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Public Notices

Under the Corps' Regulatory Program, a public notice is the primary method for advising all interested parties of a proposed activity for which a permit is sought. Soliciting comments and information necessary to evaluate the probable impacts on the public interest. Public notices are also published to inform the public about new or proposed regulations, policies, guidance or permit procedures.

Public Notices published by the Sacramento District under the Regulatory Program are posted on this page. Once a public notice is available on-line, an email notification is sent to individuals on the appropriate mailing list.

Comments are due by the expiration date of the public notice.  Only comments submitted by email or in hard copy format through a delivery service, such as the U.S. Postal Service, can be accepted.   Comments must be submitted to the address listed in the public notice.

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SPK-2006-00691, Public Notice of Permit Application, Placer Gold Industrial Park, Phase II, Vehicle Inspection Center, Placer County, CA

REGULATORY DIVISION
Published April 29, 2020
Expiration date: 5/29/2020

Comment Period:  April 29, 2020 – May 29, 2020

SUBJECT:  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application for the discharge of dredged or fill material in approximately 7.73 acres (23,845 cubic yards) of waters of the United States to construct the proposed Placer Gold Industrial Park, Phase II, Vehicle Inspection Center project.  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 dredged or fill material in waters of the United States.

APPLICANT:      Coastal Partners, LLC, Attn:  Mr. Brett Baumgarten,

                            3500 Cincinnati Avenue, Suite 325, Rocklin, CA, 95765

                            916-773-0550; bbaumgarten@coastalpartners.net

LOCATION:  The approximately 111-acre project site is located near Pleasant Grove Creek, to the west of Industrial Way, north of West Sunset Boulevard, east of North Foothills Boulevard, and south of Athens Avenue, Latitude 38.8256°, Longitude ‑121.3127°, Roseville, Placer County, California, and can be seen on the Roseville USGS Topographic Quadrangle.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  The applicant is proposing to discharge fill material into 6.44 acres of wetland, 0.98 acre of seasonal marsh, 0.28 acre of vernal pool, and 0.03 acre of other waters to construct a vehicle inspection center (VIC), which would be used for storage and inspection of used vehicles prior to the vehicles being shipped to buyers at offsite locations.  The proposed project is anticipated to provide vehicle storage for a total of 10,439 cars and parking for 25 car hauler trucks for a total of 10,464 interior parking spaces.  Vehicle parking areas would include lots for outbound vehicles; build cars, which are cars that being worked on or undergoing minor repairs or maintenance; cars on hold needing parts; and cars that are ready for inspection.  In addition, lot space would be used for works in progress, which are for vehicles that are in the process of being made ready for inspection.

The interior of the proposed VIC would include an approximately 190,000-square foot building that would be used for vehicle inspection.  A secure perimeter fence/barrier would be constructed and surround the entire VIC, except at designated driveways.  A guard house would also be constructed at the main vehicle entrance and would be used to approve the transport trucks prior to entering and exiting the facility.  An approximate 1,890-square foot covered fueling island would be located to the northern side of the VIC and would include best management practices (BMPs) including, but not limited to, covered pumps and stormwater collection systems that would treat and separate runoff prior to release.  An approximate 2,000-square-foot, car wash facility would be located between the fueling-island and adjacent to the north side of the VIC.  The carwash would use recycled carwash water to the extent feasible.  A 12,000-gallon above‑ground fuel tank would be constructed and include secondary containment and installation of a stormwater collection system that would treat and separate runoff prior to release.

The project site would predominantly consist of a paved parking lot to facilitate the storage of the vehicles.  In sum, the project would include ±0.27 acre of concrete, 39 acres of light duty asphalt, 23 acres of standard duty asphalt, 3 acres of heavy-duty asphalt, 1,890 square feet for fuel station paving, and 848 square feet for fuel tank paving.  The project site would also contain approximately three stormwater drainage facilities.  The stormwater facilities would occupy a total of approximately 450,000 square feet, or about 11 acres, and would provide mitigation for volume and peak flow as required by the Sunset Area Plan.  Accordingly, the drainage facilities have been designed to capture, store, and treat the stormwater flows from the project site prior to release to downstream-receiving waters.  The western project boundary would also contain a stormwater facility that would connect to the southern stormwater facility.

Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to provide commercial/industrial development.  The applicant believes there is a need to provide high-quality employment within the Sunset Area Plan in western Placer County.  The attached drawings provide additional project details.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Environmental Setting.  The project area contains a total of approximately 7.30 acres of wetland, 1.0 acre of vernal pool, and 0.17 acre of riverine/riparian aquatic resources.

The project area is located adjacent to industrial facilities on flat, to gently rolling, terrain in the transition zone between the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada Foothills.  The region is characterized by agricultural areas, grasslands, wetlands, and valley oaks.  Elevations range from approximately 100 to 150 feet above mean sea level.  A tributary of Pleasant Grove Creek runs through the southeastern corner of the project area and connects to a seasonal drainage running through the southern half of the site.  Telegraph Hill is located 2.5 miles to the east.

The dominant plant community within the project area consists primarily of nonnative annual grasslands with scattered patches of coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) and Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus).  Wildlife species that may occur in the project area include turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), and coyote (Canis latrans).

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.  To offset the loss of waters of the U.S., the applicant proposes to purchase compensatory mitigation credits through the Western Placer County In-Lieu Fee Program.

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 is required for this project.  The applicant has not indicated they have applied for certification.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES:  Based on the available information, including the applicant's report titled Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation Report, Placer Gold Phase II, dated March 18, 2020, no cultural resources were identified within the project's area of potential effect.  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 proposed activity may affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat.  The Corps will initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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 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‑2006‑00691, must be submitted, via electronic mail, to the project manager listed below on or before May 29, 2020.

           Leah M. Fisher, Senior Project Manager
           US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
           Regulatory Division
           1325 J Street, Room 1350, Sacramento, California 95814-2922
           Email:  Leah.M.Fisher@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 comments 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 Leah Fisher, (916) 557-6639, Leah.M.Fisher@usace.army.mil.

Attachments:  2 drawings