ENTRIX Report Template
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DRAFT Environmental Impact Report for the Granite Esparto Mining and Reclamation Project Long-Term Mining Permit Application Zone File Number: 2007-071 December 2009 SCH Number: 2009022036 Prepared by Prepared for COUNTY OF YOLO YOLO COUNTY PARKS AND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY AND PUBLIC HEARING for the DRAFT PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT on the GRANITE ESPARTO MINING AND RECLAMATION PROJECT DATE: December 11, 2009 TO: Interested Agencies and Individuals FROM: Yolo County Parks and Resources Department The Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) (SCH #2009022036) for the Granite Esparto Mining and Reclamation Project is now available for review. Public comment on this document is invited for a 46-day period extending from December 14, 2009 through January 28, 2010. More information is provided herein. The property is located on 390 acres in central Yolo County, adjoining County Road 87, approximately one mile north of the town of Esparto. The project site is comprised of two adjacent parcels, APN 048-220-022 (286.4 acres) on the north and APN 048-220-015 (103.6 acres) on the south. The site encompasses the active channel of Cache Creek and a portion of the relatively flat terrace north of the creek. Aggregate mining and processing is proposed on 313 acres of the 390-acre total. The applicant, Granite Construction Company, proposes the mining of about 30 million tons (26.1 million tons sold maximum) of aggregate over a 30-year period at a rate of about one million tons per year (870,000 tons sold maximum). The project requires the following approvals from the County: Rezoning of the property to change the Sand and Gravel Reserve (SGR) combining zone to the Sand and Gravel (SG) combining zone, approval of an Off-Channel Mining Permit, approval of a Reclamation Plan, approval of 20 percent exceedance under Section 10.4-405 of the County Code, relinquishment of existing mining entitlements on the Woodland “Reiff” Site (APN 025-300-005, 025-300-032, and 025-350-009), authorization to execute a Development Agreement, approval of a Demolition Permit, approval of a Streambank Stabilization Plan to allow mining within setbacks established under Section 10-4.428(d) of the County Code, and approval of a Flood Hazard Development Permit (FHDP). The County and its consultant, ENTRIx, have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Final EIR (Response to Comments) will be prepared following public review and comment. The County will consider this information when deliberating the project. Following certification of the Final EIR, the County may take action to adopt the proposed project. The DEIR analyzes impacts in the areas of Land Use and Planning, Aesthetics, Agriculture, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Climate Change, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards, Hydrology and Water Quality, Mineral resources, Traffic and Circulation, Cumulative Effects, and Growth Inducing Effects. Significant impacts, some of which are characterized as unavoidable, are identified in the following areas: removal of 287 acres of Prime or Unique Farmland from production for up to 30 years, permanently converting 213 acres to nonagricultural use; violating an air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation (due to fugitive dust emissions); result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is nonattainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (PM10); adversely affect sensitive wildlife species (Swainson’s hawk); potentially result in significant adverse physical impacts as a result of increases in greenhouse gas emissions; and potentially conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation of an agency adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The DEIR is now available for public review at the public counter of the Parks and Resources Department at 120 West Main Street, Suite C, Woodland, California 95695. The document is also available online at: http://www.yolocounty.org/Index.aspx?page=1624. You may submit comments on the DEIR during the 46-day public review period which begins December 14, 2009 and ends January 28, 2010 at 4:00pm. All comments on the DEIR must be received by the Department by 4:00pm on the last day in order to be considered. Pursuant to Section 15088a of the CEQA Guidelines, late comments will be considered only at the County’s discretion. Comments must be directed to: Kent Reeves, Principal Natural Resources Planner Yolo County Parks and Resources Department 120 West Main Street, Suite C Woodland, CA 95695 [email protected] (530) 406-4888 A public meeting in front of the Esparto Community Advisory Council will be held Tuesday January 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the Esparto Regional Library (community meeting room) at 17065 Yolo Avenue in Esparto, CA 95695. A public hearing in front of the Planning Commission will be held Thursday January 28, 2010 at 8:30 am in the Board of Supervisors Chambers (Room 206) at 625 Court Street, Woodland, CA to accept oral comments on the DEIR. There will be no transcription of oral comments at these meetings. Comments received will be summarized by staff for inclusion in the Final EIR. Those who wish to have their verbatim comments incorporated in the Final EIR must submit their comments in writing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in these hearings, please contact the County Planning and Public Works Department at (530) 666-8041. Please make your request as early as possible, and at least one-full business day before the start of the meeting. For more specific questions about the project please contact Heidi Tschudin, Contract Planner, at (916) 447-1809, [email protected]; or Kent Reeves, Principal Natural Resources Planner, Parks and Resources Department, (530) 406-4888, [email protected]. 2 Y OLO C OUNTY P ARKS AND R ESOURCES D EPARTMENT Environmental Impact Report for the Granite Esparto Mining and Reclamation Project DRAFT SCH# 2009022036 ZONE FILE# 2007-071 DECEMBER 2009 PREPARED BY: PREPARED FOR: COUNTY OF YOLO ENTRIX, Inc. Yolo County Parks and Resources Department 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 200 120 West Main Street Concord, CA 94520 Woodland, CA 95695 T 925.935.9920 . F 925.935.5368 T 530.406.4880 . F 530.668.1801 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Nature and Background of Project..........................................................1-1 1.2 Purpose and Scope of EIR .....................................................................1-3 1.3 Environmental Impact Report Review Process ......................................1-4 1.4 Mitigation Monitoring...............................................................................1-5 1.5 Organization of Document......................................................................1-6 1.6 Summary of Initial Study/Notice of Preparation Conclusions: Effects Found Not to be Significant ....................................................................1-6 CHAPTER 2.0 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................... 2-1 2.1 Project Under Review.............................................................................2-1 2.2 Areas of Controversy..............................................................................2-2 2.3 Issues to be Resolved ............................................................................2-2 2.4 Summary of Regulatory/Policy Consistency...........................................2-2 2.5 Summary of Impacts...............................................................................2-3 2.6 Effects Found Not to be Significant ........................................................2-3 2.7 Summary of Alternatives.........................................................................2-6 2.8 Summary Table ......................................................................................2-6 CHAPTER 3.0 Project Description ............................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Introduction.............................................................................................3-1 3.2 Setting ....................................................................................................3-3 3.3 Project Objectives...................................................................................3-5 3.4 Project Components and Characteristics ...............................................3-6 3.5 Net Gain Benefits Identified by the Applicant .......................................3-15 3.6 Jurisdictional/Permitting Agencies........................................................3-16 Chapter 4.0 Environmental Analysis ..................................................................... 4.1-1 4.1 Introduction to Environmental Analysis................................................4.1-1 4.2 Aesthetics ............................................................................................4.2-1 4.3 Agriculture............................................................................................4.3-1 4.4 Air Quality............................................................................................4.4-1 4.5 Biological