5900 36TH AVE W SEPA 015 - 034 - SOUNDVIEW BUSINESS CAMPUS - VERITAS Land Use Decision Documents 2025-04-22

sword fern, creeping buttercup, reed canary grass, salmonberry, salal, western red cedar, and stinging nettle. Due to the distance of the proposed impacts from ESA waters and the implementation of BMP erosion control measures, no direct impacts to listed fish species are expected to occur. Construction Activities The proposed grading and site preparation has the potential to mobilize fine sediments. The use of machinery on the site for grading and construction creates the risk of contaminant spills that could potentially be routed into the off -site streams. The mobilization of fine sediments has the ' potential to affect fish behavior and physiology, or indirectly decrease food and habitat availability, or the ability to locate prey. Increases to sediment inputs to streams, particularly sediments that are 0.85 mm and smaller, have been well documented to have a negative impact on fish and other aquatic life (Peterson et al. 1992, Knutson and Naef, 1997). This danger will be minimized by conducting mass grading during the drier months and through the application of all appropriate BMP erosion control measures. If, during a rain event, runoff were to carry silt and sediment into the stormwater system, it would likely to be a small amount and for a short duration. Because salmonids have evolved in dynamic systems that commonly experience sediment flushes with flooding events, a limited sediment event should have a negligible impact on these species (Bjorn and Reiser 1991). ' 6.2 INDIRECT EFFECTS Increasing impervious surfaces has potential to affect both the water quantity and quality of habitat for the listed species. Given the distance of the site from documented bull trout, steelhead, and Chinook salmon habitats, proposed construction precautions, stormwater detention and treatment, and the series of stormwater conveyance features, it is likely that most if not all of the ' potential sediment will settle before reaching these habitats. Measures to reduce erosion, sedimentation, pollution, and to maintain peak and base flow rates ' within the off -site aquatic areas include construction of permanent detention vaults and water treatment systems. These features will be designed and constructed as described in the stormwater management section of this report. These combined measures will maintain the 1 hydrology, water quantity, and water quality of the downstream systems. As a result of these measures, no indirect effects are expected. 6.3 INTERRELATED AND INTERDEPENDENT ACTIONS The interrelated and interdependent actions associated with the proposed project include a ' commercial/industrial development that will increase the amount of traffic and human activity within the project area. A total of approximately 33 acres of scrub -shrub vegetation will be cleared. Increased roadway traffic will potentially increase loadings of heavy metals and other ' toxic chemicals. The total amount of impervious surface (approximately 26 acres) in the project area will increase. ' Biological Evaluation 25 WRI #14109 Soundview Business Campus Revision #2: October 2, 2015