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located within fill or disturbed soils, or that the sensitivity for significant paleontological <br /> resources is otherwise low, then monitoring may be reduced or suspended at the qualified <br /> professional paleontologist's discretion. The determination to reduce or discontinue <br /> paleontological monitoring in the project area shall be based on the professional opinion <br /> of the qualified professional paleontologist regarding the potential for fossils to be present <br /> after a reasonable extent of the geology and stratigraphy has been evaluated. <br /> Explanation of the Rationale: The rationale and facts supporting the above finding are fully <br /> developed in Section 4.4, Geology and Soils, pages 4.4-19 through 4.4-21 of the Draft <br /> Supplemental EIR. The following presents a summary of that rationale: <br /> No significant fossils have been previously recovered from the project area, but several vertebrate <br /> and invertebrate fossils have been recovered within one mile of the project area and exposures <br /> of rock formations are anticipated to underlie the Project area. The geology of the Project area <br /> may include Pleistocene-age deposits at unknown depths, suggesting that Project-related <br /> ground-disturbing activities, such as for the proposed subsurface parking garage that would <br /> require a maximum excavation depth of 52 feet, have the potential to destroy or otherwise <br /> adversely impact significant paleontological resources below young Holocene-age soils at <br /> unknown depths within the Project area. Therefore, the Project would implement GPU PEIR MMs <br /> GEO-2 and GEO-3. GPU MM GEO-2 requires consultation with a geologist or paleontologist to <br /> confirm whether the grading would occur at depths that could encounter highly sensitive <br /> sediments for paleontological resources. In compliance with GPU PEIR MM GEO-2, construction <br /> activity for the Project would be monitored by a qualified paleontologist. GPU MM GEO-3 would <br /> require work be halted in the event of a fossil discovery. Additionally, Project-Specific MM G-3 <br /> provides procedures for paleontological monitoring. Therefore, impacts to paleontological <br /> resources would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. <br /> Cumulative Impacts: The Project would not result in cumulative impacts concerning geology and <br /> soils, with the implementation of mitigation. <br /> Findings: The City finds that changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, <br /> the Project, which avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified <br /> in the Final Supplemental EIR. Specifically, the City finds that GPU PEIR MM GEO-2 and MM <br /> GEO-3 and Project-Specific MM G-1 through G-3 (listed previously) shall be implemented to <br /> reduce potentially significant geology and soils impacts resulting from the Project. Additionally, <br /> the City finds that the Project will implement regulatory requirements RR G-1 through RR G-3 <br /> (listed above). (Draft Supplemental EIR, pp. 4.4-11 and 4.4-20—4.4-21.) <br /> Explanation of the Rationale: The rationale and facts supporting the above finding are fully <br /> developed in Section 4.4, Geology and Soils, pages 4.4-21 through 4.4-22 of the Draft <br /> Supplemental EIR. The following presents a summary of that rationale: <br /> Due to the site-specific nature of geological conditions(e.g., soils, geological features, subsurface <br /> features, seismic features), geological impacts are typically limited to individual projects and their <br /> project sites, and do not contribute to cumulative impacts. The GPU buildout and all projects on <br /> Resolution No. 2025-041 <br /> Page 78 of 140 <br />