Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors discussed the Gravity Supply Line and potentially approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration Thursday, with staff indicating that environmental mitigation plans were the latest practices in the field. AWA Vice President Debbie Dunn said it was a little “disconcerting” to her that the plan included bulldozing work to be done only 14 days after a walk through the project’s land “to look for a bird that could stop us.” She was also worried about American Indian historic sites, and did not like the document’s approach that the agency will “wait until we find it.” Dunn said “14 days prior to bulldozers does not seem to be a good path.” Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said “at that time, you mitigate it. The intent is to protect the species,” and they would not want to walk through the project area, then wait 2 months to start building. Director Terence Moore said the mitigation is to move the pipeline’s footprint. Dave Beauchamp of environmental consultants PBS&J, which wrote the Negative Declaration and helped answer comment letters, said the mitigation plans are standard. He noted that the California Department of Fish & Game “asked us to use their language” and it didn’t change the document’s language at all because it was already in place. Beauchamp said 14 days is a standard time frame for scoping out a Nesting Raptor. The plan also has “special mitigations” that come into play if a Yellow Legged Frog is found in the project area. He said as far as culturally sensitive American Indian historic sites, the standard “mitigation is to have an archeologist at the site when the trenching is done.” Beauchamp said “we’ll have monitors at all of the construction areas.” Dunn said she feels “handcuffed” because there is no environmental review in building a 5 “cubic feet per second” capacity pipeline, while the agency’s diversion rights are limited to a flow of 3 “cubic feet per second.” AWA attorney Steve Kronick said “there will be an environmental document prepared before the state acts on that application.” He said “they realize that the supply line is being designed for a larger amount than the agency has a right to divert.” David Evitt in public comment said the state studies that are required are “kind of a rubber stamp.” Kronick said “our environmental document has to address growth-inducing affects.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 26 February 2010 00:58
Environmental Impact Questions Answered at the AWA Gravity Supply Line Discussion
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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors discussed the Gravity Supply Line and potentially approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration Thursday, with staff indicating that environmental mitigation plans were the latest practices in the field. AWA Vice President Debbie Dunn said it was a little “disconcerting” to her that the plan included bulldozing work to be done only 14 days after a walk through the project’s land “to look for a bird that could stop us.” She was also worried about American Indian historic sites, and did not like the document’s approach that the agency will “wait until we find it.” Dunn said “14 days prior to bulldozers does not seem to be a good path.” Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said “at that time, you mitigate it. The intent is to protect the species,” and they would not want to walk through the project area, then wait 2 months to start building. Director Terence Moore said the mitigation is to move the pipeline’s footprint. Dave Beauchamp of environmental consultants PBS&J, which wrote the Negative Declaration and helped answer comment letters, said the mitigation plans are standard. He noted that the California Department of Fish & Game “asked us to use their language” and it didn’t change the document’s language at all because it was already in place. Beauchamp said 14 days is a standard time frame for scoping out a Nesting Raptor. The plan also has “special mitigations” that come into play if a Yellow Legged Frog is found in the project area. He said as far as culturally sensitive American Indian historic sites, the standard “mitigation is to have an archeologist at the site when the trenching is done.” Beauchamp said “we’ll have monitors at all of the construction areas.” Dunn said she feels “handcuffed” because there is no environmental review in building a 5 “cubic feet per second” capacity pipeline, while the agency’s diversion rights are limited to a flow of 3 “cubic feet per second.” AWA attorney Steve Kronick said “there will be an environmental document prepared before the state acts on that application.” He said “they realize that the supply line is being designed for a larger amount than the agency has a right to divert.” David Evitt in public comment said the state studies that are required are “kind of a rubber stamp.” Kronick said “our environmental document has to address growth-inducing affects.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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