Amador County – The Amador County Planning Department held a scoping session Wednesday to determine topics to address in a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the former Cogen plant in District 2, near Ione. Sydney Coatsworth, consultant for Buena Vista Biomass Power, led the scoping meeting, which she said has the purpose of creating “informed decision-making with ample public input.” Nathan Lishman of the county planning department said Buena Vista Biomass Power pushed to hire Coatsworth, of Ascent Environmental, to conduct the SEIR on BVBP’s application to amend use permits at the former Cogen internal combustion power facility on Coal Mine Road. Lishman said the county must sign off on the work done by Ascent. Coatsworth said the scoping process encourages people to say “what should be included” in the EIR. The scoping period opened March 15th and closes April 16th. They will accept public comments, answer them in writing, and “come out with the final EIR in September.” Coatsworth said: “We have not yet embarked on analysis, so we are not prepared to have a question and answer session.” Public concern included impacts from traffic and combustion emissions. Ray Stacy of Bighorse Ranch said he was worried about daily traffic on Buena Vista Road, including 1,600 cars to the proposed Buena Vista Me-Wuk’s Flying Cloud Casino, and also about the 30 trucks a day hauling fuel to burn at the power plant. Donna Ogelvie, of Camanche Parkway North was also worried about trucks, and the plant’s around-the-clock operation. She asked: “Who will monitor routes,” and how the trucks “interact with school buses and children?” She also worried about particulate matter, truck noise and ambient light. Jerry Cassesi of Jackson Valley submitted 20 comments in writing, and said he believed transfer of ownership on November 16th, 2009, was “not allowed by Amador County Air District rules.” Cassesi said he thought the use permit is only valid with when it accompanies a “valid permit to operate,” and the related permit to operate “expired June 30th, 2000.” He said Buena Vista Biomass should submit written plans, and he thought the “new use could be more harmful than lignite burning.” Lishman told Cassesi that “staff decisions are always appealable to the planning commission.” Kathleen Dubois said hazardous material, hydrology and water quality might all need to be addressed. Rux Oneto, part owner of the Cogen Plant, said trucks pay $500 a year to the state “for heavy highway use.” He said “you can’t stop them: They paid for the right to use the roads.” He said don’t worry about communists coming to bomb us: “They are right here in this room.” Oneto said: “The county should not tell the complainers how to get to the courthouse.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 02 April 2010 01:57
Amador Planning Dept. Launches Buena Vista Biomass Power SEIR
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – The Amador County Planning Department held a scoping session Wednesday to determine topics to address in a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the former Cogen plant in District 2, near Ione. Sydney Coatsworth, consultant for Buena Vista Biomass Power, led the scoping meeting, which she said has the purpose of creating “informed decision-making with ample public input.” Nathan Lishman of the county planning department said Buena Vista Biomass Power pushed to hire Coatsworth, of Ascent Environmental, to conduct the SEIR on BVBP’s application to amend use permits at the former Cogen internal combustion power facility on Coal Mine Road. Lishman said the county must sign off on the work done by Ascent. Coatsworth said the scoping process encourages people to say “what should be included” in the EIR. The scoping period opened March 15th and closes April 16th. They will accept public comments, answer them in writing, and “come out with the final EIR in September.” Coatsworth said: “We have not yet embarked on analysis, so we are not prepared to have a question and answer session.” Public concern included impacts from traffic and combustion emissions. Ray Stacy of Bighorse Ranch said he was worried about daily traffic on Buena Vista Road, including 1,600 cars to the proposed Buena Vista Me-Wuk’s Flying Cloud Casino, and also about the 30 trucks a day hauling fuel to burn at the power plant. Donna Ogelvie, of Camanche Parkway North was also worried about trucks, and the plant’s around-the-clock operation. She asked: “Who will monitor routes,” and how the trucks “interact with school buses and children?” She also worried about particulate matter, truck noise and ambient light. Jerry Cassesi of Jackson Valley submitted 20 comments in writing, and said he believed transfer of ownership on November 16th, 2009, was “not allowed by Amador County Air District rules.” Cassesi said he thought the use permit is only valid with when it accompanies a “valid permit to operate,” and the related permit to operate “expired June 30th, 2000.” He said Buena Vista Biomass should submit written plans, and he thought the “new use could be more harmful than lignite burning.” Lishman told Cassesi that “staff decisions are always appealable to the planning commission.” Kathleen Dubois said hazardous material, hydrology and water quality might all need to be addressed. Rux Oneto, part owner of the Cogen Plant, said trucks pay $500 a year to the state “for heavy highway use.” He said “you can’t stop them: They paid for the right to use the roads.” He said don’t worry about communists coming to bomb us: “They are right here in this room.” Oneto said: “The county should not tell the complainers how to get to the courthouse.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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