Title
Transportation Department recommending the following pertaining to the Angora 3 Erosion Control (JN 95160/95161) and Fisheries Enhancement Projects (95164):
(1) Authorize said Department to carry out said Projects;
(2) Certify that the Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration is adequate for said Projects; and
(3) Authorize the Director of said Department, or his designee, to sign said Addendum.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$0.00 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$ 0.00 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ 0.00 |
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Total Funding Available |
$ 0.00 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$ 0.00 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
There is no Fiscal Impact associated with this agenda item. There is no Net County Cost.
Background:
The Transportation Department (Department) prepared an Initial Study and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) in the fall of 2005 based on a conceptual project design to comply with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and to qualify for California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) grant funding for the Angora 3 Erosion Control and Fisheries Enhancement Project (Project).
The IS/MND evaluated environmental impacts based on conceptual Project design and was supported by a completed environmental checklist. The IS/MND was originally released for public review between December 8, 2005 and January 6, 2006. However, based on comments received from partner agencies, the Department agreed to recirculate the IS/MND to provide for additional review by the public. The recirculated IS/MND was approved on March 21, 2006 by the Board (State Clearing House # 2005122039) for the Project which was filed with the Recorder/Clerk's office and a Notice of Determination was filed on March 24, 2006, consistent with the CEQA Guidelines.
In August 2007, the Department prepared an Addendum to the previously approved IS/MND to reflect a change in conditions that resulted due to the effects of the Angora Fire that was ignited on United States Forest Service land on the afternoon of June 24, 2007 and to accurately depict the existing conditions that currently exist in the Project area, as well as update any other pertinent information related to the Project.
This Project is identified in the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's (TRPA) Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) project list. Last updated in 2001, the EIP includes a master list of projects for each threshold which are necessary to achieve and maintain environmental thresholds for the Lake Tahoe Basin. It is important to note that the goals of the Project remain the same as initially proposed and are intended to address erosion, stormwater runoff, and water quality problems that have been identified within the Project boundaries. Addressing identified water quality problems is anticipated to have a direct benefit to the quality of nearby waterways and ultimately Lake Tahoe.
Reason for Recommendation:
To facilitate construction, the County has separated the Angora 3 Erosion Control and Fisheries Enhancement Project into a Phase 3A and Phase 3B related to the erosion control element of the Project. Although the Project has been phased, it is important to note that the overall Project boundary has not changed and is still consistent with the original IS/MND. However, since adoption and certification of the original IS/MND (State Clearinghouse # 2005122039) and the August 2007 Addendum, the County has modified the Project slightly to include additional public parcels and to revise some of the proposed improvements which are detailed in this Addendum.
The improvements being proposed as part of the Project will not require any changes to the responses in the 2006 environmental checklist and associated MND, hence, no new significant impacts have been identified, nor are there any additional mitigation measures needed.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. The Director of Transportation will sign the Addendum.
2. The Department will certify the Notice of Determination with the Recorder/Clerk's office.
3. The Department will submit a Notice of Determination to the State Clearing House.
4. The Department will provide the Board Clerk with a copy of the signed Addendum.
Contact:
Richard W. Shepard, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: Approved by County Counsel