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This lack of professional review has led to misconceptions and the omission of critical information. <br />When a bridge is engineered, the highest water levels are used to guide its design. <br />So it is with buildings and the ground that support them. <br />The hi hest historical groundwater levels are used to calculate liquefaction risk and guide <br />recommended mitigation. <br />The facts in support of findings for Section 9.6.1.3 mistakenly cite a collection of past low groundwater depths <br />as evidence of lack of seismic risk, missing the only figure of importance in calculating liquefaction risk - <br />the historically highest ground water level of 30 -40 feet for this site (Plate 1.2 Historically Highest Ground <br />Water Contours and Borehole Log Data Locations, Orange 7.5 minute Quadrangle, California). <br />Most concerning is the omission of the mitigation recommended by the Geosoils 2017 report. The Results <br />section of the Liquefaction Analysis (Geosoils 2017, Appendix B Liquefaction and Settlement Analysis, page <br />4) states: <br />"...the potential for liquefaction on the proposed tract poses a low risk to site development, assuming the <br />conclusions and recommendations provided are incorporated into the fmal design and construction of the <br />project." The low risk assigned is dependent, it assumes the recommended mitigation is being followed. <br />Recommendations (Geosoils 2017) <br />Removals "The subsurface exploration revealed that the existing fill and upper five feet of the alluvium are <br />unsuitable for structural support. This unsuitable fill and alluvium should be removed to competent native <br />alluvium in the areas of proposed development and replaced as compacted fill. Removals should be excavated <br />down a minimum of five feet below proposed grades and extend a minimum of five feet laterally..." (Geosoils <br />2017,page 11) <br />Deepened Foundation Recommendations "it is anticipated deepened foundations will be utilized for the <br />parking structure... driven piles are not recommended due to the gravelly/ rocky layer encountered at the depth <br />of 40 feet." (Geosoils 2017, page 11) <br />Review and Inspection "All foundation and bottom excavations shall be observed by an engineering geologist <br />or a geotechnical engineer prior to the placement of any steel to verify that the proper foundation material has <br />been encountered... Department of Building and Safety Inspector should also observe the excavation. <br />The final result of the lack of a formal engineering review by professionals with specific expertise in <br />relevant areas is that: <br />The EIR is missing an entire section - Geology and Soils. <br />The Facts in Support of Finding for sections 9.6.1.3 "Exposure to Potential Risk of Loss, Injury, or Death <br />- Seismic -Related Ground Failure, Including Liquefaction" and 9.6.3 "Soil Stability" contain substantial <br />errors and omissions. <br />The Finding for both 9.6.1.3 and 9.6.3 is erroneous. It should read: Finding: Less than significant impact <br />with mitigation. <br />The mitigation summary chart should be modified to include the mitigation recommended in Geosoils <br />2017. <br />