V. Setting, Impacts, And Mitigation MeasuresV. SETTING, IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
This chapter contains an analysis of each topic that has been identified through preliminary environ-
mental evaluation of the Apple Campus 2 Project and as such, constitutes the major portion of this
EIR. Sections A through M of this chapter describe the environmental setting of the proposed project
as it relates to each specific environmental topic. The impacts resulting from the project, and mitiga-
tion measures that would reduce significant impacts of the project, are also presented in each section.
A. DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANCE
Under CEQA, a significant effect is defined as a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change
in the environment.' The CEQA Guidelines direct that this determination be based on scientific and
factual data. Each impact evaluation in this chapter is prefaced by criteria of significance, which are
the thresholds for determining whether an impact is significant. These criteria of significance are
based the CEQA Guidelines and applicable City policies, such as the City of Cupertino General Plan.
B. ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE EIR
The following environmental issues are addressed in this chapter:
A. Land Use
B. Aesthetics
C. Population, Employment, and Housing
D. Biological Resources
E. Cultural Resources
F. Geology, Seismicity, and Soils
G. Hydrology and Water Quality
H Hazards and Hazardous Materials
L Transportation and Circulation
J. Noise
K. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sustainability
L. Air Quality
M. Public Services and Utilities
Preliminary analysis has determined that the project would not result in significant impacts to
agriculture, forestry, and mineral resources. Consequently, these issues are not examined in this
chapter of the EIR but are discussed briefly in Chapter VII, Other CEQA Considerations.
1 CEQA Section 21068.
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C. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
This chapter has been prepared in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15125, which states:
"An EIR must include a description of the physical environmental conditions in the vicinity of the
project, as they exist at the time the notice of preparation is published, or if no notice of preparation is
published, at the time environmental analysis is commenced, from both a local and regional perspec-
tive. The environmental setting will normally constitute the baseline physical conditions by which a
Lead Agency determines whether an impact is significant. The description of the environmental
setting shall be no longer than is necessary to an understanding of the physical effects of the proposed
project and its alternatives."
The NOP for the proposed Apple Campus 2 Project was published on August 19, 2011. Thus every
one of the environmental topical sections in this chapter includes a discussion of physical conditions
in the vicinity of the site on or around August 2011. In certain cases (e.g., Section V.I, Transportation
and Circulation), existing conditions data reflect the best available data gathered in the months before
and after publication of the NOP. For instance, existing traffic conditions data were gathered in May
2011. However, no substantial changes in existing conditions occurred in those months preceding
publication of the NOP.
In addition, to more comprehensively evaluate the potential impacts of the project, other topical
sections and chapters of the EIR include an analysis of the effects of the project on baseline scenarios
other than existing conditions. In Section V.I, Transportation and Circulation, one of these other
scenarios is the "background" scenario, which encompasses traffic associated with approved but not
yet built or occupied developments. The purpose of this background scenario is to better understand
the impacts of the project in the context of development that is expected to occur in the near-term.
D. FORMAT OF ISSUE SECTIONS
Each environmental topic considered in this chapter comprises two primary sections: (1) Setting and
(2) Impacts and Mitigation Measures. An overview of the general organization and the information
provided in the two sections is provided below:
• Setting. The Setting section for each environmental topic generally provides a description
of the applicable physical setting for the project site and its surroundings at the beginning
of the environmental review process (e.g., existing land uses, existing soil conditions,
existing traffic conditions). An overview of regulatory considerations that are applicable to
each specific environmental topic is also provided.
bnpacts and Mitigation Measures. The Impacts and Mitigation Measures section for each
environmental topic presents a discussion of the impacts that could result from implementa-
tion of the proposed project. The section begins with the criteria of significance, which are
the thresholds used to determine whether an impact is significant. The latter part of this
section presents the impacts from the proposed project and mitigation measures, as
appropriate. The impacts of the proposed project are organized into less -than -significant
impacts (which do not require mitigation measures) and significant impacts (which do
require mitigation measures).
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V. SETTING. IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES
Impacts are numbered and shown in bold type, and the corresponding mitigation measures are num-
bered and indented. Impacts and mitigation measures are numbered consecutively within each topical
analysis and begin with an acronymic or abbreviated reference to the impact section (e.g., LU). The
following symbols are used for individual topics:
LU:
Land Use
AES:
Aesthetics
POP:
Population, Employment, and Housing
BIO:
Biological Resources
CUL:
Cultural Resources
GEO:
Geology, Seismicity, and Soils
HYD:
Hydrology and Water Quality
HAZ:
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
TRANS:
Transportation and Circulation
NOISE:
Noise
GHG:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sustainability
AQ:
Air Quality
PSU:
Public Services and Utilities
Impacts are also categorized by type of impact, as follows: Less Than Significant, Significant, and
Significant and Unavoidable. The following notations are provided after each identified significant
impact and after identification of mitigation measures:
LTS: Less Than Significant
S: Significant
SU: Significant and Unavoidable
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