49ers Santa Clara Stadium
156
Final EIR
City of Santa Clara
November 2009
NN. RESPONSE TO COMMENTS FROM CAROL FOSTER, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
Comment NN-1:
This letter is in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the 49ers
Santa Clara Stadium Project. The report claims there will be a less than significant impact to the
immediately adjacent San Tomas Aquino Creek or San Francisco Bay from increased pollution
runoff or trash. Proposed post-construction BMP's
include sweeping, maintaining vegetative swales,
litter control, stenciling storm water catch basins to discourage illegal dumping, and installing trash
racks. However, I don't believe this DEIR is taking into account the trash that will be discarded 1) on
surface streets as people are driving to the stadium including over the Tasman Drive bridge crossing
the creek and 2) by people walking over the creek on the two newly proposed pedestrian bridges.
A pilot study done in San Mateo County to identify trash sources found littering at parks and
dumping from bridges were the most likely sources of trash to the creek at the study site ("Pilot
Study to Identify Trash Sources and Management Measures"
http://www.flowstobay.org/documents/community/water
shed/studies/gateway park trash pilot study
2005 report.pdf).
How will littering directly into the creek be prevented and how will impacts to the creek be assessed
after stadium events?
Response NN-1:
The proposed stadium and all parking areas will have sufficient numbers of
trash receptacles to accommodate the volume of trash and recyclables estimated to be
generated during stadium events. In addition, parking areas will be cleaned after each event.
For these reasons, the City believes that operation of the stadium will not result in a
significant increase in debris in San Tomas Aquino Creek.
Comment NN-2:
Firstly, the pedestrian bridges should be enclosed by fencing with small enough
mesh to discourage all trash from being discarded over the bridge, including cigarette butts.
Secondly, trash receptacles should be installed at both ends of each pedestrian bridge and positive
signage should be posted encouraging people to use the receptacles in order to keep the creek clean
for fish and wildlife. Thirdly, monitoring of the stream at the pedestrian bridges and the Tasman
Drive bridge crossing using the Regional Water Quality Control Board's or the Santa Clara Valley
Urban Runoff Program's 'Urban Rapid Trash Assessment' protocols should be done both the day
before and the day after events to document trash accumulation information. This should be done
several times before and after different event types. If trash is increased after an event, pre-
determined mitigation measures should be implemented.
Response NN-2:
This comment is noted.