Details
As Prime Consultant, Dean Ryan is responsible for interagency and public involvement work, environmental studies and evaluations, and preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD). The route begins at the junction with California State Highway 193 and proceeds eastward 34 miles to the Junction with HF 136.
Meetings and Coordination:
Dean Ryan is responsible for the facilitation and coordination of Social, Economic and Environmental (SEE) Team Meetings including government agencies such as the Forest Service, State, and County representatives; the facilitation and participation of Interagency Meetings to review the preliminary environmental impact statement and record agency comments. Dean Ryan will attend and participate in the public hearing(s) on the Draft EIS; develop and mail public notices; prepare handouts and appropriate exhibits; develop and deliver oral presentations regarding the technical information to the public.
Environmental Studies:
Land Use Impacts: Dean Ryan is identifying State, County and Forest Service land use plans and policies in the area which may be impacted by the proposed project and identify current development trends in El Dorado County and in the communities of Placerville and Georgetown. Land Use Plans include the assessment of the proposed project for consistency with all applicable land use plans and provide an analysis of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of any substantial, foreseeable, or induced growth/development for each alternative. Particular emphasis has been placed upon the El Dorado County Environmental Impact Record and General Plan and the El Dorado National Forest Environmental Impact Statement and Land and Recreation Management Plan. Recreation and forest resource analysis are conducted to assess the impacts.
Air Quality: Dean Ryan is providing a general description of the existing air quality conditions; the type of area in which the project is located, and the air basin in which the project is located. Noise: Dean Ryan will also incorporate a noise impact statement into the draft EIS. Water Quality: Dean Ryan will incorporate a water quality section into the draft EIS and prepare a cumulative watershed effect analysis. The analysis will address scoping comments issues regarding water quality. Wetland, Riparian, and Other Impacts: In accordance with the Corps of Engineers' 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual, Dean Ryan will delineate the boundaries of wetlands that may be affected by the proposed project so that the area of effect can be determined.
Socioeconomic Impacts: Dean Ryan is assessing the beneficial and adverse primary, secondary, social and economic impacts to the nearby rural residents and the community. The socioeconomic impacts include assessing projected traffic volume impacts and any projected changes in traffic patterns and usage including changes in neighborhood or community cohesion; changes in travel patterns and accessibility; impacts on school districts, businesses, police and fire protection; impacts on highway, traffic and overall public safety; impacts on the local economy including effects on development, tax revenues, public expenditures, employment opportunities and retail sales.
Erosion, Floodplains/Hydraulics Impacts: Sensitive Species/Wildlife: Dean Ryan will incorporate a sensitive species/wildlife section in to the Draft EIS. Cultural Resources: Dean Ryan will also incorporate the Cultural Resources section into the Draft EIS. Visual Impacts: Dean Ryan will also incorporate a Visual Impacts section into the Draft EIS. Construction Impacts: Dean Ryan will prepare a construction activity section into the draft EIS. In addition, Dean Ryan will evaluate potential adverse impacts associated with the construction of each alignment alternative and identify appropriate Federal, State and County Laws, regulations, and ordinances that apply to construction operations. Dean Ryan will address CSNC's supplemental scoping comments regarding construction activities.
Fire Hazard/Risk Impacts: Dean Ryan is preparing an analysis of the increased risk of fire associated with the proposed improvement of FH 137. The analysis will address the risk of increased ignitions due to projected increases in traffic and improved access associated with the proposed project.
Logging Impacts: Dean Ryan will prepare a Logging section into the Land Use section of the Draft EIS. Right-of-Way Impacts: Dean Ryan will incorporate a Right-of-Way section into the Draft EIS. Traffic Impacts: Dean Ryan will prepare an analysis of potential traffic impacts due to projected increases in seasonal average daily traffic (SADT) counts for FH 137. The analysis will address the impacts to the level of service (LOS) and existing traffic patterns in the area, since construction of the proposed project would in effect provide an opportunity for travel along a circuitous paved route.
Secondary and Cumulative Impacts: Dean Ryan is preparing an evaluation of possible secondary or cumulative impacts to the project area and surrounding environments and is summarizing the results in the environmental impact document. The evaluation addresses the following concerns:
Identify links that the proposed project may have with other programmed development and area-wide resource management plans for wetlands, air quality, water quality, etc.
Contact other development and resource protection agencies such as zoning boards, water quality control departments and building inspection agencies. Provide documentation of coordination efforts in the EIS.
Identify whether developmental changes are occurring and whether continued growth in the future is expected for the project area on the basis of information gathered from contact and coordination with appropriate resource protection agencies.
Assess the indirect impacts of the proposed highway improvement by analyzing the planned and potential development for the area influenced by the project on the basis of the design life of the facility.