Comments Period: November 22, 2017 – December 7, 2017
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Doyle project, which would result in impacts to approximately 3.09 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands adjacent to Curry Creek and Dry Creek. The proposed mixed use development is a part of the Placer Vineyards Specific Plan (PVSP). This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments.
AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 for structures or work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States and/or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States.
APPLICANT: Placer 400 Investors, LLC, C/o AKT Investments, Inc., Attn: Mr. Ron Bertolina, 7700 College Town Drive, Sacramento, California, 95816
LOCATION: The approximately 400-acre project site is located on Section 1, Township 10 North, Range 5 East and Section 6 and 7, Township 10 North, Range 6 East, Mount Diablo Baseline and Meridian south of Baseline Road and west of Walerga Road at, Latitude 38.7468°, Longitude -121.3738°, near Roseville, Placer County, California, and can be seen on the Pleasant Grove USGS Topographic Quadrangle.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to construct a mixed use development, comprised of 288 acres of residential development, recreation center, and parks, and approximately 32 acres of open space. The proposed project would result in a discharge of fill material into and permanent impacts to 0.005 acre of seasonal wetland, 0.68 acre of seasonal wetland swale, and 2.41 acres of vernal pools. The project would be constructed in three phases, and three open space areas would preserve approximately 4.81 acres of waters of the United States, including 1.30 acres of channel, 2.43 acres of seasonal wetland swale, and 1.09 acres of vernal pools. Additional impacts on and off-site associated with backbone infrastructure would be considered under the Regional General Permit 14, Placer Vineyards Specific Plan Infrastructure. Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to construct a large-scale, regional mixed-use development in western Placer County. The applicant believes there is a need for additional housing and commercial development. The attached drawings provide additional project details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In May 2006, the Corps received 24 applications for a DA permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to fill waters of the United States to develop individual properties within the PVSP, as well as a request for the Corps to establish a general permit to construct the backbone infrastructure consisting of both on- and off-site improvements.
In early 2007, the Corps determined preparation of an EIS was necessary for the Proposed Action due to the potential for significant effects on biological resources, air quality, hydrology and water quality, agricultural resources, traffic, and aesthetics. Scoping for the EIS began on March 16, 2007 with publication of a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register (Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 51, 12599-12600). Two public scoping meetings were held on March 28, 2007 at Placer County Community Development Resource Center. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to be a cooperating agency on the preparation of the EIS on January 21, 2010. The EIS was prepared at a program-level of analysis, as project-level information on on-site alternatives was not available for each project within the PVSP.
On April 26, 2013, a Draft EIS was issued by the Corps for a 45-day review period. A Notice of Availability (NOA) was published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2013 (Federal Register, Vol. 78, No. 81, 24744). A public notice of the Draft EIS, including a draft RGP, was issued on April 26, 2013.
The Corps released the Final EIS on July 25, 2014. An NOA was published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2014 (Federal Register, Vol. 79, No. 143, 43465). A public notice announcing the Final EIS was issued on July 25, 2014. A Record of Decision (ROD) for the overall PVSP was issued on September 20, 2015. Pursuant to the ROD, the Corps is contemplating the issuance of an individual permit for development of the Doyle property. The EIS and ROD can be viewed at the Corps website at http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permitting/Environmental-Impact-Statements/.
Environmental Setting. There are approximately 9.39 acres of waters of the United States on the Doyle property and associated off-site infrastructure area, including 1.46 acres of channel, 0.006 acre of seasonal wetland, 3.19 acres of seasonal wetland swales, and 4.74 acres of vernal pools within the project area. The site is characterized by annual grasslands, including vernal pool complexes. Curry Creek enters and exits the north portion of the property along Baseline Road and a large seasonal wetland swale bisects the southern portion of the project site.
Alternatives. The applicant has provided information to verify that the proposed project is in compliance with the preferred alternative for the Placer Vineyards Specific Plan (PVSP, SPK-1999-00737) as discussed in the September 30, 2015, Record of Decision (ROD). Additional information concerning project alternatives is included in the PVSP ROD and/or 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 will propose mitigation consistent with the Placer Vineyards Mitigation Strategy as identified in the September 30, 2015, ROD for the PVSP.
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board is required for this project. The applicant has indicated they have applied for certification.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: The proposed project would comply with the Programmatic Agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California State Historic Preservation Officer regarding the Placer Vineyards Specific Plan Project, Placer County, California executed on September 16, 2014.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The proposed activity may affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. The proposed project would be appended to the October 17, 2017 amended Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Placer Vineyards Specific Plan Project, Placer County, California (Number 81420-2008-F-0983-4). The Corps will initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The proposed project would not adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
The above determinations are based on information provided by the applicant, the prior consultations and coordination for the entire PVSP, 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-2005-00090 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before December 07, 2017.
Laura Shively, Senior Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
1325 J Street, Room 1480
Sacramento, California 95814-2922
Email: Laura.Shively@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 Mrs. Laura Shively, (916) 557-5258, Laura.Shively@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: Figure 1-Vicinity Map dated January 6, 2017
Figure 5-Waters of the U.S. Proposed Impacts drawings dated July 27, 2017