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City of Pleasanton 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update Final EIR Responses to Written Comments FirstCarbon Solutions 2-71 https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480022/EIR/4 - Final EIR/21480022 Sec02-00 Responses to Written Comments_TRACKS.docx The comment does not specifically address the adequacy of the Draft Program EIR or identify any potentially significant adverse environmental impacts. The comment is noted and will be provided to City decision-makers. Response to MACYS-4 The commenter asserts that the Draft Program EIR should include feasible mitigation measures and alternatives to reduce significant environmental impacts associated with the significant and unavoidable project level and cumulative water supply impact. Section 3.15, Utilities and Service Systems, discusses several alternatives to the City’s current groundwater supply to address the water supply deficiency, including the following: • The Groundwater Wells Rehabilitation Project (currently paused). • Drilling of new City wells with or without PFAS treatment, depending on the location of the wells. This option would require test drilling and groundwater sampling. • Discussion between Zone 7 and the City have taken place with the option of Zone 7 providing 100 percent of all water supply. • Consideration of purchasing water supply from outside Zone 7. On October 18, 2022, the Pleasanton City Council authorized a professional services contract to evaluate water supply alternatives, including the options listed above, with the goal of completing the Study by mid-late 2023. Despite this progress, it is too early in the review process to identify any specific alternative at this time and any attempt to do so would be entirely speculative. Because none of these options have been finalized, the Draft Program EIR appropriately identified a significant and unavoidable impact. With respect to mitigation measures, while no feasible mitigation is identified, the Draft Program EIR does include a discussion of conservation and water demand reduction strategies. On page 3.15-38, the Draft Program EIR notes that future development facilitated by the Housing Element Update would be built using new building standards for water efficiency and would be designed to use less water than existing development. In addition, the Draft Program EIR includes a discussion of goals and policies in the General Plan and Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0 that would conserve water: Chapter 8, Water Element, of the General Plan Goal 1, “preserve and protect water resources and supply for long-term sustainability,” includes Policy 1 that ensures sustainability by promoting the conservation of water resources. Goal 4 is to provide sufficient water supply and promote water safety and security and includes policies to ensure an adequate water system and a high-quality water supply for existing and future development as well as to maintain an adequate reserve of water in storage facilities. The CAP 2.0 also includes Strategy WR-1, which focuses on the prioritization of a sustainable, healthful water supply and storage. Finally, the Water Element includes policies and goals to ensure that the provision of water to supply development consistent with the Housing Element Update does not result in environmental effects. Policy 3 includes several programs to protect the quality and