Amador County – The city of Ione Wednesday afternoon released its Draft Environmental Impact Report for its city General Plan Update, and announced a public hearing August 5th by the Ione Planning Commission. City Planner Christopher Jordan told the commission Tuesday that the Draft EIR would be available Wednesday afternoon, and he would e-mail it to commissioners. He asked that they take the time between the document’s release and the August 5th public hearing to read the EIR and prepare for the meeting. The city staff announced the availability of the document in an e-mail, saying the “DEIR is required by state law and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the General Plan.” The release of the document Tuesday started a 45-day comment period during which comments can be made on the Draft EIR, before a public hearing. The public hearing will be the last opportunity for commissioners to look at the draft General Plan and EIR. Jordan “we want the commission to study up until then. We will be asking you to make a recommendation.” The public hearing will take comments. Jordan said after that, the City Council would take up the city General Plan EIR, at a meeting tentatively set for August 26th. The announcement Tuesday said “once the document is certified, it will become the primary environmental document to evaluate planning and permitting actions associated with projects in the city.” Jordan, and his firm, Pacific Municipal Consultants, is on a schedule to complete the General Plan and EIR in a year. He said the meeting August 5th would be the last time the commission sees the EIR, as part of keeping on schedule to complete the document. The project began last September with several public meetings to gather information on the wishes of city residents for the future of Ione. 230 different responses were received by PMC during the meetings. Copies of the Draft EIR were to be available for the public to review at City Hall. The Draft EIR and the current draft of the Ione General Plan are available online at the city’s website, www.ionegeneralplan.com. There are several options for the public to comment, including by e-mail (to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.); by postal mail (to P.O. Box 398, Ione, CA 95640); or in person at the Planning Commission regular meeting 6 p.m. Monday, July 14 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The public comment period closed 5 p.m. Monday, July 27th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.