Title
Transportation Department recommending the following pertaining to the Angora 3 Erosion Control Project (95160) and the Angora Creek Fisheries Enhancement Project (95161) combined as State Clearinghouse Number 2005122039:
1) Certify that the Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration is adequate for said Projects; and
2) Director of said Department or his designee to sign the Addendum upon review and approval by County Counsel.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
FUNDING: Grant funded.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$6.8 million + |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$ 2.4 million |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ 4.4 million |
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Total Funding Available |
$ 6.8 million |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$0.00 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
The orginal estimated cost for the two projects totalled $6.8 million before the Angora Fire. Changes to the site will require that the project scope be evaluated and adapted to the post fire conditions. Once the scope of the revised project is determined, costs associated with these revisions, as well as available grant funding, will be secured.
Background:
On March 21, 2006, the Board approved a Mitigated Negative Declaration (Stateclearing House # 2005122039) for the Angora 3 and Fisheries Enhancement Projects (Project) which was filed with the Recorder-Clerk's office on March 24, 2006, consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. Since that time, the Project area has experienced a change in conditions due to the effects of the Angora Fire which started on June 24, 2007. Due to the conditions that currently exist in the Project area, the Transportation Department (Department) must prepare an Addendum to the previously approved Mitigated Negative Declaration to accurately depict the post fire conditions in the Project area and any other pertinent information related to the Project that may require an update as a result of the Angora Fire. The Addendum process requires that the Board restate their intent to carry out the two projects.
Reason for Recommendation:
Initially, the improvements proposed in the Project area were included in an Initial Environmental Study and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IES/MND) to fulfill the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which was adopted on March 21, 2006. However, due to the circumstance that currently exists in the project area, the Department has prepared an addendum to the Initial Environmental Study and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IES/MND) to accurately reflect the chnage in conditions and to disclose that the Department plans to expediate implementation of the Project to mitigate potential impacts that are anticipated to occur prior to natural stablization of the Angora Fire area. According to the United States Department of Agricutlure-United States Forest Service Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER Reference FSH 2509.13), natural remediation of the burn area is expected to take up to five (5) years.
While the existing conditions in the Project area have changed due to the Angora Fire, the Department is not proposing to substantially modify the previously proposed improvements described in the IES/MND which was certified by the Board on March 21, 2006. Therefore, the preparation of a subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration, as decribed under Section 15162 of the CEQA Guidelines, is not warranted as there are no new significant environmental effects that would require major revisions of the previously approved IES/MND. It should be noted that the current condition of the Project area (no project altrenatives) poses a greater risk to public health and safety, County Infrastructure, and the natural environment than those posed by implementing the Project. The Project has been identified in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program and is considered a benefit to the Lake Tahoe environment once implemented.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
The Department will:
1) Sign the Addendum upon review and approval by County Counsel.
2) File a Notice of Determination for the CEQA Addendum with the Recorder/Clerk's office.
3) File a Notice of Determination for the CEQA Addendum to the State Clearinghouse.
Contact:
Richard W. Shepard, P.E.
Director of Transportation