Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement
NOTICE OF PREPARATION / NOTICE OF INTENT
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 1 released the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Notice of Intent (NOI) for the preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project. Last Chance Grade is the 3.5-mile-long section of US 101 in Del Norte County (post mile [PM] 12.0 to 15.5) that runs between Wilson Creek to about 9 miles south of Crescent City. The Project would realign the highway in response to landslide and roadway failures which have caused damage for decades.
The purpose of the NOP and NOI is to notify agencies, organizations, and individuals of this intent, and request input on the scope and content of the proposed joint EIR/EIS. The NOP and NOI was publicly circulated for a period of 30 days beginning on November 5, 2021 and ending on December 6, 2021.
SUBMISSION OF SCOPING COMMENTS
The EIR/EIS will consider impacts associated with construction and ongoing operation of two alternatives for realignment of Last Chance Grade. The NOP identifies the main subject areas of potential environmental effects / topics to be evaluated in the EIR/EIS, based on preliminary surveys and information. During the scoping circulation period from November 5-December 6, 2021, Caltrans formally accepted comments on the scope, content, and subject areas for analysis in the EIR/EIS. Scoping comments were required to be submitted as written comments, either via mail or email.
Click here to view and download the full NOI.
Click here to view and download the full NOP.
VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
A virtual scoping meeting was held on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
Caltrans provided a brief overview of the project and environmental review process. Attendees had an opportunity to ask questions. However, questions and discussion at the meeting were not considered scoping comments. All scoping comments were required to be submitted by mail or e-mail. Attendance at the virtual scoping meeting was not necessary to submit comments.
Below is a video of the virtual scoping meeting.
