Comments Period: February 17, 2017 – March 3, 2017
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Serrano Westside Project, which would result in impacts to approximately 2.87 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands, adjacent to an unnamed tributary to Carson Creek. This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments.
AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of fill material in waters of the United States.
APPLICANT:
Mr. Kirk Bone,
Serrano Associates, LLC,
4525 Serrano Parkway,
El Dorado Hills, California 95762
LOCATION: The approximately 241-acre project site is located on an unnamed tributary to Carson Creek along El Dorado Hills Boulevard, Latitude 38.6626°, Longitude -121.0705°, El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County, California and can be seen on the CA-CLARKSVILLE USGS Topographic Quadrangle.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to construct a master-planned community including low, medium, and high density residential, limited commercial, public parks, a network of pedestrian trails, and open space. Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is a mixed-use residential and commercial development in El Dorado County. The applicant believes there is a need to provide a mixed-use development within El Dorado County.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Environmental Setting. There are approximately 5.11 acres of wetlands and other waters of the United States within the project area. The site is characterized by undeveloped lands along Serrano parkway. Plant communities on-site are comprised of blue oak (Quercus douglasii), savannah, non-native annual grassland, and riparian woodland. An intermittent drainage runs from north to south through the site which features an open canopy of Fremont’s cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii), and willow (Salix spp.).
Alternatives. The applicant has not provided information concerning project alternatives. Additional information concerning project alternatives may be available from the applicant or their agent. Other alternatives may develop during the review process for this permit application. All reasonable project alternatives, in particular those which may be less damaging to the aquatic environment, will be considered.
Mitigation. The Corps requires that applicants consider and use all reasonable and practical measures to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. If the applicant is unable to avoid or minimize all impacts, the Corps may require compensatory mitigation. The applicant has proposed to submit a mitigation plan at a later date.
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) is required for this project. The applicant has indicated they will apply for certification.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Based on the available information, potentially eligible cultural resources may be affected by the proposed project. The Corps will initiate consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as appropriate.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The project is not expected to affect any Federally-listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat that are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The above determinations are based on information provided by the applicant and our preliminary review.
EVALUATION FACTORS: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the described activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the described activity, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the described activity will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The activity's impact on the public interest will include application of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 230).
The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
SUBMITTING COMMENTS: Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2009-00387 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before March 3, 2017.
Mr. Noah Fulmer
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
1325 J Street, Room 1350
Sacramento, CA 95814-2922
Email: Noah.J.Fulmer@usace.army.mil
The Corps is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the proposal's probable impacts on the affected aquatic environment and the secondary and cumulative effects. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Please note that all comment letters received are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the applicant or the Corps' Project Manager Mr. Noah Fulmer at 916-557-7094 or Noah.J.Fulmer@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: 5 drawings