2.
Response
to
Comments
2.9
Individual
Responses
to
Comments
from
Organizations
Increased
use
of
the
railroad
facilities
or
the
Bus
Rapid
Transit
system
would
occur
as
a
result
of
projects
initiated
by
Caltrain,
High
Speed
Rail,
or
the
San
Francisco
Transportation
Authority
and
impacts
associated
with
those
projects
will
be
disclosed
and
mitigated
at
the
time
such
projects
are
advanced.
These
potential
future
projects
are
not
the
subject
of
the
Draft
EIR.
Section
4.J,
Noise
and
Vibration
,
of
the
Draft
EIR
identifies
impacts
and
mitigation
associated
with
future
noise
levels
for
each
concept
plan
scenario
at
the
Baylands.
This
evaluation
was
completed
by
noise
evaluation
experts.
Section
4.J
includes
measures
designed
for
minimization
of
noise
impacts
according
to
current
standards
and
requirements
for
human
populations.
Existing
conditions
at
the
Baylands
include
noise
and
disturbance
associated
with
on-
going
activities
such
as
the
Soils
Processing
facility,
on-going
operation
of
the
Recology
facility,
local
traffic,
and
existing
Caltrain
and
Highway
101
freeway
operational
noise.
Local
wildlife
populations
will
have
already
acclimated
to
these
conditions
in
order
to
continue
occupying
the
site.
Insomuch
as
site
development
activities
and
occupation
of
the
site
after
buildout
will
impact
special
status
wildlife
including
breeding
birds
protected
under
the
Migratory
Bird
Treaty
Act
or
the
California
Fish
and
Wildlife
Code,
these
items
are
addressed
in
the
Draft
EIR.
Page
4.C-49
of
the
Draft
EIR
evaluates
the
potential
for
Baylands
development-related
noise
to
impact
breeding
birds,
both
during
construction
and
as
a
result
of
site
build-out.
Mitigation
measure
4.C-4f
includes
performance
standards
to
offset
impacts
of
noise
on
nesting
birds
and
sensitive
natural
communities,
including
limitations
on
construction
during
the
breeding
season,
and
separation
of
construction
activities
from
construction
activities.
Mitigation
Measure
4.C-4f
recognizes
that
surveys
alone
will
not
mitigate
noise
impacts,
and
therefore
requires
that
should
surveys
of
“all
trees
in
line-of-sight
and
within
500
feet
of
construction
for
raptors,
and
all
vegetation
(including
bare
ground
within
250
feet)
for
all
other
species”
find
active
nests
are
found,
“tree
removal
or
tree
trimming
and
construction
activities,
including
soil
disturbance,
construction
noise,
increased
human
presence,
would
be
halted
and
the
nest
would
be
monitored
by
a
qualified
biologist
who
shall
verify
when
the
nestlings
have
fledged
and
left
the
nest”
before
construction
activities
could
be
resumed.
Furthermore,
the
Draft
EIR
includes
restrictions
on
pile
driving
which
anticipates
and
prohibits
and
prevents
potential
impacts
to
wildlife
associated
with
sound
or
vibration
in
the
Lagoon
aquatic
habitat.
In
addition,
Mitigation
Measure
4.J-4a
sets
forth
standards
to
reduce
noise
from
Baylands
Project
Site
construction
activities.
Section
4.N,
Traffic
and
Circulation
,
includes
requirements
for
implementation
of
San
Mateo
County
Congestion
Management
Plan
requirements
to
reduce
the
number
of
vehicle
trips
generated
by
new
development
(see
page
4.N-27).
This
measure
reduces
site
generated
vehicle
trips
to
the
extent
practicable.
And
the
performance
standards
that
require
establishment
of
contiguous
habitats,
open
areas
and
wildlife
Brisbane
Baylands
Final
EIR
2.9.2-59
May
2015