The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Golden State Natural Resources’ (GSNR) proposed forest resiliency demonstration project is now publicly available for a 90-day review period beginning October 22, 2024 and ending January 20, 2025.
The DEIR was released on October 22, 2024 for an original 60-day review period. Following public input, the lead agency for the project has since approved an additional extension of the review period, beyond the usual California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) maximum, to 90 days to allow more time for public review and comment.
GSNR’s proposed forest resiliency demonstration project is currently in the environmental review process under CEQA to ensure any and all potential impacts are identified, comprehensively evaluated, and mitigated to the fullest extent feasible. A significant step in this process is the release of a publicly shared draft of the required Environmental Impact Report which provides an opportunity for public review and comment on the adequacy of the report before its completion.
Please view the original
Notice of Availability (NOA) for full details regarding the DEIR release and the public review and comment period. Please note the 60-day public review period displayed in the NOA has since been extended to a 90-day review period ending January 20, 2025.
WHERE TO REVIEW
Online:
Print Copies
Print copies of the DEIR will be available to review at the following locations (Please allow a few days for placement and confirm business hours for the location you wish to visit):
- Golden State Finance Authority: 1215 K. Street, Suite 1650, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Lassen County Planning and Building Services: 707 Nevada St, Suite 5, Susanville, CA 96130
- The Oney Frosty In Town: 302 S Main St, Adin, CA 96006
- Big Valley Market: 201 Bridge St. Bieber, CA 96009
- Tuolumne County Community Development Department: A.N. Francisco Building, 48 Yaney Ave. 3rd Flr, Sonora, CA 95370
- Tuolumne County Library: 480 Greenley Rd., Sonora, California 95370
- Van Buskirk Community Center Library: 734 Houston Ave., Stockton, CA 95206
- San Joaquin Council of Governments: 555 E Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202-2804
*Translations of the Executive Summary of the DEIR in Spanish and Tagalog will also be accessible at each location.
DEIR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD
The purpose of the public review period is to provide the public an opportunity to review and comment on the DEIR for GSNR’s proposed Forest Resiliency Demonstration Project.
The 90-day public review period for the DEIR begins October 22, 2024 and ends January 20, 2025. Golden State Finance Authority, as the lead agency for this process, must receive all written (including email) comments within this time period. Comments may be submitted to the attention of “GSNR DEIR Comment” at the following:
Via US Postal Service:
Golden State Finance Authority
1215 K Street, Suite 1650
Sacramento, CA 95814
Via Email:
ceqacomments@gsfahome.org
Comments provided via email should include “GSNR DEIR Comment” in the subject line.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Golden State Finance Authority is conducting three public meetings on the DEIR. While not required by CEQA, these meetings offer an important opportunity to introduce the public to the report and receive initial public comment. The meetings are intended to occur early in the 90-day review period to provide the public with key information on how to review the document and the various avenues for submitting public comment. The dates and locations of these meetings are as follows:
- Lassen County Area Meeting: October 28, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Bieber Veterans Memorial Building
657-575 Bridge St., Bieber, CA 96009
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- Stockton Area Meeting: October 30, 2024 at 6:30 pm
KIPP Stockton Elementary School
742 Dallas Ave, Stockton, CA 95206
A virtual participation option is available for this meeting by utilizing the following link: https://rcrcnet.zoom.us/j/88007664912 (Webinar ID: 880 0766 4912) or calling (833)548-0282. No registration required. Spanish and Tagalog translation will also be available for those attending on-site.
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- Tuolumne County Area Meeting: November 4, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Chicken Ranch Casino, Event Hall
16929 Chicken Ranch Rd., Jamestown, CA 95327
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OTHER DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES
CEQA EIR PROCESS TIMELINE
- Release of Initial Notice of Preparation – November 18, 2022
- Release of Revised Notice of Preparation – June 1, 2023
- Publication of DEIR – October 22, 2024
- Public Review of DEIR – Begins October 22, 2024 and ends January 20, 2025
- Public Meetings on DEIR – October 28th, October 30th, and November 4th
- Final EIR Publication – Projected for the first half of 2025
- Review & Decision by Golden State Finance Authority Board of Directors – Projected for the first half of 2025
PROPOSED FOREST RESILIENCY PROJECT
GSNR is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, established by rural counties in California through Golden State Finance Authority, to address the urgent issue of catastrophic fires from overgrown and under-managed forests.
GSNR’s proposed project would improve the resiliency of California’s forestlands by sustainably gathering and processing excess biomass into wood pellets for use in renewable energy generation, often as a replacement for fossil fuels such as coal. The proposed project would include the development of two wood pellet processing facilities, one in the foothills of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain range, in Tuolumne County, and one in the Modoc Plateau of Northern California, in Lassen County. The finished pellets would then be transported by rail to the Port of Stockton for international shipping.
For additional information on GSNR’s proposed project, visit our
Projects Page.
