Public Scoping Meeting for the Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Public Scoping Meeting for the Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Public Scoping Meeting for the Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report January 24, 2017 Purpose of the Meeting Scoping for the Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan Environmental

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Public Scoping Meeting for the Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report

January 24, 2017

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Purpose of the Meeting

  • Scoping for the Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan

Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report (HCP EIS/EIR)

  • Inform public and stakeholders about the preparation
  • f the Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR
  • Provide information on the EIS/EIR process and how

to provide public comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR

  • Provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Environmental Review Process & Proposed Action

Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Troy Rahmig

HCP Project Manager ICF

Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) Hova Woods

EIS/EIR Project Manager ICF

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Habitat Conservation Plan Overview

  • HCP is a comprehensive regional plan
  • Serves as an HCP pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
  • Streamlines and coordinates existing processes for review and permitting of

public and private activities that potentially affect covered species

  • Provides long-term conservation of covered species in the plan area
  • Sets out a conservation strategy with measures to avoid, minimize and/or

mitigate impacts to covered species and habitats

  • Facilitates the role and responsibility of local government in overseeing local

land use planning and decision-making

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Habitat Conservation Plan History and Purpose

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  • 1994 Metropolitan Bakersfield HCP established the first multi-species

HCP in California

  • Permits expired in 2014 but were extended or granted an interim permit until 2019
  • Bakersfield HCP replaces original HCP to reflect current jurisdiction

requirements

  • Builds on original goals in the earlier HCP and provides an opportunity to expand the

benefits to new participants, adjust and clarify the species and activities, and incorporate improvements based on lessons learned

  • Permit applicants currently preparing complete draft of HCP for agency review and

finalization

  • 30-year incidental take permit

–Regulated under the ESA –Triggers environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Relationship Between ESA and NEPA

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  • Section 9 of the ESA prohibits “take” of federally-listed fish and wildlife.
  • Take means to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect,
  • r attempt to engage in any such conduct” (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)).
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) may issue permits to

authorize “incidental take” under Section 10(a) of the ESA.

  • Incidental take is defined as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying
  • ut an otherwise lawful activity.
  • The Service may issue an incidental take permit provided certain criteria are met.
  • Issuance of take permits under the HCP is a federal action subject to

NEPA review

  • NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

for major federal actions. Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Environmental Review Process & Proposed Action Overview

  • HCP will also obtain Section 2081 Incidental Take Permit from California

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

  • Regulated under California ESA
  • Triggers environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • Joint EIS/EIR is being prepared to comply with the NEPA and CEQA
  • Agency Roles
  • USFWS – EIS lead federal agency in compliance with NEPA
  • City of Bakersfield – EIR lead state agency in compliance with CEQA
  • CDFW is a Responsible and Trustee Agency for CEQA

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

HCP Phase 1 – Permit Area

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Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

HCP Phase 1 – Study Area

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

HCP Proposed Covered Activities by:

  • City of Bakersfield Planning
  • City of Bakersfield Water Resources
  • City of Bakersfield Public Works (including TRIP)
  • City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks
  • Kern County Planning
  • Kern County Roads
  • Kern County Airports
  • Kern County Animal Control
  • CSU-Bakersfield
  • Bakersfield College
  • Kern County Schools

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

HCP Proposed Covered Activities

  • Urban Development
  • Includes capital projects and O&M activities at schools,

colleges, universities

  • Transportation and Circulation Infrastructure
  • Flood Control
  • Sewer and Water Treatment Facilities
  • Landfills
  • Airports
  • Conservation Strategy Implementation

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

  • Blunt-nosed leopard lizard
  • Burrowing owl
  • Least Bell’s vireo
  • Buena Vista lake shrew
  • Nelson’s antelope squirrel
  • Tipton kangaroo rat
  • San Joaquin kit fox
  • Alkali mariposa lily
  • Rose-flowered larkspur

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  • Recurved larkspur
  • Shevock’s golden-aster
  • San Joaquin wooly threads
  • Bakersfield cactus

HCP Covered Species List

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

HCP Impact Analysis

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Areas of Expected Future Development in Bakersfield During the Permit Term

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

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HCP Study Area Land Cover

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Potential HCP Conservation Strategy – Avoidance / Minimization

  • Avoidance, Minimize, then Mitigate
  • Create Avoidance Strategy for Urban Kit Fox
  • Standardized approach for assessing and avoiding dens
  • Protocol for contacts regarding kit fox issues
  • Will include a new position, paid for by the HCP, to respond to local

kit fox calls

  • Create additional avoidance measures for other covered

species

  • General avoidance includes developing in town and taking

conservation actions out of town

  • Other Avoidance and Minimization Measures (AMMs) as proposed

conditions on Covered Activities (HCP Chapter 6)

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Potential HCP Conservation Strategy – Compensatory Mitigation

  • Set conservation acreage goals for each species
  • Highlights areas of conservation focus
  • Allows the Plan to be specific about where conservation will
  • ccur
  • Allows the USFWS and CDFW to make findings for each

species

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

HCP Next Steps

  • Finalize conservation strategy (early 2017)
  • Finalize cost and determine funding (mid 2017)
  • Submit HCP with NEPA document to USFWS for

review and approval (end of 2017)

  • Finalize ESA and California ESA permits (2018)

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Environmental Review Process

  • NEPA and CEQA Compliance
  • Implementing HCP requires NEPA review
  • Approval of the project requires CEQA review
  • EIS/EIR
  • Consideration of alternatives:

–Proposed Action (permit issuance) –No Action (no permit issuance) –Reasonable range of other alternatives (e.g., variation of conservation level, impacts caused by the proposed activities, permit area, covered species, or a combination of factors)

  • Identify and analyze potentially significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts

from Proposed Action and Alternatives for detailed study

  • Identify measures to avoid or minimize significant impacts of the Proposed Action

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Environmental Review Process (continued)

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  • Biological Resources
  • Land Use and Planning
  • Utilities and Service Systems
  • Air Quality
  • Hydrology and Water Resources
  • Cultural Resources
  • Socioeconomics
  • Population/Housing
  • Environmental Justice
  • Parks, Recreation, and Open

Space

  • Aesthetics
  • Climate Change and

Greenhouse Gases

  • Agricultural and Forestry

Resources

  • Geology and Soils
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Noise
  • Traffic/Transportation

Resources to be analyzed:

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Environmental Review Process - Next Steps

  • Step 1 – Scoping (now)
  • January 6: Notice of Intent published in Federal Register
  • January 9: Notice of Preparation issued
  • 45-day comment period ends February 23, 2017
  • Step 2 – Draft EIS/EIR
  • Notice of Availability (estimated late 2018)*
  • Public Comment Period
  • Step 3 – Final EIS/EIR
  • Step 4 – Record of Decision/ Notice of Determination

(estimated mid 2019)* *The environmental review process is dependent upon the schedule of the HCP, and these dates are currently subject to change.

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Public Comments

  • Keys to Making Effective Comments
  • Focus your comments on reasonable alternatives and potential

environmental issues.

  • Let us know what environmental and community factors you consider

important for analysis in the Draft EIS/EIR.

  • Suggest methods for analysis of environmental impacts.
  • Submit comments that are clear, concise, and relevant to the project.
  • Provide constructive solutions with documentation or resources to

support your comments or recommendations.

  • Provide specific examples, which is more effective than simply stating
  • pposition or making broad statements.
  • All comments will be treated equally regardless of which

method you use to submit them.

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Public Comment Submittal due February 23, 2017

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Send written comments to:

Patricia Cole San Joaquin Valley Division Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605 Sacramento, CA 95825

  • In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or Pickup:

Call (916) 414-6600 to make an appointment during regular business hours to drop off comments or view received comments at the above Sacramento location.

  • Fax: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

(916) 414-6713, Attn: Patricia Cole

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City of Bakersfield

  • Electronically:

http://www.bakersfieldhcp.us/ or to bakersfieldhcp@bakersfieldcity.us

  • Send written comments to:

City of Bakersfield, Community Development Dept., Planning Division Attn: Kristin Pittack 1715 Chester Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301

  • In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or Pickup:

Visit the Planning Division on the 2nd Floor at the above Bakersfield location during regular business hours to drop off comments or view received comments.

  • Fax: Bakersfield Community Development Dept.,

(661) 852-2136, Attn: Kristin Pittack

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ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose. ICF proprietary and confidential. Do not copy, distribute, or disclose.

Bakersfield HCP EIS/EIR Public Scoping Meeting

Thank You

Thank you for your interest in the Habitat Conservation Plan and EIS/EIR environmental review process. We will open the floor to questions regarding the information presented during this meeting. Comments are due February 23, 2017

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