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3.8 Cultural Resources

Effectiveness of Proposed Area Plan Policies

Implementation of the proposed Area Plan policies related to historic resources would reduce the effects

of growth and development by (1) requiring development proposals be evaluated for the presence of
historic resources and (2) by protecting historic buildings from demolition by undergoing review of
appropriate documentation (i.e., cultural resource reports) as seen in mitigation measure MM 3.8-1.

Plan to Plan Analysis

Both the proposed Area Plan and the existing Area Plan contain policies that address the protection of
historical properties. However, this EIR would provide mitigation which would reduce potential impacts
to historic buildings. Consequently, the proposed Area Plan would have fewer impacts when compared
to the existing Area Plan.

Impact 3.8-2 The Area Plan will cause a potentially substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5.

In the protection and management of the cultural environment, State CEQA Guidelines provides
definitions and standards for cultural resource management. The term "unique archaeological resource"
24
has the following meaning according to CEQA :

"An archaeological artifact, object, or site about which it can be clearly demonstrated that without merely

adding to the current body of knowledge, there is a high probability that it meets any of the following
criteria:

1. Contains information needed to answer important scientific research questions, and there is a
demonstrable public interest in that information.

2. Has a special and particular quality, such as the oldest of its type or the best available example of its
type.

3. Is directly associated with a scientifically recognized important prehistoric or historic event or
person."

The County’s Planning Area is rich with many different cultural and archeological resources with many

of the potential archeological resources still buried under soil. The disturbance of the soil has the
potential to uncover any unknown resources that have contributed to the contribution of California’s
history. The implementation of the Area Plan would have the potential to negatively impact these

24 State CEQA Guidelines, Section 21083.2

Impact Sciences, Inc. 3.8-17 One Valley One Vision Revised Draft Program EIR
0112.023 County of Los Angeles Area Plan
November 2010