, including barium nitrates, phosphates and borates, had been
disposed of in a pond on the site. In 1983, a cleanup program was begun at the site, but stopped when bomb
casings were uncovered. After investigations determined that the casings did not contain explosive materials,
cleanup resumed. Universal Propulsion Company leased the site from 1965 to 1980. In 1984, the DTSC
issued Universal Propulsion Company an order to pay for civil penalties and the cost of the investigation and
cleanup of the site.
(30) Banning Rifle Range: Sections 13 and 14 of Township 3S, Range 1E, Banning, CA 92222
The Banning Rifle Range (RR) is a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) located in the City of Banning along
the Interstate 10 corridor in Riverside County. The approximately 84-acre site was used by the U.S. Army as
a small arms (rifle) firing range during World War II. The exact location of the rifle range could not be
confirmed from available documents or maps. According to the 1994 INPR, 30.3 acres of the site is
undeveloped land owned by private individuals. The remaining 63.44 acres is owned by the City of Banning
and used for the Banning Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) operations.
(31) Camp Coxcomb: East side of SR-177 approx. 24 miles SW of Freda
Camp Coxcomb encompassed 11,520 acres in an undeveloped region of Riverside County, approx. 24 miles
west of Freda, California, and 16 miles northeast of Desert Center. The site was established in 1942 as one
of several division camps dedicated to training and conditioning troops and testing military equipment. Seven
firing ranges were used on the site. Camp Coxcomb was declared surplus in 1944, at which time 10,560
acres were transferred to the DoI. At present, approx. 8,563 acres of the site are owned by the U.S. DoI and
under the jurisdiction of the BLM. Approximately 2,957 acres of the site are owned by the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California and various private parties. In addition, approx. 50 mining claims occur on the
Camp Coxcomb site. As a result of it former military use, the property is known or suspected to contain
military munitions and explosives of concern (e.g., unexploded ordnance) and therefore may present an
explosive hazard.
32) Thermal Ground Air Support Base: Approx. 6 miles south of Highways 86 and 111
This 2,555-acre site was acquired by the War Department in the 1940s. The airfield was improved with
approximately 250 buildings, heating, lighting, telephone, sewer, water and power systems. In 1948, approx.
2,473 acres were transferred to the County of Riverside for use as a municipal airport (now known as the
Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport). Approx. 40 acres were deeded to the Coachella Valley Water District
and approx. 39 acres were deeded to the United Date Growers of California. Currently, the site encompasses
17 parcels totaling 2,549 acres of land owned by both public and private entities. The balance is used for
agriculture and airpark development.
4.13-10
Facility
Type
Cleanup Status
State
Response
Certified
State
Response
Certified
State
Response
Certified
Military
Evaluation
Active and
included on
Cortese List
Military
Evaluation
Active and
included on
Cortese List
Military
Evaluation
Active and
included on
Cortese List
(33) Torney General Hospital: 1150 North Indian Canyon Blvd., Palm Springs, CA 92262
The site is a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) that involved conversion of the El Mirador Hotel in Palm
Springs to a temporary military hospital. However, no records of survey or potential contamination were on file
in the DTSC database.
(34) Blythe Army Air Field – Bombing Target #1: Approx. 7 miles west of Blythe
The approximately 1,570-acre Blythe Army Air Field (AAF) is a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). Also
known as the Blythe Army Air Base, it is currently part of the Blythe Municipal Airport, located 7 miles west of
the City of Blythe. The Blythe AAF was used to train heavy bombardment squadrons as part of a CAMA
training field. The Blythe AAF later became a sub-base of Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force
Base). In 1948, the site was declared excess and the lease with Riverside County was terminated. Only a
few of the military improvements still remain on site, including five buildings, two runways and the parking
apron. The City of Blythe currently owns the former Blythe AAF and operates it as the Blythe Municipal
Airport. Explosives and munitions debris are contaminants of concern for the site.
(35) Palm Springs Regional Airport: 3400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
The Palm Springs Regional Airport, located in Palm Springs, is a former Army Air Force installation that provided an air field, unit logistic and housing support. Constituents of potential concern at the site are petroleum
hydrocarbons, solvents and metals.
Facility
Type
Military
Evaluation
Cleanup Status
Active and
included on
Cortese List
Military
Evaluation
Active and
included on
Cortese List
Military
Evaluation
Active and
included on
Cortese List
* See Figure 4.13.1
Source: California Department of Toxic Substances Control “EnviroStor” Database, March 2011.
2. Hazardous Waste Generators
According to the State of California’s EnviroStor database, the five largest generators of production-related
hazardous materials in Riverside County produce over 15 million pounds of these materials, including: lead
compounds, ammonia, hydrochloric, sulfuric and phosphoric acids and xylene. These hazardous waste generators
include food and beverage processors as well as battery, semi-conductor and metal container manufacturers.
Although hazardous waste generators are scattered throughout Riverside County, most of the large producers of
these materials are located in the western portion. Of the five largest generators described above, two are located
in Corona. The other three are located in Riverside, Temecula and Mira Loma, respectively.
3. Commercial and Industrial Uses
Many types of retail businesses within Riverside County commonly store and sell hazardous materials. These
materials may be subject to uncontrolled release during an earthquake, fire or other upset. Typical hazardous
materials sold at retail outlets includes paints, solvents, cleaning fluids and garden pesticides and fertilizers. The
adverse effects produced by the accidental release of hazardous materials may be compounded by the release and
co-mingling of several different hazardous materials during such an event. In addition, retail establishments that
provide propane or other compressed fuels to the public represent a potentially significant explosive hazard.
Hazardous materials are also typically encountered in a number of common businesses. Automotive repair shops
and auto parts stores commonly use or carry halogenated cleaning solvents, antifreezes (ethylene glycol), freon
and various oils and greases. Auto body shops commonly use a variety of paints, paint solvents and thinners in
their operations. Although changes in dry-cleaning processes have reduced the number of hazardous material
incidents within this industry, the potential for misuse of materials, including chlorinated solvents, remains.
4. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
These are most often associated with automotive service stations, airports and truck stops and represent a risk for
the accidental release of hazardous materials into the environment. The effect of such a release may be
compounded by the presence of a high groundwater table in the area surrounding the tank. USTs may leak
4.13-11
gasoline, diesel or waste oil. Recent and increasingly stringent government regulations for USTs, such as doublewalled construction, leak detection systems and protective coatings, continue to reduce UST leaks in the future.
5. High-Tech Industries
Many “high-tech” industries are moving to Riverside County, with more plants predicted to open in the future.
To support these industries, the County of Riverside is beginning to experience a considerable increase in the
transportation of highly toxic and corrosive materials into and out of the county. Along with these hazardous
materials comes the problem of hazardous waste management and disposal. The closing of hazardous waste
disposal sites are also forcing the transportation of these materials over greater distances, making these types of
waste a continuing hazard.
6. Agriculture
There is a long history of agricultural production in Riverside County. Agricultural activities typically include the
storage and periodic application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, as well as the storage and use of toxic
fuels and solvents. Pesticides and herbicides vary widely in toxicity and persistence in the soil. Pesticides that
degrade slowly over time may leave undesirable residues on crops or in the soil, resulting in higher levels of
pesticides in the food chain. These substances may also leach into local groundwater supplies, presenting an
elevated risk of groundwater contamination. The over-application of chemical substances such as fertilizers,
herbicides and pesticides in agricultural production has resulted in the localized contamination of top soils and
groundwater. Increased salinity and nitrate levels caused by agricultural runoff are problems throughout Riverside
County where dairy farming, crop raising and citrus groves are prevalent.
In addition to chemical substances applied to agricultural crops, large-scale dairies, feed lots or poultry farms pose
a potential environmental hazard. Animal waste from these uses could, if not properly disposed of (or otherwise
managed), affect the quality of local and regional groundwater; increasing nitrate levels in local drinking water
supplies, for example. An examination of groundwater quality has determined that agriculture-induced groundwater contamination occurs primarily in the dairy preserve of Norco, the San Jacinto Valley and the Colorado
River Basin.
7. Household Uses
Nearly all Riverside County residents have some type of hazardous material in their homes; for example, motor
oil, paints, cleaners and pesticides. Household hazardous materials pose serious health issues for people who
improperly use or dispose of these materials. Adverse environmental impacts can occur when household
hazardous materials are disposed of in unlined sanitary landfills, where they can leach through the soil and contaminate groundwater. Rural home sites, removed from community natural gas distribution networks often rely
upon propane or other compressed fuels for heating and cooking purposes. Fuels of this type are often stored in
onsite aboveground tanks, which are periodically replenished by mobile propane (or other compressed gas)
providers. These tanks pose potentially significant explosive and fire hazards if improperly maintained.
4.13-12
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\\agency\tlmagis\Projects\Planning\Safety_Element\Hazardous_Locs.mxd
Data Source: California Department of Toxic
Substances (2011) and Riverside County (2011)
`
_
Major Hazmat Site
Highways
GPA960 Changed Areas
Area Plan Boundary
Airports
City Boundary
Waterbodies
[
0
December 16, 2013
10
Miles
20
1A. MARCH AIR FORCE BASE
1B. MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE
2. STRINGFELLOW HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE
3. ALARK HARD CHROME
4. CAMP HAAN RIFLE RANGE
5. CAMP HAAN, SITE Y (J09CA029)
6. FOSTER-GARDNER
7. LOCKHEED PROPULSION-BEAUMONT NO. 1
8. LOCKHEED PROPULSION-BEAUMONT NO. 2
9. MARCH AFB - POORMAN GUNNERY RANGE
Disclaimer: Maps and data are to be used for reference purposes only. Map features are
approximate, and are not necessarily accurate to surveying or engineering standards. The
County of Riverside makes no warranty or guarantee as to the content (the source is often third
party), accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of any of the data provided, and assumes no
legal responsibility for the information contained on this map. Any use of this product with
respect to accuracy and precision shall be the sole responsibility of the user.
11. THOMAS RANCH
12. WYLE LABS - NORCO FACILITY
13. TECHALLOY
14. CADIZ LAKE SONIC TARGET #7
15. CAMP YOUNG (J09CA029600)
16. CORONA ANNEX (J09CA112000)
17. RICE VALLEY SAND DUNES
18. GAVILAN PLATEAU MANEUVER AREA
19. RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-NORCO CAMPUS
20. STATE LANDS COMMISSION - NORCO
21. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
22. CERTAINTEED, RIVERSIDE
23. CROSSROADS INVESTORS III, LLC
24. LISTON ALUMINUM COMPANY SITE
25. MARCH AIR FORCE BASE - SITE 24
26. MARCH AIR FORCE BASE - SITE 40
27. RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY
28. PARKSIDE DRIVE SITE
29. UNIVERSAL PROPULSION
30. BANNING RIFLE RANGE
31. CAMP COXCOMB
32. THERMAL GROUND AIR STA BASE
33. TORNEY GENERAL HOSPITAL
34. BLYTHE ARMY AIR FIELD BOMBING TARGET 1
35. PALM SPRINGS REGIONAL AIRPORT
Figure 4.13.1
LOCATIONS OF MAJOR
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SITES
8. Illegal Dumping
The dumping of household hazardous wastes and unreported industrial wastes in municipal landfills is not
uncommon. This illegal disposal may contribute to the degradation of soil and groundwater quality, thereby
increasing the potential for adverse effect on humans and the environment. Illegal dumping of hazardous wastes
is a widespread problem that occurs in a variety of forms, including disposal of hazardous substances on
unimproved land (including illegal disposal outside of landfills).
9. Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater treatment plants process millions of gallons of effluent daily within Riverside County. Although they
are subject to stringent regulations, the improper design, installation, maintenance or operation of these facilities
could allow the release of untreated or partially treated sewage with high pathogen concentrations and/or toxic
compounds, posing a threat to public health or natural resources. Monitoring of wastewater treatment facilities is
the responsibility of the local RWQCBs. Within rural communities, wastewater treatment is accommodated by
individual septic systems. Riverside County maintains regulations for the design of septic systems and leach fields
to ensure their proper operation. However, if not properly maintained, septic systems could potentially contaminate groundwater with nitrates, ammonia, salts, metals, organic solvents, grease and oil, and other substances, impairing the beneficial uses of local water supplies.
10. Landfills
Landfills are classified according to the disposal site’s ability to contain waste based on an analysis of various
criteria, including the site’s underlying geology, hydrology, topography and climatology. The principal goal of
classifications is the protection of surface and subsurface water quality. There are three main categories of
landfills:
Class I Landfills: These landfills are qualified to accept and manage hazardous waste. The primary objective at
a Class I landfill is the protection of surface and subsurface water quality. A Class I landfill is required to be
located where natural geographic features provide optimum conditions for the isolation of wastes from surface
and subsurface waters.
Class II Landfills: Waste facilities under the Class II designation are required to be located where site
characteristics and containment structures isolate waste from surface and subsurface waters. Select types of
hazardous materials may be deposited at Class II facilities, provided a special variance from standard hazardous
waste management procedures is granted.
Class III Landfills: This class of landfill is required to have adequate separation between nonhazardous solid
wastes and surface and subsurface waters. They are not permitted to accept hazardous waste.
There are currently seven active landfills within the unincorporated Riverside County. Of these, six are operated
by the Riverside County Waste Management Department, while one (El Sobrante) is privately owned and
operated. All landfill facilities conditionally accept waste from outside of Riverside County.
All of the landfills currently located in Riverside County are Class III landfills and accept only nonhazardous solid
waste. Hazardous waste generated within Riverside County must be disposed of in Kern County or Santa
4.13-15
Barbara County, which have active Class I landfills. Some waste, such as low-level radioactive materials, is also
transported out of state for disposal. See Section 4.17.4 for more on landfills.
11. Power Plants and Electrical Substations
These facilities are located near urban areas, providing potential for hazardous materials to come in contact with
the public. Hazardous materials commonly found at power plants and substations include fuels used to operate
the facility (e.g., gasoline or diesel) and also polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), formerly used for insulation. These
persistent chlorinated organics are often found in the transformer oil at the base of power transformers. PCBs
can enter the soil and groundwater and do not easily deteriorate in the environment. Studies have linked PCBs to
cancer in laboratory animals. There are dozens of electrical substations located throughout Riverside County.
12. Military Installations
The County of Riverside contains a number of military installations, the largest is the March Joint Air Reserve
Base (MARB, formerly March Air Force Base) located adjacent to the cities of Moreno Valley and Perris,
approximately nine miles from downtown Riverside. Contaminated sites exist on the base as a result of the
storage, use and disposal of household refuse, construction debris, hazardous substances and petroleum products
and their derivatives over the course of the installation’s nearly 100-year history. A total of 43 “Installation
Restoration Program” (IRP) sites have been identified on MARB. Of these, 16 are located on lands proposed to
be released for non-military uses, three additional sites are located on Air Force Village West property and two are
located on National Cemetery lands. See Table 4.13-A for full details on each of these sites.
MARB also has 31 active and three inactive underground storage tanks. The majority of these are located in the
northeastern portion of the base. In addition, MARB has numerous aboveground storage tanks. A bulk fuel
storage area in the northern portion of the base and two hydrant fueling systems utilize the largest of these tanks.
The bulk storage consists of three aboveground tanks with a total capacity of 5.88 million gallons of jet fuel (JP8). This fuel is delivered via an 8-inch pipeline running from Colton in southwestern San Bernardino County.
Maintenance and monitoring of this system is conducted by the Air Force Reserves in compliance with the
Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act.
An Environmental Baseline Survey (EBS), Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Cleanup Plan (BCP) have
been prepared for MARB. These Air Force documents outline the status, management and response strategy,
and action items related to the cleanup of on-base contaminated and hazardous sites. These programs outline the
cleanup of hazardous materials contamination and restoration of the base, as well as selected areas surrounding
the base; a necessary step for eventual property disposal and reuse.
The IRP process for MARB commenced September 1993, with the majority of the cleanup sites completed or
near completion at time of base realignment in April 1996. There remain some areas where jet fuel byproducts
have contaminated groundwater offsite. These plumes of contamination are likely to require several more years
to clean up.
In addition to MARB, the only other active military site in use in Riverside County is the Chocolate Mountain
Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR), a military training facility located in the desert east of the Salton Sea. See
Section 4.15 (Noise) for a full description of the activities occurring at CMAGR, plus additional discussion of the
other military sites in or affecting Riverside County. The CMAGR spans nearly 460,000 acres, of which roughly
25% (approximately 108,400 acres) are within Riverside County; the remainder is in Imperial County. Public
access is restricted within the range, protecting the public from both the hazards of live-fire exercises and from
4.13-16
unexploded ordnance, hazardous materials (such as depleted uranium and other heavy metals used in munitions,
for example) and other safety threats.
According to the Draft Legislative EIS (Draft LEIS) prepared for the continued operation of the CMAGR (page
3-105), in 1992 the Navy performed a Preliminary Assessment of the CMAGR to look for signs of hazardous
waste disposals or spills. Of seven sites identified, one (an open burn pit for scrap metal) was eliminated through
range operations and maintenance. Another site was cleaned up through the excavation and proper disposal of
roughly 45 cubic yards of diesel-fuel contaminated soil. The remaining five sites were trash and debris (empty
drums, paint cans, glass bottles, construction materials and old bombing vehicles) disposal sites that occurred in a
portion of CMAGR where Navy SEAL training activities had taken place. After research and testing, no
hazardous materials were identified, so debris from the site was consolidated and disposed of properly off site.
To prevent future spills or contamination, particularly due to petroleum products associated with vehicles and
equipment, a number of standard operating procedures (SOPs) are in place for the CMAGR. These SOPs also
address stormwater management and ammunition and explosives safety.
Lastly, Riverside County also contains a host of former military bases, camps, facilities, etc., as outlined in Table
4.13-A. The most significant hazardous material found on or near these facilities is unexploded ordnance (e.g.,
bombs).
13. Medical Facilities
These facilities include clinics, hospitals, professional offices, blood and plasma centers and medical research
facilities, which collectively generate a wide variety of hazardous substances in the form of “medical wastes,”
which may also be biohazardous. These substances may include contaminated medical equipment or supplies,
infectious biological matter, prescription medicines, laboratory chemicals, cleaning products and radioactive
materials used in medical procedures and for research. Major medical facilities in Riverside County include
Riverside County Regional Medical Center (Moreno Valley), Riverside Community Hospital (Riverside) and
Eisenhower Medical Center (Rancho Mirage) as well as nearly two dozen other hospitals and major care centers
located throughout the county.
14. Medical Waste
Virtually every medical facility, including doctors’ offices, surgery centers, health clinics, dental offices and other
health professional offices, laboratories, medical research facilities laboratories, and even veterinary offices and
clinics, generate medical wastes to one degree or another. Pursuant to the State of California’s Medical Waste
Management Act (MWMA) (Sections 117600-118360 of the California Health and Safety Code [HSC]), a “large
quantity generator” is defined as a “medical waste generator, other than a trauma scene waste management
practitioner, that generates 200 or more pounds of medical waste in any month.” Small-quantity generators fall
under 200 pounds per month.
Pursuant to HSC Sections 119735 and 117960, medical waste generators (both “large” and “small”) are required
to file a “medical waste management plan” with the County of Riverside. The plan serves to disclose the types
and amounts of medical waste generated by a site, as well as specify the onsite waste treatment methods used to
render the waste non-hazardous prior to disposal (if applicable), for example through steam sterilization,
incineration, etc. The plan must also address the storage and disposal of sharps, biohazardous substances,
radioactive waste, chemotherapeutics, human tissues, etc., as well as mixed wastes (containing both medical and
non-medical waste types).
4.13-17
The disposal of medical waste is normally performed by on-site autoclaving of red-bagged waste (any medical
waste that could possibly transmit a pathogen) to render it inert with subsequent transport to a Class III landfill.
The RCDEH has regulatory control over the disposal of medical and biological waste. Needles, syringes and
other sharp objects containing blood, body fluids, human or animal body parts as well as clothing stained with
blood and/or body fluids generated from non-regulated sources, such as crime scenes, traffic accidents and
private residences, are not classified as regulated waste under the MWMA (i.e., HSC Sections 117935 and 117960).
However, as these materials may be potentially infected with pathogens, care should be utilized in handling and
disposing of such materials.
15. Radioactive Waste
The Riverside County Hazardous Waste Management Plan does not address the management of radioactive waste
because the handling, treatment, storage and disposal of these wastes involve complex issues above and beyond
those involving general hazardous wastes. The use and disposal of radioactive materials used, produced or
otherwise associated with medical procedures is regulated by the RCDEH and the State of California. Disposal of
these substances takes place outside of Riverside County under the jurisdiction of the federal government (e.g.,
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission).
16. Hazmat Transport
Rail and highway transportation routes, and the varied industries that use them, create the potential for hazardous
materials incidents within Riverside County. The accidental release of a hazardous material into the environment
could have serious consequences on the environment, property and human health depending upon the size,
location, type and quantity of the release. Although incidents can happen almost anywhere, certain areas of
Riverside County are at higher risk for inadvertent release of hazardous materials. Locations near freeways and
roadways that are frequently used for transporting hazardous materials (e.g., SR-91, I-15) and locations near
industrial facilities that use, store or dispose of these materials all have an increased potential for a release
incident, as do locations along Riverside County’s freight railways.
Releases of explosive and highly flammable materials have the potential to cause fatalities and injuries, necessitate
large-scale evacuations and destroy both public and personal property. Toxic gas releases could cause injury and
fatalities among emergency response personnel and passers-by. Serious health and environmental effects may
result from the release of toxic materials into either surface or groundwater supplies. Releases of hazardous
materials may be particularly serious if they occur in highly populated areas and/or along heavily traveled
transportation routes.
17. Highways
The amount of hazardous materials transported over county roadways on a daily basis is unknown, but is
estimated to be steadily increasing due to the growth of overall traffic and industry in Riverside County. In
addition to the accidental release of gasoline, diesel, oil and other automotive products during vehicle collisions,
the transport of hazardous materials on highways within Riverside County presents a risk of upset and/or release
of these substances. Besides the immediate effect of a truck-related hazardous material incident, there are also
ancillary effects such as the impact on water and drainage systems, the evacuation of schools, business districts
and residential areas, and the effect on traffic in the area. Several major highways traverse Riverside County,
including I-10, I-15, I-215, SR-60 and SR-91. These highways provide regional access, as well as access to
industrial operations throughout Riverside County, thereby allowing for the transport of a wide variety of
4.13-18
hazardous materials. The areas most vulnerable to accidents along these routes are generally considered to be the
on/off ramps and interchanges, where vehicles accelerate and merge.
Of major concern in the trucking industry is the safe operation of the trucks. With the regulation of the trucking
industry, spot checks of trucks in many states, including California, have shown that at least 25% of trucks
currently in service are not considered safe enough to operate on public highways. The California Highway Patrol
(CHP) is responsible for the general enforcement of motor carriers hauling hazardous materials. Truck scales are
located on I-10 in Banning, I-15 in the Cajon Pass and on SR-91 in Orange County. Scale masters at these
locations issue “compliance ratings,” which monitor maintenance, vehicle code, safety and cargo compliance with
federal, state and local laws. In addition to inspections at these scales, the CHP Motor Carrier Safety Units also
conduct inspections at areas or yards where trucks are parked temporarily between trips. “Mobile Road
Enforcement” entails the patrol and inspection of vehicles on city and county roadways, as well as state highways.
The growth of high-tech industry in Riverside County requires the transport of increasing quantities of toxic and
corrosive materials into and out of the County of Riverside. The transportation of chlorine is also a concern in
Riverside County. Chloride is a particularly hazardous material commonly transported and used for water
treatment. Used to purify/treat water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) operates
one of the largest fleets of chlorine-transport trucks in the state, with trucks in daily operation throughout
Riverside County.
18. Rail Transport
The many rail lines running through Riverside County often carry hazardous cargoes. Although hazmat transport
on railroads is not as prevalent as on truck routes, the substantially greater volumes involved in rail transport pose
a greater hazard when an accident does occur. In particular, if there are volatile or flammable substances on the
train, and the train is in a highly populated or densely forested area, death, injuries and damage to homes,
infrastructure and the environment could occur in the event of a train accident, derailment or fire.
Major rail lines which cross Riverside County are shown in Section 4.18 (Transportation and Traffic). The most
common hazardous material incidents involving rail transport are due to train wrecks and derailments. A number
of incidents have occurred in Riverside County within the last decade including a trail derailment in Palm Springs
in 1999 where 10,000 gallons of diesel oil into the San Gorgonio River and a railcar fire in Beaumont in 2003
which leaked white sand. These types of incidences allow quantities of hazardous materials to enter the soil and
groundwater. The location of rail corridors in the vicinity of natural gas and/or petroleum pipelines presents a
potential risk of catastrophic release of these fuels in the event of a rail derailment or similar incident. These
potential impacts are addressed in Section 4.13.6.
19. Pipelines
Because it spans over 200 miles from east to west, and lies in between Arizona and the Los Angeles metropolis,
Riverside County is home to an extensive network of pipeline distribution systems. In particular, Southern
California Gas Company (SCGC) has three high-pressure natural gas transmission pipelines that pass through the
San Gorgonio Pass (including crossing the San Andreas Fault), supplying a major portion of Southern California’s
non-transportation energy supply (roughly 28% of the energy consumed annually in the state, according to the
MHHP, page 353). Most of the natural gas used in California comes from out of state. The SCGC pipeline
system delivers natural gas from the southwestern states into Southern California. A more detailed discussion of
natural gas pipelines, including a map of their general locations across Riverside County, may be found in Section
4.10 (Energy Resources).
4.13-19
SCGC transports high-pressure natural gas through two types of lines: transmission (“backbone”) and
distribution lines. Natural gas is delivered through the utilities’ backbone pipeline systems into local transmission
and distribution pipeline systems, or to natural gas storage fields. The backbone lines connect to local systems at
regulation stations where changes in pressure (from high to low and vice versa) take place. Natural gas for
domestic and commercial uses is delivered via underground in-street pipelines. The rupture of these facilities,
either during a natural disaster or by an accidental breach caused by human activity, could potentially result in
explosive consequences. Such an accident occurred in Pedley in 2002 and resulted in 131 structures being
evacuated and 150 people being displaced. No release or accident in Riverside County has reached such
devastating proportions. However, all areas with natural gas pipelines are at risk for potential pipeline failure and
gas-release hazards.
Petroleum products are also stored and distributed at many major points throughout Riverside County. Of
particular interest are the aviation fuel tanks and pipelines located at March Air Reserve Base (MARB). A jet fuel
(JP-8) pipeline runs from Colton in southwestern San Bernardino County to the fuel storage facilities at MARB.
Increased urbanization is resulting in more and more people living and working closer to existing gas transmission
pipelines that were built prior to adoption of some of the modern land use and pipeline safety regulations that
exist today. According to the State MHHP (page 353), compounding the potential risk is the age and gradual
deteriorating of the gas transmission system due to natural causes. Significant failure, including pipe breaks and
explosions, can result in loss of life, injury, property damage and environmental impacts. Causes and contributors
to pipeline failures include construction errors, material defects, internal and external corrosion, operational
errors, control system malfunctions, outside force damage (e.g., accidental excavation, vehicle crashes, etc.),
subsidence and earthquakes. Growth in population, urbanization and land development near transmission
pipelines, together with the addition of new facilities to meet new demands, increase the likelihood of pipeline
damage due to human activity and the exposure of people and property to pipeline failure hazards.
20. Airports
Riverside County is host to municipal airports, a military air base and an aerial gunnery range, as well as home to a
number of private fields and airstrips. Most of the twelve public-use airports in Riverside County (including
cities) are small and serve the needs of local residents for civilian light aircraft flights.
See Section 4.13.2.B, below, for additional details on airport facilities throughout Riverside County. The transport
of hazardous materials onboard aircraft is regulated by the DoT. These regulations prohibit the transport of
certain categories of hazardous materials, restrict the amount of material transported per flight and establish
appropriate safeguards for transport of hazardous materials. Yet, even with stringent regulations on hazardous
materials, accidents still occur. Air transport aside, the types of incidents most commonly occurring at airports in
Riverside County are illegal disposal of hazardous materials, fuel spills and leaking underground storage tanks
(USTs); that is, activities related to aircraft and airport maintenance, rather than air transport.
21. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
Based on data from the State Water Resources Control Board’s “Leaking Underground Storage Tank Information
System” (LUSTIS), there are currently 1,190 open or active cases of leaking “Underground Storage Tanks”
(USTs) in Riverside County. The majority of UST releases are of vehicular fuels, either diesel or gasoline of
various formulations. The most common constituents that are found in gasoline are benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene and xylene (collectively referred to as BTEX) and also methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). These
organic compounds pose a threat to groundwater due to the benzene and MTBE’s carcinogenic effects on
4.13-20
humans. In addition, MTBE’s pervasiveness in groundwater adds to its risk potential. A small percentage of
UST releases involve chlorinated industrial solvents, which are suspected carcinogens. The majority of the sites
where UST releases have occurred are automotive service stations, with tanks from industrial facilities
contributing a smaller, but significant, minority. To date, fuel-related groundwater contamination has not grown
to a point where drinking water supply wells are significantly affected. However, the Regional Water Quality
Control Boards maintain and periodically update the LUSTIS database with data for their localities.
B.
Airports and Aircraft Hazards
Aircraft, airspace and air travel are predominantly regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and
the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for military aircraft and airspace. Specific public airports and airspace
within Riverside County are also addressed by the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC), a
regional entity that oversees many of the safety and operational issues associated with airports (including their
physical development, configurations and safety). As such, the jurisdictional authority of the County of Riverside
lies mainly with land use decisions for unincorporated lands surrounding the air facilities. This sub-section
focuses on safety hazards associated with airports and air travel. For specifics on land use and compatibility
issues, see Section 4.2 (Land Use).
1. Airport Safety Issues
Statistically, the greatest safety risks associated with aircraft and air travel occur at takeoff and landing (i.e., the
first and last two minutes in the air). Accordingly, this translates into the greatest safety hazards being located
closest to the airport runways. For this reason, airport master plans and airport land use compatibility plans are
created to ensure that people and property are kept out of the most dangerous portions of the runways and that
land uses permitted in proximity to the airport are compatible with the air hazards. For example, the Riverside
County ALUC’s Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Policy Document (“Policy Document”)
establishes safety zones that limit building heights, restrict hazardous materials and fuel tanks, bird-attracting
industries, etc., from close proximity to airport runways. As per the Policy Document (page 2-25), “the intent of
land use safety compatibility criteria is to minimize the risks associated with an off-airport aircraft accident or
emergency landing.” Table 4.13-B (Airport Compatibility Zone Safety and Airspace Protection Factors), below,
shows the safety factors associated with various standards compatibility zones used by ALUC. For further
discussion on land use compatibility, see Section 4.2.
Risks to People and Structures on the Ground: According to ALUC, “the principal means of reducing risks
to people on the ground is to restrict land uses so as to limit the number of people who might gather in areas
most susceptible to aircraft accidents” (Policy Document, page 2-25). With this in mind, there are certain land
uses of “special concern” because of occupants having reduced effective mobility or being unable to respond to
emergency situations. Such uses include children’s schools and day care centers, hospitals, nursing homes and
other similar uses for young, elderly or handicapped people. Other land uses with restrictions or limitations
include: multi-story buildings (because of the increased difficulty in evacuating them), hazardous materials storage
facilities (due to the risk of fire or explosion in the event of an air accident) and critical community infrastructure
(power plants, electrical substations, communications facilities, etc.) due to the importance of uninterrupted
utilities.
Airspace Hazards: Tall structures, trees, towers and other objects, particularly when located near airports or on
high terrain, may constitute hazards to aircraft in flight. Federal regulations establish the criteria for evaluating
potential obstructions in the development of airspace protection policies by ALUC. Ideally, ALUC, the local
government(s) and the state work together to ensure that hazardous obstructions to the navigable airspace do not
4.13-21
occur. The ALUC Policy Document sets out a number of height criteria and restrictions to ensure airspace and
avigation safety. Care must also be taken in certain areas to avoid creating electrical interference, glare or other
potential flight hazards.
Other Flight Hazards: The ALUC Policy Document (page 2-30) states that, “new land uses that may cause
visual, electronic or increased bird strike hazards to aircraft in flight shall not be permitted within any airport’s
influence area.” This also includes avoiding things like: glare or distracting lights which could be mistaken for
airport runway lights; sources of dust, steam or smoke which may impair a pilot’s visibility; sources of electrical
interference with aircraft communications or navigation equipment; and, uses such as landfills and certain
agricultural uses that could attract large flocks of birds.
2. Airport Land Use Compatibility
Airports in Riverside County provide an important function for passengers as well as benefit regional economies.
Future population growth in Riverside County would create additional demand for air transportation. At the
same time, growth and urbanization can also threaten existing as well as future airports by introducing
incompatible land uses, people and property into airports’ vicinities. To protect airports’ future expansion needs
from encroaching incompatible land uses and to ensure the public is protected from excessive noise and airrelated safety hazards, the State Aeronautics Act (Public Utilities Code Section 21670 et seq.) calls for the adoption
of airport land use compatibility plans by the Riverside County ALUC to ensure that existing and future land uses
planned around public use airports are compatible and safe.
As defined by ALUC, all of the public airports listed in Table 4.13-C, except Palm Springs International and
Perris Valley, have influence areas that affect lands within unincorporated areas of Riverside County. These are
mapped in the General Plan; for more details, refer to the appropriate Area Plan's Airport Influence Area section
for the airport in question.
Table 4.13-B: Airport Compatibility Zone Safety and Airspace Protection Factors
Zone
A
Zone Name / Type
Runway Protection Zone and
Within Building Restriction Line
B1
Inner Approach / Departure Zone
B2
Adjacent to Runway
C
Extended Approach / Departure
Zone
4.13-22
Safety Risk Level and Airspace Protection Factors
Risk Level: Very High

Lateral to runways, zone boundary defined by the Building Restriction Line as depicted
on adopted Airport Layout Plan drawing.

Length set to include Runway Protection Zones as indicated on Airport Layout Plan
drawing.

Nearly 40% of off-runway general aviation accidents near airports occur in this zone.
Risk Level: High

Encompasses areas overflown by aircraft at low altitudes, typically only 200 to 400 feet
above the runway.

Some 10% to 20% of off-runway general aviation accidents near airports take place
here.

Object heights restricted to as little as 50 feet.
Risk Level: Low to Moderate

Area not normally overflown by aircraft; primary risk is with aircraft (especially twins)
losing directional control on takeoff.

About 3% of off-runway general aviation accidents near airports happen in this zone.

Risk Level: Moderate

Includes areas where aircraft:
o Turn from base to final approach legs of standard traffic pattern and
descend from traffic pattern altitude.
o On departure, normally complete transition from takeoff power and flap
settings to climb mode and begin turns to en route heading.
Zone
Zone Name / Type
Safety Risk Level and Airspace Protection Factors
On an instrument approach procedure, have descended below about 500
feet AGL [above ground level].

Some 10% to 15% of off-runway general aviation accidents near airports occur in this
zone.

Risk Level: Low

Aircraft on instrument approaches below 1,000 feet.

About 20% to 30% of general aviation accidents take place in this zone, but the large
area encompassed means low likelihood of accident occurrence in any given location.

Risk concern is primarily with uses for which potential consequences are severe (e.g.,
very-high intensity activities in a confined area).

Object height limits generally at least 100 feet.
Risk Level: Low

Only 10% to 15% of near-airport accidents occur here.

Risk concern only with uses for which potential consequences are severe (e.g., veryhigh intensity activities in a confined area).
Risk Level: Moderate

Modest risk because high terrain constitutes an airspace obstruction.

Concern is tall single objects (e.g., antennas).
o
D
Primary Traffic Patterns
E
Other Airport Environs
*
Height Review Overlay
Source:
3.
Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission, Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Policy Document, October 2004, Table 3A, page 3-
Since 2004, the Riverside County ALUC has adopted new airport land use compatibility plans for all but three of
the fourteen airports addressed in the General Plan (see Table 4.13-C). March Air Reserve Base, Hemet-Ryan
and Perris Valley Airports do not yet have completed land use compatibility plans. The specific airports covered
by the Riverside County ALUC adopted the Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Policy
Document (“Policy Document”) and the date when each plan was adopted with respect to each airport are listed
in Table 4.13-C. As required by state law, either this plan or an earlier one has been adopted for all of the public
use and military airports in Riverside County, while preparation of compatibility plans for private use airports is at
the option of ALUC. It should be noted that the Chino Airport is located in San Bernardino County, but is
included in Table 4.13-C because part of that airport’s influence area extends into Riverside County. Similarly, the
LA-Ontario International Airport and the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range are also included in the
table because associated airspace from these facilities occur in Riverside County. Private air facilities are also
included in the table; they are not required to have ALUCPs, but still must conform to FAA requirements
regarding airspace and airport operations. The location of the public-serving airport facilities in Riverside County
are shown in Figure 4.13.2 (Location of Public Airports in Riverside County).
3. Commercial Aircraft Overflight
The western part of Riverside County has some of the busiest air traffic in the United States, including very heavy
commercial, as well as military, air traffic. The airspace in Riverside County is constantly occupied by aircraft
arriving and departing from other airports in the region. Frequently, overflights experienced in the communities
near Riverside County airports are from distant, rather than nearby, airports. The number of near misses reported
by pilots underscores the increasing possibility of a mid-air collision over Riverside County. Accordingly, the use
of airspace and aircraft overflight represent a remote hazard to many portions of Riverside County.
There are two major airports in Riverside County, March Joint Air Reserve Base and Palm Springs International, a
military air bombing range (the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range), 13 smaller public commercial
airports and dozens of private airstrips throughout the county. Airport planning information on these facilities is
provided in Table 4.13-C. Four major out-of-county airports also have substantial flight paths over Riverside
County:
4.13-23

John Wayne Airport (Orange County)

Long Beach Airport (Los Angeles County)

Los Angeles International (LAX) Airport (Los Angeles County)

Ontario Airport (San Bernardino County)
4. Military Air Facilities
With its large expanses of open land, Riverside County is home to a number of military bases, including three
active facilities: the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (part of the Bob Stump Training Range
Complex), March Joint Air Reserve Base and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (in Corona). The Naval Warfare
Center provides technical operations, testing and assessment, and engineering support for the Navy and is not
associated with aircraft, munitions or other significant military safety issues. Thus, it is not discussed further in
this chapter.
Table 4.13-C: Air Facilities In and Around Riverside County
Air Facility
Larger Public Airports
March Global Port / Joint Air Reserve Base (Joint Use)
Palm Springs International
LA / Ontario International 2
Smaller Public Use Airports
Banning Municipal
Bermuda Dunes
Blythe
Chino 2
Chiriaco Summit
Jackie Cochran (formerly Desert Resorts Regional)
Corona Municipal
Flabob 3
French Valley Airport
Hemet-Ryan
Perris Valley
Riverside Municipal 3
Private Air Facilities (No Public Use)
Lake Riverside Estates
AHA-Quin
Blythe Service Center, Southern California Edison Company
Clayton
CYR Aviation
W R Byron
SCE Palm Springs District, Southern California Edison Co.
Chapin Medical Pad
Corona Regional Medical Center
Desert Center
Julian Hinds Pump Airstrip, Metro. Water Dist. of So. Cal.
Devers Substation, Southern California Edison Company
Landells
Ernst Field
4.13-24
Location (City)1
Date of Adopted
Compatibility Plan
Moreno Valley
Palm Springs
Ontario, San Bernardino County
May 29, 1986
March 10, 2005
NA
Banning
Bermuda Dunes (Riv. Co.)
Blythe
Chino
Chiriaco Summit (Riv. Co.)
Thermal (Riv. Co.)
Corona
Jurupa Valley
Murrieta/Temecula
Hemet
Perris
Riverside
October 14, 2004
December 9, 2004
October 14, 2004
March 20, 2000
October 14, 2004
June 9, 2005
October 14, 2004
December 9, 2004
December 9, 2004
March 18, 1992
October 23, 1975
March 10, 2005
Anza
Blythe (Colorado River Tribes)
Blythe
Blythe
Blythe
Blythe
Cathedral City
Corona
Corona
Desert Center (Riv. Co.)
Desert Hot Springs
Hemet
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
October 14, 2004
NA
NA
NA
NA
Air Facility
Hemet Valley Hospital Helistop
John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital
Skylark
University Medical Center
Tenaja Valley
Desert Air Sky Ranch
Desert Regional Medical Center
Castle
Eisenhower Medical Center
Riverside Community Hospital
Johnson
Lake Mathews, Metropolitan Water District of So. California
Riverside Metro Center
Southern California Edison San Jacinto Valley Service Center
Billy Joe
Wolf Ranch
Inland Valley Regional Medical Center
Pines Airpark
Military Air Facilities
Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range4
March Joint Air Reserve Base / Global Port (Joint Use)
Hemet
Indio
Lake Elsinore
Moreno Valley
Murrieta
North Shore, Salton Sea (Riv Co.)
Palm Springs
Perris
Rancho Mirage
Riverside
Riverside
Riverside
Riverside
Romoland
Temecula
Temecula
Wildomar
Winchester
Date of Adopted
Compatibility Plan
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
East of Salton Sea (Riv. Co.)
Moreno Valley
NA
May 29, 1986
Location (City)1
Footnotes:
1.
Closest city or community to the air facility location. Public facilities in unincorporated areas noted with “Riv. Co.”
2.
Facility located outside of Riverside County, although affected airspace does occur within Riverside County.
3.
Due to incorporation, airport now located within a municipality and does not affect unincorporated Riverside County.
4.
Aerial bombing range with restricted military airspace; not an airport per se.
Source: Riverside County, Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, October 14, 2004, as amended.
Bob Stump Training Range Complex: Spanning over 1.2 million acres in southwest Arizona and southeast
California, including a portion of Riverside County, the Bob Stump Training Range Complex (BSTRC) is the
largest military training facility in the world. The U.S. Marine Corps complex encompasses the CMAGR in
Riverside and Imperial counties, the El Centro Range Complex (in southern Imperial County, near the Mexico
border), the Air Ground Combat Center at Twenty-nine Palms in San Bernardino County, the Barry M.
Goldwater Range in Yuma County, Arizona, and also the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground also in Arizona.
See Figure 4.13.3 (Military Airspace Over Riverside County) and Figure 4.13.4 (Military Training Airspace and
Training Routes Over Riverside County).
In addition to providing territory for various wide-ranging ground force and surface-fire activities, the BSTRC is
used for training exercises that frequently also involve jet and other military aircraft flying high speeds at low
altitudes. Thus, in addition to aircraft overflight over and near airports and the military bases and training
facilities themselves, portions of the western U.S., particularly the remote desert regions around the Bob Stump
Range Complex, may be subject to military jet and helicopter overflight, as well as other military uses of airspace
across much of Riverside County, particularly the eastern desert half.
Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range: The CMAGR is the other most notable source of military noise
in Riverside County. The northern tip of CMAGR is located in Riverside County immediately east of the Salton
Sea. In total, the range encompasses nearly 460,000 acres, roughly half of which is public land administered by
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and half is federal land administered by the Department of the
Navy. A total of 108,363 acres of CMAGR are within Riverside County; the remainder (roughly 75% of the site)
is in Imperial County.
4.13-25
Since the 1940s, CMAGR has provided support training that is essential to the readiness of the nation’s Marine
Corps and Naval Air Forces. CMAGR is a live-fire tactical aviation training range that takes advantage of the
area’s desert mountain terrain, which is ideal for air-to-ground attack and air-to-air combat training. According to
the Navy (Draft LEIS, page 3-10), “25 types of tactical aviation training activities currently occur on a regular
basis at the CMAGR and its adjacent MTRs.” Tactical military exercises at CMAGR involve live explosives and
large force-on-force aviation training, including bombing, rocketry and strafing practice. Artillery, demolitions,
small arms and Naval Special Warfare training are also conducted within the range, as well as parachute air drops
and helicopter operations. Aircraft use the CMAGR as well as the special use airspace associated with it.
According to the Navy Draft LEIS, CMAGR sees 6,000-7,000 training sorties annually for fixed wing aircraft
(one sortie represents one flight by one aircraft from takeoff to landing, but may include any number of bombing,
strafing or other training runs). Sorties per day tend to average between five and roughly 20 for most CMAGR
airspace areas.
In terms of ordnance operations, in a Final EIS issued for the West Coast Basing of the F-35B (jets), the Navy
reports that an average of 204,000 rounds of large caliber munitions are expended annually and “approximately
42,000 of those rounds were high explosives” (Final EIS, page 6-18). It also notes that “approximately 80% of all
rounds fired are associated with air-to-ground activity on the range and 15% and 2% of the total expenditure were
during the CNEL evening and nighttime periods, respectively.” Based on the data provided, the Final EIS notes
that CMAGR range use occurs 305 days per year.
March Joint Air Reserve Base: March is one of the oldest airfields operated by the U.S. military, having been
established as Alessandro Flying Training Field in 1918. March Field’s primary mission was pilot training, then in
1931 it became used as an operations base. (It was also home to Bob Hope’s first USO show in 1941.) After
World War II, the base became part of the Air Force’s Tactical Air Command, later the Strategic Air Command
(until 1992). Since 1996, March has been an Air Reserve Base under the Air Force Reserve Command (renamed a
Joint Air Reserve Base in 2003). The base is still an active military airport, hosting operational flying missions,
particularly humanitarian missions, the 4th Air Force of the Air Force Reserve Command and multiple California
Air National Guard units. It is also to be used for air cargo (as part of the adjacent March Global Port) in the
future.
5. Military Airspace and Overflight
A variety of military airspace uses can lead to conflicts between military and civilian aircraft if an error is made by
one or more pilots, mechanical failure, etc. Such operations can take place over vast stretches of public and
private lands outside of the military facilities. Because of the speed and power of the aircraft involved, these
airspaces can stretch a hundred or more miles from the associated military facility. As a result, there is a very
small risk of accident for the thousands of people and properties on the ground below these routes.
The Draft LEIS (page 3-101) states that the FAA is responsible for ensuring safe and efficient use of airspace by
military and civilian aircraft and supporting national defense requirements. To do so, the FAA has established
regulations for airspace safety, developed airspace management guidelines, implemented a civil-military common
system and coordinates cooperative activities between the FAA and DoD. The military schedules all or portions
of seven restricted areas associated with the CMAGR and has adopted specific air safety rules to protect users of
the airspace above and surrounding the range. In addition, all aircraft operating within the CMAGR are issued
specific “rules of engagement” to ensure air activities are conducted safely.
Military Operations Areas: A “military operations area” (MOA) is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations
[CFR] (Title 14, Section 1.1) as “airspace established outside Class A airspace to separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military activities from IFR traffic [i.e., aircraft navigating by instrument, such as commercial jetliners]
4.13-26
and to identify for VFR traffic [i.e., aircraft navigating visually, such as civilian light planes, etc.] where these
activities are conducted.” MOAs are designed for routine training or testing maneuvers. Areas above military
bases, near actual combat or other military emergencies are generally designated as “restricted airspace.” MOAs
have restrictions or prohibitions that occur periodically, rather than continuously, and apply only to the aircraft
not participating in the military operation. Typically, MOAs restrict non-military aircraft to certain elevations or
speed, but do not prohibit them entirely.
MOAs are often positioned over isolated, rural areas to provide ground separation for any noise nuisance or
potential accident debris. Each designated MOA appears on the relevant air avigation sectional charts, along with
its normal hours of operation, lower and upper altitudes of operation, controlling authority contact and using
agency. Although live-fire training with aircraft weapons can only occur within restricted airspace, the adjacent
MOAs enhance the versatility and realism of this training by expanding the airspace available for tactical
maneuvers before or following ordnance delivery actions, for example at the CMAGR (Draft LEIS, page 3-8).
MAOs in Southern California, including portions of eastern Riverside County, are shown in Figure 4.13.3
(Military Airspace Over Riverside County).
Military Training Routes: As shown in Figure 4.13.4 (Military Training Airspace and Training Routes Over
Riverside County), a number of “military training routes” (MTRs) link the various facilities of the Bob Stump
Complex, as well as providing routes across the country. MTRs are aerial corridors established jointly by the FAA
and DoD in which military aircraft can operate below 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) at speeds exceeding the
250 knot limit (nearly 290 miles per hour) that all other aircraft are normally restricted to when below that
elevation (the exception is when a craft is instructed otherwise by an air traffic controller, e.g., for hazard
avoidance reasons, emergencies, etc.). These runs are conducted as part of military low-altitude, high-speed
training and at times may exceed the 10,000 foot MSL level. Military craft are supposed to, however, stay at or
below Mach 1 (the speed of sound). According to the U.S. Marine Corps, aircraft using these military training
routes may fly as low as 200 feet above ground level at speeds up to, but not exceeding, the speed of sound. As
with any dangerous exercise, such as flying so close to the ground, there is an increased risk of accident associated
with the activity in the event of mechanical failure, bird strike or other air mishap. However, due to the
infrequency of these flights and the distances these military aircraft cover, the overall risk of any single person
being harmed by such a mishap is very small.
Military Airspace and Routes Over Riverside County: Thirteen MTRs, which share nine centerlines, are
currently located within five nautical miles of the restricted airspace at CMAGR (see Figure 4.13.4). Three of
these MTRs are used for training missions at the CMAGR, providing entry to the CMAGR and allowing aircrews
to practice long-distance, low-level, terrain following, high-speed flight as a tactic for attacking a target while using
terrain to mask their approach and evade detection. Four other MTRs transit airspace near the CMAGR, but do
not directly support its operations. Others link the southeastern California bases with other military facilities
further north (such as the Twenty-nine Palms Air Ground Combat Center north of Riverside County) and in
Arizona to the east (e.g., Yuma Proving Ground and Laguna Army Airfield) and southeast (such as the Yuma Air
Station and the Barry M. Goldwater Range). All of these facilities are within 100 miles of CMAGR (Draft LEIS,
page 3-8).
As shown in Figure 4.13.4, a number of military facilities are associated with “special use airspace” where
limitations exist for non-military aircraft. These include “restricted airspace” (combat zones, roughly directly over
the facilities) where civilian and unauthorized aircraft are not allowed and “military operation areas” that are
“airspace established outside Class A airspace to separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military activities
from IFR Traffic and to identify for VFR traffic where [those] activities are conducted” (14 CFR Section 1.1).
The MOAs also provide ground separation for any noise nuisance or potential accident debris associated with
4.13-27
military air and ground training activities. Although MOAs do not restrict VFR operations, pilots operating under
VFR should exercise extreme caution while flying within, near or below an active MOA.
According to the Riverside County ALUC, per its 2004 Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
Policy Document (page I-3), there are also military and restricted flight areas in Riverside County associated with
the Quail Military Operations Area, located north of Blythe Airport and the Kane and Abel Military Operations
Areas (part of the CMAGR). Additionally, there is a restricted flight area associated with Camp Pendleton (a U.S.
Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego County) located southwest of French Valley Airport.
6. Other Military Safety Hazards
According to the CMAGR Draft LEIS (page 3-101), only about 5% of the range supports “surface uses that
cause or may cause moderate to complete levels of physical disturbance.” The balance of the site is used for
various safety zones to ensure a “99.9999% level of containment.” This is a probability of munitions (for inert
ordnance) or a hazardous fragment (of live ordnance) escaping the containment area of one in a million, per the
Draft LEIS. Figure 4.13.5 (Weapon, Laser and Surface Danger Safety Zones at CMAGR) shows the various
weapon and surface danger zones associated with the CMAGR.
To protect the general public from intentional or accidental entry onto the CMAGR, warning signs are posted
along the range perimeter in both Spanish and English. The range boundaries are patrolled by both local and
federal law enforcement officials, as well as the military. Procedures are in place to terminate any live fire exercises
immediately if unauthorized personnel or vehicles (most often “scrappers” looking for recyclable metal) are found
within range boundaries or spotted by airborne crew.
Lastly, the U.S. Marine Corps routinely performs explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) to “neutralize hazards from
live fire training exercises” (Draft LEIS, page 3-103). Despite these, unexploded ordnance (bombs, rockets,
cannon rounds, etc.) can be found scattered throughout the CMAGR lying anywhere, on the ground or partially
to fully buried due to impact and the resultant explosion. Since it is impossible to tell if ordnance is safe from its
appearance, it must be treated as if it were live and must not be touched. The military provides EOD personnel
with a 24-hour first-response capability for both CMAGR and civil authorities in the event unexploded ordnance
is encountered anywhere on or off the CMAGR.
C.
Wildland Fires
Among California’s three primary hazards, wildfire, and in particular, wildland-urban interface fires, represent the
third-most destructive source of hazard, vulnerability and risk. Within California, ten of the 20 largest wildland
fires on record have occurred in the last decade alone. Together, these ten fires consumed over 1.7 million acres
(an area larger than the entire state of Delaware), over 5,000 structures and, sadly, took 31 lives. See Table 4.13-D
(Largest Fires in California Over the Past Decade), below.
As people and developed areas encroach further into wildlands, the risk for wildfires increases. In addition,
increasingly dry years in California due to climate change, insect predation and other factors has led to record
amounts of dead and dying vegetation accumulating in the state’s wildlands. The MHMP (page 234) notes that
since 2000, the total annual average acres burned is nearly twice that burned in the pre-2000 period. Hence, both
in terms of recent state history and the probability of future destruction of greater magnitudes than previously
recorded, the State of California and Riverside County face steep challenges in preventing wildfire losses.
4.13-28
LOS
ANGELES
COUNTY
SAN
BERNARDINO
COUNTY
EASTVALE
Corona
Municipal
Airport
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JURUPA
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Municipal
Airport
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Airport
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VALLEY
79
Ä
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§
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Palm Springs
International Airport
HEMET
74
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CATHEDRAL
CITY
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MIRAGE
Hemet-Ryan Airport
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MURRIETA
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WELLS
215
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Ä
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15
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\\agency\tlmagis\Projects\Planning\Safety_Element\Airports.mxd
Data Source: Riverside County (2011)
o
o
o
#
#
#
#
e
Public Use General Aviation Airport
(Unincorporated Area)
Public Use General Aviation Airport
(Within Cities)
Military/Civilian Facility
0
December 16, 2013
10
Area Plan Boundary
City Boundary
Waterbodies
Military Facility
[
Highways
Miles
20
Figure 4.13.2
AIRPORT LOCATIONS
Military Airfield
50 Mile Distance from CMAGR
Bob Stump Training Range Complex
Other Marine Corps Range
Other DoD Range
Restricted Airspace
Military Operations Area /
Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace
[
0
20
Miles
40
Data Source: US Department of Navy, CMAGR
Land Withdrawl Draft LEIS, Figure 3-13 (2010)
State Boundary
Special Use Airspace
December 16, 2013
BMGR West - Barry M. Goldwater Range West
BSTRC - Bob Stump Training Range Complex
ECR - El Centro Ranges
MCAGCC - Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
MCAS - Marine Corps Air Station
MCB - Marine Corps Base
YPG - Yuma Proving Ground
Figure 4.13.3
MILITARY AIRSPACE OVER
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Military Airfield
State Boundary
Military Training Route (MTR)
Military Range
$ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $
Controlled Firing Area
Special Use Airspace
Restricted Airspace
Military Operations Area (MOA) /
Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (AICAA)
[
0
December 16, 2013
15
Miles
30
Figure 4.13.4
MILITARY TRAINING AIRSPACE
AND TRAINING ROUTES
Riverside County
Imperial County
Salton
Sea
Existing CMAGR Boundary
Bradshaw Trail
Coachella Canal
Controlled Firing Area
Restricted Airspace
SWAT Range Surface Danger Zones
Air-to-Ground Laser Safety Danger Zones
Weapon Danger Zones for
Currently Active Training Events
City/Town
County Boundary
Highway
Railroad
Available Weapon Danger Zones
for Potential Training Events
Figure 4.13.5
[
0
December 16, 2013
10
Miles
20
WEAPON, LASER AND SURFACE
DANGER SAFETY ZONES AT CMAGR
In Riverside County, the most severe fire disaster to-date occurred during the Station Fire in August 2009, which
burned 160,000 acres and killed six firefighters. In October 1993, power lines knocked down by Santa Ana winds
started a fire that destroyed 107 homes and burned 25,100 acres in Riverside County. The Governor proclaimed
a state of emergency and the President issued a “Major Disaster Declaration” during these events as well as other
fire events in Riverside County.
Table 4.13-D: Largest Fires in California Over the Past Decade
Fire Name (Cause) 1
1
2
4
5
6
9
10
11
17
19
Rush Fire (lightning)
Cedar (human)
Zaca (human)
Witch (power lines)
Klamath Theater Complex (lightning)
Basin Complex (lightning)
Day Fire (human)
Station Fire (human)
Simi Fire (under investigation)
Iron Alps Complex (lightning)
Totals
Date
County
Acres 2
Structures
Deaths
Aug. 2012
Oct. 2003
July 2007
Oct. 2007
June 2006
June 2008
Sept. 2006
Aug. 2009
Oct. 2003
June 2008
Lassen3
San Diego
Santa Barbara
San Diego
Siskiyou
Monterey
Ventura
Los Angeles
Ventura
Trinity
315,600
273,200
240,200
198,000
192,000
162,800
162,700
160,600
108,200
105,800
1,875,500
1
2,820
1
1,650
0
58
11
209
300
2
5,052
0
15
0
2
2
0
0
2
0
10
31
Footnotes:
1.
Number denotes fire’s rank among the top 20 largest fires in California of all time (through the end of 2012). Top 20 records date back to 1932, “the year
accurate record keeping began,” according to the CDF.
2.
Rounded to nearest hundred.
3.
Includes acreage from fire’s spread into Nevada. California portion totaled 271,900 acres; second largest fire in modern California history.
Source: California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection, “20 Largest California Wildland Fires (By Acreage Burned),” 2008. Cal. Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection,
Archived Fires website (http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents), accessed May 6, 2013. National Wildlife Coordinating Group, InciWeb website (http://inciweb.org),
accessed May 6, 2013.
Table 4.13-E: California State Jurisdiction Wildfire Statistics for 2000-2010
Year
1
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Average
# of Fires
Acres Burned 2
6,223
5,759
5,961
5,574
4,908
4,805
5,647
4,923
3,546
2,961
5,031
91,000
122,800
404,300
168,134
74,000
222,900
425,200
347,800
73,100
23,200
195,200
Dollar
Damage 3
$87,295,000
$173,977,000
$974,187,000
$126,790,000
$49,393,000
$60,270,000
$253,157,000
$151,085,000
$33,385,000
$3,217,000
$191,276,000
Structures Destroyed
389
327
5,394
1,016
102
431
3,079
992
121
94
1,195
Footnotes:
1.
Only includes fires under the jurisdiction of the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection.
2.
Rounded to nearest hundred.
3.
Rounded to nearest thousand.
Source: California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection, “CalFire Jurisdiction Fires,” 2011.
4.13-37
1. Fire Threats
a. Types of Fires
As delineated by the State MHMP (page 236), there are three types of fires. The first are urban fires, the type of
fire most people think of when considering the topic. Urban fires tend to be of limited extent - a single building
or block - except in the more rare case of an urban conflagration. (A ‘conflagration’ is generally used to describe
extraordinarily destructive or extensive fires, usually with a moving rather than stationary fire front.) The second
type are wildland fires, which generally occur in open lands, vegetated and undeveloped. Wildland fires are the
‘classic’ wildfire or forest fire that may burn across fields, hills and other natural areas. As shown in Table 4.13-F
(Housing Density Classes for Defining Types of Fire Hazard Lands), below, wildlands can have some homes
associated with them, though at a lower density than in ‘interface’ areas. This last type of fires, wildland-urban
interface (WUI) fires, occur in the most hazardous and risky areas in which the urban environment extends into
open areas, resulting in a complex mixture of fuels, properties and threats. Because of the severe risk to people
and property associated with WUI fires, they are the focus of the most extensive fire planning and prevention
efforts.
According to the MHMP (page 236), California experiences an average of 5,000 WUI fires each year. The
wildland-urban interface is defined by the State of California as “the area or zone where structures and other
human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.” Most WUI fires are
controlled, limiting their damage and acreage. The remainder cause extensive damage. Wildland-urban interface
fires represent a widespread vulnerability for counties like Riverside in which population growth and development
pressure continue to push humans into previously vacant, undeveloped wildlands. With the homes, private
property and other structures present, WUI fires are the most damaging and even small fires can cause substantial
losses. Such losses include damage to infrastructure, the built environment, loss of socioeconomic values and
injuries to people.
In addition to homes, businesses and possessions, WUI fires can also cause damage to critical infrastructure, such
as electrical transmission towers, railroads, water reservoirs and tanks, communications relay facilities and other
assets. In addition to direct fire losses for humans, as well as direct habitat loss for plant and animal species, there
may also be secondary negative impacts from the wildland fire related to air quality; loss of prey, foraging, dens,
nesting and roosting sites for wildlife; soil erosion resulting in siltation of streams and lakes; mudslides and also
downstream flooding. (Non-interface wildland fires also can cause these types of habitat and wildlife impacts.)
According to data released by CalFire, over a five-year average (2000-2005), within CDF’s jurisdiction, causes of
wildfires included the following: equipment use (27%), vehicles (14%), undetermined (14%), miscellaneous (13%),
debris burning (10%), arson (7%), lightning (5%), campfires (3%), power lines (3%) smoking (2%), playing with
fire (2%) and railroad activities (<1 %). The State of California notes that “the most common extreme fire
behavior factor is high wind, such as Santa Ana winds, that follow a predictable location and seasonal pattern.”
Class
Wildland
Rural
Interface
Urban
Table 4.13-F: Housing Density Classes for Defining Types of Fire Hazard Lands
Description
Less than one housing unit per 20 acres.
From 1 housing unit per 5 acres to 1 housing unit per 20 acres.
From one housing unit per acre to one housing unit per 5 acres.
Greater than one housing unit per acre.
Source: State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, October 2010, Table 5.Y, page 247.
4.13-38
Lot Size
> 20 acres
5 - 20 acres
1 - 5 acres
< 1 acres
Density
> 0.05 du/ac
0.05 - 0.20 du/ac
0.20 - 1.00 du/ac
> 1.00 du/ac
b. Conflagrations
An urban conflagration is a large, disastrous fire in an urban area, as the result of a wildfire, earthquake, gas leak,
chemical explosion or arson, among many possible causes. As noted by the State MHMP, the urban
conflagration that followed the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake did more damage than the earthquake itself.
Historically, a huge source of danger to cities throughout human history, urban conflagration has been reduced as
a general source of risk to life and property through improvements in community design, construction materials
and standards, and fire protection systems and services. Although the frequency of urban conflagration fires has
been reduced, as noted by the MHMP, they still remain a risk to human safety, particularly because of the current
trend toward increased urban density and infill in areas adjacent to the wildland-urban interface. As growth
pressures create ever-growing demand for housing close to jobs and urban centers, areas previously left as open
space due to steep slopes and high wildfire risk are being reconsidered as infill areas for high-density housing.
2. Wildfire Potential Associated with Vegetation
a. Fire and Vegetation Relationship
As reported by the State of California (MHMP, page 250), “Fire is a natural and critical ecosystem process in most
of California’s diverse terrestrial ecosystems, dictating in part the types, structure and spatial extent of native
vegetation in the state.” Many of California’s ecosystems are adapted to a historic ‘fire regime,’ which
characterizes historic patterns of fire occurrence in a given area. Fire regimes include temporal attributes (e.g.,
frequency and seasonality), spatial attributes (e.g., size and spatial complexity) and magnitude attributes (e.g.,
intensity and severity), each of which have ranges of natural variability (MHMP, page 250).
Ecosystem stability is threatened when any of the attributes for a given fire regime diverge from its range of
natural variability, which currently is prevalent throughout California. In general, when compared to historic fire
regimes, many mixed-conifer forests now experience fires that are more intense and severe, while chaparral
shrublands experience fire at a greater frequency. Both trends have profound impacts on ecosystem stability
throughout California.
A principal cause of intensifying wildfire severity in mixed-conifer forest types in the state is the mounting
quantity and continuity of forest fuels that have been brought about by a century of fire exclusion. Fire exclusion
in California and throughout the western U.S. has been attributed largely to fire suppression, elimination of
Native American ignitions and introduction of grazing that removed fine fuels necessary for fire spread in and
between forested stands. Conifer forests that historically experienced frequent but low-intensity surface fires,
which are prevalent throughout California, are now predisposed to high-intensity, high-severity crown fires
(because of the greater infrequency of fires due to greater fire suppression efforts).
Conversely, native chaparral shrublands, which typically burn in high-intensity stand-replacing events, are
threatened due to too-frequent ignitions, which are leading to a type conversion to non-native grasslands. This
trend is particularly acute in Southern California where burgeoning population growth in fire-prone areas has
resulted in increased ignitions through accident or arson. As a result, this has contributed to the conversion of
much of the original sage scrub habitats, particularly in flatlands and low hills, to non-native grasslands and
ruderal (weedy) fields.
4.13-39
b. Fire-prone Vegetation and Fuels in Riverside County
In Riverside County, as well as in San Bernardino and San Diego counties, there have been dramatic and historic
changes in the montane chaparral and timber fuel types in the last few years. The persistent drought, insect
damage, frost damage and disease have killed huge stands of timber and brush over tens of thousands of acres in
wildland areas, particularly in the local mountain ranges. Wildland fires can also occur in suburban and rural areas
of the county, as well as vacant weedy land in developed areas, timber or forestland, range land, watershed, brush
or grasslands.
Much of Riverside County is considered to have a moderate to high potential for wildland fires according to
CalFire. In these areas, special state statutes govern development. The CalFire Riverside Unit categorizes wildfire
risk by vegetation type, moisture content, terrain and topography, among other factors. The following
descriptions of the vegetative fuel types occurring within Riverside County, and the relative fire risks associated,
are from the Riverside Unit’s 2012 Strategic Fire Plan.
Generally, Battalion 1 (Perris) consists of a light grasses in the more populated areas, with medium fuels found in
the hills of the more sparsely populated areas, such as along Santa Rosa Mine Road and in the Juniper Flats area.
The Battalion 2 (Lake Elsinore) area east of Interstate 15 (I-15) is comprised mainly of open grasses and weeds,
typically providing greater than 50% ground cover and having a significant fire history. The west portion of the
battalion consists of a mix of SRA, LRA and USFS lands in a CalFire Direct Protection Area (DPA) and USFS
lands in a federal DPA. This area is known collectively as the Ortega Front country and is bordered on the south
by La Cresta and to the north by the border between Battalions 2 and 4. This area poses one of the greater fire
risks in Riverside County and consists primarily of coastal chaparral (heavier brush). There are portions of this
area with significant fire history and areas that have no recorded fire history.
Battalion 4 covers the Corona area, including the Santa Ana River, which features a continual bed of fuels in the
river bottom from just east of the Van Buren Boulevard bridge in Pedley extending west to Highway 71 along the
county line. The river bottom fuel load is made up of annual grasses, bamboo (arundo) and various species of
brush and trees. In the Chino Hills area, annual grasses are abundant, with small patches of brush and a few oak
and sycamore trees in the canyons. Most of this area was burned in the 2008 Freeway Fire. In the Dawson
Canyon and Spanish Hills area further down the Temescal Valley, the fuels are annual grasses and light brush.
With the exception of a few canyons, these hills have been burned numerous times over many years. Because of
the light fuel load, the large fires in this area have been predominantly wind driven. In the foothills that run along
the Cleveland National Forest (on the west side of the valley) the fuels are generally light grasses with heavy brush
(chaparral). CalFire and USFS have been maintaining the fuel breaks that run along the Main Divide Truck Trail
and down several main ridge lines into the Temescal and Corona Valleys.
In the Beaumont (Battalion 3) region, fuels vary widely, ranging from grass, coastal sage scrub, chemise and
Russian thistle to scrub oaks. In the area north of Cherry Valley, manzanita (a tall chaparral shrub species) is the
predominate fuel. The south area of the battalion, on the northern slopes of the San Jacinto foothills, has been
primarily reduced to annual grasses due to conversion from recent fires. However, some larger pockets of coastal
sage and chaparral still remain.
In the San Jacinto (Battalion 5) region, below 2,000 feet elevation fuels consist mostly of grasses and coastal sage
scrub. Above 2,000 feet, the fuel type is dictated by the length of time since the last fire. Areas burned less than
20 years ago feature grass and medium brush; those that have burned over 20 years ago are composed of heavier
mixed brush and tall chaparral. Due to the persistent drought conditions over the last few years, the mature
chaparral fuels in the San Jacinto region show a high dead-to-live ratio.
4.13-40
The five stations comprising Battalion 11 in the San Jacinto Mountains encompass: Station 23 (Pine Cove),
Station 29 (Anza), Station 30 (Pinyon), Station 53 (Garner Valley) and Station 77 (Lake Riverside). In the Pine
Cove/Idyllwild area covered by Station 23, fuels are composed of mature chaparral with a mixed conifer forest
overstory. The predominant understory species include manzanita, chaparral whitethorn, deer brush and chemise.
The area has a persistent grass understory of 12 to 18 inches high and often matted down, which adds to the fuel
loads. The overstory consists of mixed stands of Jeffery pine, ponderosa pine, Coulter pine, incense cedar, white
fir and sugar pine. There is no recorded fire history for the area since fire records started being kept around 1924,
therefore it is assumed the vegetative community is at least 75 years old. In the Anza area (Station 29), the fuel
types consist of approximately 25% grass groundcover, mostly located on the valley floor on the Cahuilla Indian
Reservation and along the Cooper Cienaga Truck Trail to the south. Heavier mixed brush and chaparral cover
roughly 30% of the area, intermixed through the valley. Grass and medium brush cover approximately 45% of
the area and include larger stands of manzanita and red shank averaging 10-15 feet high. The Station 30 (Pinyon)
area features brush of varying thickness and height, with patches of grass intermixed throughout. Along Highway
74 and some of the communities, a fuel reduction project has helped thin and remove fuels to allow safe egress
from the mountain. In the Garner Valley (Station 53), the extended drought has left an abundance of dead and
downed fuels as well as a high dead-to-live ratio in the chaparral fuels and an extensive grass understory. Fuel
reduction projects have helped thin and remove fuels near transportation corridors, local communities and
camping areas. Lastly, the Lake Riverside (Station 77) area, near Aguanga, consists mainly of tall grasses near
Highways 79 and 371. Further to the northeast along Highway 371 the fuels change into medium brush and tall
chaparral at the slightly higher elevations.
Battalion 15 (Temecula) covers the southwestern portion of Riverside County and includes Station 12 (Temecula),
Station 75 (Bear Creek), Station 92 (Wolf Creek) and Station 96 (Glen Oaks). The region displays the classic fuel
pattern of inland Riverside County with annual grasses and weeds predominant in the flatter areas, trending to
brush, such as chamise, sage, buckwheat and similar sage scrub species, in the less disturbed areas and hills. In
the higher hills, the brush tends towards chaparral species. Battalion 13 (Menifee), which covers roughly 42
square miles, is located north of the cities of Murrieta and Wildomar, south of the City of Perris, west of the
Winchester area and northeast of the City of Lake Elsinore. Fuels in this area consist of light native brush, i.e.,
classic Riversidean sage scrub species. The area is surrounded and interspersed with extensive grass understory,
particularly in disturbed areas. Lastly, Battalion 17 (Cajalco) lies between Perris Valley to the east and Temescal
Valley to the west. It encompasses two ecological reserves: Lake Matthews-Estelle Mountain Reserve and
Harford Springs Reserve. Fuels in the area consist mostly of annual grasses and coastal sage scrub with some
pockets of chaparral species in canyons and on the northern slopes.
3. Fire Responsibility Areas
a. Types of Fire Responsibility Areas
In the 2010 MHMP (page 239), the State of California notes that “There are literally hundreds of agencies that
have fire protection responsibility for wildland and WUI fires in California.” Often the primary responsibility for
a parcel will come down to two organizations, one for wildland fire protection and the other for structural or
‘improvement’ fire protection. Thus, in order to ensure that these layers of responsibilities, as well as the myriad
of rules, regulations, policies and ordinances addressing fire, do not cause conflict or confusion, in 1981 the State
of California established specifically defined “Federal Responsibility Areas,” “State Responsibility Areas” and
“Local Responsibility Areas.” Under California State law, each of these areas is specifically defined and the lands
falling within each are explicitly mapped as well. The MHMP (page 239) describes each of these areas as follows.
See Section 4.13.3.C for specifics on related regulations.
4.13-41
Federal Responsibility Areas: Federal Responsibility Areas (FRAs) are fire-prone wildland areas that are
owned or managed by a federal agency such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, BLM, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service or DoD. On FRA lands, primary financial and rulemaking jurisdictional authority rests with the
federal land agency. In many instances, FRAs are interspersed with private land ownership or leases. Fire
protection for developed private property is usually not the responsibility of the federal land management agency;
structural protection responsibility is that of a local government agency.
State Responsibility Areas: State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) are those lands within California that meet
specific geographic and environmental criteria (see below). In these are areas CalFire has legal and financial
responsibility for wildland fire protection. CalFire also administers the fire hazard classifications and building
standard regulations that apply. Specifically, SRAs are defined as lands that 1) are county unincorporated areas; 2)
are not federally owned; 3) have wildland vegetation cover (forest, brush, grasslands, etc.) rather than agricultural
or ornamental plants; 4) have watershed, range, forage or other such value; and, 5) have housing densities not
exceeding three units per acre. Similar to the FRAs, where SRAs contain built environment or development, the
responsibility for fire protection of those improvements (non-wildland) is that of a local government agency.
Essentially, SRAs are private lands in WUI areas within the unincorporated county. SRA wildlands also require
disclosure for real estate transactions and owners of properties in wildland areas are subject to the maintenance
requirements of California Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 4291. SRA maps are updated by the State of
California every five years.
Local Responsibility Areas: Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) include land within incorporated cities,
cultivated agriculture lands and non-flammable areas (e.g., deserts) and those lands that do not meet the criteria
for SRA or FRA. LRA fire protection is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protection districts and
counties. Or, in some cases, such as for many of the cities in Riverside County, by CalFire under contract to local
governments. LRAs may include flammable vegetation and wildland-urban interface areas where the financial
and jurisdictional responsibility for improvement and wildland fire protection is that of a local government agency.
b. Fire Responsibility Areas in Riverside County
As shown in Figure 4.13.6 (Fire Responsibility Areas in Riverside County), in Riverside County, SRAs comprise
the largest portion of unincorporated territory. LRAs are associated mostly with the cities, and there are large
swaths of FRAs within Riverside County as well. As calculated by the Riverside County GIS Department, the
acreage for each of these jurisdictional areas is as follows:

State Responsibility Areas (CalFire): 544,180 acres of unincorporated Riverside County. (In addition
to the unincorporated Riverside County territory, the CalFire Riverside Unit also encompasses 2,630
acres of adjacent San Diego County and 620 acres of Orange County.)

Local Responsibility Areas (CalFire): 13,206 acres of unincorporated Riverside County through
wildland contract with the County of Riverside. Plus the incorporated cities contracted to use CalFire as
their local firefighting service.

Local Responsibility Areas (Local Agencies): 572 acres of unincorporated Riverside County are
under the jurisdiction of other agencies (e.g., city fire departments, etc.).

Federal Responsibility Areas (BLM):

Federal Responsibility Areas (USFS): 62,520 acres of Riverside County are under USFS jurisdiction.
4.13-42
52,650 acres of Riverside County are under BLM jurisdiction.
4. Fire Hazard Legislation and Severity Zones
Since the early 1990s, a number of regulations have been promulgated by the state to address fire hazards within
the wildland-urban interface, in which the risk of fire hazards is substantial. To ensure land use and building
standards adequately reflect and protect a region’s fire hazard in WUIs, the State (CalFire) has prepared, and
periodically updates, sets of “fire hazard severity zone” maps. These fire hazard severity zones (FHSZs) are
defined under Section 4702.1 of the 2007 California Fire Code (CFC) as “geographical areas designated pursuant
to [PRC] Sections 2401 through 4204 and classified as Very High, High or Moderate in State Responsibility Zones
or as Local Agency Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated pursuant to [GC] Sections 51175 through
51189.”
Each of these zones is described below. These zones are used to determine the appropriate construction
materials for new buildings within the WUI. Specifically, the regulations of the California Building Code (CBC)
Chapter 7A (as amended via Riverside County Ordinance No. 787) are mandatory in SRA FHSZs and LRA very
high FHSZ areas.
The FHSZs also dictate when a natural hazard disclosure must be prepared when a property is sold. Specifically,
since 1991 each seller of real property in an SRA is required to disclose to any prospective purchaser that the
property for sale is in a wildland area that may be subject to wildfire risks and hazards. Each seller must also
disclose that the property must meet the flammable vegetation clearance requirements of PRC Section 4291. The
seller must also disclose that it is not the state’s responsibility to provide fire protection services to any building or
structure located within the wildland unless that state has entered into an agreement with the local government to
provide structure fire protection. Since 1998, all SRA lands pursuant to PRC 4125 are included on the Natural
Hazard Disclosure maps and very high FHSZ areas in LRAs are also on the Natural Hazard Disclosure maps.
a. Types of Hazardous Fire Severity Zones
The fire hazard severity zone (FHSZ) mapping effort is done under authorities defined in PRC Section 4201 and
GC Section 51175. The effort incorporates wildland fire behavior science, data sets and engineering information
on structure ignition mechanisms during conflagrations. As noted in the code (PRC Section 4202), the zones are
based on “fuel loading, slope, fire weather and other relevant factors present.”
State Responsibility Areas: For SRAs, CalFire completed and adopted new FHSZ maps in late 2007. Per the
California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 701A.3.2, new buildings located in any FHSZ within an SRA are
subject to the WUI building standards of the 2008 (or later) California Building Code. Within SRAs, CalFire
maps a range of fire hazard severities (moderate, high, very high); these maps are updated every five years.
Local Responsibility Areas: As noted above, CalFire is also tasked with identifying the very high fire hazard
severity zones for LRA so that public officials for the local agencies can identify appropriate measures to
“mitigate the rate of spread and reduce the potential intensity of uncontrolled fires that threaten to destroy
resources, lives and property” (PRC Section 4201). Once received from the state, the local agency is required to
designate, by ordinance, the very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction. As outlined further below, the
County of Riverside has accomplished this for its LRAs via Riverside County Ordinance No. 787.
b. Mapped Hazardous Fire Severity Zones in Riverside County
Much of the hilly portions of unincorporated Riverside County are mapped as having substantial fire risks; being
designated as SRAs with moderate, high or very high fire hazard. See Figure 4.13.7 (Fire Hazard Severity Zones
4.13-43
in Riverside County), which shows the fire hazards in Riverside County broken down by SRA and LRA, as well as
severity level (moderate, high or very high). Since the hillside terrain of Riverside County is predominantly
mapped as having a substantial fire risk, much of the County of Riverside is subject to PRC Sections 4291-4299
which require property owners in these areas to conduct maintenance to reduce the fire danger. These sections
affect all buildings and structure in or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-, brush- or grass-covered land, or
any land covered with flammable material.
5. Fire Protection Services in Riverside County
The County of Riverside contracts with the State (i.e., CalFire) for fire protection. Under CalFire management,
the Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD) operates 95 fire stations in 17 battalions. Fifty-one of these
stations, as well as three stations operated directly by CalFire, are located in the unincorporated portion of
Riverside County (see Table 4.17.2-A in Section 4.17.2 for full details).
RCFD provides fire suppression, emergency medical, rescue and fire prevention services and is equipped to fight
both urban and wildland emergency conditions. Equipment in the RCFD inventory includes: structural engines,
rural engines, brush engines, telesquirts, trucks, paramedic units, a helicopter, hazardous materials unit, incident
command units, water tenders, fire crew vehicles, mobile communications centers, breathing support units,
lighting units, power supply units, fire dozers, mobile training vans and emergency feeding units.
For fighting wildfires, CalFire has extensive ground forces, including volunteer firefighters from prisoner
populations and an air force that includes (statewide): fifteen Grumman S-2A 800-gallon airtankers, four S-2T
1,200-gallon airtankers, two 2,000-gallon contract airtankers, eleven Super Huey Bell UH-1H helicopters, six O2A air attack aircraft, eleven OV-10A air attack craft and one C-26B fire mapping airplane. In operation, the air
attack planes fly overhead directing the airtankers and helicopters to critical areas of the fire for retardant and
water drops. The retardant used to suppress fires is diammonium phosphate plus iron oxide, which acts as a
fertilizer as well as fire suppressant.
In addition to serving Riverside County’s unincorporated areas, the RCFD provides fire protection services to 18
cities and one Community Service District (Rubidoux CSD) on a contractual basis providing fire protection
specialists to review plans for all new developments, commercial and industrial buildings located within the
contract cities and unincorporated areas of Riverside County. More information on RCFD services and facilities
is provided in Section 4.17.2 of this EIR.
6. Standards for Ensuring Fire Protection
a. California Fire Codes and Wildland-Urban Interface Codes
In late 2005, the California Building Commission adopted the Wildland-Urban Interface Codes, with an effective
date of January 2008, as part of a set of new California Fire Codes. The new WUI Codes included provisions for
ignition-resistant construction standards in WUI areas. As noted above, the WUI codes apply to new building
applications in three specific areas:

All State Responsibility Areas (any Fire Hazard Severity Zone).

Local Responsibility Areas (only the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone).

Any wildland-urban interface fire area designated by the enforcing agency (i.e., County of Riverside).
4.13-44
LOS
ANGELES
COUNTY
SAN
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62
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15
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CALIMESA
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RIVERSIDE
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ELSINORE
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Ä
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LA QUINTA
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Data Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), (2010)
\\agency\tlmagis\Projects\Planning\SafetyElement\Fire_Susceptibility.mxd
Fire Responsibility Areas
State Responsibility Areas
Highways
Federal Responsibility Areas
Area Plan Boundary
Local Responsibility Areas
City Boundary
Waterbodies
[
0
December 16, 2013
10
Miles
20
Figure 4.13.6
FIRE RESPONSIBILITY AREAS IN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
LOS
ANGELES
COUNTY
SAN
BERNARDINO
COUNTY
62
Ä
EASTVALE
JURUPA
VALLEY
15
§
¨
¦
CALIMESA
215
§
¨
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Ä
RIVERSIDE
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60
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VALLEY
BANNING
§
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79
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62
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111
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Data Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), (2010)
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)
\\agency\tlmagis\Projects\Planning\SafetyElement\Fire_Susceptibility.mxd
Local Responsibility Areas State Responsibility Areas Federal Responsibility Areas
Very High
Very High
Very High
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All Others
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High
City Boundary
Moderate
Moderate
Waterbodies
[
0
Highways
December 16, 2013
10
Miles
20
Figure 4.13.7
WILDLAND FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES
As noted by CalFire, “the broad objective of the WUI Fire Area Building Standards is to establish minimum
standards for materials and material assemblies and provide a reasonable level of exterior wildfire exposure
protection for buildings in WUI areas.” It further notes that “The use of ignition resistant materials and design to
resist the intrusion of flame or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire (wildfire exposure) will prove to be
the most prudent effort California has made to try and mitigate the losses resulting from our repeating cycle of
interface fire disasters.” (WUI Building Standards Information Bulletin, CalFire, Sept. 2007)
b. Ordinance No. 787 - Fire Code Standards
This ordinance addresses implementation of the California Building Code, based on the International Conference
of Building Officials. The codes prescribe performance characteristics and materials to be used to achieve
acceptable levels of fire protection and include the WUI fire area building standards mentioned above.
Collectively, the ordinance establishes the requirements and standards for fire hazard reduction regulations within
Riverside County (including additions and deletions to the California Fire Code) to fully protect the health, safety
and welfare of existing and future residents and workers of Riverside County.
Among other things, this ordinance assures that structural and nonstructural architectural elements of the building
do not: a) impede emergency egress for fire safety staffing/ personnel, equipment, and apparatus; nor b) hinder
evacuation from fire, including potential blockage of stairways or fire doors. In addition, for the purposes of CFC
implementation, the ordinance also adds a statement noting: “In accordance with Government Code sections
51175 through 51189, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are designated as shown on a map titled Very High
Fire Hazard Severity Zones, dated April 8, 2010, and retained on file at the office of the Fire Chief and supersedes
other maps previously adopted by Riverside County designating high fire hazard areas.” It also defines a
“hazardous fire area” as: “Private or public land not designated as state or local fire hazard severity zone (FHSZ)
which is covered with grass, grain, brush or forest and situated in a location that makes suppression difficult
resulting in great damage. Such areas are designated on Hazardous Fire Area maps filed with the office of the Fire
Chief.”
c. Fire Flow Standards
Included in Riverside County Ordinance No. 787 are the California Fire Code, Division III, Appendix III-A, for
establishing fire flow, duration and pressure requirements for fire flow; as summarized in Table 4.13-G (Minimum
Fire Protection Flows), below. The requirements are based on building size, type, materials, purpose, location,
proximity to other structures and the type of fire suppression systems installed. The various water districts in
Riverside County are required to test fire protection capability for the various land uses per the flow requirements
of the Fire Code. In addition, areas of Riverside County not served by water districts are required to meet similar
requirements as outlined in PRC Sections 4290-4299.
Table 4.13-G: Minimum Fire Protection Flows
Land Use
Flow (gallons/minute)
Duration
(gallons/hour)
Residential Single Family
Residential Estate or
Single Family Frontier
Residential Multi-Family
Commercial/Industrial
Schools
2,000
4
Fire Suppression
Storage
(million gallons)
0.48
2,500
4
0.60
30
3,000
4,000
3,500
4
4
4
0.72
0.96
0.84
20
20
20
Source: State of California, California Fire Code, 2008.
Residual
Pressure (psi)
20
4.13-49
The County of Riverside also requires a development within a high fire hazard area to design and implement fuel
modification programs for the interface between developed and natural areas within and adjacent to the proposed
project area. Such fuel modification plans shall be subject to approval by the Riverside County Fire Department.
The fuel modification programs shall be achieved through graduated transition from native vegetation to irrigated
landscape. The program shall also establish parameters for the percent, age, extent, and nature of native plant
removal necessary to achieve Riverside County fire prevention standards to protect human lives and property,
while preserving as much natural habitat as practicable.
d. Ordinance No. 695 – Hazardous Vegetation
As expected, hillsides throughout Riverside County are predominantly mapped as having a substantial fire risk;
thus, much of Riverside County is subject to PRC Sections 4291-4299 and Riverside County Ordinance No. 695.
This ordinance requires property owners in such areas to reduce fire danger through mowing and other fuel
modification methods. This ordinance affects anyone who “owns, leases, controls, operates or maintains any
building or structure in, upon or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands or
grass-covered lands or any land covered with flammable material.”
Among other measures, Ordinance No. 695 requires the abatement of “hazardous vegetation,” which is defined
in the ordinance as vegetation that is flammable and endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard. The
type of abatement can depend on the location, terrain and vegetation present, but typically includes the mowing
or disking (plowing up) of vegetation, such as seasonal and recurrent weeds, stubble, brush, dry leaves and
tumbleweeds. Abatement is generally required along roadways and habitable structures either on or adjacent to
the property.
Each spring, the CDF and RCFD distribute hazard abatement notices. These notices, which currently go to
about 30,000 Riverside County residents, requires property owners to reduce the fuels around their property.
Requirements for hazard reduction around improved parcels (those with structures) are set forth in Riverside
County Ordinance No. 787 (and PRC Section 4291). A minimum 30-foot clearance is required around all
structures, which can be extended to 100 feet in areas where severe fire hazards exist. For unimproved parcels
adjacent to a roadway, a 100-foot wide strip of abated land at the parcel boundary is required. According to the
ordinance, the determination for appropriate clearance distances are made based upon a visual inspection of the
parcel and consideration of all factors that place the property or adjoining structures at risk from an approaching
fire. These factors include local weather conditions, fuel types, topography and the environment where the
property or adjoining structures is located. Where the parcel’s terrain is such that it cannot be disked or mowed,
the Riverside County Fire Chief may require or authorize that other means of removal be used.
Prior to development, the County of Riverside requires a development within a high fire hazard area (SRA or
VHFHSZ LRA) to design and implement fuel modification programs for the interface between developed and
natural areas within and adjacent to the proposed project area. Such fuel modification plans shall be subject to
approval by the Riverside County Fire Department. The fuel modification programs shall be achieved through
graduated transition from native vegetation to irrigated landscape. The program shall also establish parameters
for the percent, age, extent, and nature of native plant removal necessary to achieve Riverside County fire
prevention standards to protect human lives and property, while preserving as much natural habitat as practicable.
As outlined in Riverside County Ordinance No. 659, the County of Riverside also has the ability to require
development applicants to pay established fire protection mitigation fees that are to be used by the Riverside
County Fire Department to construct new fire protection facilities or provide facilities in lieu of the fee as
approved by the Riverside County Fire Department. The Riverside County standard for the establishment of a
new fire station is the development of 2,000 dwelling units or 3.5 million square feet of commercial or industrial
4.13-50
uses. Riverside County also requires the payment of mitigation fees to collect revenue for the establishment of
new stations. Riverside County currently requires new development proponents to pay mitigation fees to help
offset the cost of providing new fire facilities. The current Riverside County fire fees are $400.00 per single family
dwelling unit and $0.25 per square foot for all other types of development. These fees, however, have not been
collected since 1999 (per Tracy Hobday, pers. comm., Feb. 17, 2011). In recent years, however, the State of
California has implemented an annual “fire protection fee” for properties with habitable structures on them
within SRAs (see below).
e. Fire Closures
Based on drought and other conditions, it may become necessary to close an area to the public due to extreme
fire hazard potential. Towards this end, Riverside County Ordinance No. 695 outlines the procedures for
managing “Hazardous Fire Area” designated lands as follows:
The chief is given the authority to officially determine and publicly announce the closure of any hazardous fire
area or portion thereof. However, any closure by the chief for a period of more than 15 days must be
approved by the Board of Supervisors within 15 days of the chief’s original order of closure. No person is
permitted in any hazardous fire area, except on public roadways and inhabited areas, during such time as the
area is closed to entry. This shall not prohibit residents or owners of private property within any closed area,
or their invitees, from going in or being upon their lands. This does not apply to any entry, in the course of
duty by a peace officer or any other duly authorized public officer, members of any fire department or member
of the CDF, nor does it apply to National Forest Land in any respect. During periods of closure, the chief
shall erect and maintain at all entrances to the closed areas sufficient signs giving adequate notice of closure.
f.
Defensible Space
Pursuant to GC Section 51182, a person who “owns, leases, controls, operates or maintains an occupied dwelling
or occupied structure in, upon or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush-covered land, grasscovered land or land that is covered with flammable material” in a very high fire hazard severity zone designated
by the local agency pursuant to GC Section 51179, shall at all times do all of the following:
Maintain Defensible Space: Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from the front, rear and each side of the
structure. The amount of fuel modification necessary shall take into account the flammability of the structure as
affected by building material, building standards, location and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained in a
condition so that a wildfire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure.
(Exceptions may be made for “single specimens of trees or other vegetation that are well-pruned and maintained
so as to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire.”) The intensity of fuels
management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, the most intense being within the first 30
feet around the structure. Consistent with fuels management objectives, steps should be taken to minimize
erosion.
Required Defensible Space Distances: A greater distance than that required above may be required by state
law or local ordinance or rule. Clearance beyond the property line may only be required if the state law, local
ordinance or rule includes findings that the clearing is necessary to significantly reduce the risk of transmission of
flame or heat sufficient to ignite the structure, and there is no other feasible mitigation measure possible to reduce
the risk of ignition or spread of wildfire to the structure. Clearance on adjacent property shall only be conducted
following written consent by the adjacent landowner. A greater distance may also be required by an insurance
company providing fire insurance for an occupied dwelling or structure.
4.13-51
Removal of Trees: Remove that portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or
stovepipe. Maintain trees, shrubs or any other plant adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying
wood. Also, the roof structure must be maintained free of leaves, needles or other vegetative materials.
Certification of New Buildings: Prior to constructing a new dwelling or occupied structure, or rebuilding one
damaged by a fire, the owner shall obtain a certification from the local building official that the dwelling or
structure, as proposed to be built, complies with all applicable state and local building standards, including those
of GC Section 51189(b). Upon the completion of construction or rebuilding, the owner shall obtain from the
County of Riverside building official, a copy of the final inspection report that demonstrates that the dwelling or
structure was constructed in compliance with all applicable state and local building standards, including those of
GC Section 51189(b).
The CalFire website also has a guidance document on fuels management, which discusses: regionally appropriate
vegetation management that preserves and restores native species, minimizes erosion, minimizes water
consumption and permits trees near homes for shade, aesthetics and habitat. It also provides suggestions to
minimize or eliminate the risk of flammability of non-vegetative sources of combustion such as woodpiles,
propane tanks, decks and outdoor lawn furniture.
D.
Disaster Planning
To adequately protect public health and safety relative to wildland fires and other disaster conditions, the County
of Riverside has established the Riverside County Operational Area Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) which
addresses planned responses to extraordinary emergency situations, such as natural disasters, technological
incidents and national security emergencies in or affecting Riverside County. The EOP describes the operations
of the Riverside County Emergency Operation Center (EOC), which is the central management entity responsible
for directing and coordinating the various Riverside County departments and other agencies in their emergency
response activities.
The EOP also establishes the framework for implementation of the California Standardized Emergency
Management System (SEMS) for Riverside County, which is located within Mutual Aid Region VI, as defined by
the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (State OES). By extension, the plan also implements the National
Incident Management System (NIMS) to facilitate multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional coordination, particularly
between Riverside County and local governments, including special districts and State agencies, in emergency
operations. The County of Riverside also has mutual aid agreements with local jurisdictions (24 cities), as well as a
number of special districts and other governmental entities (e.g., school districts, water districts, Soboba Indian
Tribe, etc.).
The Riverside Operational Area developed the Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan (LHMP) which identifies and analyzes an extensive list of the hazards (natural and technical) faced by the
County of Riverside. Each hazard is assigned a severity rating, indicating the amount of damage to Riverside
County and its population should the hazard occur, and a probability rating, indicating the likelihood that the
hazards may occur within Riverside County.
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4.13.3 Policies and Regulations Addressing Hazardous Materials
and Safety
A.
Hazardous Materials
1. Federal Regulations
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA): Discovery of
environmental health damage from disposal sites, such as the Stringfellow acid pits in western Riverside County,
prompted the U.S. Congress to pass the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA or “Superfund Act”) (42 United States Code [USC] Sections 9601-9675). The purpose of
CERCLA is to establish requirements for identifying and cleaning up chemically contaminated sites that pose a
significant environmental health threat. A “Hazard Ranking System” is used to determine whether a site should be
placed on the National Priorities List for cleanup activities.
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA): The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) pertains primarily to emergency management of accidental releases. It requires formation of state and local emergency planning committees which are responsible for collecting material handling
and transportation data for use as a basis for planning. Title III of SARA is also known as the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), which was established to encourage and support emergency planning efforts at the state and local levels. Among other things, chemical inventory data is made available
to the community at large under this provision of the law. In addition, SARA also requires annual reporting of
continuous emissions and accidental releases of specified compounds. These annual submissions are compiled
into a nationwide Toxic Release Inventory prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA).
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): RCRA Subtitle C (USC Title 42, Chapter 82) addresses
hazardous waste generation, handling, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal. It includes requirements for
a system that uses hazardous waste manifests to track the movement of waste from its site of generation to its
ultimate disposition. Amendments to RCRA in 1984 created a national priority for waste minimization. Subtitle D
establishes national minimum requirements for solid waste disposal sites and practices. It requires states to
develop plans for the management of wastes within their jurisdictions. Subtitle I requires monitoring and
containment systems for underground storage tanks that hold hazardous materials. Owners of tanks must
demonstrate financial assurance for the cleanup of a potential leaking tank.
In addition to specific materials produced by industry, hazardous wastes are often generated as by-products of
industrial, manufacturing, agriculture and other uses. RCRA defines a hazardous waste as any solid, liquid or
contained gaseous material that is disposed, incinerated or recycled. A hazardous material may also become
hazardous waste through its accidental or inadvertent release into the environment. Both hazardous materials and
hazardous waste pose potential risks to health, safety and welfare in Riverside County if handled inappropriately.
All hazardous waste must be discharged at a Class I facility (see discussion below on landfills).
Small-scale hazardous waste generators are businesses that generate less than 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of
hazardous waste per month (that is, 13.23 tons per year). A majority of the hazardous waste generators under
Riverside County’s purview are classified as small-quantity generators. Collectively, small businesses generate a
very large portion of the hazardous waste produced in the County of Riverside. This information is also a part of
the U.S. EPA’s TRI information provided by individual facilities, which documents the release and transfer of
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hazardous materials resulting from manufacturing processes. This database describes the type of hazardous
material generated and the method of disposal, either through onsite release, offsite disposal or offsite recycling.
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA): The HMTA (49 USC Sections 5101-5127) is the
statutory basis for an extensive body of regulations aimed at ensuring the safe transport of hazardous materials via
water, rail, highways, air and pipelines. It includes provisions for material classification, packaging, marking,
labeling, warning placards and shipping documentation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) has a system of numerical designations (the International
Classification System) that may be displayed on placards, labels and/or shipping papers. The shipper of any
hazardous material must classify the material according to its hazardous properties. This system categorizes
hazardous materials into nine different classes (1-9) based on a number of characteristics and includes explosives,
gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, etc. In addition to the numerical classification system for
hazardous materials, the DoT has established a placard system for identifying hazardous materials during
transport. The U.S. EPA requires their use on all shipments of hazardous materials. These placards are large in
size and similar in shape (typically diamond) and are required to be displayed on all sides on any truck or railcar
that transports hazardous materials. When a truck or railcar is transporting more than one hazardous material or
more than 5,000 pounds of a material, a placard indicating “DANGEROUS” must also be displayed. Some
placards also include a four-digit code indicating the type of material being transported. This four-digit identification number is required on any tank truck or rail tank car and provides precise identification in an emergency.
Occupational Safety and Health Act: Enacted in 1970, this federal law, like its namesake enforcement agency,
OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), governs the occupational health and safety of the
private sector and the federal government. Codified under United States Code (USC) Title 29, Chapter 15, the
OSH Act ensures that employers provide employees with an environment free from “recognized hazards,” such
as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, and unsanitary conditions.
The Act also created the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission to review enforcement priorities,
actions and cases, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, an independent research institute
under the Centers for Disease Control. The Act covers all broadly-defined “employers” other than those covered
by other federal laws (e.g., mining, railroads, airlines, weapon manufacturers, etc.), family farms, the self-employed
and also state and local governments. Section 18 of the OSH Act permits and encourages states to adopt their
own occupational safety and health plans, provided the state’s standards and enforcement programs are as effecttive as the OSH Act or “will be at least as effective in providing safe and healthful employment.” The State of
California is an “OSHA State” in that it has such a plan; see additional information under state program, below.
Section 5 of the OSH Act contains a “general duty clause” that requires employers to: maintain conditions or
adopt practices reasonably necessary and appropriate to protect workers on the job; be familiar with and comply
with standards applicable to their establishments; and, ensure that employees have and use personal protective
equipment when required for safety and health. OSHA may act under the general duty clause when four criteria
are met: First, there must be a hazard. Second, the hazard must be a recognized hazard (e.g., the employer knew
or should have known about the hazard, the hazard is obvious or the hazard is a recognized one within the
industry). Third, the hazard must be sufficient to cause, or be likely to cause, serious harm or death. And, lastly,
the hazard must be correctable (OSHA recognizes not all hazards are correctable).
Toxic Substances Control Act: Codified under 15 USC Sections 2601-2692, this federal act regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals (which are mostly grandfathered in). Chemicals not on a list (the
TSCA Inventory) or subject to an exemption may not be manufactured or imported into the U.S. The US-EPA
reviews all “new” chemicals (i.e., those not on the inventory) and regulates (or bans) those found to be an “unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.” The TSCA also addresses exposure to specific chemicals,
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or classes of chemicals, in various subchapters of the law, including: asbestos, (indoor) radon levels, lead (such as
in paints and toys), dioxin, hexavalent chromium and PCBs. It also bans the use of chlorofluorocarbons in manufacturing.
2. State Regulations
Cal/OSHA and the California State Plan: Under an agreement with OSHA, since 1973 California has
operated an occupational safety and health program in accordance with Section 18 of the federal OSH Act of
1970. The State of California’s Department of Industrial Relations administers the California Occupational Safety
and Health Program, commonly referred to as Cal/OSHA. The State of California’s Division of Occupational
Safety and Health (DOSH) is the principal agency that oversees plan enforcement and consultation. In addition,
the California State program has an independent Standards Board responsible for promulgating State safety and
health standards, and reviewing variances. It also has an Appeals Board to adjudicate contested citations and the
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to investigate complaints of discriminatory retaliation in the workplace.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1952.172, the California State Plan applies to all public and private sector places of
employment in the state, with the exception of federal employees, the United States Postal Service, private sector
employers on Native American lands, maritime activities on the navigable waterways of the United States, private
contractors working on land designated as exclusively under federal jurisdiction and employers that require federal
security clearances. Cal/OSHA is the only agency in the state authorized to adopt, amend or repeal occupational
safety and health standards or orders. In addition, the Standards Board maintains standards for certain things not
covered by federal standards or enforcement, including: elevators, aerial passenger tramways, amusement rides,
pressure vessels and mine safety training. The Cal/OSHA enforcement unit conducts inspections of California
workplaces in response to a report of an industrial accident, a complaint about an occupational safety and health
hazard, or as part of an inspection program targeting industries with high rates of occupational hazards, fatalities,
injuries or illnesses.
California Hazardous Waste Control Law: The Hazardous Waste Control Law (HWCL) (HSC, Division 20,
Chapter 6.5, Article 2, Section 25100, et seq.) is the primary hazardous waste statute in California. The HWCL
implements RCRA as a “cradle-to-grave” waste management system in the state. It specifies that generators have
the primary duty to determine whether their wastes are hazardous and to ensure its proper management. The
HWCL also establishes criteria for the reuse and recycling of hazardous wastes used or reuse as raw materials. The
HWCL exceeds federal requirements by mandating source reduction planning and broadening requirements for
permitting facilities that treat hazardous waste. It also regulates a number of waste types and waste management
activities not covered by federal law (RCRA).
California Code of Regulations (CCR), Titles 22 and 26: A variety of CCR titles address regulations and
requirements for generators of hazardous waste. Title 22 contains detailed compliance requirements for
hazardous waste generators, transporters and facilities for treatment, storage and disposal. Because California is a
fully-authorized state according to RCRA, most regulations (i.e., 40 CFR 260, et seq.) have been duplicated and
integrated into Title 22. However, because the DTSC regulates hazardous waste more stringently than the U.S.
EPA, the integration of state and federal hazardous waste regulations that make up Title 22 does not contain as
many exemptions or exclusions as does 40 CFR 260. As with the HSC, Title 22 also regulates a wider range of
waste types and waste management activities than does RCRA. To aid the regulated community, California has
compiled hazardous materials, waste and toxics-related regulations from CCR, Titles 3, 8, 13, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24
and 27 into one consolidated listing: CCR Title 26 (Toxics). However, the hazardous waste regulations are still
commonly referred to collectively as “Title 22.”
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California Unified Program (HSC, Title 27): According to the 2010 MHMP (page 342), California law
established the Unified Program to consolidate, coordinate and make consistent the administrative requirements,
permits, inspections and enforcement activities of six environmental and emergency response programs: the
Hazardous Materials Business Plan/Emergency Response Plan, Hazardous Waste/Tiered Permitting,
Underground Storage Tanks, Above-Ground Storage Tanks, California Accidental Release Prevention Program
and the Uniform Fire Code Hazardous Materials Management Plan. The state agencies responsible for these
programs set the standards for their individual program while local governments implement and enforce the
standards. Cal/EPA oversees the implementation of the program as a whole pursuant to CCR Title 27, Division
I, Subdivision 4, Chapter 1, Sections 15100-15620. The Unified Program is implemented at the local level by
government agencies (called Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs)) certified by the Secretary of Cal/EPA.
For the County of Riverside, the Hazardous Materials Management Division of the RCDEH acts as CUPA.
Hazardous Materials Business Plans and Emergency Response Plans: At the state level, Hazardous
Materials Business Plan/Emergency Response Plans (HSC Chapter 6.95) seek to prevent or minimize the damage
to public health and safety and the environment from a release or threatened release of hazardous materials and to
satisfy community right-to-know laws. This is accomplished by requiring businesses that handle hazardous
materials in quantities equal to or greater than 55 gallons, 500 pounds or 200 cubic feet of gas or extremely
hazardous substances above the threshold planning quantity (as outlined in 40 CFR, Part 355, Appendix A) to:
inventory their hazardous materials, develop an emergency plan and implement a training program for employees.
Hazardous Waste Source Reduction and Management Review Act: This 1989 act, also sometimes referred
to as Senate Bill 14, requires hazardous waste generators to use source reduction as the preferred method of
managing hazardous waste. Source reduction is preferable to recycling and treatment options because source
reduction avoids waste generation costs and management liability. It also provides the best protection for public
health and the environment. Under SB 14, facilities generating more than 12 kilograms of hazardous waste or
extremely hazardous waste are required to do source reduction planning. Hazardous waste generators subject to
SB 14 are each required to prepare and implement a Source Reduction Evaluation Review and Plan, a Hazardous
Waste Management Performance Report and submit annual Summary Progress Reports.
Medical Waste Management Act: This act, chaptered in HSC Sections 117600 through 118630, sets
regulations for ensuring the safe handling, storage, processing and disposal of medical wastes within California.
Among other things, it addresses medical waste generators, as well as medical waste treatment facilities, defines
medical wastes, biohazards and related materials, and also requires medical waste management plans of all
generators of medical waste (both “large” and “small”). It also addresses the establishment and actions of a
“medical waste management program” for local agencies, such as the County of Riverside. Such programs
encompass the issuance of “medical waste registrations,” medical waste management plans, inspection of largequantity medical waste generators, medical waste treatment facilities and medical waste haulers, as well as the
investigation of violations of the HSC and enforcement of these regulations.
3. County Regulations
Ordinance No. 348 - Land Use, Section 18.44 - Hazardous Waste Facility Permits: This section of the
Riverside County land use ordinance provides specific requirements applicable to the siting or expansion of a
hazardous waste facility in order to safeguard life, health, property and the public welfare.
Ordinance No. 615 – Hazardous Waste Generation, Storage, Handling and Disposal: This ordinance was
promulgated for the purpose of monitoring establishments where hazardous waste is generated, stored, handled,
disposed, treated or recycled and to regulate the issuance of permits and the activities of establishments where
hazardous waste is generated. This ordinance designates RCDEH to enforce the provisions of HSC Division 20,
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Chapter 6.5, Section 25100, et seq., and the “Environmental Health Standards for the Management of Hazardous
Waste,” as specified in CCR Title 22, Division 4.5, pertaining to the generation, storage, handling, disposal,
treatment and recycling of hazardous waste.
Ordinance No. 617 - Underground Storage Tanks Containing Hazardous Substances: This ordinance
implements Section 25280 et seq. of the California Health and Safety Code to ensure that hazardous substances
stored in underground tanks are done so safely and in a manner that prevents contamination. It does so by
establishing appropriate construction standards for new underground storage tanks and requiring maintenance,
monitoring and inspection of existing tanks. The ordinance also establishes a Local Oversight Program for
“unauthorized releases of petroleum and petroleum-related materials from leaking underground tanks systems
which require remedial action...to prevent long-term threats to the public health, water quality and environment.”
The RCDEH manages these programs.
Ordinance No. 651 - Disclosure of Hazardous Materials and Business Emergency Plans: This ordinance
implements the State of California’s “Hazardous Materials Release Response Plans and Inventory Law” (HSC,
Chapter 6.95), to establish a system for permitting businesses handling hazardous materials. It serves to enforce
minimum material standards and designates the Riverside County Community Health Agency as the agency
responsible for administering and enforcing HSC Chapter 6.95. The RCDEH may require compliance with the
applicable articles of the most-current Fire Codes. Pursuant to HSC Section 25500, the Riverside County Board
of Supervisors may also impose additional, more stringent requirements on businesses that handle hazardous
materials.
Ordinance No. 718 - Generation, Storage and Transportation of Medical Waste: This ordinance
implements a medical waste management program in accordance with the Medical Waste Management Act, HSC
Division 14, Part 14. It establishes requirements for the management of medical waste and makes provisions for
its enforcement.
Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD): The RCFD maintains a hazardous material (hazmat) team to
respond to hazardous materials spills and leaks as well as provide expertise in the safe handling, abatement and
documentation of hazmat emergencies. The RCFD implements its program through its Hazardous Materials
Response Plan, which is required under CCR Title 8. Riverside County’s team is a two-part company consisting
of a hazmat unit and a support unit. All team members are trained to the California Specialized Training Institute
“technical specialist” level. The RCFD also administers compliance with Ordinance No. 615 (hazardous waste)
and Ordinance No. 718 (medical waste) regulations, as well as Section 18.44 of Ordinance No. 348 regarding
hazardous waste facilities.
4. Existing County General Plan Policies for Hazardous Materials
The following policies are already part of the General Plan and are not part of the project, GPA No. 960. Rather,
these policies are considered to play a role in ensuring any potential environmental effects are avoided, reduced or
minimized through their application on a case-by-case basis. The County of Riverside has existing programs in
place that ensure applicable policies are imposed once a development proposal triggers a specific policy or
policies. The need for specific policies is determined through subsequent CEQA analysis performed for sitespecific projects. These measures are implemented, enforced and verified through their inclusion into project
Conditions of Approval.
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a. Safety (S) Element Policies
Policy S 7.2: Encourage the utilization of multilingual staff personnel to assist in evacuation and short-term
recovery activities, and meeting general community needs.
Policy S 7.3: Require commercial businesses, utilities and industrial facilities that handle hazardous materials to:
install automatic fire and hazardous materials detection, reporting and shut-off devices; and install an alternative
communication system in the event the power is out or telephone service is saturated following an earthquake.
Policy S 7.6: Improve management and emergency dissemination of information using portable computers with
geographic information systems and disaster-resistant Internet access, to obtain:
a. Hazardous Materials Disclosure Program Business Plans regarding the location and type of hazardous
materials;
b. Real-time information on seismic, geologic or flood hazards; and
c. The locations of high-occupancy, immobile populations, potentially hazardous building structures,
utilities and other lifelines.
Policy S 7.14: Regularly review and clarify emergency evacuation plans for dam failure, inundation, fire and
hazardous materials releases.
5. Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies for Hazardous Materials
a. Safety (S) Element Policies
Policy S 6.1: Enforce the land use policies and siting criteria related to hazardous materials and wastes through continued
implementation of and implement the programs identified in the County of Riverside Hazardous Waste Management
Plan, which including the following:
a.
Ensure county businesses Ccomply with federal, and State and local laws pertaining to the management of
hazardous wastes and materials, includinges all Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) programs.
b. Ensure active public participation in hazardous waste and hazardous materials management decisions in
Riverside County through the County’s land use and planning processes.
c. Coordinate hazardous waste facility responsibilities on a regional basis through the Southern California
Hazardous Waste Management Authority (SCHWMA).
c d. Encourage and promote the programs, practices and recommendations contained in the County
Hazardous Waste Management Plan, giving the highest waste management priority to the reduction of
hazardous waste at its source.
Policy S 7.1: Continually strengthen the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services’ Response Plan and MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Multi Hazard Functional Plan and maintain mutual aid agreements with
federal, State, local agencies and the private sector to assist in:
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a.
Clearance of debris in the event of widespread slope failures, collapsed buildings or structures, or other
circumstances that could result in blocking emergency access or regress.
b. Heavy search and rescue.
c. Fire suppression.
d. Hazardous materials response.
e. Temporary shelter.
f.
Geologic and engineering needs.
g. Traffic and crowd control.
h. Building inspections.
b. Circulation (C) Element Policies
Policy C 20.12 (Previously C 20.10): Review and monitor proposals for expansion of pipelines for the transport
of suitable products and materials. , and require mitigation of environmental impacts. In particular, require
mitigation of Any project proponent of such a pipeline shall mitigate impacts, particularly the potential for hazardous
chemical or gas leakage and explosion in accordance with local, State and federal regulations.
c. Land Use (LU) Element Policies
NEW Policy LU 7.9: Require buffers between urban uses and adjacent solid waste disposal facilities.
B.
Airport and Aircraft Hazards
1. Federal and State Regulations
It should be noted that the operation of airports and aircraft on airport property and in flight are the sole
responsibility of the FAA. The proposed project has no bearing on those activities. However, the interaction of
airports to surrounding land uses and the potential environmental effects of aircraft accidents are within the
purview of the County of Riverside to evaluate under CEQA, as discussed herein.
State Aeronautics Act: This act (Public Utilities Code [PUC] Section 21001 et seq.) requires that the ALUC
prepare airport land use compatibility plans (ALUCPs). ALUCPs promote compatibility between airports and the
land uses that surround them to the extent that these uses are not already developed with incompatible land uses.
They are intended to protect the safety of people, property and aircraft on the ground and in the air in the vicinity
of the airport. They also address measures to ensure noise protection through land use planning and other
measures.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The operation of airports and aircraft is the responsibility of
the FAA, but the requirement to document potential hazards related to airports and air activities when a new
project (i.e., GPA No. 960) is proposed is contained in CEQA, specifically PRC Section 21096, which states:
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“(a) If a lead agency prepares an environmental impact report for a project situated within airport land use
compatibility plan boundaries, or, if an airport land use compatibility plan has not been adopted, for a project
within two nautical miles of a public airport or public use airport, the Airport Land Use Planning
Handbook published by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation, in compliance
with section 21674.5 of the Public Utilities Code and other documents, shall be utilized as technical
resources to assist in the preparation of the environmental impact report as the report relates to airport-related
safety hazards and noise problems.
(b) A lead agency shall not adopt a negative declaration for a project described in subdivision (a) unless the
lead agency considers whether the project will result in a safety hazard or noise problem for persons using the
airport or for persons residing or working in the project area.”
Ordinance No. 269 – Establishing Height Limits of Structures Within Certain Distances of March Field:
This ordinance establishes maximum building and structure height limits within proximity to March ARB in order
to avoid the introduction of aviation hazards to the airspace surrounding the facility. Among other things, the
ordinance specifies that, “No person, partnership, firm, association or corporation shall hereafter maintain,
permit, allow or cause to exist any smoke stack, flag pole, power line, power pole, tank, radio tower, derrick,
tower, silo, barn, building or any other structure or thing whatsoever, in any manner so that the same shall exceed
the following height within the following distances from the exterior boundaries of March Field [as defined
therein]: 15 feet within 500 feet of the said exterior boundaries; 25 feet within 500 to 1,000 feet of the said
exterior boundaries; 40 feet within 1,000 to 1,500 feet of the said exterior boundaries; 60 feet within 1,500 to
2,000 feet of the said exterior boundaries; 75 feet within 2,000 to 3,000 feet of the said exterior boundaries; 90
feet within 3,000 to 5,000 feet of the said exterior boundaries.” The purpose of these restrictions is to ensure air
safety and the safety of people and property surrounding the air field.
Ordinance No. 448 - Airport Operations: This Riverside County ordinance establishes airport operating areas
and regulates height standards and limits therein. The ordinance is adopted pursuant to the “Airport Approaches
Zoning Law,” CGC Sections 50485-50485.14.
Ordinance No. 576 - Regulating County Airports: This ordinance establishes minimum standards for
airports, heliports or Short Take Off and Landing airports (STOLports) to safeguard life, limb, property and
public welfare. Among other things, for facilities owned or operated by the County of Riverside, it empowers the
Director of Airports to prescribe regulations necessary for public airport use. In addition, all prescribed
regulations are reviewed by ALUC and must ultimately go before the Board of Supervisors for approval.
3. Existing County General Plan Policies for Airports and Aircraft Safety
The following Land Use (LU) Element policies are already part of the General Plan and are not part of the
project, GPA No. 960. Rather, these policies are considered to play a role in ensuring any potential
environmental effects are avoided, reduced or minimized through their application on a case-by-case basis. The
County of Riverside uses contractual “Conditions of Approval” (COAs) adopted as part of a project’s approval to
legally require that certain steps occur as part of a project’s development and implementation. The COAs ensure
that applicable legal requirements and Riverside County policies are imposed once triggered by a development
proposal milestone. (For example, a COA might require a specific environmental permit be obtained by the
applicant prior to the County of Riverside issuing a grading permit for the development site.) The need for
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specific policies is determined through the individual CEQA analyses performed for site-specific projects on a
case-by-case basis.
Policy LU 1.8: As required by the Airport Land Use Law, submit certain proposed actions to the Riverside
County Airport Land Use Commission for review. Such actions include proposed amendments to the general
plan, area plans or specific plans, as well as proposed revisions to the zoning ordinance and building codes.
Policy LU 15.1 (Previously LU 14.1): Allow airport facilities to continue operating in order to meet existing and
future needs respecting potential noise and safety impacts.
Policy LU 15.7 (Previously LU 14.5): Allow the use of development clustering and/or density transfers to meet
airport compatibility requirements as set forth in the applicable airport land use compatibility plan.
Policy LU 15.8 (Previously LU 14.6): In accordance with FAA criteria, avoid locating sanitary landfills and
other land uses that are artificial attractors of birds within 10,000 feet of any runway used by turbine-powered
aircraft and within 5,000 feet of other runways. Also avoid locating attractors of other wildlife that can be
hazardous to aircraft operations in locations adjacent to airports.
Policy LU 15.9 (Previously LU 14.7): Ensure that no structures or activities encroach upon or adversely affect
the use of navigable airspace.
4. Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies for Airports and Aircraft Safety
a. Land Use (LU) Element Policies
Policy LU 15.2 (Previously LU 14.2): Review all proposed projects and require consistency with any applicable
airport land use compatibility plan [ALUCP] as set forth in Appendix L-1 [of the General Plan] and as
summarized in the Area Plan's Airport Influence Area section for the airport in question.
Policy LU 15.3 (Previously LU 14.3): Review all subsequent amendments to any airport land use compatibility
plan and either amend the General Plan to be consistent with the compatibility plan adopt the plan as amended or overrule
the Airport Land Use Commission as provided by law (Government Code section 65302.3).
Policy LU 15.4 (Previously LU 14.4): Prior to the adoption or amendment of this General Plan or any specific
plan, or the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance or building regulation within the Airport Influence Area
planning boundary of any airport land use compatibility plan, refer such proposed actions to the ALUC for review
and determination as provided by the Airport Land Use Law.
NEW Policy LU 15.5: If the General Plan has not been found consistent with the applicable Airport Land Use Compatibility
Plan, and the County has not overruled the ALUC, refer all actions, regulations, or permits within the Airport Influence Area to the
ALUC for review and determination as provided by the Airport Land Use Law.
NEW Policy LU 15.6: If the General Plan has been found consistent with the applicable Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
(ALUCP), the County may elect to voluntarily submit proposed actions, regulations, or permits to the ALUC for an advisory review
if:
a.
There is a question as to the purpose, intent or interpretation of an ALUCP; or
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b.
Assistance is needed in airport land use matters.
Policy LU 31.2 (Previously LU 25.2): Protect major public facilities, such as landfill and solid waste disposal
processing sites and airports, from the encroachment of incompatible uses.
Policy LU 35.1 (Previously LU 30.1): Require that proposed projects on properties designated with the Closed
Landfill Policy Area Overlay be reviewed by the [County] Department of Waste Management and the Department
of Environmental Health to ensure that future development is designed to protect public health and safety.
b. Circulation (C) Element Policies
Policy C 6.6: Consider access implications associated with adjacent development and circulation plans. , and
Promote efficient and safe access improvements on for airport facilities.
C.
Wildland Fire Hazards
1. Federal and State Regulations
Health Forest Restoration Act of 2003 – Communities at Risk: This act defines “communities at risk” as
those “wildland urban interface communities within the vicinity of federal lands that are at high risk from
wildfire.” For California, CalFire has expanded this definition to include all communities (regardless of distance
from federal lands) for which a significant threat to human life or property exists as a result of a wildland fire
event. According to the 2010 California Strategic Fire Plan (page E-1), factors used to determine at-risk
communities include: high fuel hazard, probability of a fire and proximity of intermingles wildland fuels and
urban environments near fire threats.
Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 4290-4299: This section establishes minimum statewide fire safety
provisions pertaining to: roads for fire equipment access; signs identifying streets, roads and buildings; minimum
private water supply reserves for emergency fire use; and fire fuel breaks and greenbelts. With certain exceptions,
all new construction after July 1, 1991, in potential wildland fire areas is required to meet these statewide
standards. The state requirements, however, do not supersede more restrictive local regulations.
As defined by CalFire, wildland areas defined as SRAs may contain substantial wildfire risks and hazards. They
consist of lands exclusive of cities and federal lands regardless of ownership. The primary financial responsibility
for preventing and suppressing fires within wildlands belongs to the State of California. However, it is not the
State of California’s responsibility to provide fire protection services to buildings or structures located within the
wildlands unless CalFire has entered into a cooperative agreement with a local agency for those purposes pursuant
to PRC Section 4142. As such, wildland areas require disclosure of these fire hazards in real estate transactions,
and owners of properties in wildland areas are subject to PRC Section 4291 maintenance requirements (see
below). The law requires CalFire every five years (1991, 1996, 2001, etc.) to provide maps identifying the
boundaries of lands classified as SRAs to the Riverside County Assessor. CalFire is also required to notify
Riverside County of any changes to SRAs within the county resulting from periodic boundary modifications.
PRC Section 4213 - Fire Prevention Fees: Pursuant to PRC Section 4213, in July of 2011, the State of
California began assessing an annual “Fire Prevention Fee” for all habitable structures within SRAs to pay for fire
prevention services. SRAs are the portions of California where the State of California is financially responsible
for the prevention and suppression of wildfires. The SRA does not include lands within incorporated city
boundaries, Tribal or federally owned land. As of 2013, the fee is up to $150 per habitable structure (i.e., a
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building that can be occupied for residential use, which does not include incidental buildings such as detached
garages, barns, outdoor bathrooms, sheds, etc.).
California Government Code Section 51178: This section specifies that the Director of CalFire, in cooperation
with local fire authorities, shall identify areas that are Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) in Local
Responsibility Areas (LRAs), based on consistent statewide criteria and the expected severity of fire hazard. Per
CGC Section 51178, a local agency may, at its discretion, exclude from the requirements of Section 51182 an area
within its jurisdiction that has been identified as a VHFHSZ, if it provides substantial evidence in the record that
the requirements of Section 51182 are not necessary for effective fire protection within the area. Alternatively,
local agencies like Riverside County may include areas not identified as VHFHSZ by CalFire, following a finding
supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Section 51182 are necessary for effective
fire protection within the new area. According to Section 51182, such changes made by a local agency shall be
final and shall not be rebuttable by CalFire.
GC Section 51182 - Defensible Space: Pursuant to this code, a person who “owns, leases, controls, operates or
maintains an occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered
land, brush-covered land, grass-covered land or land that is covered with flammable material” in a very high fire
hazard severity zone designated by the local agency pursuant to Section 51179, shall at all times maintain a
specified amount of “defensible space” to protect structures in high fire hazard areas.
CCR Title 14 – Natural Resources: These regulations constitute the basic wildland fire protection standards of
the California Board of Forestry. They were prepared and adopted to establish minimum wildfire protection
standards in conjunction with building, construction and development within SRAs. Among other things, Title
14 requires the design and construction of structures, subdivisions and developments in an SRA provide for basic
emergency access and perimeter wildfire protection measures (fire fuel modification zones, etc.).
CCR Title 24, Parts 2 and 9 – Fire Codes: Part 2 of Title 24 of the CCR refers to the California Building Code
which contains complete regulations and general construction building standards of state adopting agencies,
including administrative, fire and life safety and field inspection provisions. Part 2 was updated in 2008 to reflect
changes in the base document from the Uniform Building Code to the International Building Code. Part 9 refers
to the California Fire Code, which contains other fire safety-related building standards. In particular, Chapter 7A,
“Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure,” in the 2010 California Building Code
addresses fire safety standards for new construction. In addition, Section 701A.3.2, “New Buildings Located in
Any Fire Hazard Severity Zone,” states:
“New buildings located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas, any Local
Agency Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, or any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area designated by
the enforcing agency for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after January 1, 2008,
shall comply with all sections of this chapter.”
Assembly Bill (AB) 6 - Real Estate Disclosures: This law requires disclosure in real estate transactions for
two types of fire hazard areas: “Wildland Fire Areas,” which may contain substantial forest fire risks and hazards,
and VHFHSZ areas. CalFire prepares and updates fire maps as needed to comply with AB 6. In addition, Civil
Code Section 1103(c)(6) requires real estate sellers to inform prospective buyers whether or not a property is
located within a Wildland Fire Area that could contain substantial fire risks and hazards. PRC Section 4136 also
requires this disclosure. Once the State Board of Forestry identifies those lands where CalFire has the primary
duty for wildland fire prevention and suppression (i.e., SRA lands), CalFire sends the maps to the affected
counties and county officials must post notices to indicate where these CalFire maps are available for viewing.
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California Emergency Services Act: The California Emergency Services Act (CGC Section 8550-8551)
mitigates the impacts of emergencies within the state through proper preparation and coordination with necessary
agencies including the federal government. The Act is also responsible for establishing CalEMA which aims to
improve safety and preparedness within the state.
Statewide Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS): SEMS serves as the foundation of the
State of California’s emergency response system. SEMS provides the basis for the responses and actions of
managing an emergency. As required by the California Emergency Services Act, SEMS manages the responses to
emergencies in California when multiple agencies and jurisdictions are involved. The system incorporates all
elements of the emergency management community into a single system. Local agencies are required to use SEMS
in order to maintain eligibility for potential reimbursement of response-related costs.
CalFire Riverside Unit 2012 Strategic Fire Plan: This plan is used by the CalFire Riverside Unit to direct and
guide its fire management activities for its service area. The plan emphasizes “pre-fire” management, which is a
process to assess alternatives to protect assets from unacceptable risk of wildland fire damage and focus on those
actions that can be taken in advance of a wildland fire to potentially reduce the severity of the fire and ensure
safety. Pre-fire “project alternatives” may include a combination of fuels reduction, ignition management, firesafe engineering activities and forest health improvement to protect public and private assets. In addition to its
main emphasis on the San Jacinto Mountains and its at-risk communities, pre-fire projects have also been planned
and implemented on SRA lands in and adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest. A number of cooperative
projects have taken place with many more being planned. The Riverside Unit also treats fuels within the region’s
Multi-Species Preserves and other public lands within SRAs, but not in National Forests.
The overall goal of the plan is to reduce total government costs and citizen losses from wildland fire in the
Riverside Unit by protecting assets at risk through focused pre-fire management prescriptions and increasing
initial attack success. The Fire Plan has five strategic objectives:

Create wildfire protection zones that reduce the risks to citizens and firefighters.

Include all wildland, not just the State Responsibility Areas. Analysis will ultimately include all wildland
fire service providers - federal, state, local government and private. This is the long-term strategy. This
plan is primarily focused on the CalFire Direct Protection Area (DPA) of the Riverside Unit, however the
current extreme fuel conditions existing in the San Jacinto Mountains require the Unit to include the
SRAs within USFS DPA [area in which the USFS is responsible for fire protection] also.

Identify and analyze key policy issues and develop recommendations for changes in public policy.
Analysis will include alternatives to reduce total costs and/or increase fire protection system
effectiveness.

Describe the wildland fire protection system in fiscal terms. This can include all public/ private
expenditures and potential economic losses.

Translate the analysis into public policy.
Riverside County Fire Department Strategic Plan: The County of Riverside has developed a strategic fire
plan that details the department’s goals and strategies for proactively coordinating fire facility, service and
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equipment needs for 2009-2029. It incorporates CalFire’s management plan for several sub-zones within
Riverside County. The plan is aimed at ensuring that existing and future development maintain adequate service
levels throughout Riverside County.
Ordinance No. 695 - Abatement of Hazardous Vegetation: Under this ordinance, the RCFD distributes
hazard abatement notices, roughly 30,000 each year, requiring property owners to reduce the fuels around their
property. These notices order property owners to reduce fuels (e.g., flammable grass, brush, etc.) around their
property. Requirements for hazard reduction around improved parcels (i.e., those with structures) are set forth in
Ordinance No. 787. A minimum 30-foot clearance is required around all structures; it may be extended up to 100
feet in areas with severe fire hazards. On unimproved parcels, the property owner is required to disc or mow 100
feet around the property perimeter. Again, this may be increased (or decreased) from the initial 100-foot width
based on visual inspection by the Fire Chief or Chief’s designee. The County of Riverside also requires new
development within high fire hazard areas to include a fuel modification program for its WUI interface, subject to
approval by the Riverside County Fire Department. Lastly, this ordinance also allows the Fire Chief or designee
entry onto any real property to inspect when there is reasonable cause that hazardous vegetation exists.
Ordinance No. 787 - Fire Code Standards: This ordinance adopts and, where necessary amends, the
California Fire Code (FC) to safeguard lives and property from fire, explosion hazards and hazardous conditions
within Riverside County. It also governs the issuance of fire permits and the collection of fees. The ordinance
helps ensure that structural and nonstructural architectural elements of buildings do not impede emergency egress
for fire safety personnel, equipment or apparatus and do not hinder evacuation from fires, including potential
blockages of stairways or fire doors. During adoption of the Fire Code, the Riverside County Board of
Supervisors also included additional requirements and standards for fire hazard reduction in order to ensure the
health, safety and welfare of existing and future residents and workers in Riverside County, based on demands of
climate, geography, topography and geology.
3. Existing County General Plan Policies for Wildland Fire Hazards
The following policies are already part of the General Plan and are not part of the project, GPA No. 960. Rather,
these policies are considered to play a role in ensuring any potential environmental effects are avoided, reduced or
minimized through their application on a case-by-case basis. The County of Riverside has existing programs in
place that ensure applicable policies are imposed once a development proposal triggers a specific policy or
policies. The need for specific policies is determined through subsequent CEQA analysis performed for sitespecific projects. These measures are implemented, enforced and verified through their inclusion into project
Conditions of Approval.
Policy LU 10.1 (Previously LU 9.1): Require that new development contribute their fair share to fund
infrastructure and public facilities such as police and fire facilities.
Policy LU 5.2: Monitor the capacities of infrastructure and services in coordination with service providers,
utilities and outside agencies and jurisdictions to ensure that growth does not exceed acceptable levels of service.
b. Safety (S) Element Policies
Policy S 5.9 (Previously S 5.2): Reduce fire threat and strengthen firefighting capability so that the County
could successfully respond to multiple fires.
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Policy S 5.10 (Previously S 5.3): Require automatic natural gas shutoff earthquake sensors in high-occupancy
industrial and commercial facilities, and encourage them for all residences.
Policy S 5.12 (Previously S 5.5): Conduct and implement long-range fire safety planning, including stringent
building, fire, subdivision and municipal code standards, improved infrastructure and improved mutual aid
agreements with the private and public sector.
Policy S 5.13 (Previously S 5.7): Develop a program to utilize existing reservoirs, tanks and water wells in the
county for emergency fire suppression water sources.
Policy S 7.3: Require commercial businesses, utilities and industrial facilities that handle hazardous materials to:
install automatic fire and hazardous materials detection, reporting and shut-off devices; and install an alternative
communication system in the event power is out or telephone service is saturated following an earthquake.
4. Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies for Wildland Fire Hazards
Policy LU 5.1: Ensure that development does not exceed the ability to adequately provide supporting
infrastructure and services, such as libraries, recreational facilities, educational and child day care centers (i.e.
infant, toddlers, preschool and school age children), transportation systems and fire/ police/medical services.
NEW Policy LU 7.8: Require new developments in Fire Hazard Severity Zones to provide for a fuel clearance/modification
zone, as required by the Fire Department.
b. Safety (S) Element Policies
Policy S 5.1: Develop and enforce construction and design standards that ensure that proposed development
incorporates fire prevention features through the following:
a.
All proposed development and construction within Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall be reviewed by the County Fire and
Building and Safety Departments.
a b. All proposed development and construction shall meet minimum standards for fire safety as defined in the
Riverside County Building or County Fire Codes, or by County zoning, or as dictated by the Building
Official or the Transportation Land Management Agency based on building type, design, occupancy and
use.
b c. In addition to the standards and guidelines of the California Uniform Building Code and California
Uniform Fire Code fire safety provisions, continue to implement additional standards for high-risk, highoccupancy, dependent and essential facilities where appropriate under the Riverside County Fire Code
(Ordinance No. 787). Protection Ordinance. These shall include assurance that structural and nonstructural
architectural elements of the building will not: impede emergency egress for fire safety staffing/
personnel, equipment and apparatus; nor hinder evacuation from fire, including potential blockage of
stairways or fire doors.
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c d. Proposed development and construction in Fire Hazard Severity Zones Hazardous Fire areas shall provide
secondary public access, unless determined otherwise by the County Fire Chief. in accordance with County
ordinances.
d e. Proposed development and construction in Fire Hazard Severity Zones Hazardous Fire areas shall use single
loaded roads to enhance fuel modification areas, unless otherwise determined by the County Fire Chief.
f.
Proposed development and construction in Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall provide a defensible space or fuel modification
zone(s) to be located, designed and constructed so as to provide adequate defensibility from wildfires.
NEW Policy S 5.2: Encourage continued operation of programs for fuel breaks, brush management, controlled burning,
revegetation and fire roads.
NEW Policy S 5.3: Monitor fire-prevention measures (such as fuel reduction) through a site specific fire-prevention plan to reduce
long-term fire risks in the Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
NEW Policy S 5.4: Limit or prohibit development or activities in areas lacking water and access roads.
NEW Policy S 5.5: Encourage proposed development in Fire Hazard Severity Zones to develop where fire and emergency services
are available or planned.
NEW Policy S 5.6: Demonstrate that the proposed development can provide fire services that meet the minimum travel times
identified in Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection and EMS Strategic Master Plan.
NEW Policy S 5.7: Minimize pockets of flammable vegetation that increases likelihood of fire spread through conceptual
landscaping plans to be reviewed by the Planning and Fire Departments in the Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The conceptual
landscaping plan of the proposed development shall at a minimum include:
a.
Plant palette suitable for high fire hazard areas to reduce the risk of fire hazards.
b.
Retention of existing natural vegetation to the maximum extent feasible.
c.
Removal of onsite combustible plants.
NEW Policy S 5.8: Design to account for topography of a site and reduce the increased risk from fires in the Fire Hazard
Severity Zones located near ridgelines, plateau escarpments, saddles, hillsides, peaks, or other areas where the terrain or topography
affect its susceptibility to wildfires by:
a.
Providing fuel modification zones with removal of combustible vegetation, but minimizing visual impacts and limiting soil
erosion.
b.
Replacing combustible vegetation with fire resistant vegetation to stabilize slopes.
c.
Submitting topographic map with site specific slope analysis.
d.
Submitting erosion and sedimentation control plans.
e.
Providing a minimum 30 foot of setback from the edge of the fuel modification zones.
f.
Minimizing disturbance of 25% or greater natural slopes.
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Policy S 5.11 (Previously S 5.4): Utilize ongoing brush clearance fire inspections to educate homeowners on fire
prevention tips by implementing annual countywide weed abatement program.
Policy S 5.14 (Previously S 5.8): Periodically review inter-jurisdictional fire response agreements and improve
fire fighting resources as recommended in the Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection Master Plan and
EMS Strategic Master Plan to keep pace with development, including construction of additional high-rises, mid-rise
business parks, increasing numbers of facilities housing immobile populations and the risk posed by multiple
ignitions, to ensure that:
a.
Fire reporting and response times do not exceed the goals those listed in the Riverside County Fire
Department Fire Protection Master Plan and EMS Strategic Master Plan identified for each of the
development densities described.
b. Fire flow requirements (water for fire protection) are consistent with Insurance Service Office (ISO)
recommendations Riverside County Ordinance No. 787.
c. The planned deployment and height of aerial ladders and other specialized equipment and apparatus are
sufficient for the intensity of development desired.
Policy S 5.15 (Previously S 5.10): Continue to utilize the Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection Plan
and EMS Strategic Master Plan as the base document to implement the goals and objectives of the Safety Element.
NEW Policy S 5.16: Encourage property owners to utilize clustering and transfer of development rights (TDR) program when
developing lands within Fire Hazard Severity Zones by:

Restricting the development of a property through placement of conservation easement.

Acquiring the conservation easements similar to that of MSHCP Program.
NEW Policy S 5.17: Identify, map and update on an as-needed continual basis, the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps [see
General Plan Figure S-11].
NEW Policy S 5.18: Ensure that the Fire Department has appropriate municipal staffing and fire protection planning staff that
meet the needs of development pressure and adequately respond to long range fire safety planning.
NEW Policy S 5.19: Implement a coordination program with fire protection and emergency service providers to reassess fire
hazards after wildfire events and to adjust fire prevention and suppression needs, as necessary.
NEW Policy S 5.20: Implement a regional coordination program to increase support for coordination among fire protection and
emergency service providers.
NEW Policy S 5.21: Implement a long-term training and education program among government agencies and communities about
fire protection.
Policy S 7.1: Continually strengthen the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services’ Response Plan and MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Multihazard Functional Plan and maintain mutual aid agreements with
federal, state, local agencies and the private sector to assist in:
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a.
Clearance of debris in the event of widespread slope failures, collapsed buildings or structures, or other
circumstances that could result in blocking emergency access or regress.
b. Heavy search and rescue.
c. Fire suppression.
d. Hazardous materials response.
e. Temporary shelters.
f.
Geologic and engineering needs.
g. Traffic and crowd control.
h. Building inspections.
4.13.4 Thresholds of Significance for Hazardous Materials and
Safety
Hazardous Materials: The proposed project would result in a significant impact related to hazardous materials
if it would:
A. Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use or
disposal of hazardous materials.
B. 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.
C. Emit hazardous emissions or involve the handling of hazardous or acutely hazardous materials,
substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school.
D. Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials compiled pursuant to California
Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment.
Airports/Aircraft Hazards: The proposed project would result in a significant safety hazard related to airport
or aircraft impacts if it would:
E. Result in a safety hazard for people residing or working within an airport land use plan or, where such a
plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport.
F. Result in a safety hazard for people residing or working within the vicinity of an airport land use plan or,
where such plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a private airstrip or public use airport.
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Wildland Fires and Safety: The proposed project would result in a significant safety hazard if it would:
G. Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency
evacuation plan.
H. Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including
where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands.
4.13.5 Effect of GPA No. 960 on the General Plan and on
Hazardous Materials and Safety
The proposed project, GPA No. 960, would have land use-related effects because it involves a variety of specific
General Plan Land Use Designation corrections and changes, several Policy Area, Study Area and overlay
changes, proposals for new trail and road alignments and standards, and an incidental commercial policy for rural
areas. This section analyzes how the project affects, or is affected by, the safety issues in this section: hazardous
materials, airports and aircraft hazards, and wildland fire hazards. The subsequent section (4.13.6) evaluates the
project relative to each of the specific significance thresholds identified in Section 4.13.4 in terms of impacts and
mitigation needed, if any.
Notwithstanding the specific spatial changes discussed below, a variety of LUD and policy area changes are
proposed, as per the descriptions in Section 3.0 (Project Description) of this EIR and associated Figure 3-1 (and
corresponding maps within each Area Plan) that may indirectly be affected by hazmat or safety issues. Such
changes would lead to either an increase or decrease in development potential (density or intensity); the risks
associated with introducing new people and property into areas potentially subject to the various safety hazards
outlined herein would be increased correspondingly.
GPA No. 960 also includes new and revised policies which would be implemented at a future time in locations
not foreseeable at present; for example, the new incidental rural Retail-Commercial policy, Indian fee land
policies, and others as described in Section 3.0 of the EIR. Similarly, new maps for trails and county roads (GP
Figures C-7 and C-1, respectively, plus corresponding maps within each Area Plan) indicate general road and trail
alignments, but not specific locations since specific design and construction sites must be determined based on
specific site topography, existing development and timing, as well as both existing and future levels of service to
be met. Actual locations for these improvements would be determined based on site assessment of opportunities
and constraints, including as related to hazmat, fire and safety hazards to determine environmentally preferred
alignments to minimize adverse effects. Likewise, other infrastructure and utilities, such as power transmission
lines, water and sewer lines, and such, are also developed based on the providing agency’s existing and future
levels of service and need assessments and forecasts; typically based on five-year capital improvement plans.
Generally, however, such improvements are not proposed until either specific new developments or overall
growth within an area triggers their need.
Accordingly, specific locations and timing of future infrastructure, including power and natural gas transmission
lines, water and sewer lines and pumps, as well as roads, schools and other public services are not presently
foreseeable beyond the master countywide level addressed previously in EIR No. 441. These improvements
would require site-specific analyses and mitigation when proposed as part of (or to serve) future development as
the General Plan builds out. As such, future impacts and mitigation would be assessed programmatically pursuant
to the performance standards outlined in this EIR, as well as EIR No. 441, with project-specific analysis and
mitigation developed at the later individual project stage.
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A.
Hazardous Materials
The proposed project includes a number of land use designation changes and corrections. Spatial analysis of these
land use sites relative to the federal and state hazmat databases indicates that only one of the 36 major hazmat
sites identified in Table 4.13-A (and shown on Figure 4.13.1) is near any known spatial location associated with
GPA No. 960. The Blythe Army Air Field Bombing Target #1 site (Site 34 in Figure 4.13.1) is near some of the
parcels proposed for LUD revisions near the Blythe Airport. The proposed sites are outside the airport’s
property, while the hazmat site is within the boundaries of the airport. According to records, the contaminants of
concern are either in groundwater or in sub-surface soils, but are not easily entrained as dust. Thus, there would
be negligible indirect impacts to area residents as a result of any remediation activities. There is little to no
potential for contamination of parcels with revised LUDs, nor would any future remediation activities associated
with the hazmat site affect them.
In general, where GPA No. 960 proposes LUD changes from vacant to developed, development would introduce
new people, property and facilities into areas that could be subject to impacts from hazardous materials through
accidental release or ongoing operations. In addition, properties that are changing from vacant or open space to
some type of development would incrementally increase the population of a given area and, therefore,
incrementally increase the routine uses of hazardous materials, such as cleaners, solvents, pesticides and such, as
well. Accordingly, such development would result in increased risks of hazardous material accidents during
routine transport or use. The project also proposes changes to a number of Policy Areas, Study Areas and
Overlays. A review of the applicable databases (see Table 4.13-A) and Figure 4.13.1 indicate that no hazmat sites
are located within any of the proposed policy or overlay areas.
GPA No. 960 includes revised trail maps for new pedestrian and multi-use trails, as well as trail connections,
throughout Riverside County. Some of these trail alignments may run through or near the major hazmat sites
listed below. In these areas, there is a potential for trail users to be exposed to hazardous materials if remediation
activities cause contaminants to become windborne. However, strict rules for remediation activities would tend to
limit such risks, as would the brief and occasional nature of normal trail usage. In addition, trail alignments are
not fixed and are subject to site review for opportunities and constraints to ensure the trails are placed so as to
minimize environmental impacts.
A comparison of the planned locations of new roadways and road segments with the hazmat site location data in
Table 4.13-A and Figure 4.13.1 indicate there are no major hazmat sites adjacent to any new roads or segments
proposed as part of GPA No. 960. However, as shown in Table 4.13-H (Hazmat Sites Potentially Near Future
Development), some of the new roads would be located near facilities or land uses that transport, use or dispose
of hazardous materials.
Table 4.13-H: Hazmat Sites Potentially Near Future Development
Map*
1
6
8
10
16
18
19
Site
March Air Force/Reserve Base
Foster-Gardner Site
Lockheed Propulsion Beaumont No. 2
Temecula Bomb Range Target #107
Corona Annex
Gavilan Plateau
Riverside Community College-Norco Campus
Map*
22
23
24
25
26
28
33
* See Figure 4.13.1
Source: California Department of Toxic Substances Control “EnviroStor” Database, March 2011.
Certainteed Riverside
Crossroads Investors Site
Liston Aluminum
March AFB Site 24
March AFB Site 40
Parkview Drive Site
Torney General Hospital
Site
4.13-71
There are several hazmat sites that are located in rural vacant areas, so it is possible conflict may occur between a
future rural commercial use developed pursuant to the proposed Incidental Commercial policy, since the specific
location of future commercial uses is not known or knowable at this time. It should be noted, however, that any
future uses would have to comply with the various federal, state and local (Riverside County) regulations as part
of Riverside County’s development review process, particularly for any land uses that would generate, transport,
use or dispose of hazardous materials.
B.
Airports and Aircraft Hazards
Since the adoption of the RCIP General Plan in 2003, the Riverside County ALUC has adopted revised ALUCPs
for various airports that affect Riverside County to address noise and safety related concerns with airport
operations. As such, the existing General Plan policies and land use designations within these Airport Influence
Areas were examined to ensure that they are consistent with, and appropriate for, the area’s air operations. During
this exercise, all parcels within unincorporated Riverside County that fall within an Airport Influence Area were
reviewed in order to determine the level of consistency between that parcel’s current General Plan land use
designation and the respective Airport Influence Area zone. As a result, various map, policy and parcel-specific
land use changes must occur in the General Plan to ensure consistency with these newly adopted plans. In
addition, the updated Land Use Element airport policies (LU 15.1-15.9) require development to be consistent
with any applicable airport plans, as does General Plan Table LU-3 (Relationship of ALUC Compatibility Plans to
County Area Plans). Table 4.13-I (Potential Conflicts with Public-Serving Airports) summarizes the potential
impacts of changes proposed by GPA No. 960 on public-serving airports.
Table 4.13-I compares Riverside County’s public-serving airport locations to the various policy areas and overlay
changes proposed in GPA No. 960 and identifies any potential conflicts. As shown in the table, none of the
proposed policy areas or overlays conflict with any Airport Influence Area policy areas. Applicable Area Plans and
Land Use Element portions would be updated as needed to reflect the adopted ALUCPs. For related discussion,
see Section 4.2 (Land Use).
As part of GPA No. 960, two parcel-specific land use changes affecting 36 acres are proposed to ensure
consistency. The first parcel-specific change is a 0.39-acre site located in unincorporated Indio just south of
Mandeville Road within “Zone D” of the Bermuda Dunes Airport Influence Area. This change is classified as a
technical mapping error and would adjust the site from Open-Space: Recreation (OS-R) to Community
Development: Medium-Density Residential (CD-MDR); the OS-R designation was inadvertently applied to a
portion of the site due to an adjacent golf course. The second parcel change is for a 35-acre site located in
Reinhart Canyon, just west of California Avenue, within the Hemet-Ryan Airport Influence Area. This site is
proposed to change from Community Development: Low-Density Residential (CD-LDR) to Rural Residential
(RUR-RR), as the Rural Foundation and RR LUD was found to be more appropriate for the area.
As outlined in Table 4.13-I, new proposed trail alignments would pass through planning areas at the following
airports: March ARB, Palm Springs, Blythe, Chino, Chiriaco Summit, Corona, Flabob, Riverside Municipal, Jackie
Cochran, French Valley and Bermuda Dunes. Due to the low intensity of use expected along trail segments (i.e.,
no large concentrations of persons), no significant risks from GPA No. 960 on trails or trail users are expected
relative to airport activities. Table 4.13-I also notes that new roads or road segments would not conflict with any
airports within Riverside County. Lastly, there would not be any conflicts between future incidental ruralcommercial policy areas, nor any airport planning zones within Riverside County, because the locations and
height limits allowed under the new policy would prevent any conflict with an airport’s operations.
Likewise, no changes proposed as part of GPA No. 960 would adversely affect the CMAGR. There are no land
use (LUD) changes proposed within two miles of the base. Proposed new policies would further protect the
4.13-72
public from adverse effects from military activities on the base, as well as protect the base from conflicts with
future land use development offsite.
Table 4.13-I: Potential Conflicts with Public-Serving Airports
Air Facility
Location
Compatibility or Potential Conflict with GPA No. 960
Public-Serving Airports (facilities not listed have no conflicts)
Banning Airport
Banning
No overlap of unincorporated Riverside County territory (city only). No changes proposed
and no effects resulting from GPA No. 960.
Bermuda Dunes Airport2
Riverside
No changes proposed under GPA No. 960. Potential LUD inconsistencies surrounding
County
airport. No overlap of any other Policy Area or Overlay. Some trails overlap, but would not
conflict. No new roads overlap.
Blythe Airport1
Blythe
GPA No. 960 LUD changes in this area (north, south and east of the airport) proposed to
ensure ALUP consistency. No overlap of Policy Area or Overlays. Very minor amount of
trails overlap, but no conflict. No new roads would overlap.
Chino Airport3
Chino; Riv.
No LUD changes affected. No overlap of any Policy Areas or Overlays. Some proposed
County
trail overlap, but no conflict. No new roads overlap.
Chiriaco Summit Airport
Riverside
County
trails overlap, but no conflict. No new roads overlap.
Jackie Cochran2 Regional
Thermal/
No changes proposed under GPA No. 960. Potential LUD inconsistencies in area northeast
Airport (formerly Desert Resorts Riverside
of airport. No overlap of any other Policy Area or Overlay. Some trails overlap, but would
Regional Airport)
County
not conflict. No new roads overlap.
Corona Municipal Airport
Corona
Flabob Airport
Jurupa Valley
GPA No. 960 LUD changes (mostly south of the airport) proposed to ensure ALUP
consistency. No overlap of any other Policy Areas or Overlays. Some proposed trails
overlap, but no conflict. No new roads overlap.
French Valley Airport2
Murrieta/
Temecula
Hemet-Ryan Airport
Hemet/Riverside No changes to ALUP since RCIP General Plan issuance. No changes proposed and no
County
effects resulting from GPA No. 960.
Palm Springs International
Palm Springs
No LUD changes affected, although a large ALUP is associated with this airport. No overlap
Airport
of any other Policy Areas or Overlays. Some proposed trails would overlap, but not conflict.
No new roads would overlap.
Perris Valley Airport
Perris
No overlap of unincorporated Riverside County territory (cities only). No changes proposed
and no effects resulting from GPA No. 960.
Riverside Municipal
Jurupa Valley
GPA No. 960 LUD changes (mostly west of the airport) proposed to ensure ALUP
consistency. No overlap of any other Policy Areas or Overlays. Some proposed trails overlap, but no conflict. No new roads overlap.
Private Air Facilities
32 airstrips and helipads,
Various
No LUD areas overlap or inconsistent. No overlap of any Policy Areas or Overlays. No
(Including private Skylark and
proposed trails or new road overlap or conflict.
Desert Center Airports)
Military Air Facilities
March Air Reserve Base
Moreno Valley
No changes to ALUP since RCIP General Plan issuance. No changes proposed and no
(U.S Military)
effects resulting from GPA No. 960. No overlap of any other Policy Areas or Overlays. Some
proposed trails would overlap, but not conflict. No new roads overlap.
Chocolate Mountain Aerial
Salton Sea
No ALUP (military only). New policies proposed for vicinity around the CMAGR. No new
Gunnery Range
land uses, roads, trails or other uses overlapping or affecting the CMAGR. The two closest
proposed LUD changes (within the Eastern Coachella Valley Area Plan) are outside the twomile buffer area around the CMAGR.
Footnotes:
1. GPA No. 960 includes LUD revisions to parcels around this airport to ensure consistency with the applicable ALUP.
2. No changes proposed as part of GPA No. 960; future ALUC consistency action(s) would, however, likely be necessary.
3. Located in San Bernardino County (Chino), but some of the ALUP falls within 2 miles of Riverside County territory.
Source: Riverside County, Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, 2004. Riverside County Planning Dept. and GIS Dept., analysis of project relative to
airport locations, 2011. See Figure 4.13.2 for airport locations.
4.13-73
C.
Wildland Fire Hazards
1. Effects of Fire on the Built Environment
The General Plan is concerned mainly with the physical build out of Riverside County; many of the changes
associated with GPA No. 960 would affect planned land usage. The proposed project’s update to the General
Plan includes land use overlays, land use designation (LUD) changes and new or revised policies that would allow
for the conversion of rural, semi-rural, agricultural and vacant lands into suburban or urban uses in areas
throughout the county. As with the current General Plan, future development accommodated by GPA No. 960
has the potential to introduce people, property and structures into previously undeveloped areas; all of which
would require adequate fire protection services to ensure their safety. The result of this growth would be the
introduction of people and structures into previously vacant wildlands, increasing the extent of the wildland-urban
interface and the risk of fire.
Table 4.13-K (Fire Responsibility Classifications for Project Components) provides a summary of the proposed
project components relative to the degree of fire hazard (Fire Hazard Severity Zones) associated with the specific
area. Table 4.13-J (Fire Hazard Overlay Zones for Project Components) summarizes the proposed project
components relative to the fire responsibility agency (SRA, LRA, etc.). As noted in Table 4.13-J, there are
proposed LUD changes in all fire hazard zones.
As noted earlier in Table 4.13-F, the State of California defines various types of lands subject to fire hazards
according to the housing density present. To compare the potential fire hazards related to General Plan build out,
Table 4.13-L (Countywide Residential Fire Risks, Existing and Build Out), below, categorizes the residential land
uses as they would occur under both the existing (current) General Plan and the General Plan as updated
pursuant to GPA No. 960. Although “plan-to-plan” in its comparison, the purpose of Table 4.13-L is to show
the relative increase or decrease in types of development proposed in Riverside County relative to their assumed
fire risk.
Lastly, Table 4.13-M (Residential Fire Risks at Build Out, GPA No. 960 Components Only) shows the change in
acreages of the various residential land use classes associated with potential fire hazards (that is, as defined by the
State; see Table 4.13-F). This table is based on the build out of the known spatial components or locations
addressed by GPA No. 960 (i.e., site-specific LUD changes, policy area and study area changes, etc.). It should be
noted that the following projections are based on the assumption that all of the changes proposed under the
existing General Plan or the General Plan as amended per GPA No. 960 actually result in future development and
fully build out. That is, it is a theoretical, worst-case scenario, that likely over-states the actual development
potential in the real world. The actual future development of the individual parcels and areas are subject to the
discretion of many hundreds to thousands of individual property owners, including private individuals, business
entities and even various public agencies and other entities.
Table 4.13-J: Fire Hazard Overlay Zones for Project Components
Fire Hazard Overlay Zones*
Very
NonHigh
Moderate
High
Hazard
Parcel-Specific Land Use Designation Changes
Various Individual Land Use
X
X
X
X
Designation Changes
Policy & Overlays
OS-CH Changes
X
X
X
X
Aguanga RVSA
X
X
X
Project Components
4.13-74
Compatibility or Potential Conflicts
Parcels overlap different fire hazard zones, but would be
governed by specific uses developed within specific zone(s)
Hazard depends on location
Large overlap with Very High zone
Project Components
Very
High
Anza Valley Policy Area
X
El Cariso RVSA
Fish Farms
X
Good Hope RVLUO
(X)
Lakeland Village
(X)
Meadowbrook RVLUO
X
Fire Hazard Overlay Zones*
High
Moderate
X
X
(X)
X
X
X
Northeast Business Park
RCA Acquired Lands
(to OS-CH)
NonHazard
X
X
X
X
X
San Jacinto Agri. Potential
Development Study Area
(X)
(X)
X
Sky Valley RVO
(X)
X
Other Items
New Trail Alignments
X
X
X
X
Road Alignments
X
Incidental Commercial Policy
*(X) = Property adjacent to but not actually in fire hazard zone
Key:
ALUC = Airport Land Use Commission
RVO = Rural Village Overlay
RVLUO = Rural Village Land Use Overlay
RCA = Resource Conservation Area
Source: Riverside County GIS Department, GIS mapping of project data, 2008.
Large overlap with Very High zone and some overlap with
High zone
In Very High zone
Parcels all in Non-Hazard Zone
Property in Non-Hazard zone, but adjacent to High zone to
the S and Very High zone to the N
Property in Non-Hazard zone (Lake Elsinore) to east, but
site adjacent to Very High zone to west
Large overlap with Very High zone and some overlap with
High zone
In Non-Hazardous zone with small amount of Medium zone
to northwest and southeast
Conditions vary depending on slope, with steeper outlying
areas in Very High to High zones, while flatter areas in
Medium to Non-Hazardous zones
Property in Non-Hazardous zone but almost surrounded by
High zone with some Medium zone to the south
Property in Non-Hazardous zone but adjacent to High zone
to the northeast
Conditions vary depending on slope, with trails in steeper
outlying areas in the High to Very High zones, while trails in
flatter areas in Medium High to Non-Hazardous zones
Hazard levels depend on street location
Conditions vary but outlying areas in Medium to High zones,
while others in Non-Hazardous zones
OS-CH = Open Space Conservation Habitat
RVSA = Rural Village Study Area
Table 4.13-K: Fire Responsibility Classifications for Project Components
Fire Responsibility Area Categories
Federal
State
Local
Parcel-Specific Land Use Designation Changes
Various Land Use Desig. Changes
X
X
X
Policy & Overlays
OS-CH Changes
X
X
X
Aguanga RVSA
X
Anza Valley Policy Area
X
El Cariso RVSA
X
Fish Farms
X
Good Hope RVLUO
X
Lakeland Village
X
Meadowbrook RVLUO
X
Northeast Business Park
X
Project Components
RCA Acquired Lands (to OS-CH)
San Jacinto Agri. Potential Development
Study Area
Sky Valley RVO
Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery
Range buffer & policies
X
X
X
Varies depending on location
Reduces potential conflicts
X
Varies depending on location; Reduces
potential conflicts
X
X
X
X
X
4.13-75
Project Components
Other Items
New Trail Alignments
Road Alignments
Incidental Commercial Policy
Key:
Fire Responsibility Area Categories
Federal
State
Local
X
X
X
X
X
X
ALUC = Airport Land Use Commission
RVO = Rural Village Overlay
RVLUO = Rural Village Land Use Overlay
RCA = Resource Conservation Area
Source: Riverside County GIS Department, GIS mapping of project data, 2008.
X
X
X
OS-CH = Open Space Conservation Habitat
RVSA = Rural Village Study Area
Table 4.13-L: Countywide Residential Fire Risks, Existing and Build Out
Class 1
Density
(du/ac)
Wildland
Rural
Interface
Urban
> 0.05
0.05 - 0.20
0.20 - 1.00
> 1.00
LUDs in Class 2
OS-RUR
AG, RR, RM, RD
EDR4, VLDR4
LDR4, MDR, MHDR, HDR, HHDR, CC5, MUPA5
Totals
Existing Gen.
Plan 3
(acres)
1,929,900
483,140
76,190
101,450
1,725,490
Updated Gen.
Plan 3
(acres)
1,928,330
481,330
72,860
99,310
1,718,040
Change
(acres)
- 1,570
- 1,810
- 3,330
-2,140
- 7,450
Footnotes:
1.
Classes as defined per State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, October 2010, Table 5.Y, page 247.
2.
General Plan Land Use Designations (LUDs). See General Plan Table LU-3 for specifics.
3.
“Existing GP” = LUDs as per the existing (2007) General Plan. “Updated GP” = LUDs as per the General Plan updated pursuant to GPA No. 960. Same parcels
(areas of proposed known spatial changes) encompassed in each set.
4.
Encompasses LUDs from both the Rural Community (RC) and Community Development (CD) Foundations.
5.
Conservatively assumes 100% of LUD acreage to residential use.
Source: Riverside County Planning Dept., Project application information, 2012.
Table 4.13-M: Residential Fire Risks at Build Out, GPA No. 960 Components Only
Class
1
Density
(du/ac)
Wildland
Rural
Interface
> 0.05
0.05 - 0.20
0.20 - 1.00
Urban
> 1.00
Land Use Designations
(LUDs) in Class 2
OS-RUR
AG, RR, RM, RD
EDR4, VLDR4
4
LDR , MDR, MHDR, HDR,
HHDR, CC5, MUPA5
Totals
Baseline (2007)
Existing Uses
of Land 7
(acres)
9,590
8,190
490
Future (General Plan Build Out, 2060)
Existing Gen.
Updated Gen.
Gen. Plan
Plan 3
Plan 3,8
Change
(acres)
(acres)
(acres)
27,990
25,820
- 2,170
50,880
43,180
- 7,700
11,050
10,710
- 340
520
1,770
1,120
- 650
18,790
91,690
80,830
- 10,860
Footnotes:
1.
Classes as defined per State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, October 2010, Table 5.Y, page 247.
2.
General Plan Land Use Designations (LUDs). See General Plan Table LU-3 for specifics.
3.
“Existing GP” = LUDs as per the existing (2007) General Plan. “Updated GP” = LUDs as per the General Plan updated pursuant to GPA No. 960. “Gen. Plan
Change” is the difference between these two General Plan scenarios.
4.
Encompasses LUDs from both the Rural Community (RC) and Community Development (CD) Foundations.
5.
Conservatively assumes 100% of LUD acreage to residential use.
6.
Based on SCAG and RCCDR existing use of land data.
7.
Land uses categorized (per nearest associated densities): wildland – agriculture; rural – rural residential; interface – single-family residential (sfr); and, urban –
multi-family residential (mfr), mobile home parks and mfr apartments.
8.
Change for Updated General Plan versus Existing Uses of Land: +16,230; +34,990; +10,220; and +600 for a total of +62,040 acres.
Source: Riverside County Planning Dept., Project application information, 2012.
The County of Riverside has little to no control over the decision to propose development (new or re-developed)
on a given site (though the County of Riverside is the entity with discretion for review and approval of such
development applications for most cases within unincorporated Riverside County). Demand for additional
development is often a result of many interrelated factors, including population growth and economic demand, as
well as location, local supply (i.e., existing home inventory) and even infrastructure availability (water supply,
electricity, etc.). For land use policy changes without known locations (Indian fee lands, incidental rural commer-
4.13-76
cial, etc.), specific effects on fire needs cannot be delineated at present since they are location dependent. For
land use policy changes without currently assigned locations (Indian fee lands, incidental rural commercial, etc.),
specific effects on fire hazards cannot be quantified at present since they are location dependent. However, the
risks and hazards delineated for known locations would also apply to any other development occurring in fireprone areas.
As shown in Table 4.13-M, the net effect of the land use designation (LUD) changes proposed in GPA No. 960
would be to decrease the amount of land potentially at risk of wildfire. This is mainly due to the reduction in
development potential from the Aguanga and Anza areas, in addition to other study area reductions and LUD
changes.
In terms of changes from the baseline, from Table 4.13-M, it can be determined that build out of the updated
General Plan (per GPA No. 960) would result in the introduction of approximately 16,230 acres of ‘wildland’ uses
(20-acre-plus lots), roughly 8,100 homes, compared to the existing condition (roughly 8,600 acres). Build out
would also result in roughly 35,000 additional acres of ‘rural’ lands (i.e., homes on 5- to 20-acre lots) throughout
Riverside County and another 10,200 acres of ‘interface’ lands on lots of one to five acres in size. The ‘interface’
total represents a twenty-fold increase in the amount of people and property that would be at risk for WUI fires.
Total build out of the updated General Plan would increase the amount of residential developed land within
unincorporated Riverside County by just over 62,000 acres. (By contrast, the existing General Plan would result
in nearly 73,000 acres of additional residential development.)
2. Effects of Fire on Natural Resources
As reported in the State MHMP (pages 252-254), a forest and range assessment performed in 2010 assesses the
risk of fire within various ecosystems. In it, some of the detrimental effects of fire on various ecosystem
components were identified. The analysis focused primarily on impacts that follow high-intensity stand-replacing
events outside the range of natural variability in conifer stands. Forests can contain a greater mass of fuel,
especially when trees are dead or drought-stressed. These detrimental effects that were identified are described
below.
Fire Effects on Timberlands: Timberlands, defined as conifer-dominated habitat types that likely support 20
cubic feet of volume growth per year and are not in reserved status, are a significant economic resource in
California and are the primary economic base in some rural areas (particularly in Northern California). Fire can
pose significant risk to timber assets through direct loss from combustion, mortality of growing stock, and fireinduced susceptibility to insect, pathogen and decay mechanisms. The actual loss of timber value associated with
a given fire event is a function of tree structure, fire severity and post-fire salvage opportunity. Roughly threequarters of California’s timberland face a high fire threat or greater, and over half of these lands have very high or
extreme fire threat conditions. Only about one-fifth of California’s timberlands face a moderate fire threat, where
expected losses to timber assets are likely to be low. While some of the standing timber value can be salvaged
following a wildfire, much of California’s timber assets are exposed to significant risk from wildland fire.
Fire Effects on Woodlands: California’s extensive distribution of woodland vegetation, especially hardwood
woodlands, provide key habitat for many species. The risk of habitat loss associated with fire in woodland areas is
highly variable, due both to varying habitat quality and the unique fuel and vegetation response characteristics of
specific areas. Habitat characteristics such as tree canopy height and closure, presence or absence of a developed
shrub understory, and occurrence of special habitat elements – such as snags and downed logs – are important
determinants of habitat quality for many species. Roughly two-thirds of California’s hardwood woodlands are
exposed to very high or extreme fire threat. While many areas may respond favorably to wildland fire, initial
changes in the post-fire environment may cause temporary habitat loss and species dislocation.
4.13-77
Fire Effects on Recreation and Open Space: After a wildfire, significant alteration of watershed lands and the
associated stream systems is noticeable for periods varying from a few years to decades. In the short term, the
presence of partially burnt vegetation reduces recreational and open space values. Fires can also destroy
campgrounds, trails, bridges and other recreational facilities within the stricken area. Increased amounts of
downstream sedimentation may significantly affect streams and lakes, which tend to be the most heavily used
spots within larger recreational areas. As the vegetation grows back and damaged recreational infrastructures are
replaced, the recreational and open space values would increase. However, it may take decades before vegetation
types such as mature forests return to their pre-burn character. Grasslands and shrublands, on the other hand,
can return to their pre-burn character within a decade.
Fire Effects on Waterbodies and Watersheds: Wildfires can have significant adverse effects on watershed
lands, watercourses and water quality. Large, hot fires cause serious, immediate damage from which a watershed
can take decades to recover. By burning off vegetation and exposing mineral soil, fire impairs the ability of a
watershed to hold soil in place and to trap sediment before it enters stream systems. Loss of vegetation also
means less water being absorbed by plants, causing a short-term increase in the quantity and the delivery rate of
water entering streams. This can have significant effects downstream from the site of a fire, such as with the fireflood cycle commonly experienced in Southern California. This increased runoff and its large sediment load can
cause costly damage to downstream assets such as homes, roads, debris basins and other infrastructure. It can
also result in the loss of human life when at-risk residents and visitors are not evacuated.
Fire Effects on Soils: Fire presents a significant risk to soil, especially in denuded watersheds, through
accelerated erosion potential in the immediate post-fire environment, particularly when subjected to severe
rainstorms prior to any vegetation recovery. The Fire and Resource Assessment Program has developed a
statewide risk assessment based on the expected marginal increase in surface erosion from a potential fire.
Erosion is a natural process that occurs across a watershed at varying rates, depending on soils, geology, slope,
vegetation and precipitation. The intensity of a fire and the subsequent removal of vegetative cover increase the
potential rate of soil erosion and new sediment sources. Wildfires affect surface erosion in a watershed by altering
detachment, transport and deposition of soil particles. Most wildfires create a patchwork of burned areas that
vary in severity. Severely burned areas suffer increased erosion due to loss of the protective forest floor layer and
creation of water-repellent soil conditions that can cause flooding, downstream sedimentation and threats to
human life and property.
Fire Effects on Riparian and Aquatic Habitats: Wildfire can produce a wide range of water quality and
aquatic habitat outcomes, from beneficial to catastrophic. Wildfire outcomes are determined by weather, fuels,
terrain and, to a lesser extent, suppression efforts. Large wildfires pose the greatest risk to water quality and
riparian habitat. If a wildfire encounters fuel levels that have been reduced through prescribed burning and/or
mechanical means, there is a good chance the fire would produce conditions more favorable to maintaining good
water quality and aquatic habitat. Highly destructive fires are thus minimized. Fire can also dramatically affect
aquatic habitat. Increased erosion and sediment deposition can result in channel aggradations (i.e., wider,
shallower channels), filling of pools that provide important fish habitat, increased turbidity that makes it harder
for fish to find food and can damage gills and cause changes in water chemistry.
Fire Effects on Water Quality: Wildfires can potentially affect water quality through increased sedimentation
and increased turbidity and through increases in nutrient loadings. Concentration of nutrients (phosphorous and
nitrogen) are increased from burned vegetation and delivered to streams through surface runoff. Stream
temperatures often increase after fire occurs, typically through the removal of overhead protective vegetation.
Elevated stream temperatures are detrimental to most coldwater fish species.
4.13-78
4.13.6 Hazardous Materials and Safety – Impacts and Mitigation
A.
Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment
through the routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials?
Impact 4.13.A – Create a Significant Hazard Through the Routine Transport, Use or Disposal of
Hazardous Materials: Future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would increase rural, suburban
and urban uses in Riverside County, which could result in some adverse effects from facilities that transport, use
or dispose of hazardous materials. However, compliance with existing laws and regulatory programs would be
sufficient to ensure that this impact is less than significant.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.A
Every home, business and industry uses or produces, to some extent, flammable, hazardous or toxic materials.
Accordingly, the potential for accidental explosion or release of hazardous substances from existing and future
industries within Riverside County exists, but is not anticipated to be higher than is typical for any other location
in Southern California. Within Riverside County, the highest probability for an inadvertent hazardous substance
release is through a vehicular accident on heavily traveled freeways and highways. Some of the proposed LUD
changes would be from planned developed uses to open space; potential impacts would be minimal for these
areas as they would not result in additional buildings, residents or employees. However, the LUD changes that
convert vacant or agricultural uses to some developed use (e.g., residential, commercial, etc.) would result in a
small increase in the potential for humans and developed facilities to be impacted by hazardous materials. Similar
conditions would occur from proposed changes within Policy Areas and Overlays, additional trails, new roads and
the incidental rural commercial policy areas.
GPA No. 960 would incrementally increase potential hazmat impacts in this regard over existing conditions and
those conditions anticipated under the approved General Plan. However, the use, storage and manufacture of
hazardous materials are highly regulated by the state and federal governments, as well as by the RCDEH and Fire
Departments. Thus, future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 is not predicted to result in significant
environmental impacts from the routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials or hazardous wastes.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.A
As detailed and explained below, compliance with the following existing laws, regulatory programs and General
Plan policies would be sufficient to ensure that impacts related to routine handling of hazardous materials as a
result of GPA No. 960 would be less than significant.
a. Compliance with Federal, State and County Regulations
Compliance with the following federal, state and county regulations would further prevent significant impacts
related to the routine handling of hazardous materials.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA): This regulation
provides broad federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances
that may endanger public health or the environment. Riverside County contains three facilities that are being
remediated under the federal CERCLA program, which would prevent public health and safety impacts from
4.13-79
hazardous materials that could be released by these facilities on any future development accommodated by GPA
No. 960.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Enacted by Congress in 1976, RCRA governs the
management of hazardous waste to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of
waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated and to ensure
that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner. RCRA regulates the management of solid waste,
hazardous waste and underground storage tanks holding petroleum products or certain chemicals. Riverside
County contains 35 facilities that are being evaluated and/or cleaned up under the federal RCRA program and
remediation consistent with that program would prevent any hazmat impacts from these facilities from affecting
future development accommodated by GPA No. 960. In addition, there are thousands of facilities in Riverside
County that must obtain and maintain permits to handle hazardous materials under RCRA (see HMTA below).
As with the residents and visitors today, compliance by those facilities with RCRA protects public health and
safety for current and future land uses under GPA No. 960.
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA): The objective of the HMTA is to protect lives and
property from risks associated with the transportation of hazardous materials. Any business or facility that
transports hazardous materials must comply with the requirements of the federal HMTA, as administered by the
California Highway Patrol. Compliance with HMTA would help to reduce potential impacts to future land uses,
policy areas, trails, roads, etc., accommodated by GPA No. 960 relative to hazmat spills along major roadways.
Hazardous Waste Control Law (HWCL): The State HWCL implements the federal RCRA program as a
"cradle-to-grave" waste management system in California. There are thousands of facilities in Riverside County
that must obtain and maintain permits to handle hazardous materials under RCRA and HWCL. Compliance with
RCRA and HWCL would help ensure that potential risks to public health and safety from future development
accommodated by GPA No. 960 would be effectively managed and monitored to minimize hazards.
CCR Title 22 and Title 26: CCR Titles 22 and 26 echo the HWCL’s requirements for “cradle-to-grave”
management over the generation, use, transport and disposal of hazardous materials in the state. Compliance by
facilities that handle hazardous materials would help ensure that potential hazmat risks to future uses
accommodated by GPA No. 960 would be reduced to the extent possible and practical under State of California
management programs.
Ordinances No. 615 and No. 651: These ordinances establish the program and procedures for the County of
Riverside to monitor facilities that handle hazardous materials, according to applicable state and federal laws and
regulations. As long as facilities that handle hazardous materials comply with these ordinances, potential hazmat
impacts on future developed uses resulting from GPA No. 960 would be managed to protect public health and
safety.
Ordinance No. 718: Similar to Ordinances No. 615 and No. 651, Ordinance No. 718 applies to medical wastes.
Compliance by medical facilities with this ordinance would help ensure that potential hazmat risks to future uses
resulting from GPA No. 960 relative to medical wastes would be managed and controlled to less than significant
hazard levels.
Ordinance No. 348: Section 18.44 of this ordinance regulates the allowable locations and expansions of hazmat
facilities to health, safety and protection of the public. The ordinance limits those zones that hazardous waste
facilities are allowed in with an approved hazardous waste siting permit and also prescribes standards and
development criteria for such sites. Compliance with the ordinance by new and expanded facilities would help
ensure that potential hazmat risks to future developed uses resulting from GPA No. 960 would be reduced.
4.13-80
b. Compliance with Existing Riverside County General Plan Policies
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policy 7.3, in particular, provides mitigation for
impacts associated with the routine handling of hazardous materials. Implementation of this General Plan policy
will help reduce risks to future growth and development. See Section 4.13.3 for full text of the policy.
Policy S 7.3: This policy requires all entities that handle hazardous materials to take the necessary actions such as
installing hazardous material detection devices, alternative communication systems, etc., in preparation for
possible hazardous material accidents.
c.
Compliance With Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies S 6.1, S 7.1 and S 9.1, in particular provide
mitigation for impacts associated with the routine handling of hazardous materials. Implementation of these
General Plan policies would reduce the impacts of future growth and development consistent with GPA No. 960.
See Section 4.13.3 for full text of each of these policies.
Policy S 6.1: This policy enforces the policies and programs prescribed within the County of Riverside
Hazardous Waste Management plan which includes, but is not limited to, requiring compliance with federal and
state laws pertaining to the management of hazardous wastes and materials and active public participation in
hazardous waste management.
Policy S 7.1: This revised policy ensures that the County’s Emergency Services’ Response Plan and the MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan are reviewed for considerations that would strengthen the plans. The
policy also encourages the maintenance of mutual aid agreements with federal, state, local agencies and the private
sector that would assist in hazardous materials response.
Policy LU 7.9: This new policy requires buffering be used to mitigate any potential hazardous materials impacts
on urban uses from adjacent solid waste disposal facilities.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.A
Compliance with the above existing regulations, programs and policies would ensure that impacts related to the
routine handling of hazardous materials associated with future development accommodated by GPA No. 960
would have a less than significant impact.
B.
Would the project 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?
Impact 4.13.B – Create a Significant Hazard Through the Accidental Release of Hazardous Materials:
Future development accommodated by the project would increase the number of people and properties
potentially at risk for upsets or accidental hazmat releases. However, while the potential for accidental explosion
or release of hazardous substances from existing and future industries, transportation or disposal within Riverside
County exists, it is not, nor would it be, any higher than is typical for any other region of Southern California.
Within Riverside County, the highest probabilities for inadvertent releases of hazardous substances are through a
vehicular accident on heavily traveled freeways, during remediation or grading of a contaminated site, or from an
industrial accident at a facility that handles large amounts of hazardous materials. Compliance with existing
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regulatory programs and General Plan policies would be sufficient to ensure that this impact is less than significant.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.B
Future development accommodated by the proposed project would introduce various future land uses
throughout Riverside County; uses that may be affected by accidental releases of hazardous materials or
hazardous wastes at some time. A hazardous material spill or release can pose a risk to life, health or property.
An incident can result in the evacuation of a few people, a section of a facility or an entire neighborhood. There
is also the potential for previously unknown hazardous materials contamination from historical use of a property,
including currently vacant properties, being released during future development activities (i.e., grading, remodeling, remediation, etc.). Should a release occur, existing federal, state and local policies and procedures
require action by the applicable enforcement agency. It is unlikely that any such activities would be extensive and
beyond the capacities of typical containment or safe remediation. Furthermore, such risks are no different than
those for existing uses. Therefore, no significant impacts from the accidental release of hazardous materials within
Riverside County are anticipated as a result of the proposed project with implementation of existing laws and
regulations. No project-specific mitigation is required.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.B
As discussed above, under Impact 4.13.A, a number of federal, state and local regulations exist that would ensure
that any future risks from the accidental release hazardous materials would be less than significant. There are a
number of federal laws that regulate hazardous materials, including federal laws such as SARA addressing
Superfund sites, RCRA and HMTA for hazardous waste disposal, tracking and transportation, OSHA, TSCA and
also the federal Clean Air Act. Implementation of and compliance with CCR Titles 22, 26 and 27, as well as
Riverside County Ordinances No. 615, 617, 651, 718 and 348 would help monitor and reduce the potential risks
to future development resulting from GPA No. 960 for the reasons discussed under Impact 4.13.A, above.
a. Compliance with Existing Riverside County General Plan Policies
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies S 6.1 and S 7.2 and 7.3, in particular, provide
mitigation for impacts associated with the accidental release of hazardous materials. Implementation of these
General Plan policies would reduce the risks to future development resulting from GPA No. 960. See Section
4.13.3 for full text of each of these policies.
Policies S 7.2 and 7.3: These policies would also help further lower potential risks or impacts of hazardous
materials on future land uses, trails, roads and other minor changes proposed by GPA No. 960. The existing
General Plan contains a number of policies regarding hazardous materials, specifically Policies 7.1-7.3 (see Section
4.13.3). Implementation of these existing General Plan policies would help further reduce the risks of accidental
releases of hazardous materials in Riverside County.
b. Compliance With Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies S 6.1, S 7.1 and LU 7.9, in particular provide
mitigation to further lower potential risks or impacts of hazardous materials on future land uses and provide
mitigation for impacts associated with the accidental release of hazardous materials. Implementation of these
General Plan policies would help reduce risks to future development resulting from GPA No. 960. See Section
4.13.3 for full text of each of these policies.
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Policy S 6.1: This policy enforces the policies and programs prescribed within the County of Riverside
Hazardous Waste Management plan which includes, but is not limited to, requiring compliance with federal and
state laws pertaining to the management of hazardous wastes and materials and active public participation in
hazardous waste management.
Policy S 7.1: This policy ensures that Riverside County’s Emergency Services’ Response Plan and the MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan are reviewed for considerations that would strengthen the plans. The
policy also encourages the maintenance of mutual aid agreements with federal, state, local agencies and the private
sector that would assist in hazardous materials response.
Policy LU 7.9: This new policy requires buffering be used to mitigate potential hazardous materials risks to
urban uses from adjacent solid waste disposal facilities.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.B
Compliance with the above existing regulations, programs and policies, would ensure that impacts related to the
accidental release of hazardous materials as a result of future development consistent with GPA No. 960 would
have a less than significant impact.
C.
Would the project cause hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely
hazardous materials, substances or waste within one-quarter mile of an
existing or proposed school?
Impact 4.13.C – Result in Hazardous Emissions or Related Hazards Within One-Quarter Mile of a
School: Within Riverside County, there are 25 separate school districts for primary grades (K-12), four Community College Districts and a number of public and private colleges and universities. While no schools would be
planned or built under GPA No. 960, the eventual build out of the General Plan would require additional schools,
one or more schools of which may be located in the vicinity of a major hazmat site (see Table 4.13-A and Figure
4.13.1). In addition, school sites themselves contain hazardous materials of various types (such as pesticides,
paints, cleaners and other commonly used substances). The use of such materials is governed by the schools and
various regulations. The General Plan contains policies designed to protect the public and properties against
hazardous material risks. However, the siting of school facilities is determined by individual school districts, based
on criteria established by the California Department of Education (CDOE). While Riverside County can regulate
the location of industrial uses within unincorporated areas, it cannot control the actions of individual school
districts within the county, or the CDOE, in siting new schools. As a result, the potential exists for significant
impacts on school facilities resulting from hazardous emissions or the handling of hazardous or acutely hazardous
materials, substances or wastes within a quarter-mile of a school, but not as a result of the proposed project.
School siting is also subject to review and approval by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to
help ensure school sites are not located on or near identified hazmat sites. Implementation of regulations and
General Plan policies would ensure that future development consistent with GPA No. 960 would have less than
significant hazmat impacts on schools.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.C
Future development accommodated by the proposed project would introduce various developed land uses
throughout Riverside County that could be proximate to one or more existing or future schools. Therefore, there
is a potential that schools could be affected by hazardous materials related to future development. Further
discussion of school facilities is presented in EIR Section 4.17.5. However, federal, state and local school district
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policies and procedures would be sufficient to minimize risks to school facilities, students and faculty, as well as
the general public. Therefore, no significant impacts related to the possible future proximity of schools to land
uses or other changes resulting from GPA No. 960 are anticipated. No project-specific mitigation is required.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.C
As discussed above, under Impacts 4.13.A and 4.13.B, a number of federal, state and local regulations would help
ensure that project-related hazardous materials risks to schools would be less than significant. For the reasons
discussed above, compliance with CERCLA, RCRA, HMTA, HWCL and CCR Titles 22 and 26, as well as
Ordinance No. 617, would help monitor and reduce the potential impacts from the potential proximity of schools
to future land uses accommodated by GPA No. 960 and any attendant hazmat risks.
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies S 6.1 and S 7.2-7.3, in particular, provide
mitigation for impacts associated with hazmat impacts on schools. As discussed under Impacts 4.13.A and 4.13.B,
implementation of these General Plan policies would further reduce the hazmat risks to schools as a result of
future development resulting from GPA No. 960. See Section 4.13.3 for full text of each of these policies.
Safety Policy S 7.1, proposed as part of GPA No. 960, would further prevent significant impacts related to
hazardous materials and schools. See Section 4.13.3 for full text of the policy. Policy S 7.1 would ensure that the
County’s Emergency Services Response Plan and the Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan are
reviewed for considerations that would strengthen the plans. The policy also encourages the maintenance of
mutual aid agreements with federal, state, local agencies and the private sector that would assist in hazardous
materials response.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.C
Compliance with the above existing regulations, programs and policies, would ensure that hazardous material
risks to schools resulting from GPA No. 960 would be less than significant.
D.
Would the project be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous
materials compiled pursuant to California Government Code section 65962.5
and, as a result, would create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
Impact 4.13.D – Result in a Significant Hazard Due to Development on a Cortese List Hazardous
Material Site: According to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control database, there are 19 sites
within Riverside County that are on the Cortese list, as shown in Table 4.13-A. However, none of the proposed
GPA No. 960 sites are adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of any properties on the Cortese list. Compliance
with applicable federal, state and county regulations would reduce the potential risks of public exposure to
hazardous materials to less than significant levels.
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1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.D
The following six hazmat sites on the Cortese list are proximate to proposed trail segments but not located
directly within any proposed trail segment: March AFB/ARB; Foster-Gardner; Lockheed Beaumont No. 2;
Temecula Target #107; and Torney Hospital. Similar to the impacts identified and analyzed in the previous
subsections for Impacts 4.13.A, 4.13.B and 4.13.C, there is a potential that new or revised trails alignments or
segments proposed under GPA No. 960 could be affected by existing hazardous materials sites. However,
existing federal, state and local regulations and policies would reduce the risks. Therefore, no significant impacts
related to the location of existing hazardous material sites are anticipated. Moreover, no project-specific mitigation
is required.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.D
As per above, under Impacts 4.13.A, 4.13.B and 4.13.C, a number of federal, state and local regulations would
ensure the risk of accidental release of hazardous materials would be less than significant. Per the reasons above,
compliance with CERCLA, RCRA, HMTA, HWCL and Titles 22 and 26 would help reduce risks from hazardous
material sites on future development resulting from GPA No. 960.
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies S 7.3, 7.6 and 7.14, in particular, provide
mitigation for impacts associated with hazardous material sites. As discussed under Impacts 4.13.A and 4.13.B,
implementation of Policy S 7.3 would further reduce the impacts of future development as it relates to hazardous
material sites through reinforcement of the County of Riverside Hazardous Waste Management Plan. This plan
ensures the coordination of regional hazardous waste facility responsibilities and requires those businesses that
handle hazardous materials. Policy S 7.6 ensures the continued improvement of emergency information dispersal
through technology that tracks locations and types of hazardous materials. Policy S 7.14 also requires that
emergency evacuation plans for hazardous materials release events are reviewed on a regular basis. Through
regular review of evacuation plans, necessary updates can be made in order to maintain the efficiency of the plan,
thereby further reducing potential hazardous impacts. See Section 4.13.3 for policy texts.
Safety Policies S 6.1 and S 7.1 would further prevent significant impacts related to hazardous material sites. See
Section 4.13.3 for the full policy texts. The policies would further reduce the impacts of future development as it
relates to hazardous material sites through reinforcement of the County of Riverside Hazardous Waste
Management Plan, require the continued strengthening of Riverside County’s Response Plan and MultiJurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and ensure the continued coordination of various agencies in order to
assist in a number of activities including hazardous materials response, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the
plans and any mutual agency agreements.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.D
Compliance with the above existing regulations and policies would ensure the risk of accidental release of hazardous materials resulting from future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would be less than significant.
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E.
Would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in
the project area within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not
been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport?
Impact 4.13.E – Result in a Safety Hazard for People Within Two Miles of a Public or Public Use
Airport: Future development accommodated by the project has the potential to introduce additional people and
property within two miles of public airports. However, GPA No. 960 proposes changes within three Airport
Influence Areas to improve safety by ensuring consistency between the General Plan and these airports’ Airport
Land Use Plans. Future proposed development in a Riverside County Airport Influence Area would be subject to
review by the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) to ensure safety and minimize risks both
to people and property on the ground. This would also help ensure air travel safety and protect the functioning of
the public air facilities. In addition, the General Plan includes provisions to minimize safety hazards for people
living and working in proximity to these airports. However, due to the nature of air travel, potential safety hazards
around airports, such as aircraft accidents, would remain. An unforeseeable air accident could result in substantial
loss of life or property damage, even within the safety zones outlined in the General Plan and the Riverside
County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP). However, compliance with applicable County of
Riverside and ALUC regulations would ensure that air hazard risks to the areas affected by GPA No. 960,
including any resultant future development, would be minimized to less than significant levels.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.E
As noted above, GPA No. 960 includes a variety of specific Land Use Designation (LUD) changes to land
surrounding three airports: Flabob, Riverside Municipal and Blythe Airports. These changes are designed to
ensure any future development occurring on the sites is consistent with the applicable General Plan Airport
Influence Area (AIA) and the sites’ Airport Land Use Plans (ALUPs). Such proposals are also reviewed by the
Riverside County ALUC for consistency. Other areas in AIA in the county are either already deemed consistent
with ALUC plans or would require future consistency determinations (outside the scope of GPA No. 960). In
addition, future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would introduce various land uses to locations
across Riverside County, including some that may be affected by activities at airport or air facilities, as well as
accidents involving aircraft. The potential risk of death or injury from aircraft accidents could rise to unacceptable
levels if land uses surrounding an airport: introduce large numbers of residents to the area; allow businesses to
introduce large numbers of workers; or, permit buildings that are too tall or too close to primary air hazard zones
(e.g., landing and takeoff areas at either end of a runway) or secondary air hazard zones (areas adjacent to a
runway or directly under approach zones for landing or takeoff). The project does not directly propose these
sorts of land uses and, further, implementation of existing laws and regulations would help reduce to less-thansignificant levels the potential safety impacts on any future land development occurring around an airport as a
result of GPA No. 960.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.E
As detailed and explained below, compliance with the following existing laws and regulatory programs and
policies outlined in Section 4.13.3 would help reduce potential safety impacts related to airports and air travel
(e.g., aircraft accidents) for future land uses near airports, including any resulting from GPA No. 960
implementation.
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a. Compliance With Riverside County Regulations
Local regulations exist that would reduce impacts related to public airport safety and hazards. These include
Ordinance No.’s 269, 448 and 576. Through these regulations, development near public airports with the
potential to adversely affect, or be affected by, hazards are regulated through Riverside County’s review process
(as described under Policies LU 15.3, 15.5 and 15.6, below).
Ordinance No. 448 - Airport Operations: This Riverside County ordinance establishes airport operating areas
and regulates height standards and limits therein. The ordinance is adopted pursuant to the “Airport Approaches
Zoning Law,” CGC Sections 50485-50485.14. Through use of strict development standards, potential adverse
impacts related to public airport safety and hazards would be reduced.
Ordinance No. 576 - Regulating County Airports: This ordinance establishes minimum standards for
airports, heliports or Short Take Off and Landing airports (STOLports) to safeguard life, limb, property and
public welfare. Among other things, for facilities owned or operated by the County of Riverside, it empowers the
Director of Airports to prescribe regulations necessary for public airport use. In addition, all prescribed
regulations are reviewed by ALUC and must ultimately go before the Board of Supervisors for approval.
Through this review and regulation, potential adverse public airport safety risks and air travel hazards would be
reduced to less-than-significant levels for any future development resulting from GPA No. 960.
Ordinance No. 269 – Height Limits Around March Field: This ordinance addresses safety of both air
operations at and people and property surrounding March Field through the establishment of maximum height
limits around the air base. Though ALUC and other March-related land use plans also apply, this ordinance also
helps assure the necessary safety measures are in place. Thus, compliance with this ordinance by any land use
proposals associated with GPA No. 690 would ensure potential adverse public airport safety risks and air hazards
would be reduced to less-than-significant levels around March Air Field.
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies LU 1.8, 15.1, 15.2, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9 and 31.2,
in particular, provide mitigation for impacts associated with public airport and safety hazards. Implementation of
these General Plan policies related to public airport and safety hazards would reduce the impacts of future growth
and development within Riverside County to less than significant levels. In particular, Policy LU 1.8 mitigates
airport-related safety hazards by requiring review of land use proposals around airports involving general plan or
zoning amendments, etc., to ensure that potential safety concerns are addressed. Policy LU 15.1 mitigates airportrelated safety hazards by allowing airports to continue to operate while an operator addresses safety impacts,
which in turn, reduces risks to surrounding land uses by providing an incentive to encourage airport operators to
maintain adequate safety systems. Policies LU 15.1, 15.2, 15.7-15.9 and 31.2 mitigate airport-related safety hazards
by requiring that development proposals located within the boundaries of an ALUP be consistent with said plan
prior to approval in an effort to prevent land use conflicts and reduce potential impacts.
c.
Compliance With Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies
The following revised and proposed policies of the Riverside County General Plan would further prevent
significant impacts related to public airport and safety hazards. See Section 4.13.3 for full text of these policies.
Policy LU 15.3 requires amendments to an ACLUP be reviewed against the General Plan to ensure planning
consistency. (When inconsistencies are found, either the General Plan must be amended or the Board of
Supervisors must overrule the ALUC, as provided by law (Government Code section 65302.3).) Policy LU 15.4
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calls for the referral of development-level projects (General Plan amendments, specific plans, changes of zone,
etc.) within the Airport Influence Area of an ALUCP to the ALUC for review and determination per the State of
California’s Airport Land Use Law. Policy LU 15.5 requires development applications within an ALUCP to go
before ALUC if the applicable compatibility plan has not been found consistent with the General Plan. Policy
LU 15.6 gives the County of Riverside the option of whether or not to submit development applications that fall
within an ALUCP to ALUC for review if the applicable compatibility plan has been found consistent with the
General Plan. Both of the proposed policies would further ensure that development applications are consistent
with the General Plan and any applicable ALUCPs.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.E
Compliance with the above existing regulations and policies, would ensure that impacts related to public airport
and safety hazards as a result of future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would have less than
significant impacts.
F.
Would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in
the project area for a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip or heliport?
Impact 4.13.F – Result in a Safety Hazard for People in the Vicinity of a Private Airstrip or Heliport:
Future development resulting from implementation of GPA No. 960 has the potential to introduce additional
people and property within the vicinity of private airports, airstrips and heliports. However, the General Plan
includes provisions to minimize safety hazards for people living or working in proximity to these facilities. Due to
the nature of air travel, however, potential safety hazards around these facilities, particularly due to aircraft
accidents, would remain, although usage levels of these types of facilities tend to be very low. Nevertheless, an air
accident could result in substantial loss of life or property damage, even when development conforms to the
standards for acceptable levels of risk, as outlined in the General Plan, ALUC standards, this EIR and Riverside
County’s safety plans. However, compliance with existing regulations and General Plan policies would ensure
that this impact is less than significant.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.F
Future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would introduce various land uses throughout Riverside
County that could be affected by activities at private air facilities, as well as accidents involving aircraft. The
potential risk of death or injury from aircraft accidents may rise to unacceptable levels if land uses surrounding an
airport: introduce large numbers of residents; allow businesses that introduce large numbers of workers; or, allow
buildings that are too tall or too close to primary hazard zones (e.g., runaway landing zones) or secondary hazard
zones (airport approach zones). The project does not directly propose these sorts of land uses, however, and
implementation of existing laws and regulations would reduce potential safety impacts on land uses around
airports within Riverside County to less than significant levels.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.F
As detailed and explained below, compliance with the following existing laws and regulatory programs outlined in
Section 4.13.3 would help reduce potential safety impacts related to air facilities or aircraft accidents related to
land uses around these facilities to the maximum extent possible.
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a. Compliance With Riverside County Regulations
Local regulations would reduce impacts related to safety around private air facilities. These include Riverside
County Ordinances No. 448 and No. 576. Through these regulations, development near private air facilities that
would have the potential to adversely affect or be affected by air hazards are addressed through Riverside
County’s review process.
Ordinance No. 448: This ordinance establishes airport operating areas and regulates height standards and limits
therein. The ordinance is adopted pursuant to the Airport Approaches Zoning Law, CGC Sections 5048550485.14. Through the use of strict development standards, potential risks due to air travel and operations
associated with private air facilities would be reduced.
Ordinance No. 576: This ordinance establishes minimum standards for airports, heliports or Short Take Off
and Landing airports (STOLports) to safeguard life, limb, property and public welfare. Among other things, for
facilities owned or operated by the County of Riverside, it empowers the Director of Airports to prescribe
regulations necessary for public airport use. In addition, all prescribed regulations are reviewed by ALUC and
must ultimately go before the Board of Supervisors for approval. Through additional review and increased
regulation, potential risks associated with private air facilities and safety associated would be reduced.
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies LU 1.8, 15.2, 15.9 and 31.2, in particular,
provide mitigation for risks associated with private air facilities and air safety. Implementation of these General
Plan policies would reduce the risks to future development within Riverside County to less than significant levels.
Specifically, Policy LU 1.8 mitigates airport-related safety hazards by requiring review of land use proposals
around airports involving General Plan or zoning amendments, and other development-level project applications,
to ensure that safety concerns are adequately addressed. Policies LU 15.2, 15.9 and 31.2 mitigate airport-related
safety hazards by requiring development proposals within the boundaries of an ALUP be found consistent with
the ALUP prior to County of Riverside approval in an effort to prevent land use conflicts and reduce potential
impacts.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.F
Compliance with the above existing regulations and General Plan policies would ensure that air safety and airport
operation risks around private air facilities affecting future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would
have less than significant impacts.
G.
Would the project impair implementation of, or physically interfere with, an
adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
Impact 4.13.G – Impair or Interfere With an Adopted Emergency Response Plan or Emergency Evacuation Plan: Future development accommodated by the project has the potential to interfere with safety or
evacuation plans if not consistent with these existing emergency plans. However, the overall level of future
development accommodated by the General Plan would be slightly less under the proposed revisions of GPA
No. 960 than it would under the existing General Plan, slightly lowering the populations needing potential evacuation. In addition, the construction of the new roads and connecting road segments proposed under GPA No.
960 would actually improve access to and from some of the more remote portions of the county, facilitating
evacuations and emergency responses. Thus, overall, the proposed improvements associated with GPA No. 960
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would have beneficial impacts on, and help reduce potential hazards related to, future increased populations.
Further, compliance with existing regulations and General Plan policies would ensure that this impact is less than
significant.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.G
Future development consistent with GPA No. 960 would introduce various land uses throughout Riverside
County and may require existing emergency response and evacuation plans to be updated as inadequate
infrastructure and access could result in the loss of life, property and county resources. GPA No. 960 does not
directly propose any changes or updates to existing emergency response or evacuation plans; however, the proposal would actually lessen the amount of future development allowed within Riverside County when compared
to existing allowable development levels. Therefore, conflicts with existing emergency response and evacuation
plans are not anticipated.
Future development projects would be required to be reviewed for adequate infrastructure and access as well as
consistency amongst Riverside County emergency and evacuation plans among many other environmental issues
in order to ensure the safety of Riverside County residents and the physical environment. In addition, various
elements within the General Plan contain policies that relate to emergency response and evacuation plans which
would further reduce potential impacts of development on safety plans. Implementation of existing laws and
regulations would also help reduce potential emergency response and evacuation plan impacts as a result of future
development accommodated by GPA No. 960 to less than significant levels.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.G
As detailed and explained below, compliance with the following existing laws and regulatory programs outlined in
Section 4.13.3 would help reduce potential fire safety impacts related to land uses under GPA No. 960, but
possibly not to less than significant levels; thus, the additional regulatory measures outlined below would also be
needed.
a. Compliance with Federal and State Regulations
Compliance with the following federal and state regulations would further prevent significant impacts to
evacuation plans.
California Codes: A variety of state codes, particularly PRC Sections 4290-4299 and GC Section 51178, require
minimum statewide fire safety standards pertaining to: roads for fire equipment access; signage identifying streets,
roads and buildings; minimum private water supply reserves for emergency fire use; and, fire fuel breaks and
greenbelts. They also identify primary fire suppression responsibilities among the federal, state and local
governments. In addition, any person who owns, leases, controls, operates or maintains a building or structure in
or adjoining a mountainous area or forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land, or any land covered with
flammable material, must follow procedures to protect the property from wildland fires. This regulation also
helps ensure fire safety and provide adequate access to outlying properties for emergency responders and safe
evacuation routes for residents.
California Emergency Services Act: This law reduces the potential impacts of development on emergency
response and evacuation plans through proper preparation and coordination with necessary agencies, including
the federal government, and manages multiagency and multijurisdictional responses to emergencies within the
state. The Act is also responsible for maintaining CalEMA which oversees this coordination.
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Statewide Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS): SEMS reduces potential impacts of
development on emergency response and evacuation plans by coordinating agencies within the emergency
management community through one system accessible to jurisdictions statewide.
b. Compliance with County Regulations
Compliance with the following Riverside County regulations would further prevent significant impacts to
evacuation plans.
Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Strategic Master
Plan: The County of Riverside has developed this plan to proactively plan facility, service and equipment needs
for fire protection, and it incorporates the CDF Management Plan for several sub-zones within Riverside County.
This plan outlines evacuation routes and plans for access for emergency vehicles.
Ordinance No. 787 - Fire Code Standards: This ordinance adopts the Uniform Fire Code and adds
requirements that help ensure that buildings have adequate emergency access for fire safety personnel, equipment
and apparatus, and do not hinder evacuation from fire, including potential blockage of stairways or fire doors.
c.
Compliance with Existing Riverside County General Plan
Compliance with the federal and state laws and regulatory programs outlined above, would help reduce potential
fire safety impacts related to land use and policy changes in GPA No. 960. However, implementation of the
following existing Riverside County General Plan Safety (S) Element policy is necessary to reduce (mitigate)
potential impacts to less than significant levels.
Policy S 5.12: This policy requires the County of Riverside to conduct and implement long-range fire safety
planning, including improved mutual aid agreements with the private and public sector that assist with evacuation
of residents as well as access for emergency responders.
d. Compliance with Proposed New or Revised General Plan Policies
Policy S 5.14: This policy requires review of inter-jurisdictional fire response agreements, and improvements to
firefighting resources as recommended in the Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection and Emergency
Medical Services Strategic Master Plan to keep pace with development, and ensure adequate fire reporting and
response times per the Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
Strategic Master Plan. It also requires adequate fire flows of water, etc., to provide adequate fire safety for
residents of fire-prone areas (i.e., routes to evacuate and allow emergency access).
New and revised Policy 5.14 of the Riverside County General Plan would further prevent significant impacts
related to evacuation plans. See Section 4.13.3 for full text of these policies.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.G
Compliance with the above regulations and General Plan policies would ensure that impacts related to emergency
response and evacuation plans as a result of future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would have less
than significant impacts.
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H.
Would the project expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent
to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands?
Impact 4.13.H – Expose People or Structures to Significant Risk Due to Wildland Fires: Areas of high fire
hazard exist within unincorporated portions of Riverside County, including rural, mountainous terrain, as well as
areas adjacent to, or covered by, natural grasslands or brush. Future development accommodated by GPA No.
960 would incrementally increase rural, suburban and urban uses in localized areas throughout unincorporated
Riverside County. Compared to the existing General Plan, the overall net effect of the project is to reduce the
amount of dwelling units and industrial development, as well as the associated population, expected to occur
within Riverside County over the next 50 years. Nevertheless, GPA No. 960 would accommodate future
development in previously undeveloped areas, including some with high or very-high fire hazards. This would
increase both the number of people and amount of property potentially exposed to fire hazards. Additionally,
there is the potential for an increase in the occurrence of fires, particularly in urban-wildland interface areas, due
to increasing human encroachment. Compliance with existing regulations and General Plan policies would be
sufficient to ensure that this impact is less than significant.
1. Analysis of Impact 4.13.H
Future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would introduce various developed uses throughout
Riverside County; uses that may be affected by fire or the potential risk of fire. The risk of death, injury or
property damage from fire may rise to unacceptable fire risks if land uses are allowed into areas of high or
unacceptable risk without proper planning or protection, or if roads are inadequate for fire access and evacuation.
Specifically, as shown in Table 4.13-J, above, land use changes associated with GPA No. 960 would result in
future development that encroaches into or intermingles with wildlands in which fire hazard risks are high to very
high. The Goodhope and Meadowbrook RVLUOs are within SRAs. Meadowbrook overlaps both the High and
Very High fire hazard zones, while Goodhope is in a non-hazard zone but adjacent to High and Very High
hazard areas. The rest of the affected policy areas and overlays are divided among the federal, SRAs and LRAs.
However, none of these proposed changes would result in significant impacts related to wildland fires as long as
new development is reviewed by the RCFD and CalFire as appropriate, and “fire safe” design, consistent with
Riverside County requirements (such as Ordinance No. 787) and the Uniform Fire Code (as amended and
adopted by the County of Riverside) are used to plan and construct property improvements.
The trails are divided among the federal, SRAs and LRAs. There are proposed trail segments in all fire hazard
zones and many, if not most, in the more flat areas are in non-hazardous zones. Due to the nature of trails, there
would be no adverse impacts that require mitigation for any of these locations. In addition, trails actually provide
minor fire or fuel breaks and routes for firefighters to access areas with wildland fires. Therefore, these
improvements may be beneficial in limiting wildland fire damage.
The locations for the proposed roads or road segments in very high or high fire hazard zones vary and in the
more flat areas of Riverside County, most are in non-hazardous zones. Due to the relatively fire-proof nature of
roads, there would be no adverse impacts that require mitigation for any of these locations. In addition, roads
provide fire or fuel breaks and routes for firefighters to access areas with wildland fires. Therefore, these
improvements would be beneficial to reducing wildland fire hazards. There are proposed commercial land use
designations in all fire hazard zones, which vary by slope and vegetation characteristics. Future development of
these sites would not result in significant wildland fires risks as long as the new proposed development meets
4.13-92
RCFD and CalFire standards, as applicable, and “fire safe” design, consistent with the Fire Code (as amended per
Riverside County ordinance).
Overall, implementation of existing laws and regulations, including standards for roadways and access, development siting and ignition-resistant building materials, among other things, would reduce potential fire safety
impacts on land uses within Riverside County to less than significant levels.
2. Regulatory Compliance for Impact 4.13.H
As detailed and explained below, compliance with the following existing laws and regulatory programs would help
reduce potential fire safety impacts related to land uses accommodated by GPA No. 960 to less than significant
levels.
a. Compliance with State and County Regulations
To achieve fire protection for all residents of Riverside County, the Riverside County Department of Building and
Safety and the Riverside County Fire Department enforce fire standards as they review building plans and
conduct building inspections. Additional programs implemented to ensure compliance with established fire
standards include: the maintenance of a Countywide Information Map, showing high fire hazard areas, and
sighting and construction methods that reduce fire risks to structures developed within high fire hazard areas; the
provision of uniform fire improvement standards for various land uses that ensure appropriate fire protection
measures are incorporated into the design, construction and operation of these land uses; and the continued
updating and use of the Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
Strategic Master Plan to ensure new fire protection facilities are added when demand increases warrant them.
The County of Riverside requires a development within high fire hazard areas to design and implement fuel
modification programs for the interface between developed and natural areas within and adjacent to the proposed
project area. Such fuel modification plans shall be subject to approval by the Riverside County Fire Department.
The fuel modification programs shall be achieved through graduated transition from native vegetation to irrigated
landscape. The program shall also establish parameters for the percent, age, extent and nature of native plant
removal necessary to achieve the Riverside County fire prevention standards to protect human lives and property,
while preserving as much natural habitat as practicable.
The County of Riverside also actively enforces Ordinance No. 695, which requires the abatement of “hazardous
vegetation;” defined in the ordinance as vegetation that is flammable and endangers the public safety by creating a
fire hazard. The type of abatement can depend on the location, terrain and vegetation present, but typically
includes mowing or disking (plowing) vegetation, such as seasonal and recurrent weeds, stubble, brush, dry leaves
and tumbleweeds. Abatement is generally required along roadways and habitable structures either on or adjacent
to the property. For unimproved parcels adjacent to a roadway, a 100-foot wide strip of abated land at the parcel
boundary is required. A similar strip is required around structures on an adjacent improved parcel.
According to the ordinance, determination of the appropriate clearance distances are based on visual inspection
of the parcel and consideration of all fire risk factors for the property or adjoining structures. These factors
include local weather conditions, fuel types, topography and the local environment. Where the parcel’s terrain
cannot be disked or mowed, the Riverside County Fire Chief may require or authorize the use of other means of
removal. In addition, the County of Riverside requires all new structures in unincorporated areas comply with the
construction requirements of Ordinance No. 787, including use of fire-retardant roofing material as per the
California Building Code.
4.13-93
California Codes: A number of California regulations, including PRC Sections 4290-4299 and CGC Section
51178, address fire safety. In particular, these sections require minimum statewide fire safety standards pertaining
to: roads for fire equipment access; signage for identifying streets, roads and buildings; minimum private water
supply reserves for emergency fire use; and, fire fuel breaks and greenbelts. They also identify primary fire suppression responsibilities among the federal, state and local governments. In addition, it sets fire safety standards
for all buildings and structures in, or adjoining, mountainous areas, or forest-, brush- or grass-covered lands or
any land covered with flammable material to protect property from wildland fires.
Riverside County Fire Department Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Strategic Master
Plan: The County of Riverside has developed this plan to proactively plan facility, service and equipment needs
for fire protection. It also incorporates the CDF Management Plan for several sub-zones within Riverside County.
Implementation of this plan helps reduce potential risks of fire for residents in areas of moderate to high fire
danger.
Ordinance No. 787 - Fire Code Standards: This ordinance adopts the Uniform Fire Code and adds requirements to further protect people and structures from fire risks, and ensures that building would not impede emergency egress for fire safety personnel, equipment and apparatus would not hinder evacuation from fire, including
potential blockage of stairways or fire doors.
Ordinance No. 695 - Abatement and Notices for Hazardous Vegetation: Each spring, the CDF and RCFD
distribute hazard abatement notices. These notices, which currently go to about 30,000 Riverside County residents, instruct property owners to reduce fuels (flammable vegetation) around their property. A minimum 30foot clearance is required around all structures; this can be extended to 100 feet in areas where severe fire hazards
exist. On unimproved parcels, the property owner is required to disc or mow 100 feet along the perimeter of the
property. These requirements substantially improve public safety and property protection for fire-prone areas by
removing fire fuels.
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies LU 10.1 and S 5.12 in particular, provide
mitigation for impacts associated with wildland fire risks. Implementation of these General Plan policies would
aid in reducing fire risks to future development accommodated by the project to less than significant levels.
Specifically:
Policy LU 10.1: This policy requires that future developments contribute a fair amount for the funding of
infrastructure, public facilities such as police and fire facilities in order to ensure adequate availability of such
infrastructure and services, thereby, reducing potential hazards.
Policy S 5.12: This policy encourages the practice and implementation of long-range fire safety planning as well
as more stringent codes and improved infrastructure aimed at the reduction of fire hazards including wildland fire
hazards.
Policies LU 5.2 and 10.1: These policies ensure that new development contribute funds to be used to provide
necessary fire and emergency response services and that such facilities are constructed in a timely manner to
ensure adequate protection of the people and property of Riverside County.
Policies S 5.9, 5.12 and 5.15: These policies require development be constructed to various building and fire
code standards that are designed to ensure structures provide appropriate levels of fire resistance and are situated
4.13-94
in a manner that provides adequate emergency access and evacuation, and allows for maintaining of appropriate
fire fuel modification zones.
Policy S 5.13: Several policies direct the County of Riverside in how and when and to what standards to provide
appropriate fire protective services. This policy, in particular, addresses water connections and reservoirs used for
firefighting purposes.
c.
Compliance With Proposed or Revised General Plan Policies
Of the General Plan policies listed in Section 4.13.3, above, Policies LU 5.1 and LU 7.8, S 5.1-5.8, S 5.11 and S
5.14-5.21, in particular, provide mitigation for impacts associated with wildland fire risks. Implementation of these
General Plan policies would aid in reducing the impacts of future growth and development within Riverside
County to less than significant levels. Specifically:
Land Use Policies 5.1 and 7.8: These policies ensure that future development would not overburden
infrastructure and public services and that such infrastructure and services would continue to operate at adequate
levels. Policy LU 7.8 also requires future development located within designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones to
provide for fuel modification as determined by the Fire Department.
Policies S 5.1-5.8 and 5.14-5.21: These policies mitigate wildland fire risks through construction design
standards and requirements; coordination amongst various Riverside County agencies, water agencies and
surrounding jurisdictions to implement long-range fire safety planning; improved infrastructure, fire response
agreements and adequate water supply and flow with coordination driven by Riverside County’s Fire Protection
Strategic Master Plan and the General Plan Safety Element; limiting development potential in areas that lack water
and access roads; continued usage of fuel breaks, brush management, controlled burnings, revegetation and fire
roads including clearance inspections; encouraging future development located within fire hazard zones to
develop where adequate fire and emergency services already exist or are being planned; providing services that
meet minimum travel times for fire; frequent updates of fire hazard maps; and fire mitigation through
landscaping. These policies help protect structures and ultimately Riverside County residents from fire damage,
injury or loss of life.
Policy S 5.11: This policy addresses brush clearance and fire inspections of properties. It is, in essence,
implemented through Ordinance No. 659, as described above. By ensuring hazardous vegetation is abated
around structures and property, this policy helps protect structures and ultimately Riverside County residents
from fire damage, injury or loss of life.
3. Finding on Significance for Impact 4.13.H
Compliance with the above existing regulations and General Plan policies would ensure that impacts related to
wildland fire risks as a result of future development accommodated by GPA No. 960 would have less than
significant impacts.
4.13-95
4.13.7 Significance After Mitigation – Hazardous Materials and
Safety
The aforementioned policies mandate compliance with local, state and federal regulations regarding hazardous
materials, airports and aircraft hazards, wildland fires and emergency evacuations, and establish procedures for
safe planning around airports and air facilities. Therefore, implementation of applicable federal, state and local
regulations, in addition to the stated General Plan policies, would ensure impacts related to hazardous materials,
airport and aircraft hazards, and wildland fire hazards and emergency evacuation plans are less than significant.
No additional mitigation is required.
4.13-96

04-13 Hazardous Materials and Safety 2014-04-07

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