APPENDIX A 

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan
Bay Area to Central Valley High-Speed Train

CEQA Mitigation, Monitoring, and 

Reporting Plan

Adopted by Resolution No. 08-01 

June 2008 

California High-Speed Rail Authority
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MITIGATION, MONITORING, AND REPORTING PLAN: BAY AREA 

TO CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH-SPEED TRAIN PROGRAM EIR/EIS 

This mitigation, monitoring, and reporting plan is designed to fulfill Section 21081.6 of the California 

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires public agencies to adopt a reporting or monitoring 

program whenever a project or program is approved that includes mitigation measures identified in an 

environmental document. The mitigation strategies described below are for a program-level decision and 

are to be used to avoid, minimize, or reduce any potentially significant environmental impacts. Projectlevel activities will undergo future environmental analysis as required by NEPA and CEQA tiering from this 

EIS/EIR. As part of these second-tier environmental reviews, the lead agency for each of these projects 

will use the mitigation strategies identified in the program document as starting points to determine their 

applicability to a specific project and to develop additional mitigation measures for significant adverse 

impacts identified in the project-specific analysis. Because all the potential actions and impacts for tiered 

projects cannot be anticipated at a programmatic level, each project needs to select those strategies 

applicable to the impacts associated with the specific location and type of action. For purposes of CEQA, 

the mitigation strategies in the Final EIS/EIR also serve as mitigation measures at a programmatic level. 

The NEPA/CEQA monitoring process includes review, guidance, and reporting components. The lead 

agencies for second tier documents will note which applicable programmatic mitigation strategies are 

being adopted and used for mitigation measures and explain why others are not. The lead agencies will 

provide a schedule for implementing the adopted mitigation measures and for reviewing the 

implementation of those measures. 

As a programmatic-level document, the Program EIR/EIS does not analyze site-specific impacts of 

potential alignments or stations; therefore, it cannot predict with certainty which impacts will occur and 

what site-specific mitigation measures are appropriate for the second-tier level of actions. Consequently, 

the Program EIR/EIS describes mitigation strategies that are approaches tailored to address the types of 

impacts anticipated as a result of construction of the HST system. These strategies will provide the basis 

to structure more site-specific measures when more detailed data on the impacts is available at the 

second-tier. In addition, the Authority has committed to design practices and policies that will be used to 

develop alignment alternatives at the project-level to avoid impacts and to help shape specific mitigation 

measures. 

At this program level of planning, the Authority is responsible for tracking the mitigation and 

incorporating it into future studies that it undertakes, but a monitoring plan cannot yet be developed. 

For the next tiers of environmental analysis, a monitoring plan will be developed as part of each projectlevel analysis that includes more specific timing for the mitigation measures, and additional parties may 

be identified with responsibility for implementing the measures. 
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Traffic and 

Circulation 

Traffic and 

circulation 

Require that HST system stations serve as multi-modal transportation hubs 

providing easy connection to local/regional bus, rail and transit services, as well as 

providing bicycle and pedestrian access. 

Require the HST system to be grade-separated from all roadways to allow vehicular 

traffic to flow without impediment from the HST system. 

Work with local and regional agencies to develop and implement transit-oriented 

development strategies, as described in Chapter 6, around HST stations. 

Work with local and regional agencies to identify, plan, coordinate, and implement 

traffic flow improvements around HST station locations during project-level 

planning. Such improvements may include: 

a. construction phasing and traffic management plan for construction periods 

b. minimizing closure of any proximate freight or passenger rail line or highway 

facility during construction 

c. widening of roadways 

d. installation of new traffic signals 

e. improving capacity of local streets with upgrades in geometrics such as 

providing standard roadway lane widths, traffic controls, bicycle lanes, shoulders 

and sidewalks 

f. modifications at intersections, such as signalization and/or capacity 

improvements (widening for additional left-turn and/or through lanes), and turn 

prohibitions 

g. signal coordination and optimization (including retiming and rephasing) 

h. designation of one-way street patterns near some station locations 

i. truck route designations 

j. coordinate with Caltrans regarding nearby highway facilities 

Work with public transportation providers to coordinate services and to increase 

service and/or add routes, as necessary, to serve the HST station areas. 

Use one-way streets and traffic diversion to alternate routes. Additional regional 

strategies include: 

a. coordination with regional transportation (highway and transit) planning (e.g., 

regional transportation plans 

b. congestion management plans 

c. freeway deficiency plans 

d. Intelligent Transportation Systems Strategies (ITS) 

Parking Avoid parking impacts by developing and coordinating implementation at the 

project-level of parking improvement strategies consistent with local policies, 

including shared parking, off-site parking with shuttles, parking and curbside use 

restrictions, parking permit plans for neighborhoods near HST stations, and other 

parking management strategies. 

Air Quality Localized air 

quality impacts 

due to 

congestion/traffic 

near HST 

stations 

Assure that HST stations are multi-modal hubs and include appropriate parking, 

including increased parking for carpools, bicycles, and other alternative 

transportation methods. 

Coordinate with local and regional public transportation providers to increase 

opportunities for connection between the HST system and other public 

transportation services. 

Increase use of alternative-fueled vehicles. 
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Work with local and regional agencies to implement local street and roadway 

improvements, including various traffic flow improvements and congestion 

management techniques, and parking management strategies to reduce localized 

pollution from traffic related to the HST system. 

Short-term air 

quality impacts 

due to 

construction 

Water all active construction areas at least twice daily. 

Require that all trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose materials be covered or 

maintain at least two feet of freeboard. 

Pave, apply water three times daily, or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers on all unpaved 

access roads, parking areas and staging areas at active construction sites. 

Sweep daily (with water sweepers) all paved access roads, parking areas and 

staging areas at active construction sites. 

Sweep nearby streets daily (with water sweepers) if visible soil materials from HST 

system construction are carried onto adjacent public streets. 

Hydroseed or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas 

(previously graded areas inactive for ten days or more). 

Enclose, cover, water twice daily or apply non-toxic soil binders to exposed 

stockpiles of dirt, sand, etc. 

Limit traffic speeds on unpaved roads to 15 mph 

Install sand bags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff to public 

roads. 

Replant vegetation in disturbed areas as quickly as possible. 

Use alternative fuels for construction equipment when feasible. 

Minimize equipment idling time. 

Maintain properly tuned equipment. 

Noise and 

Vibration 

Increased noise 

from train 

operations and 

construction 

Grade separations to eliminate grade crossing related noise. 

Noise barriers, such as sound walls, where there are severe noise impacts. 

Require noise reduction in HST equipment design and track structures design. 

Use of enclosures or walls to surround noisy equipment, and installation of mufflers 

on engines; substitution of quieter equipment or construction methods, minimizing 

time of operation and locate equipment farther from sensitive receptors. 

Where not already included, consider placing alignment sections in tunnel or 

trenches or behind berms where possible and where other measures are not 

available to reduce significant noise impacts. 

Suspend construction between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am and/or on weekends or 

holidays in residential areas where there are severe noise impacts. 

In managing construction noise take into account local sound control and noise 

level rules, regulations and ordinances. 

Ensure that each internal combustion engine would be equipped with a muffler of a 

type recommended by the manufacturer. 

Specify the use of the quietest available construction equipment where appropriate 

and feasible. 

Turn off construction equipment during prolonged periods of non-use. 

Require contractors to maintain all equipment and to train their equipment 

operators. 

Locate noisy stationary equipment away from noise sensitive receptors. 
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Exposure to 

ground-borne 

vibration 

Specify the use of train and track technologies that minimize ground vibration such 

as state of the art suspensions, resilient track pads, tie pads, ballast mats or floating 

slabs. 

Phase construction activity, use low impact construction techniques and avoid use 

of vibrating construction equipment where possible to avoid vibration construction 

impacts. 

Energy Increased energy 

use and 

electricity 

demand with the 

HST system 

HST stations will be multi-modal hubs providing linkage for various transportation 

modes, which will contribute to increased efficiency of energy use for intercity trips 

and by commuters, and the stations will be required to be constructed to meet Title 

24 California Code of Regulations energy efficiency standards. 

Design practices will require that the electrically powered HST technology be energy 

efficient, include regenerative braking to reduce energy consumption, and minimize 

grade changes in steep terrain to reduce energy consumption 

Design practices will require that localized impacts be avoided through planning and 

design of the power distribution system for the HST System. 

Energy use 

during 

construction of 

the HST system 

Develop and implement a construction energy conservation plan. 

Use energy efficient construction equipment and vehicles. 

Locate construction material production facilities on-site or in proximity to project 

construction sites. 

Develop and implement a program encouraging construction workers to carpool or 

use public transportation for travel to and from construction sites. 

Develop potential measures to reduce energy consumption during operation and 

maintenance activities. 

Electromagn

etic Fields 

and 

Electromagnetic 

Interference 

Exposure of 

electromagnetic 

fields to HST 

system workers, 

passengers, and 

nearby residents, 

schools and 

other facilities 

Use standard design practices for overhead catenary power supply systems and 

vehicles, including appropriate materials, location and spacing of facilities and 

power supply systems to minimize exposure to receptors over distance, and 

shielding with vegetation and other screening materials. 

Design overhead catenary system, substations, and transmission lines to reduce the 

electromagnetic fields to a practical minimum. 

Electromagnetic 

interference with 

electronic and 

electrical devices 

Design the overhead catenary system, substations, and transmission lines to reduce 

the electromagnetic fields to a practical minimum. 

Design the project component to minimize arcing and radiation of radiofrequency 

energy. 

Choose devices generating radiofrequency with a high degree of electromagnetic 

compatibility. 

Where appropriate, add electronic filters to attenuate radiofrequency interference. 

Relocate receiving antennas and use antenna models with greater directional gain 

where appropriate, particularly for sensitive receptors near the HST system. 

Comply with the FCC regulations for intentional radiators, such as the proposed HST 

wireless systems. 

Establish safety criteria and procedures and personnel practices to avoid exposing 

employees with implantable medical devices to EMF levels that may cause 

interference with such implanted biomedical devices. 
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Land Use Long-term land 

use compatibility 

impacts with HST 

operations 

Continue to apply design practices to minimize property needed for the HST system 

and to stay within or adjacent to existing transportation corridors to the extent 

feasible. 

Work with local governments to consider local plans and local access needs, and to 

apply design practices to limit disruption to communities. Access may need to be 

modified, including possible over or undercrossings, where land acquisition results 

in a division of a farm or other land use. 

The Authority will seek agreements with freight rail operators (UP and/or BNSF) to 

utilize portions of the existing rail right-of-way to the greatest feasible extent. 

Work with local governments to enhance multi-modal connections for HST stations. 

Coordinate with cities and counties to ensure that HST facilities would be consistent 

with land use planning processes and zoning ordinances. 

Provide opportunities for community involvement early in project-level studies. 

Hold design workshops in affected neighborhoods to develop understanding of 

vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian linkages in order to preserve those linkages through 

use of grade-separated crossings and other measures. 

Ensure that connectivity is maintained across the rail corridor (pedestrian/bicycle 

and vehicular crossings) where necessary to maintain neighborhood integrity. 

Develop facility, landscape and public art design standards for HST corridors that 

reflect the character of adjacent affected neighborhoods. 

Maintain high level of visual quality of HST facilities in neighborhood areas by 

implementing such measures as visual buffers, trees and other landscaping, 

architectural design and public artwork. 

Work with local governments to establish requirements for station area plans and 

opportunities for transit-oriented development. Local governments would play a 

significant role in implementing station area development by adopting plans, 

policies, zoning provisions, and incentives for higher densities, and by approving a 

mix of urban land uses. Station area TOD development principles to be applied at 

the project level for each HST Station include higher density development, mix of 

land uses, pedestrian-oriented design, context-sensitive building design, and 

parking limits and preferences. 

Select station locations that are multi-modal transportation hubs with a preference 

for traditional city centers. 

Adopt HST station area development policies and principles that require TOD, and 

promote value-capture at and around station areas as a condition for selecting a 

HST station site. 

Provide incentives for local governments where potential HST stations may be 

located to prepare and adopt Station Area Plans and to amend City and County 

General Plans that incorporate station area development principles in the vicinity of 

HST stations. 

Give priority to stations for which the city and/or county has adopted station area 

TOD plans and general plans that focus and prioritize development on the TOD 

areas rather than on auto-oriented outlying areas. 

The Authority will undertake a comprehensive economic study in the Central Valley 

of the kinds of businesses that would uniquely benefit from being located near HST 

station areas, including an estimate of the kinds and numbers of jobs that such 

businesses would create. 
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The Authority will work with local governments, interested agencies and 

organizations, and provide funding and technical support, along with other partners, 

to build upon blueprint processes, to focus on supporting downtowns and increasing 

transit ridership, to increase development densities in the vicinity of HST station 

areas, and to assist in developing a vision with local partners as to how HST can 

encourage further in-fill development in Central Valley cities and 

support environmentally and economically sustainable future growth. 

Short-term land 

use compatibility 

impacts from 

HST construction 

Develop a traffic management plan to reduce barrier effects during construction. 

To the extent feasible maintain connectivity during construction. 

Agricultural 

Lands 

Conversion of 

prime, statewide 

important, and 

unique 

farmlands, and 

farmlands of 

local importance, 

to project uses 

Avoid farmland whenever feasible during the conceptual design stage of the project. 

Reduce the potential for impacts by sharing existing rail rights-of-way where 

feasible or by aligning HST features immediately adjacent to existing rail rights-ofway. 

Reduce the potential for impacts by reducing the HST right-of-way width to 50 feet 

in constrained areas. 

Coordinate with private agricultural land trusts, local programs, mitigation banks, 

and Resource Conservation Districts to identify additional measures to limit 

important farmland conversion or provide further protection to existing important 

farmland. 

The Authority, or other entities designated and supported by the Authority will 

acquire, from willing sellers, agricultural conservation easements encompassing at 

least 3,500 acres of important farmland (as defined by the FMMP). The eventual 

locations and total acreage for these easements would be determined in 

consultation with the California Department of Conservation, and others, and in 

conjunction with project-level decisions of the HST system. 

Severance of 

prime, statewide 

important, and 

unique 

farmlands, and 

farmlands of 

local importance, 

to project uses 

Avoid farmland whenever feasible during the conceptual design stage of the project 

Minimize severance of agricultural land by constructing underpasses and overpasses 

at reasonable intervals to provide property access 

Work with landowners during final design of the system to enable adequate 

property access 

Provide appropriate severance payments to landowners. 

Aesthetics 

and Visual 

Resources 

Long-term visual 

quality impacts 

due to operation 

At the project-level, design proposed facilities that are attractive in their own right 

and that would integrate well into landscape contexts, so as to reduce potential 

view blockage, contrast with existing landscape settings, light and shadow effects, 

and other potential visual impacts. 

Design bridges and elevated guideways with graceful lines and minimal apparent 

bulk and shading effects. 

Design elevated guideways, stations, and parking structures with sensitivity to the 

context, using exterior materials, colors, textures, and design details that are 

compatible with patterns in the surrounding natural and built environment, and that 

minimize the contrast of the structures with their surroundings. 

Use neutral colors and dulled finishes that minimize reflectivity for catenary support 

structures, and design them to fit the context of the specific locale. 

Use aesthetically appropriate fencing along rights-of-way, including decorative 

fencing, where appropriate, and use dark and non-reflective colors for fencing to 

reduce visual contrast. 
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Where at-grade or depressed route segments pass through or along the edge of 

residential areas or heavily traveled roadways, install landscape treatments along 

the edge of the right-of-way to provide partial screening and to visually integrate 

the right-of-way into the residential context. 

Use the minimum amount of night lighting consistent with that necessary for 

operations and safety. 

Use shielded and hooded outdoor lighting directed to the area where the lighting is 

required, and use sensors and timers for lights not required to be on all the time. 

Design stations to minimize potential shadow impacts on adjacent pedestrian areas, 

parks, and residential areas, and site all structures in a way that minimizes shadow 

effects on sensitive portions of the surrounding area. 

Seed and plant areas outside the operating rail trackbed that are disturbed by cut, 

fill or grading to blend with surrounding vegetated areas, where the land will 

support plants. Use native vegetation in appropriate locations and densities. 

Use strategic plantings of fast-growing trees to provide partial or full screening of 

elevated guideways where they are close to residential areas, parks, and public 

open spaces. 

Where elevated guideways are located down the median strips or along the edge of 

freeways or major roadways, use appropriate landscaping of the area under the 

guideway to provide a high level of visual interest. Landscaping in these area 

should use attractive shrubs and groundcovers, and emphasize the use of lowgrowing species to minimize any additional shadow effects or blockage of views. 

Plan hours of construction operations and locate staging sites to minimize impacts 

to adjacent residents and businesses. 

Screen construction sites, as appropriate, to minimize visual construction impacts. 

Short-term visual 

quality impacts 

due to 

construction 

Plan hours of construction operations and locate staging sites to minimize impacts 

to adjacent residents and businesses. 

Screen construction sites, as appropriate, to minimize visual construction impacts. 

Public 

Utilities 

 Make adjustments to the HST system alignments and vertical profiles to avoid 

crossing or using major utility right-of-way or fixed facilities during engineering 

design. 

If avoidance is not feasible, in consultation and coordination with the utility owner, 

relocate or protect in place transmission lines, substations, and any other affected 

facilities. 

For acquisition projects which result in utility relocation, follow the uniformity and 

equitable treatment policies, and comply with the requirements, of the Uniform 

Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 for all 

property necessary for the proposed HST system. 

Hazardous 

Materials 

and Wastes 

 Investigate soils and groundwater for contamination and prepare environmental site 

assessments when necessary and consult with Department of Toxic Substance 

Control (DTSC) and California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas, and 

Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) about sites of concern. 

Design realignment of the HST corridors to avoid identified sites. 

Relocate HST associated facilities such as stations to avoid identified sites. 

Remediate identified hazardous materials and hazardous waste contamination. 

Prior to demolition of buildings for project construction, survey for lead-based paint 

and asbestos-containing materials. 
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Follow BMP's for testing, treating, and disposing of water, and acquire necessary 

permits from the regional water quality control board, if ground dewatering is 

required. 

When indicated by project level environmental site assessments, perform Phase II 

environmental site assessments in conformance with the ASTM Standards related to 

the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process to identify specific mitigation 

measures. 

Prepare a Site Management Program/Contingency Plan prior to construction to 

address known and potential hazardous material issues, including 

a. Measures to address management of contaminated soil and groundwater; 

b. Site-specific Health and Safety Plan (HASP), including measures to protect 

construction workers and general public; and 

c. Procedures to protect workers and the general public in the event that unknown 

contamination or buried hazards are encountered. 

As part of the second-tier environmental review, consider impacts to the 

environment on sites identified on the Cortese list (Government Code section 

65962.4) at that time. 

Cultural and 

Paleontologi

cal 

Resources 

Impacts to 

archaeological 

resources and 

traditional 

cultural 

properties 

Avoid the impact, or when avoidance cannot be accommodated, minimize the scale 

of the impact. 

Incorporate the site into parks or open space. 

Cap or cover the site before construction. 

Provide data recovery for the archaeological resources, which may include 

excavation of an adequate sample of the site contents so that research questions 

applicable to the site can be addressed. 

Develop procedures for fieldwork, identification, evaluation, and determination of 

potential effects to archaeological resources in consultation with SHPO and Native 

American tribes. Procedures may include on-site monitoring when sites are known 

or suspected of containing Native American human remains and be reflected in 

Memoranda of Agreement with appropriate bodies. 

Coordinate and consult with tribal representatives. 

Impacts to 

historic 

properties/ 

resources 

Avoid the impact through project design. Prepare and utilize a treatment plan for 

protection of historic properties/resources that would describe methods to preserve, 

stabilize, shore/underpin, and monitor buildings, structures, and objects. 

Avoid high vibration construction techniques in sensitive areas. 

Record and document cultural resources that would be adversely affected by the 

project to the standards of the Historic American Building Survey or Historic 

American Engineering Record. 

Develop design guidelines to ensure sympathetic, compatible, and appropriate 

designs for new construction. 

Consult with architectural historians or historical architects to advise on appropriate 

architectural treatment of the structural design of proposed new structures. Prepare 

interpretive and/or educational materials and programs regarding the affected 

historic properties/resources. Materials may include: a popular report, documentary 

videos, booklets, and interpretive signage. 

Make interpretive information available to state and local agencies, such as salvage 

items, historic drawings, interpretive drawings, current and historic photographs, 

models, and oral histories. Also assist with archiving and digitizing the 

documentation of the cultural resources affected, and disseminating material to the 

appropriate repositories. 
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Relocate and rehabilitate historic properties/resources that would otherwise be 

demolished because of the project. 

Monitor project construction to ensure it conforms to design guidelines and any 

other treatment procedures agreed to by the parties consulting pursuant to Section 

106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Repair inadvertent damage to historic 

properties/resources in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for 

Treatment of Historic Properties. 

Salvage selected decorative or architectural elements of the adversely affected 

historic properties/resources, and retain and incorporate salvaged items into new 

construction where possible. If reuse is not possible, make salvaged items available 

for use in interpretive displays near the affected resources or in an appropriate 

museum. 

Implement an agreement with appropriate bodies specifying procedures for 

addressing historic resources which may be affected by the HST system. 

Impacts to 

paleontological 

resources 

Educate workers. 

Recover fossils identified during the field reconnaissance. 

Monitor construction. 

Develop protocols for handling fossils discovered during construction, such as 

temporary diversion of construction equipment so that the fossils could be 

recovered, identified, and prepared for dating, interpreting, and preserving at an 

established, permanent, accredited research facility. 

Geology and 

Soils 

Seismic hazards Design structures to withstand anticipated ground motion, using design options 

such as redundancy and ductility. 

Prevent liquefaction and resulting structural damage and traffic hazards using: (1) 

ground modification techniques such as soil densification; and (2) structural design, 

such as deep foundations. 

Utilize motion sensing instruments to provide ground motion data and a control 

system to temporarily shut down HST operations during or after an earthquake to 

reduce risks. 

Design and engineer all structures for earthquake activity using Caltrans Seismic 

design Criteria. 

Design and install foundations resistant to soil liquefaction and settlement. 

Identify potential serpentinite bedrock disturbance areas and implement a safety 

plan. 

Apply Section 19 requirements from the most current Caltrans Standard 

Specifications to ensure geotechnically stable slopes are planned and created. 

Install passive or active gas venting systems and gas collection systems in areas 

where subsurface gases are identified. 

Remove corrosive soil and use corrosion protected materials in infrastructure. 

Address erosive soils through soil removal and replacement, geosynthetics, 

vegetation, and or rip/rap, where warranted. 

Remove or moisture condition shrink/swell soils. 

Utilize stone columns, grouting, and deep dynamic compaction in areas of potential 

liquefaction. 

Utilize buttress berms, flattened slopes, drains, and/or tie-backs in areas of slope 

instability. 

Avoid settlement through preloading, use of stone columns, deep dynamic 

compaction, grouting, and/or special foundation designs. 
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Surface rupture 

hazards 

Install early warning systems triggered by strong ground motion associated with 

ground rupture, such as linear monitoring systems (i.e., time domain 

reflectometers) along major highways and rail lines within the zone of potential 

rupture to provide early warnings and allow for temporary control of rail and 

automobile traffic to avoid and reduce risks. 

Continue to modify alignments to avoid crossing known or mapped active faults 

within tunnels. 

Avoid active faults to the extent possible. Where avoidance is not possible, cross 

active faults at grade and perpendicular to the fault line. 

Slope instability Install temporary and permanent slope reinforcement and protection, based on 

geotechnical investigations, and review of proposed earthwork and foundation 

excavation plans. 

Conduct geotechnical inspections during construction to verify that no new, 

unanticipated conditions are encountered. 

Incorporate slope monitoring in final design. 

Difficulty in 

excavation 

Identify areas of potentially difficult excavation to ensure safe practices. 

Focus future geotechnical engineering and geologic investigations in areas of 

potentially difficult excavation. 

Monitor conditions during and after construction. 

Employ tunnel excavation and lining techniques to ensure safety. 

Hazards related 

to oil and gas 

fields 

Follow federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulatory 

requirements for excavations. 

Consult with other agencies such as the Department of Conservation’s Division of 

Oil and Gas, or the Department of Toxic Substances Control regarding known areas 

of concern. 

Use safe and explosion-proof equipment during construction. 

Test for gases regularly. 

Install monitoring systems and alarms in underground construction areas and 

facilities where subsurface gases are present. 

Install gas barrier systems. 

Hydrology 

and Water 

Resources 

Impacts on 

floodplains 

Avoid or minimize construction of facilities within floodplains where feasible. 

Construct appropriately sized culverts under the trackway to convey anticipated 

storm flows and to minimize ponding. 

Minimize the footprint of facilities within the floodplain, through design changes or 

the use of aerial structures and tunnels. 

Restore the floodplain to its prior operation in instances where the floodplain is 

impacted by construction. 

Impacts on 

surface waters 

Use construction methods and facility designs to minimize the potential 

encroachments onto surface water resources. 
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Minimize sediment transport caused by construction by following best management 

practices (BMPs) as part of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

(NPDES) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan requirements that will be 

included in construction permits. BMPs may include measures such as: 

a. providing permeable surfaces where feasible; 

b. retaining and treating stormwater onsite using catch basins and filtering wet 

basins; 

c. minimizing the contact of construction materials, equipment, and maintenance 

supplies with stormwater; 

d. reducing erosion through soil stabilization, watering for dust control, installing 

perimeter silt fences, placing rice straw bales, and installing sediment basins; 

e. maintaining water quality by using infiltration systems, detention systems, 

retention systems, constructed wetland systems, filtration systems, 

biofiltration/bioretention systems, grass buffer strips, ponding areas, organic 

mulch layers, planting soil beds, sand beds, and vegetated systems such as 

swales and grass filter strips that are designed to convey and treat either fallow 

flow (swales) or sheetflow (filter strips) runoff. 

Use methods such as habitat restoration, reconstruction of [habitat] onsite, and 

habitat replacement offsite to minimize surface water quality impacts. 

Comply with mitigation measures included in permits issued under Sections 404 and 

401 of the federal Clean Water Act. 

Comply with requirements in the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan to reduce 

pollutants in storm water discharges and the potential for erosion and 

sedimentation. 

Comply with requirements of Section 10 of the federal Rivers and Harbors Act for 

work required around a water body designated as navigable and applicable permit 

requirements. 

Comply with the requirements of a state Streambed Alteration Agreement for work 

along the banks of various surface water bodies. 

Implement a spill prevention and emergency response plan to handle potential fuel 

or other spills. 

Where feasible, avoid significant development of facilities in areas that may have 

substantial erosion risk, including areas with erosive soils or steep slopes. 

Impacts on 

groundwater 

Minimize development of facilities in areas that may have substantial groundwater 

discharge or affect recharge. 

Apply for, obtain, and comply with conditions of applicable waste discharge 

requirements as part of project-level review. 

Develop facility designs that are elevated, or at a minimum are permeable, and 

would not affect recharge potential where construction is required in areas of 

potentially substantial groundwater discharge or recharge. 

Apply for and obtain a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan for grading, with Best 

Management Practices that would control release of contaminants nears areas of 

surface water or groundwater recharge. Best Management Practices may include 

constraining fueling and other sensitive activities to alternative locations, providing 

drip plans under some equipment, and providing daily checks of vehicle condition. 

Use and retain native materials with high infiltration potential at the ground surface 

in areas that are critical to infiltration for groundwater recharge. 
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Biological 

Resources 

and 

Wetlands 

Impacts to 

sensitive habitat 

and vegetation 

communities 

Utilize existing transportation corridors and rail lines to minimize potential impacts. 

Use large diameter tunnels as part of the design to limit surface access needs in 

tunnels for ventilation or evacuation, as a method to avoid or limit impacts to 

vegetation and habitat above tunnels. 

Use in-line construction (i.e., use new rail infrastructure as it is built) in ecological 

sensitive areas to transport equipment to/from the construction site and to 

transport excavated material away from the construction to appropriate re-use or 

disposal sites to minimize impacts from construction access roads on 

vegetation/habitat. 

Accomplish necessary geologic exploration in sensitive areas by using helicopters to 

transport drilling equipment and for site restoration to minimize surface disruption. 

Use and reuse excavated materials within the confines of the project. 

Participate in or contribute to existing or proposed conservation banks or natural 

management areas, including possible acquisition, preservation, or restoration of 

habitats. 

Revegetate/restore impacted areas, with a preference for on-site mitigation over 

off-site, and with a preference for off-site mitigation within the same watershed or 

in close proximity to the impact where feasible. 

Comply with the Biological Resources Management Plan(s) developed or identified 

during project-level studies, as reviewed by the USFWS, CDFG, and USACE. 

Conduct pre-construction focused biological surveys. 

Conduct biological construction monitoring. 

Undertake plant relocation, seed collection, plant propagation, and outplanting at 

suitable mitigation sites. 

Prevent the spread of weeds and invasive species during construction and operation 

by identifying areas with existing weed problems and measures to control traffic 

moving out of those areas such as cleaning construction vehicles or limiting the 

movement of fill. 

Impacts to 

wildlife 

movement 

corridors 

Construct species specific appropriately sized wildlife underpasses, bridges, and/or 

large culverts, to facilitate known wildlife movement corridors. 

Ensure that wildlife crossings are of a design, shape, and size to be sufficiently 

attractive to encourage wildlife use. 

Provide appropriate vegetation to wildlife overcrossings and undercrossings to 

afford cover and other species requirements. 

Establish functional corridors to provide connectivity to protected land zoned for 

uses that provide wildlife permeability. 

Design protective measures for wildlife movement corridors using the following 

process in consultation with resource agencies: 

a. Identify the habitat areas the corridor is designed to connect 

b. Select several species of interest from the species present in the area 

c. Evaluate the relevant needs of each selected species 

d. For each potential corridor, evaluate how the area will accommodate movement 

by each species of interest 

e. Draw the corridors on a map 

f. Design a monitoring program 

Utilize existing transportation corridors and rail lines to minimize potential impacts. 

Use aerial structures or tunnels to allow for unhindered crossing by wildlife. 
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Resource 

Area Impact Area Mitigation Measure 

Impacts to nonwetland 

jurisdictional 

waters 

Utilize existing transportation corridors and rail lines to minimize potential impacts. 

Return degraded habitat to pre-existing conditions. 

Create new habitat by converting non-wetland habitats into wetland or other 

aquatic habitat. 

Enhance existing habitats by increasing one or more functions through activities 

such as plantings or non-native vegetation eradication. 

Provide for passive revegetation by allowing a disturbed area to revegetate 

naturally. 

Purchase credits in an existing wetlands or aquatic habitat mitigation bank. 

Provide in-lieu fee payments to an agency or other entity who will provide aquatic 

habitat conservation or restoration. 

Prefer on-site mitigation over off-site mitigation, and for off-site mitigation prefer 

that located within the same watershed or as close in proximity to the area of 

impact as possible. 

Impacts to 

wetlands 

Utilize existing transportation corridors and rail lines to minimize potential impacts. 

Return degraded habitat to pre-existing conditions. 

Create new habitat by converting non-wetland habitats into wetland or other 

aquatic habitat. 

Enhance existing habitats by increasing one or more functions through activities 

such as plantings or non-native vegetation eradication. 

Provide for passive revegetation by allowing a disturbed area to revegetate 

naturally. 

Purchase credits in an existing wetlands or aquatic habitat mitigation bank. 

Provide in-lieu fee payments to an agency or other entity who will provide aquatic 

habitat conservation or restoration. 

Develop and implement measures to address the “no net loss” policy for wetlands. 

Prefer on-site mitigation over off-site mitigation, and for off-site mitigation prefer 

that located within the same watershed or as close in proximity to the area of 

impact as possible. 

Impacts to 

marine and 

anadromous 

fishery resources 

Utilize existing transportation corridors and rail lines to minimize potential impacts. 

Comply with the terms of a Streambed Alteration Agreement for work along banks 

of surface water bodies. 

Implement a spill prevention and emergency response plan to handle potential fuel 

or other spills. 

Incorporate bio-filtration swales to intercept runoff. 

Where feasible, avoid significant development of facilities in areas that may have 

substantial erosion risk, including areas with erosive soils and steep slopes. 

Impacts to 

special status 

species 

Utilize existing transportation corridors and rail lines to minimize potential impacts. 

Relocate sensitive species. 

Conduct seed collection and plant propagation for sensitive plant species. 

Conduct pre-construction focused surveys. 

Conduct biological construction monitoring. 

Restore suitable breeding and foraging habitat. 

Purchase credits from an existing mitigation bank. 
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Resource 

Area Impact Area Mitigation Measure 

Participate in an existing Habitat Conservation Plan. 

Phase construction around the breeding season. 

Impacts to 

protected 

habitats and 

conservation 

areas 

Conduct focused surveys of biological resources within areas of the GEA directly 

affected by HST tracks and faculties, including sensitive habitats, and special-status 

plant and wildlife species. 

Conduct project-level evaluation of biological resources in the GEA to determined 

impacts from construction, operation, and maintenance, including, but not limited 

to, ecosystem fragmentation impacts, impacts to wildlife movement corridors, 

impacts to waterfowl flight patterns, noise impacts, startle and vibration impacts, 

collision impacts, electrocution impacts, glare impacts, water quality and water flow 

impacts, impacts on waterfowl nesting breeding, impacts on migratory habits, 

impacts from construction traffic, impacts of equipment storage and laydown areas, 

impacts from blasting and pile-driving, and impacts from temporary disruption of 

water supply deliveries. 

Minimize the footprint of necessary HST facilities to the extent feasible in the HST 

alignment crossing the GEA. 

The Authority commits to construct an elevated structure along an approximate 

three-mile portion of Henry Miller Road to minimize impacts on sensitive areas, 

including wetlands and habitat. 

Consult with the CDFG, the USFWS, and Grassland Water District, in evaluating the 

timing of construction activities within the GEA and in developing measures to 

minimize disturbance during nesting and flooding seasons. 

Consult with CDFG, USFWS, and the Grassland Water District, on non-glare and 

directed lighting and appropriate measures to avoid disturbance impacts to sensitive 

species in areas of the GEA directly affected by proposed HST facilities. 

The Authority, or other entities designated and supported by the Authority will 

acquire, from willing sellers, agricultural, conservation and/or open space 

easements encompassing at least 10,000 acres and generally located along or in 

the vicinity of the HST alignment and within or adjacent to the designated GEA. 

The focus for these easements will be in areas undergoing development pressures, 

such as the areas around Los Banos and Volta, and/or areas that would be most 

appropriate for ecological conservation or restoration. The eventual locations and 

total acreage for these easements would be determined in consultation with the 

CDFG, the USFWS, and the Grassland Water District and in conjunction with 

project-level decisions addressing the Gilroy to Merced portion of the HST system. 

Public Parks 

and 

Recreation 

Resources 

Impacts to parks 

and recreational 

resources 

Continue to apply design practices to avoid impacts to park resources, and when 

avoidance cannot be accommodated, minimize the scale of the impact 

Apply measures at the project level to reduce and minimize indirect/proximity 

impacts as appropriate for the particular sites affected, while avoiding other adverse 

impacts (e.g., visual), such as noise barriers, visual buffers and landscaping. 

Apply measures to modify access to/egress from the recreational resource to reduce 

impacts to these resources. 

Design and construct cuts, fill, and aerial structures to avoid and minimize visual 

impacts to units of the state park system. 

Incorporate wildlife under or over crossings at appropriate intervals as necessary. 

Where public parklands acquired with public funds would be acquired for non-park 

use as part of the HST system, commit as required by law to providing funds for the 

acquisition of substantially equivalent substitute parkland or to acquiring/providing 

substitute parkland of comparable characteristics for construction impacts. 
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Resource 

Area Impact Area Mitigation Measure 

Restore affected park lands to natural state and replace or restore affected park 

facilities. 

If park facilities must be relocated, provide planning studies as well as appropriate 

design and replacement with minimal impact on park use. 

Use local native plants for revegetation. 

Develop and implement construction practices, including scheduling, to limit impacts 

to wildlife, wildlife corridors and visitor use areas within public parks. 

For temporary unavoidable loss of park and recreation facility uses consider 

providing compensation. 

Cumulative Impacts on 

traffic and 

circulation and 

travel conditions 

See Traffic and Circulation above. 

Impacts on air 

quality 

See Air Quality above. 

Impacts on noise 

and vibration 

See Noise and Vibration above. 

Impacts on land 

use and 

planning, 

communities and 

neighborhoods, 

property, and 

environmental 

justice 

See Land Use above. 

Impacts on 

agricultural lands 

See Agricultural Lands above. 

Impacts on 

aesthetics and 

visual resources 

See Aesthetics and Visual Resources above. 

Impacts on 

public utilities 

See Public Utilities above. 

Impacts on 

cultural and 

paleontological 

resources 

See Cultural and Paleontological Resources above. 

Impacts on 

geology and soils 

See Geology and Soils above. 

Impacts on 

hydrology and 

water resources 

See Hydrology and Water Resources above. 

Impacts on 

biological 

resources and 

wetlands 

See Biological Resources and Wetlands above. 
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Resource 

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Impacts on 

Section 4(f) and 

6(f) resources 

(public parks and 

recreational 

resources) 

See Public Parks and Recreation Resources above.