Environmental Review
The Paradise Sewer Project is now through the environmental review phases, wherein the Town of Paradise approved and certified the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at a public hearing on Monday, November 7, 2022. The PEIR analyzed the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a sewer connection from the Town to the City of Chico Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). To download the Final PEIR click here.
The Paradise Town Council, as lead agency, held a public hearing on Monday, November 7, 2022, at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers, related to the certification of the Final PEIR for the Paradise Sewer Project, which consists of the design, right of way acquisition, and construction for the core collection system, extended collection system, transport pipeline, and connection to the WPCP.
CEQA Process
The Town, which is serving as the state lead agency pursuant to CEQA, adopted a Programmatic EIR that evaluated the potential environmental impacts of construction and operation of the Paradise Sewer Project. The CEQA process steps are described below.
Notice of Preparation (NOP) of EIR
LAUNCHED ON MAY 3, 2021
NOP was published with the State Clearinghouse through the California Office of Planning and Research.
Advertisement was placed in Enterprise Record and Paradise Post to alert the public of Environmental Process kick-off and initiation of development of the environmental document.
Public notice was distributed to promote the NOP/Scoping Period and public comment opportunities.
Scoping & Minimum 30-Day Public Comment Period – Public Scoping Meeting
PUBLIC REVIEW & COMMENT PERIOD
MAY 3 – JUNE 3, 2021
This was an early step in the CEQA process, allowing the interested public to provide input into the project and environmental scope during the public comment period.
A Public Scoping meeting was held to share information and seek input. Click here to view the Public Scoping Summary Report.
Draft PEIR Development
MAY 2021 – JULY 2022
A Draft PEIR was prepared that highlighted the results of the proposed project’s alternative analysis and environmental impacts, as well as identifying mitigation measures to reduce impacts to less than significant under CEQA
Draft PEIR Minimum 45-Day Circulation for Public/Agency Review & Comment – Public Meeting
Public Engagement Opportunity
MAY 2021 – JULY 2022
A Notice of Completion (NOC) was published with the State Clearinghouse through the California Office of Planning and Research.
A notice of availability of the Draft PEIR was placed within local and regional newspapers.
The Draft PEIR was circulated electronically by the California Office of Planning and Research, and through the project website. A copy of the Draft PEIR was available at Town Clerk at Paradise Town Hall (5555 Skyway, Paradise), Butte County Library, Paradise Branch (5922 Clark Rd, Paradise), Terry Ashe Recreation Center (6626 Skyway, Paradise), City Clerk at Chico City Hall (411 Main Street, Chico), Butte County Library, Chico Branch (1108 Sherman Ave, Chico), CARD Community Center (545 Vallombrosa Avenue, Chico), and Butte County Clerk (155 Nelson Avenue, Oroville).
Public meetings were held during the public review and comment period to share the Draft PEIR and seek formal input through a number of mediums including, but not limited to, letters, e-mails, website submission, and comment cards.
Final PEIR
Preparation and certification of the Final PEIR. All comments received during the Public Comment Period are included and addressed within the Final PEIR.
Responses to comments received during the Draft PEIR public comment period are provided in the Final PEIR.
Changes were made to final PEIR in response to comments received during public/agency review and comment period.
Decision/Notice of Determination – Public Hearing
WINTER 2022
A Town Council meeting was held on November 7, 2022 to allow the Town to hear Public Testimony and act on the final PEIR. The public was invited to join and participate in this meeting.
Within five days of the Town Council vote, a Notice of Determination (NOD) was published with the State Clearinghouse through the California Office of Planning and Research.
Formal public notice of the Final PEIR availability was placed in local and regional newspapers.
The 30-day window for legal filings under CEQA closed on December 8, 2022.
Environmental Key Activities
The following activities are included in preparation of the PEIR:
Environmental data collection & field surveys
Preparation of technical studies and analyses*
Development of Draft PEIR
Public review of Draft PEIR
Response to public comments in Final PEIR
Preparation of Final PEIR
Local and regional community stakeholders, as well as the general public, play key roles in the environmental planning process through ongoing participation and by providing timely and formal input at critical public comment periods within the environmental process. This valuable engagement helps to identify and address key concerns, issues, and potential impacts in order to develop a project that best meets the needs of the community.
* Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions modeling; biological resources survey and studies; cultural resources survey; and evaluation of technical resources prescribed as part of Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines