Agenda - 12-07-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Environmental Assessment: In September 2009, staff was presented with a rough concept plan detailing the possible development of a Solid Waste Transfer Station on the site. The concept plan indicated that there would be approximately ten (10) acres of land disturbing activity associated with the project, including the proposed access road off of Millhouse Road. After review of the concept plan, and the various provisions of the EIO, staff concluded that: 1. The proposed development project is not listed as being exempt from the preparation of an EA, 2. The proposed land disturbing activities are over the 40,000 square foot threshold detailed within Section 2.2.3 of the DO requiring the submission and completion of an EA, and 3. The project is proposed on a parcel(s) of property over two (2) acres in area. For these reasons, staff required the completion of an EA as a prerequisite step to a future formal site plan application submission and review process. The EA application for the site, completed by the consultant and their sub - consultants, was prepared in accordance with the Orange County EIO and followed the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) application guidelines to provide staff additional information regarding environmental impacts of the project. Other than the 40,000 square feet triggering mechanism, there are no other criteria in the Orange County EIO that would require preparation of an EA. Furthermore, the project as proposed would not require an EA under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) because the anticipated amount of waste to be handled is less than 350 tons per day. The scope of the EA prepared by the consultant exceeds that which would be necessary in order to meet normal EA criteria application requirements. This enhanced EA assessment was created to address a higher level of detail requested by the Board of County Commissioners as part of the review of this site (please refer to Attachment C for a table breaking down the various EA review requirements). Environmental Assessment — Clearinghouse Review Process: On October 2, 2009 planning staff prepared a memo to the State Clearinghouse requesting that the project be entered into the State Environmental Review Clearinghouse for publication (i.e. public notification) and distribution to various State agencies in order to solicit their informal review and comment since an EA does not 3