Release of Notice of Preparation and Initial Study for Suction Dredge Permitting Program
Mark Stopher
DFG News Release
Public Scoping Meetings Held to Receive Comments on Suction Dredge Permitting Program
November 2, 2009
Contact:
Mark Stopher, Environmental Program Manager, 530.225.2275
Jordan Traverso, Deputy Director, Office of Communications, Education and Outreach, 916.654.9937
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is holding public scoping meetings for input on its suction dredge permitting program. Three meetings will provide an opportunity for the public, interested groups, and local, state and federal agencies to comment on potential issues or concerns with the program. The outcome of the scoping meetings and the public comment period following the scoping meetings will help shape what is studied in the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR).
A court order requires DFG to conduct an environmental review of the program under the California Environmental Quality Act. DFG is currently prohibited from issuing suction dredge permits under a court order issued July 9. In addition, as of Aug. 6, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signing of SB 670 (Wiggins) places a moratorium on all California instream suction dredge mining or the use of any such equipment in any California river, stream or lake, regardless of whether the operator has an existing permit issued by DFG. The moratorium will remain in effect until DFG completes the environmental review of its permitting program and makes any necessary updates to the existing regulations.
The scoping meetings will be held in Fresno, Sacramento and Redding. Members of the public can provide comments in person at any of the following locations and times:
Fresno: Monday, Nov. 16, 5 p.m.
California Retired Teachers Association Building
3930 E. Saginaw Way
Fresno, CA 93726
Sacramento: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5 p.m.
City of West Sacramento Galleria
1110 West Capitol Ave.
West Sacramento, CA 95691
Redding: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m.
Shasta Senior Nutrition Program Center
100 Mercy Oaks Drive
Redding, CA 96003
Written comments must be postmarked by Dec. 3, 2009 and may be submitted, either by e-mail to dfgsucti...@dfg.ca.gov or by regular mail to:
Mark Stopher
California Department of Fish and Game
601 Locust Street
Redding, CA 96001
For more information about these meetings, the suction dredge program or to view the Initial Study and supporting documents, please visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/.