Environmental Impact Assessment

Overview

The 3-acre site will be located over the Edwards Aquifer. In order to ensure the protection of this vital

natural resource and its inhabitants, PAGGES Engineering will be reviewing and assessing several

factors. This will include TCEQ Edwards Aquifer rules and regulations, 100 year floodplain, TCEQ

Storm Water Program, Endangered Species Act, City of San Antonio Tree Preservation Ordinance,

Clean Water Act, and the Antiquities Code of Texas.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Edwards Aquifer

The counties of Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, Bexar, Medina, Uvalde, and Kinney are regulated by

TCEQ for land lying within the Edwards Aquifer. TCEQ has set forth rules to guarantee that polluted

runoff does not negatively impact the quality of water in the Edwards Aquifer. The three primary zones

in the Aquifer are the contributing zone, recharge zone, and the transition/artesian zone (as shown in the

“Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zones” map). According to TCEQ, the recharge zone is defined as the

region “where geologic layers of the aquifer are exposed at the surface and water infiltrates into the

aquifer through cracks, fissures, caves, and other openings throughout these layers.” Generally, any

contaminants present in the groundwater in this zone can easily get into aquifer, so a Water Pollution

Abatement Plan (WPAP) is required. The contributing zone (Texas Hill Country) consists of watersheds

that drain water from rainfall into rivers and streams that flow or infiltrates into the water table aquifer.

Additionally, the transition zone is a narrow strip of land whose geologic features (faults, fractures,

caves, and sinkholes) make it possible for contaminants in the surface water to flow into the aquifer.

This proposed project will be situated in the contributing zone within the transition zone that is one of

several small regions south and southeast of the recharge zone where water flows to streams that cover

the recharge zone (shown in “Edwards Aquifer Zone Map.”). Furthermore, the proposed site location

does not lie within the 100-year floodplain, so Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

regulations will not come into effect. As a result, a Floodplain Development Permit will not be

necessary before construction begins. However, the TCEQ Storm Water Program does stipulate a

Construction General Permit when more than 1-acre of land is disturbed in the construction phase. This

permit will require PAGGES Engineering to submit Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans that specify

how erosion control measures will be implemented to avoid sediment transport during construction

stages. The following documents are listed by TCEQ for the purpose of environmental permitting and

they will be reviewed by PAGGES Engineering to determine their applicability to this project:

o TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Administrative Review Process and Checklists

o TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Application Fee Form

o Contributing Zone Plan Application

o TPDES General Permit TXR150000 (overseen by TCEQ)

o TCEQ Core Data Form-1040

Edwards Aquifer Administrative Check-In Cover Sheet

Regulated Entity Name:

Date Received: Date Administratively Complete:

Received From: Correct Number of Copies: Y N

Received By: Review Time Spent:

EAPP File Number: County:

Customer Number: Regulated Entity Number:

Project Type Plan Type Land Use PERMANENT BMP Correct Fee Form

New WPAP Residential Type (write in): # Check Amount:

Modification CZP Commercial Acreage:

Exception SCS

SCS LF:

Extension of Time AST # Tanks:

Technical Clarification UST Opt. Enhanced

Measures Cave

Signatures of the applicant or authorized agent on all forms (NOI may be unsigned)

Agent Authorization Form

Legal Name of the Customer

Signed by customer or additional authorization by land owner

Fee Form

Check

Payable to the “TCEQ”

Check must be signed

Check less than 90 days old Delinquent Fees

No delinquent fees for customer

Core Data Form all fields complete

Federal Tax ID No.

Customer verified by SOS database (may accept article of incorporation from another State)

Optional Enhanced Measures

Optional Enhanced Measures Report

Notes:

Application Distribution: Number of Copies Needed

Instructions: Use the table below to determine the number of applications needed for plan review. One original and one copy of the application, plus additional copies (as needed) for each affected incorporated city, groundwater conservation district and county are required. Linear projects or large projects, which cross into multiple jurisdictions, can require additional copies. Refer to the Groundwater Conservation Districts within the EAPP Boundaries Map found on the TCEQ website at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/field_ops/eapp/review.html

Austin Region Hays Travis Williamson

Original (1 Req.) __ __ __

Region (1 Req.) __ __ __

County (1 Req.) __ __ __

GCD (1 or more req.)

__EAA

__Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer

__Hays Trinity

__Plum Creek

__Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer

NA

City Jurisdiction (1 req.)

__Austin __Buda __Dripping Springs __Kyle __Mountain City __San Marcos __Wimberley __Woodcreek

__Austin __Bee Cave __Rollingwood __Round Rock __Sunset Valley __West Lake Hills

__Austin __Cedar Park __Florence __Georgetown __Jerrell __Leander __Liberty hill __Pflugerville __Round Rock

San Antonio Region Bexar Comal Kinney Medina Uvalde

Original (1 Req.) __ __ __ __ __ Region (1 Req.) __ __ __ __ __ County (1 Req.) __ __ __ __ __

GCD (1 or more req.)

__EAA __Trinity- Glen Rose

__EAA __Kinney __EAA __Medina

__EAA __Uvalde

City Jurisdiction (1 req.)

__Castle Hills __Fair Oaks Ranch __Helotes __Hill Country Village __Hollywood Park __San Antonio (SAWS) __Shavano Park

__Bulverde __Fair Oaks Ranch __Garden Ridge __New Braunfels __Schertz

NA __San Antonio ETJ (SAWS)

NA

Endangered Species Act

The Edwards Aquifer contains over 40 different species. The existence of these species is

often negatively affected by increasing urban development as it tends to decrease water

quality as well as natural habitat and increases water pumping. Currently, the Edwards

Aquifer System lists 7 inhabitants as endangered species of the aquifer and one as

threatened. The endangered species include: Fountain Darter (Etheostoma fonticola),

Texas Blind Salamander (Typhlomolge rathbuni), San Marcos Gambusia (Gambusia

georgei), Texas Wild Rice (Zizania texana), Comal Springs Riffle Beetle (Heterelmis

comalensis), Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis), and Peck’s Cave

Amphipod (Stygobromus pecki). The one threatened species is San Marcos Salamander

(Eurycea nana). Additionally, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has designated nine

Karst-dwelling species as endangered and they are as follows: Rhadine exilis, Rhadine

infernalis, Helotes mold beetle (Batrisodes venyivi), Cokendolpher cave harvestman

(Texella cokendolpheri), Robber Baron Cave spider (Cicurina baronia), Braken Bat Cave

meshweaver (Cicurina venii), Madla Cave meshweaver (Cicurina madla), Government

Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina vespera), and Government Canyon Bat Cave

spider (neoleptoneta microps).

An endangered species study has been done for the University of Texas at San Antonio

Main Campus due to the recent as well as future expansion of the campus. The

boundaries of the study incorporated the proposed location of the San Antonio Children’s

Art Museum. It was determined from the results that are shown in the subsequent map

that the 3-acre lot is in a low-sensitivity/non-sensitivity area that will not disturb the Karst

endangered species sites.

Tree Preservation Ordinance

The City of San Antonio mandates that a Tree Affidavit/Permit application be submitted

for all platting, site work, and building permits with an accompanying Tree Inventory

(this document will be completed with the assistance of a tree arborists). This regulation

is meant to preserve the existing tree species and promote the planting of additional trees

within the city limits. PAGGES Engineering will also be submitting details for tree

protection during construction along with the permit. If there is a necessity of tree

removal for this proposed construction project the proper documentation will be

submitted to the City and the form has been attached with the following sheets. The next

tables supply information from the City of San Antonio regarding what trees are

protected and what the minimum tree preservation requirements are.

Clean Water Act

There are no U.S. waters within the proposed project limits, so no action is required.

The Antiquities Code of Texas

The site will need to be inspected by historians and archaeologists from the Texas

Historical Commission to determine if the land is an archaeological site.