Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project in Grass Valley
Deadline for public comment is Oct 8; Public meeting on Sept. 20
The City of Grass Valley is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the above project. We invite scoping comments on which issues should be addressed in the EIR. An Initial Study has been prepared which identifies the following potentially significant impacts proposed to be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Report: aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology, soils, seismicity, and mineral resources, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation and traffic, and utilities and service systems.
In addition, the EIR would analyze alternatives that may include but would not be limited to: No Project, Reduced Project, and Site Reconfiguration.
Description of the Proposed Project
The Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation (IMMC) proposes to reopen the historic Idaho-Maryland Mine and develop precious and industrial mineral deposits into gold and high quality stone ceramic products. The Idaho-Maryland Mine project comprises three properties that encompass a total of 138 acres of land within the City of Grass Valley (City) and unincorporated Nevada County (County).
These properties include the: (1) Idaho-Maryland site (101 acres); (2) New Brunswick site (37 acres); and (3) Round Hole site (a 1-acre easement). The project site is located east of State Routes 20/49; the Idaho Maryland and Round Hole sites are located south of Idaho Maryland Road, west of Brunswick Road, and north of East Bennett Road, and the New Brunswick site is located southwest of the intersection of Brunswick Road and East Bennett Road.
Public Comments and Public Scoping Meeting
The public is invited to help identify the scope of issues that the City should address in the Draft EIR. These public comments should be received no later than October 8, 2007. A scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Love Building in Condon Park off Minnie Street, Grass Valley, California.
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to identify issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIR. The public will also later have the opportunity to comment on the Draft EIR once it has been completed. Written comments regarding the scope of the EIR should be sent to:
Tom Last, Planning Director
Idaho Maryland Mine Project
c/o Environmental Science Associates
225 Bush Street, Suite 1700
San Francisco, CA 94104
Fax: (415) 896-0332
E-mail: idahomaryland@esassoc.com
Availability of Initial Study. Copies of the Initial Study are available for public review at City Hall, and the libraries listed below, or online. Copies of the Initial Study may be requested by telephone at (858) 638-0917 or by e-mail at idahomaryland@esassoc.com. The public may also wish to refer to the June 2006 Master Environmental Assessment (MEA), which is available for public review online at the above website and at the City of Grass Valley Planning Department. The MEA is also included on a CD located inside the back cover of the Initial Study.
Project Information Repositories:
Grass Valley City Hall
125 East Main Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 274-4330
Grass Valley Public Library
207 Mill Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 273-4117
Madelyn Helling County Library
980 Helling Way
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-7050
REMINDER: Comments will be accepted by fax, e-mail, or postmark through October 8, 2007. Please be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number in your correspondence.
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