The lead agency of the project, Santa Margarita Water District will consider the Final Environmental Impact Report for certification on Friday, June 21 at 7:30 a.m. at their headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
Consideration of Certification on June 21 at 7:30 a.m.
Santa Margarita Water District
26111 Antonio Parkway
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
What’s included in the Final EIR?
- Text revisions to the Draft EIR
- Responses to comments
The lead agency is responsible for sending written responses to the commenting agencies at least 10 days prior to certification. Commenting agencies were notified via mail by May 24, 2019.
What’s next?
Once the lead agency, Santa Margarita Water District, approves the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), it is certified. The agency must file a Notice of Determination (NOD) within five days of approval and have it post with the county clerk and State Clearinghouse for at least 30 days.
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is a critical component and major accomplishment. The EIR is required prior to building the project. It is estimated that Phase 1 of the project could begin in 2020.
What’s an EIR?
Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), public agencies are charged with the duty to avoid or substantially lessen significant environmental impacts of a project where feasible. For the San Juan Watershed Project, this process is undertaken through an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), an assessment that identifies any potentially significant impacts of a proposed project on the environment. The EIR indicates the manner in which those significant impacts can be avoided or significantly lessened; identifies any significant and unavoidable adverse impacts that cannot be mitigated; and identifies reasonable and feasible alternatives to the proposed project that would eliminate any significant adverse environmental impacts or reduce the impacts to a less-than significant level.