Abstract
The EIR process typically consists of three parts: the Notice of Preparation (NOP), DEIR, and FEIR. The NOP for the proposed project was circulated in January 2006. The NOP was sent to 104 public agencies, property owners, and interested parties. The NOP was delivered to the State Clearinghouse on January 6, 2006, for a 30-day comment period. Copies of the NOP, the NOP distribution list, and comments received on the NOP are presented in Appendix A of the DEIR for the project.
A Scoping meeting was held on November 1, 2007, in Rio Vista, California. The scoping meeting was advertised in the Sacramento Bee and River News-Herald on October 3, 2007, as recommended in Section 15083 of the CEQA Guidelines to which all NOP and DEIR recipients were invited.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), as the Lead Agency, circulated a DEIR for the Solano Wind Project from September 28 through November 13, 2007. Notices of Availability (NOA) for the DEIR were distributed directly to responsible agencies, trustee agencies, other interested parties, and local libraries. The DEIR was also made available on CD or by downloading from the SMUD Web site.
General public NOA of the DEIR 2007 was given by publication on October 3, 2007, in the Sacramento Bee and River News-Herald newspapers. As required by Public Resources Code Section 21091(d), SMUD accepted written comments through November 13, 2007. Eight letters were received during the comment period from agencies and individuals. The Final EIR (FEIR) 2007 was issued on December 28, 2007. Subsequent to that issuance, and prior to consideration by the SMUD Board, the Board decided to postpone a hearing and determination. SMUD received comment letters after issuance of the December 28, 2007, FEIR, from Solano County, Travis Air Force Base (AFB), and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). The delayed hearing provided an opportunity for SMUD staff to meet with Solano County, Travis AFB, and CDFG staff, in an effort to further define the project and attempt to identify project changes that would reduce environmental impacts.
This RDEIR was released for circulation to appropriate resource agencies and interested parties on October 7, 2009. SMUD extended the public comment period through January 15, 2010. SMUD required that reviewers limit their comments to the revised chapters/portions of the RDEIR pursuant to CEQA Section 15088.5 (f)(2). Eight letters, listed in Table 1-1, were received during the comment period from the agencies and individuals. Subsequent to the close of the public review period, an additional comment letter was received from the Department of the Air Force withdrawing the Air Force’s previous letters regarding the Solano Wind Project Phase 3 EIR. The letters and responses are included in Section 3.0 of this RFEIR.
In accordance with the provisions of Public Resources Code Section 21092.5, SMUD has provided written responses to each commenting public agency no less than 10 days prior to the proposed date for consideration of certification of the RFEIR.