This section evaluates the potential environmental effects related to public services associated with implementation of the proposed Project.
5.13.1 EXISTING CONDITIONS
5.13.1.1 Fire Protection
Volunteer Fire Departments provide fire protection services to Inyo County and the City of Bishop. The fire protection districts (FPD) present within Inyo County include Bishop FPD, Big Pine FPD, Independence FPD, Lone Pine FPD, and Southern Inyo FPD. Fire departments respond to structural fires, medical emergencies, and wildland fires.
Additionally, federal land management agencies are responsible for fire protection on lands they manage. These agencies include the following: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and US Forest Service (USFS).1
The Interagency Fire Protection Agencies (IFPA) manage wildfires within Inyo County and consist of the following fire protection service providers: Bishop Fire District, Big Pine Fire District, Lone Pine Fire District, Independence Fire District, CAL FIRE, USFS, BLM, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Most wildfires within the County are controlled during the first few hours by fire protection service providers.
Fire hazards within the County are typically caused by large wildfires, such as brush and forest fires, and
structural fires.2 The wildland fire season in the Eastern Sierra usually occurs from mid-June through
early October. CAL FIRE designates a Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) Map for counties within
California, which is discussed further in Section 5.8, Hazards and Hazardous Materials.
Local Fire Agencies
Fire stations in Inyo County are the first responders to accidents that occur within the County and require immediate medical assistance. Stations proximate to the proposed Project area include Bishop Volunteer Fire Departments, which includes Stations 1, 2 and 3; Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department; Independence Volunteer Fire Department; Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department; and the State of California Owens Valley Conservation Camp, which provide fire prevention services. The location of each
fire station is shown in Table 5.13-1, Fire Stations Proximate to the Project Area. The fire stations
1 Inyo County General Plan, “Land Use Element” (2001). 2 Inyo County General Plan, “Public Safety Element” (2001).
located within the Project area are shown in Figure 5.13-1, Fire Stations, Police, and Hospitals Proximate to the Project Area.
City of Bishop Fire Department
The Bishop Fire Department operates three stations near the proposed Project routes: Station No. 1, Station No. 2, and Station No. 3. The Bishop Fire Department provides fire protection and other emergency services to the City of Bishop. The Bishop Rural Fire Protection District and the Bishop Fire Department provide fire protection for West Bishop, North Bishop, East Bishop, South Bishop, and the Bishop Paiute Reservation. Although the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District and the Bishop Fire Department are funded separately, these two entities act as one fire department, providing mutual aid
to the areas they service.3 The Bishop Fire Department is a volunteer fire department consisting of 39
volunteers with one assistant chief and one fire chief.4 The Bishop Fire Department works under the
District Board and the City Council.
State of California Owens Valley Conservation Camp
In addition to the City of Bishop stations identified, the State of California Owens Valley Conservation Camp is also located in Bishop. The State of California Owens Valley Conservation Camp is staffed by 10 officers with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which includes one lieutenant and one sergeant, and approximately 120 inmates who assist with fighting fires. The camp is staffed by
14 firefighters from CAL FIRE, which include one division chief and one battalion chief.5
State of California CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit—Independence
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)seasonally operates a station with
one fire engine in Independence that places an emphasis on wildland fire suppression. They are able to
assist with local volunteer fire departments through a local government contract.6
Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department
The Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection services to the community of Big Pine
and Aberdeen. As shown in Table 5.13-1, the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department has approximately 33
3 Inyo County General Plan, “Safety Element” (2001).
4 City of Bishop, “Fire” (2013), http://www.ca-bishop.us/departments/fire/.
5 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), “CDCR Conservation (Fire) Camps: Welcome to Owens Valley Conservation Camp #26” (2013), http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Conservation_Camps/Camps/Owens_Valley/index.html. 6 Calfornia Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE), “About Us: Contacts,” http://www.calfire.ca.gov
volunteer firefighters and one fire chief. The Big Pine Fire Department is equipped with two basic life support (BLS) ambulances.
The Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department has two BLS ambulances to support emergency medical services.
Table 5.13-1
Fire Stations Proximate to the Project Area
Station Location Facilities
Bishop Area
City of Bishop
Station No. 1 209 West Line Street, Bishop, CA
Personnel: Approximately 40 volunteer firefighters for Stations 1, 2 and 3; 1 full-time fire chief
Equipment: 3 engines, 1 rescue truck, 2 water tenders, 1 ladder truck
Station No. 2 3206 West Line Street, Bishop, CA Equipment: 1 type 1 engine, 1 water tender, 1 engine Station No. 3 2190 North Sierra Highway, Bishop, CA Equipment: 1 engine, 1 water tender, 1 ladder truck State of California
Owens Valley
Conservation Camp 2781 South Round Valley Road, Bishop, CA
Personnel: 10 fire captains, 2 dozer operators, 3 chiefs, 1 office tech, 1 water and sewer plant operator Equipment: 1 in-camp engine, 6 crew buses
Big Pine Area
Big Pine Volunteer Fire
Department 181 North Main Street, Big Pine, CA
Personnel: 33 firefighters
Equipment: 3 type 1 engines, 1 type 4 engine, 1 support truck, 2 BLS ambulances, 2 water tenders Independence Area
Independence Volunteer Fire Department
200 South Jackson Street, Independence, CA
Personnel: Approximately 20-25 firefighters Equipment: 5 water trucks, 2 water tenders, 1 portable trailer-mounted pump, 2 ambulances Cal Fire San Bernardino
Unit - Independence 103 Clay Street, Independence, CA
Personnel: 3-4 firefighters (open seasonally) Equipment: 1 fire engine (wildland type 3 Lone Pine Area
Lone Pine
Volunteer/Auxiliary Fire Department
130 North Jackson Street, Lone Pine, CA
Personnel: 35 firefighters
Equipment: 13 engines, 3 ambulances
Sources: Elaine Kabala, Associate Planner, Inyo County Planning Department, email message, March 4, 2014; the Planning Department supplied the fire stations located nearest to the proposed Project routes. Pat O’ Neil, Assistant Fire Chief, Bishop Volunteer Fire Department, Stations 1, 2, and 3, phone call, April 23, 2014. Christy Morton, Owens Valley Office Technician, Owens Valley Conservation Camp, phone call, April 24, 2014. Damon Carrington, Fire Chief, Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department, phone call, April 25, 2014. Courtney Smith, Transportation Planner, Inyo County Public Works Department, email message, April 28, 2014. Leroy Kritz, Fire Chief, Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department, phone call, April 23, 2014.
Independence Volunteer Fire Department
The Independence Volunteer Fire Department serves the community of Independence and has approximately 20–25 on-call volunteer firefighters. This department is equipped with five water trucks, two water tenders, one portable trailer-mounted pump, and two ambulances.
Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department
The Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency services to the community of Lone Pine and Alabama Hills. In the event of a wildfire in the Alabama Hills area, CAL FIRE provides assistance to the Lone Pine Fire Department. Lone Pine Fire Department also provides first response emergency medical services. The Lone Pine Fire Department has approximately 35 volunteer firefighters and 13 fire engines, along with three ambulances, which arrive from a central firehouse in
Lone Pine and are available on an on-call basis.7 Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department provides
ambulance services to Southern Inyo Hospital.
5.13.1.2 Law Enforcement
The California Highway Patrol, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bishop Police Department provide law enforcement services to Inyo County.
Law enforcement personnel currently address illegal off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity. Non-street-legal OHVs are not legally allowed to drive on existing County or City roads. If illegal OHV activity occurs, California Highway Patrol or the Sheriff’s Department handles ticketing of OHV riders for illegal activity. The Bishop Police Department does not currently deal with enforcement of illegal OHV activity.
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is a statewide law enforcement agency that has authority to enforce
traffic laws on State and County highways.8 The CHP station is located at 469 South Main Street in
Bishop. The CHP office in Bishop employs 30 officers, who patrol the roads throughout the County.
There are 17 patrol cars, or units, available within the County.9
7 Southern Inyo Healthcare District, “Emergency Services” (2014), http://www.sihd.org/getpage.php?name= emergency&sub=Services.
8 California Highway Patrol, “History of the CHP” (2014), http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/history.html. 9 Officer Dennis Cleland, Public Information Officer, California Highway Patrol, phone call April 24, 2014.
Inyo County Sheriff’s Department
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department is authorized by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors to
coordinate emergency services for Inyo County.10 The Sheriff’s Department provides dispatch services
to fire departments, ambulance services, and other County agencies. The Sheriff’s Department also
keeps the public informed during emergencies.11 In addition, the Sheriff’s Department provides
specialized services, including an OHV detail, search and rescue, mounted patrol, and boat patrol. The Sheriff’s Department operates three facilities near the proposed Project routes: the Bishop Sheriff Substation, at 301 West Line Street in Bishop; Independence Sheriff Substation, at 550 South Clay Street
in Independence; and the Lone Pine Sheriff Substation, at 726 North Main Street in Lone Pine.12 The
Inyo County Sheriff’s Department has approximately 24 officers plus another 12 officers who work at the jail. Additional staff consists of 22 staff personnel, including correctional officers, at the jail, as well
as other administrative staff, resulting in approximately 96 staff positions.13 The Inyo County Jail is
located at 550 South Clay Street in Independence, at the Independence Sheriff Substation.14
The Sheriff’s Department response times vary with respect to OHV incidents that can occur in remote areas. The Sheriff’s Department is not the first responder to an accident; however, officers can typically respond within 1 to 2 hours of an OHV accident if the units are able to leave immediately. If an OHV accident is less remote, response time is reduced. The maximum response time is up to 5 hours if
conditions are adverse and involve more technical rescues.15 Additionally, response times can be
affected if an accident requires immediate hands-on emergency medical aid or significant emergency resources that may include Inyo Search and Rescue along with helicopter support.
Off-Highway Vehicle Detail
The Sheriff’s Department uses funds from the California State Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle
Division to patrol federal and public lands within the County.16 The OHV Detail is a special unit of the
Sheriff’s Office in charge of ensuring that residents and visitors have a safe and responsible recreational
10 Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, “Emergency Services” (2014), http://www.inyocounty.us/so/contact-us/emergencyservices-publicinformation/.
11 Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, “Dispatch” (2014), http://www.inyocounty.us/so/contact-us/dispatch/. 12 Inyo County General Plan, “Guide to Inyo County Communities” (2001).
13 Janis Odum, Administrative Assistant, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, phone call, April 24, 2014. 14 Inyo County General Plan, “Land Use Element” (2001).
15 Sheriff William Lutze, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, phone call, March 19, 2014. Minimum and maximum response times, as well as examples of adverse conditions.
experience. OHV Detail officers are responsible for carrying out enforcement for OHV violations and for providing education to OHV users.
Inyo County Search and Rescue Team
Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR) team is a nonprofit organization, formed in 1952, that reports to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department. Inyo SAR assists members of the public in emergency situations throughout Inyo County. Inyo SAR is trained in three types of search and rescue: technical rock rescue, winter/avalanche rescue, and search and tracking. The team is also trained in water rescue, basic first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as well as in communications and incident command. The team responds to an average of 50 emergencies per year, with the majority of these emergencies
occurring on the Mount Whitney Trail during the summer.17
Bishop Police Department
The Bishop Police Department provides law enforcement services within the City of Bishop. The Department operates the City of Bishop Police Station, located at 207 West Line Street. The Bishop Police Department currently employs 12 full-time sworn officers, five reserve officers, four full-time dispatchers, three part-time support staff and one full-time records supervisor. Generally, two officers are assigned per shift on a 24-hour basis. The department performs all general law enforcement duties for the City of Bishop. The average response time to priority calls within the City limits, including accidents, is less than 3 minutes. The Bishop Police Department does not typically encounter OHV
violators on City streets or property.18
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department provides additional police protection to the unincorporated areas
surrounding the City of Bishop.19
5.13.1.3 Other Public Facilities
Medical Facilities and Services
Hospitals
Inyo County has two hospitals that serve this remote region: Northern Inyo Hospital, located at 150 Pioneer Lane in Bishop; and Southern Inyo Healthcare District, located at 501 East Locust Street in Lone
Pine. Both are classified by the American Hospital Association as rural hospitals.20
17 Inyo County Search and Rescue, “Welcome to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue Team Website” (2014), http://inyosar.com/.
18 Chris Carter, Police Chief, Bishop Police Department, email message, April 23, 2014. 19 City of Bishop General Plan, “Safety Element” (1993).
Northern Inyo Hospital is 25-bed facility that is part of the Northern Inyo County Local Hospital District. The main hospital is approximately 56,378 square-feet on a 9-acre hospital campus. Northern Inyo
Hospital is a full-service critical access hospital providing 24-hour emergency care services.21 The
hospital also offers additional services, including acute care, rural health clinic for nonemergency medical care, an intensive care unit, surgery, and outpatient services. The hospital includes 10 doctors
specializing in emergency medicine.22 The hospital currently employs 282 full-time staff and 70
part-time staff.23
Southern Inyo Healthcare District is also a critical access hospital that provides continued health care
services to rural residents.24 The Southern Inyo Healthcare District hospital provides specialized services
to patients injured in the backcountry. The hospital has an Emergency Department that serves patients from the southern portion of the County. The Southern Inyo Healthcare District Emergency Department has experienced nursing staff, trained in the specialized skillset of rural emergency medicine, as well as an on-call physician. The department also includes two emergency beds, as well as acute-care beds that can be converted into emergency beds on an as-needed basis. The hospital includes four acute-care
beds and 33 skilled-nursing beds.25 Currently, the hospital employs 52 full-time staff, 17 part-time staff,
and 24 per diem staff, for a total of 67 full-time equivalents.26 The hospital partners with Southern Inyo
Community Clinic to provide specialists for a rural clinic that offers nonemergency medical care. Ambulance service for the hospital is provided by the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department.
Private Ambulance Services
Symons Ambulance and Global Air Rescue provide ambulance services to Northern Inyo Hospital within Bishop. Symons Ambulance is located at 214 West Line Street in Bishop. Symons provides 9-1-1
emergency medical services to Bishop and the surrounding area in the high Sierras.27 Symons offers BLS
and advanced life support (ALS) ambulances to the area. Symons also provides air ambulance services
that include advanced life support–trained flight nurses and physicians.28
20 American Hospital Association, AHA Data Healthcare Viewer (2014), http://www.ahadataviewer.com/. 21 Northern Inyo Hospital, “Our Services” (2014), http://nih.fasthealth.com/getpage.php?name=services. 22 Northern Inyo Hospital, home page (2014), http://www.nih.org.
23 Northern Inyo Hospital, Human Resources Department, phone call, April 25, 2014.
24 Southern Inyo Healthcare District, “What is a ‘Critical Access Hospital’” (2014), http://www.sihd.org/getpage .php?name=critical.
25 Southern Inyo Healthcare District, “Our History” (2014). http://www.sihd.org/getpage.php?name=history. 26 Southern Inyo Healthcare District, “Our History” (2014).
27 Symons Ambulance, “Services” (2014), http://symonsambulance.com/services-3/. 28 Symons Ambulance, “Services” (2014).
Global Air Rescue is a comprehensive air ambulance service. An air ambulance is defined as an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance when air transportation is necessary. The aircraft is supplied with medical equipment to treat ill or critically injured patients and equipped with advanced cardiac life
support systems.29 Trauma experts are also included with the air ambulance. Global Air Rescue works
directly with Northern Inyo Hospital at 150 Pioneer Lane in Bishop to provide air ambulance service to the area. They also work together to provide emergency medical teams, medical equipment, and ground
transport.30
Roads
Roads and streets within Inyo County are maintained by two agencies. The Inyo County Public Works Department oversees roads and streets in the unincorporated areas, while the City of Bishop Public Works Department manages those within the Bishop City limits. Approximately 1,124.5 miles of roads are maintained by the County. Of this total, 535.9 miles are paved, and the remaining 588.6 miles are unpaved. This total does not include mileage in the City of Bishop, which has system of approximately
21.2 miles including streets and alleys. The entire street system within the City is paved.31 In the City,
Main Street and West Line Street, which are classified as state highways, are owned and operated by Caltrans.32
Roads within the County and City are maintained by their respective public works departments, with funding coming primarily from the Highway User Tax and the Regional Surface Transportation Program funds.
Reconstruction and the expansion of County and City roads also are funded by the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which is administered by Inyo County Local Transportation Commission (ICLTC) and Caltrans. The ICLTC updates a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) every five years and an
Overall Work Program (OWP) annually.33
29 Global Air Rescue, “About Global Air Rescue” (2014), http://www.globalairrescue.com/about.php. 30 Global Air Rescue, “About Global Air Rescue” (2014).
31 Courtney Smith, Transportation Planner, Inyo County Public Works Department, email message, April 23, 2014. 32 City of Bishop, Public Works, “Streets” (2013), http://www.ca-bishop.us/departments/public-works/streets/. 33 Inyo County Local Transportation Commission, “Welcome” (2013), http://www.inyoltc.org/.
5.13.2 REGULATORY SETTING
5.13.2.1 State Vehicle Code
California Vehicle Code Division 16.5 governs OHVs on all lands, excluding highways, which are open and
accessible to the public.34 The California Legislature passed AB 628, which amended Section 38026 et
seq. of the California Vehicle Code and authorized Inyo County to establish a pilot project. AB 628 applies to combined-use routes on unincorporated Inyo County roads and routes within the City of
Bishop can be designated as combined-use under existing California Vehicle Code.35
AB 628 seeks to provide a unified system of trails for off-highway motor vehicles, preserve traffic safety, improve natural resource protection, reduce off-highway vehicle trespass on private land, and minimize
impacts on county residents.36 As mentioned in Section 3.0, Project Description, the proposed Project
aims to permit the safe use of regular vehicular traffic and the driving of OHVs on roadways that would improve traffic safety for both OHV users and other motorists and roadway users along all designated routes.
Additionally, Section 38026.5 of the California Vehicle Code places specific parameters on OHV use:37
(a) In accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 4000, a motor vehicle issued a plate or device pursuant to Section 38160 may be operated or driven on a local highway, or a portion of the local highway that is designated pursuant to Section 38026 or 38026.1 if the operation is in conformance with this code and the vehicle complies with off-highway vehicle equipment requirements specified in this division.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), it is unlawful for any person using an off-highway vehicle on a combined-use highway to do any of the following:
(1) Operate an off-highway motor vehicle on the highway during the hours of darkness. (2) Operate any vehicle on the highway that does not have an operational stoplight. (3) Operate any vehicle on the highway that does not have rubber tires.
34 California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation, “California Vehicle Code Division 16.5,” sec. 38000-38506 (2013), http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26302.
35 California Vehicle Code, sec. 38026 and 38026.5.
36 AB 628 (Conway). Off Road Vehicles-Motorcycles-Pilot Programs. An act to amend Sections 38026 and 38026.5 of, and to add and repeal Section 38026.1 of, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. Filed with Secretary of State October 7, 2011. 37 California Vehicle Code, sec. 38026.5, Operation on Designated Highways (2012).
(4) Operate any vehicle without a valid driver's license of the appropriate class for the vehicle operation in possession.
(5) Operate any vehicle on the highway without complying with the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 16020) of Chapter 1 of Division 7.
The California Vehicle Code, Section 38026.1, specifies that the proposed Project would prohibit OHVs
from traveling faster than 35 mph on highways designated under Section 38026.1.38
5.13.2.2 Inyo County Code
The Inyo County Code specifically regulates OHVs within County parks and campgrounds. Inyo County Code Chapter 12.16.120 restricts the speed limit and operation of an OHV. Chapter 12.16.120 indicates that no off-highway recreation vehicle shall be operated in a County park or campground, except for the purpose of entering or exiting the park or campground. Such recreational vehicle must follow the posted
speed limit at all times.39
5.13.2.3 Inyo County General Plan
The Public Safety Element established Goal WF-1, to prevent wildfires and provide public safety from
wildfire hazards.40 This goal further contains specific fire protection policies in the Public Safety
Element. The following policies are applicable to the proposed Project:41
Policy WF-1.1 Fire Protection Agencies. Support expansion of fire protection agencies and volunteer fire departments, and continue to cooperate with federal, state, local agencies, and private landowners to provide greater fire protection for the County.
Policy WF-1.5 Emergency Access. All County public roads shall be developed and maintained at adequate standards to provide safe circulation for emergency equipment.
38 California Vehicle Code, sec. 38026.1 (2012).
39 Inyo County Code, ch. 12.16.120, County Parks, http://www.qcode.us/codes/inyocounty/. 40 Inyo County General Plan, “Public Safety Element” (2001).
5.13.2.4
City of Bishop General Plan
The Mobility Element of the City’s General Plan strives “to promote the safe and efficient transport of
goods and the safe and effective movement of all populations” and “to protect environmental quality
and promote the wise and equitable use of economic and natural resources.”42
The Safety Element of the City’s General Plan establishes goals that strive “to preserve and protect the
overall health, safety, and well-being of the community’s residents, businesses, and visitors” and “to insure that quality public safety services are provided and maintained for residents of the surrounding
areas.”43 The following policies are applicable:44
• Assure that adequate staffing, training, and education is maintained for public safety organizations,
including police, fire, and public works departments.
• The City shall continue to monitor the traffic safety problems within Bishop, especially along the
Highway 395 corridor, and identify measures which will minimize hazards to pedestrians and motorists.
5.13.3 THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE
To assist in determining whether a project would have a significant effect on the environment, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) identifies criteria for conditions that may be deemed to constitute a substantial or potentially substantial adverse change in physical conditions. Specifically, Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines (Environmental Checklist Form) lists the following thresholds, under which a project may be deemed to have a significant impact on public services if it would:
• Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically
altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered government facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services.
Potential public services impacts that were determined to be less than significant or have no impact are
discussed in Section 7.1, Effects Found Not to Be Significant.
42 City of Bishop General Plan, “Mobility Element” (1993). 43 City of Bishop General Plan, “Safety Element” (1993) 44 City of Bishop General Plan, “Safety Element” (1993)
5.13.4 PROJECT IMPACTS
The environmental impact analysis presented below is based on determinations made in the Initial Study (IS) for impacts considered to be potentially significant and for impacts identified by reviewing agencies, organizations, or individuals commenting on the Notice of Preparation (NOP) as potentially
significant (see Responses to NOP, Appendix 2.0).
5.13.4.1
Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the
provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need
for new or physically altered government facilities, the construction
of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to
maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other
performance objectives for any of the public services
Impact Analysis—Fire Protection Services
The proposed Project’s designation of combined-use routes may result in increased incidents, which may create a temporary increase in demand for emergency response services that may affect fire protection services.
Local fire protection services are equipped to handle a temporary increase in OHV accidents that may arise from the proposed Project. While the proposed Project would generate an increase in OHV activity, any increase would be temporary and short-term during peak OHV seasons.
Proposed combined-use routes within the Bishop Project area would be served by Fire Stations Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department, which currently has approximately 40 firefighters. Proposed Project routes within the Big Pine Area and the Aberdeen Area would both receive fire protection services from the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department, which currently has 33 firefighters. The Big Pine Fire Department can also provide first-response emergency medical services and is equipped with two BLS ambulances. Additionally, the Death Valley Road Area would be served by the Big Pine Fire Department, which is located approximately 12 miles away from the Big Pine fire station. Proposed combined-use routes within the Independence Project area would receive fire protection from the Independence Volunteer Fire Department, which has approximately 20–25 firefighters. The department is also equipped with five water trucks, two water tenders, one portable trailer-mounted pump, and two ambulances. The proposed combined-use routes in the Lone Pine Area would be served by the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department, which has 35 firefighters. This fire department is also equipped to handle first-response emergency medical services and is equipped with three ambulances.
The proposed Project would add 1,406 average daily trips (ADT), an increase in traffic of approximate 2.7 percent. This OHV traffic would be distributed across the proposed Project routes. This increase in OHV use would be considered an incremental increase over current traffic and would not require additional fire or emergency response facilities to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for fire services.
Adequate personnel, equipment, and facilities are located throughout the County to respond to the proposed Project routes.
The proposed Project would not require the construction of additional fire protection facilities and impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.Level of Significance after Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.Impact Analysis—Law Enforcement
Law enforcement services provided by the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department include calls for service,
search and rescues, civil services, jail bookings, and reports.45
As discussed in Section 5.15, Transportation and Traffic, the proposed Project may result in an increase
in OHV traffic. This increase would be temporary and short term and could result in an associated increase in demand on police facilities, specifically the Sheriff’s Department and the CHP. To handle calls for service throughout the County, the Sheriff’s Department currently has a special OHV Detail Division
that patrols the County, as well as the Inyo SAR team for accidents occurring in remote areas.46 As
discussed earlier,the proposed Project would contribute an additional 1,406 average daily trips over the
six areas during peak seasons (March 21 through June 21, and September 1 through October 31), and an additional 805 average daily trips over the six areas during off-peak seasons (June 22 through August 31, and November 1 through March 20). This corresponds to an average increase in OHV use throughout the proposed network of combined-use routes of approximately 2.7 percent during peak season, and 1.35 percent during the off-peak season.
45 Inyo County General Plan, “Public Services and Utilities Element,” Draft Environmental Impact Report (2001). 46 Owens Valley Land Management Plan (2010).
Non-street-legal OHVs are not allowed to travel on any roads that are part of the County- or City-maintained mileage systems. The proposed Project includes applications on specific routes that would authorize OHV travel for up to 10 miles on County-maintained roads. There is currently some illegal use of County roads by non-street-legal OHVs. The designation of specific routes is an effort to decrease existing illegal ridership. The signage plan would be implemented as a feature of the proposed Project to assist in providing OHV users clear guidance to stay on OHV designated routes.
The proposed combined-use routes travel throughout the County, including remote areas. Response times for the purposes of this proposed Project refer to accidents involving OHV use. Existing response times vary based on the time of day and the conditions. The response time would also rely on the nature of the emergency and the medical aid required. In addition, response times would increase if a helicopter, along with search and rescue, needs to be deployed to rescue an OHV user from various
locations.47 The proposed Project could result in an increased response times, depending on the
location of any incident, because the majority of these routes are located in remote places that are far from the sheriff and police stations. As such, it may take longer for law enforcement to reach the incident location. The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department currently handles OHV recreational accidents in remote areas and is equipped to handle any future accidents in these areas.
The proposed Project would receive law enforcement support from the CHP, Sheriff’s Department, and the Bishop Police Department. The Sheriff’s Department currently has a SAR team and an OHV division that would handle increased incidents resulting from the proposed Project, as well as a helicopter that would aid in emergency rescue. The Sheriff’s Department would deal with OHV accidents and would be able to deal with incidents that would occur in remote areas.
It should be noted that both the CHP and Sheriff utilize field-deployed officers and deputies who travel throughout the County. The officers and deputies are on constant patrol and, at any given time, are located at various points throughout the County. As such, the ability and time required for either the CHP or Sheriff to respond to any incident is dependent on the location of personnel relative to the incident.
The proposed Project would allow non-street-legal OHVs to travel on specific sections of County and City roads designated by the respective agencies. The CHP and Sheriff would be able to adapt patrol routes that correspond to these combined-use routes and focus law enforcement efforts to respond to the
47 Sheriff William Lutze, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, phone call, March 19, 2014. Minimum and maximum response times were provided by Sheriff William Lutze.
travel and use habits of the OHV riders on the combined-use routes. This would reduce the need for the CHP and Sheriff to patrol other areas for illegal OHV use.
The increase in ridership from the proposed Project would be considered an incremental increase in overall traffic and would not require additional law enforcement facilities to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for law enforcement services.
The proposed Project’s designation of combined-use routes would not result in the construction of a structure that would require additional security.
Impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Level of Significance after Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.Impact Analysis—Other Public Facilities
Hospitals
The proposed Project may result in an incremental increase in demand on hospital facilities. If the proposed Project resulted in increased OHV traffic accidents, these accidents may result in an increase in emergencies, which could affect local hospitals. Before any combined-use can be designated, CHP and the local agency must determine that the proposed routes will not create a potential traffic safety hazard.
Northern Inyo Hospital is located at 150 Pioneer Lane in Bishop, approximately 1 mile from the proposed Project starting points in downtown Bishop. Northern Inyo Hospital is located approximately 15 miles from the community of Big Pine, and approximately 24 miles from the proposed Death Valley Road Area routes. If an OHV accident occurred on any the proposed Bishop, Big Pine, or Death Valley Road Area routes, the injured party most likely would be taken to Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop, the closest hospital.
Southern Inyo Healthcare District is located at 501 East Locust Street in Lone Pine, approximately 0.5 miles north of several of the proposed Project routes with starting points in Lone Pine. The hospital is approximately 27 miles from the community of Aberdeen and approximately 15 miles from the community of Independence.
If an OHV accident occurred along the proposed Aberdeen routes, Independence, or Lone Pine Area routes, the injured party likely would be treated at Southern Inyo Healthcare District.
Both hospitals have emergency services available on site and are trained to handle emergencies that occur in the remote, rural areas of the County.
As previously stated, the proposed Project would contribute an additional 1,406 average daily trips over
the six areas during peak seasons (March 21 through June 21, and September 1 through October 31), and an additional 805 average daily trips over the six areas during off-peak seasons (June 22 through August 31, and November 1 through March 20). This corresponds to an average increase in OHV use throughout the proposed network of combined-use routes of approximately 2.7 percent during peak season, and 1.35 percent during off-peak season. OHV users resulting in accidents could require emergency medical care; the number of users requiring such care is not known but would be a small fraction of the total ridership increase.
Adequate medical series are available in the Project area to meet any in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for medical services. Impacts would be less than significant.
Roads
The proposed Project designates combined-use routes on existing County- and City-maintained roads. County- and City-maintained roads may experience incremental “wear and tear” as a result of increased OHV use. This could include erosion on unpaved dirt roads. The increase in OHV-related traffic on both City and County roads would be considered incremental in terms of Project contribution to the overall traffic. This increase would not result in a substantial degradation of local roadways.
Increased OHV traffic in areas with coarse or softer soils may create dips and soft alternations to roads
that may cause maintenance problems and potential safety hazards.Other potential impacts to roads
include use during wet weather because OHVs can cause ruts in unpaved roads, such as climbing turns
or rolling dips, when the soils are saturated.48 Additionally, OHV impacts during wet weather increase
maintenance costs and compound erosion and sedimentation problems. Average monthly precipitation
for the Owens Valley is provided in Table 5.9-1, Monthly Precipitation Data for Bishop (Weather
Station No. 35) for Years 1984–2013, and Table 5.9-2, Monthly Precipitation Data for Owens Valley
North (Weather Station No. 183) for Years 2003–2013. Peak OHV use would occur during March 21 through June 21, and September 1 through October 31. Off-peak seasons are November 1 through March 20, and June 22 through August 31. The proposed Project would result in an average increase in OHV use throughout the proposed network of combined-use routes of approximately 2.7 percent during peak season, and 1.35 percent during the -peak season. OHV would be reduced during December through March, the months with the highest rainfall average. This minimal increase would be distributed across the proposed Project routes and would not have significant impacts on County- and City-maintained roads.
The proposed Project is a pilot program that includes monitoring. As such, the roads would be monitored by the County Public Works Department to examine the impact of OHV use on the roads during the pilot program period.
Impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Level of Significance after Mitigation
Impacts would be less than significant.5.13.5
INDIRECT IMPACTS
Impact Analysis
Implementation of the proposed Project may indirectly increase the need for public services (fire, police, ambulance, and paramedic services) in surrounding lands. While OHV use may increase, the utilization of public services and any adopted emergency protocols in surrounding lands would be subject to the jurisdiction of nearby landowners or agencies responsible for those areas. Impacts would be less than significant.
Implementation of the proposed Project may increase wear and tear on surrounding roads. As stated in
Section 5.6, Geology and Soils, the potential for indirect impacts to soils and potential degradation to unpaved would exist. However, OHV use in nearby surrounding lands would be subject to the operating restrictions (hours of use) specified by their appropriate jurisdiction. Restrictions may include seasonal route closures as determined by landowners or agencies responsible for those areas. Additionally, landowners or agencies for surrounding lands would be responsible for any repairs needed for roads under their jurisdiction.
As stated in Section 5.8, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, all proposed combined-use routes in the Bishop, Big Pine, Aberdeen, Independence, and Lone Pine Areas pass within either local or State responsibility areas designated as High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Additionally, the period of peak OHV use occurs from March 21 through June 21, and September 1 through October 31; this overlaps with the driest season during the months of May, June, and September. Increased OHV use may potentially cause indirect impacts with respect to wildfire. While the potential for wildfire exists on surrounding lands, OHV use in nearby surrounding lands would be subject to the operating restrictions specified by their appropriate jurisdiction. Restrictions may include route closures as determined by landowners or agencies responsible for those areas.
Indirect impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.
Level of Significance after Mitigation
Indirect impacts would be less than significant.5.13.6 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
Impact Analysis
The implementation of the proposed Project, on its own, would not result in an increase in residents or the developments. Related projects would result in the development of approximately 80,000 square feet of casino and hotel space, 13,273.5 acres of industrial space (mostly solar facilities), and 54.7 acres
of ranch space as illustrated in Table 4.0-8, Related Projects. When combined with the proposed
Project, related projects would not involve the direct addition of new residents, and therefore would not increase the demand for fire, police, or hospital facilities.
Related projects would not create increased deterioration of County- and City-maintained roads. Any deterioration of roads caused by the related projects would be addressed, and roads would be examined during their respective environmental reviews.
Each of the related projects would be evaluated to determine if additional public service facilities would be required to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives. Cumulative impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation is required.Level of Significance after Mitigation
Cumulative impacts would be less than significant.FIGURE
5.13-1
SOURCE: BioResource Consultants - 2014; Google Earth - 2014.APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES 10
5
0 20
Bishop Police Department Sheriff’s Station
Hospitals: Northern and Southern Inyo Healthcare District CHP Office
