Appendix B. Scoping Report
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Appendix B. Scoping Report VALERO CRUDE BY RAIL PROJECT Scoping Report Prepared for November 2013 City of Benicia VALERO CRUDE BY RAIL PROJECT Scoping Report Prepared for November 2013 City of Benicia 550 Kearny Street Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94104 415.896.5900 www.esassoc.com Los Angeles Oakland Olympia Petaluma Portland Sacramento San Diego Seattle Tampa Woodland Hills 202115.01 TABLE OF CONTENTS Valero Crude By Rail Project Scoping Report Page 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 2. Description of the Project ........................................................................................... 2 Project Summary ........................................................................................................... 2 3. Opportunities for Public Comment ............................................................................ 2 Notification ..................................................................................................................... 2 Public Scoping Meeting ................................................................................................. 3 4. Summary of Scoping Comments ................................................................................ 3 Commenting Parties ...................................................................................................... 3 Comments Received During the Scoping Process ........................................................ 4 Appendices (Provided on CD) A. Notice of Preparation ................................................................................................. A-1 B. Newspaper Notices .................................................................................................... B-1 C. Project Website Notification ....................................................................................... C-1 D. Scoping Meeting Presentations ................................................................................. D-1 E. Scoping Meeting Summary/Notes .............................................................................. E-1 F. Scoping Period Written Comments ............................................................................. F-1 G. Initial Study Comment Period Written Comments ...................................................... G-1 List of Tables 1. Parties Submitting Comments During the Valero Crude by Rail Project EIR Scoping Period ........................................................................................................... 4 2. Parties Submitting Comments During the Valero Crude by Rail Project Initial Study Comment Period ............................................................................................... 5 Valero Crude by Rail Project i ESA / 202115.01 Scoping Report November 2013 SCOPING REPORT Valero Crude by Rail Project 1. Introduction This report provides an overview and a summary of the written and oral comments received by the City of Benicia during the public scoping period for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that the City is preparing for the Valero Refinery Crude by Rail Project (the proposed Project).1 CEQA Guidelines Section 15083 provides that a “Lead Agency may…consult directly with any person…it believes will be concerned with the environmental effects of the project.” Scoping is the process of early consultation with the affected agencies and public prior to completion of a Draft EIR. Section 15083(a) states that scoping can be “helpful to agencies in identifying the range of actions, alternatives, mitigation measures, and significant effects to be analyzed in depth in an EIR and in eliminating from detailed study issues found not to be important.” Scoping is an effective way to bring together and consider the concerns of affected State, regional, and local agencies, the project proponent, and other interested persons (CEQA Guidelines Section 15083(b)). Scoping is not conducted to resolve differences concerning the merits of a project or to anticipate the ultimate decision on a proposal. Rather, the purpose of scoping is to help ensure that a comprehensive and focused EIR will be prepared that provides a firm basis for the decision- making process. In addition, a primary purpose of this Scoping Report is to document the process of soliciting and identifying comments from interested agencies and the public. The scoping process provides the means to determine those issues that interested participants consider to be the principal areas for study and analysis. Every issue that has been raised that falls within the scope of CEQA during scoping will be addressed and or considered in the EIR. This report is intended for use by the public to have access to and understand the comments received during the scoping period. It includes verbal and written public comments received during the scoping period (August 9, 2013 to September 13, 2013). The City will use this report as a tool to ensure the preparation of a comprehensive and focused EIR. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15082, all public comments will be considered2 in the EIR process. 1 The City of Benicia is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the preparation of an EIR for the proposed Project. 2 Comments not within the scope of CEQA will not be addressed through the CEQA Process. Valero Crude by Rail Project 1 ESA / 202115.01 Scoping Report November 2013 Scoping Report 2. Description of the Project Project Summary The EIR will examine the environmental impacts associated with construction, operation, and maintenance of the Valero Refinery Crude by Rail Project, and identify and evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed Project. The objective of the proposed Project is to allow the Refinery access to additional North American-sourced crudes that have recently become available, and that can be received by railroad. This involves installation and modification of Refinery non-process equipment that would allow the Refinery to receive a portion of its crude oil deliveries by railcar replacing equal quantities of crude currently being delivered to the Refinery by marine vessel. The proposed Project would consist of the following primary components: Installation of one rail car unloading rack capable of offloading two parallel rows of 25 crude oil rail cars. Construction of two parallel, offloading rail spurs to access the rail car unloading rack and store rail cars in preparation for departure, and a parallel departure track. Installation of approximately 4,000 feet of 16-inch diameter crude oil pipeline and associated components and infrastructure between the offloading rack and the existing Refinery crude tankage. Replacement and relocation of approximately 1,800 feet of tank farm dikes. Relocation of an existing firewater pipeline, compressor station, and underground infrastructure. Relocation of groundwater wells along Avenue “A.” Construction of a service road adjacent to the proposed unloading rack. 3. Opportunities for Public Comment Notification On August 9, 2013, the City published and distributed a Notice of Preparation (NOP) to advise interested local, regional, and state agencies, and the interested public, that an EIR would be prepared for the proposed Project. The NOP solicited both written and verbal comments on the EIR’s scope during a 30-day comment period and provided information on a forthcoming public scoping meeting. Additionally, the NOP presented the background, purpose, description, and location of the proposed Project, potential issues to be addressed in the EIR, and the contact name for additional information regarding the proposed Project. In addition to the NOP, the City notified the public about the public scoping meeting through multiple newspaper legal advertisements and the City website. The NOP, newspaper legal advertisements, and the City website notification are presented in Appendices A, B, and C respectively. Notifications provided basic Project information, the date, time, and location of the scoping meeting, and a brief explanation of the public scoping process. Valero Crude by Rail Project 2 ESA / 202115.01 Scoping Report November 2013 Scoping Report The City published legal advertisements in English in the Benicia Herald on August 13, 2013. Additionally, an electronic copy of the NOP was posted on the City’s website at: http://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={C45EA667-8D39-4B30-87EB- 9110A2F9CE13}. The public was encouraged to submit written comments on the scope, content, and format of the environmental document by mail, facsimile, or email to the City. Comments received after the formal comment period ended are also included in this scoping report. Public Scoping Meeting The City conducted one scoping meeting. The meeting was held Thursday, September 12, 2013, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 250 East L Street, Benicia, California. Attending the meeting on behalf of the City of Benicia included Brad Kilger, City Manager; Amy Million, Principal Planner; Kat Wellman, Contract City Attorney; Teri Davena, Recording Secretary; and Tim Morgan and Cory Barringhaus of Environmental Science Associates (ESA). Meeting attendees were provided with materials including presentation slides, a comment card, and a speaker card. Copies of the NOP were available upon request. A presentation (Appendix D) was given which included an overview of the environmental