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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 11051991 - S.2 S. 2 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on November 5, 1991 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Powers NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ----------------- SUBJECT: Request for an E.I .R. The Board considered the recommendation of Supervisor Fanden for the Director of Community Development to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on a proposed helicopter pad on Acme Fill Corporation land. (See Attachment) i The following persons expressed reservations on helicopter training activity in the vicinity of Acme Fill's land or the wetlands area: A. McNabney, Mt. Diablo Audubon Society, 1161 Leisure Land, No. 7, Walnut Creek; James High, 3682 Hillsbowegh Drive, Concord; and Bob Gabriel, 133 Arkinlander, Martinez. James Pezzaglia, attorney for the Acme Fill Corporation, 611 Las Juntas Street, Martinez, advised that his client is not aware of any application pending on this subject. Val Alexeeff, .Director, Growth Management and Economic Development Agency, confirmed that no application has been filed. He advised that his staff has been looking at flight paths and reviewing_ noise studies. He advised that once an application is filed, the environmental review process would begin. Board members determined to take no action on the request for an EIR since an application for a land use permit had not been filed. Supervisor McPeak noted that staff had been. requested to find alternative offsite training paths and requested a status report on this matter. Therefore, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the Public Works Director is REQUESTED to report to the Board on December 3 , 11991, on the status of locating alternative sites for helicopter training operations. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: 1�~�`'r`�r''`'`�¢"� '`7 i / f ?/ cc: Public Works Director PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board County Administrator of Supervisors and County Administrator Director, GMEDA By ,Deputy Tor BOARD OF SUPERVISORS • 2.` Contra FROMs Supervisor Nancy Fanden Costa DATEt Courty November 5, 1991 SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR E.I.R. ON PROPOSED HELICOPTER PAD SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION REQUEST: Authorize the Director of the Community Development Department to initiate the preparation of an E.I.R. on the proposed helicopter pad on Acme Fill Corporation land, prior to final Board approval of land use permit. BACKGROUND: The Acme facility has a landfill gas system installed to recover, collect and transport methane gas. Helicopter activity would threaten the landfill gas recovery system. To allow helicopters to land anywhere near the Tosco plant without an E.I .R. would be totally irresponsible. Is the Board ready to assume responsibility in the event of an accident? Keep in mind these are "training flights" . There are petroleum pipelines, petroleum storage tanks, a refinery adjacent to the Walnut Creek Flood Control Channel and residential idential areas in the vicinity. The conditions that exist pose a hazard--both to the flights and to persons and property on the ground. The sensitivity of the wetlands alone should qualify this proposal for an E.I .R. In fact, the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society requested an E.I .R. in their letter to the Board dated March 27, 1991. If the Board is genuinely concerned about serving the public interest, Byron Air Field is, and always has been, a viable alternate site. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENTt X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) SUPk) , ,FAHDEN , MTZ TEL Na .510-646-1396 Oct 28 ,91 15 :50 Na .002 P .01 805 LAS.JUNTAS VMARTINEZ,CALIFORNIA 94553 (415)&6-2M 4300 GARDEN ROAD 4) EL SOBRANTE,CALIFORNIA OW3 3335 MY.DIABLO BOULEVARD (415)3744922 TTE,caLIPoRNIA 94649 (415)29d-4733 NANCY CARDINALLI FANDEN (4!S) Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors supervisorial District Two October 7, 1991 Members of the Hoard of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 i RE: REQUEST FOR AN EIR ON IMICOPM PAD � Dear Members of the Board: In view of substantial public concern expressed by numerous groups concerning the proposed helicopter pad on Acme Fill Corporation land, if an EIR is not completed before a final decision is made, the County will be vulnerable for liability in the event of an accident.. Furthermore, any use of this hazardous waste parcel would require approval of federal and state regulatory agencies. j The Acme facility has a landfill gas system installed to recover, collect, and transport methane gas. Helicopter activity would, threaten the landfill gas recovery system. To alloy.- helicopters to land anywhere near the Tosco Plant without an EIR would be totally irresponsible. Are you ready to assume responsibility in the event of an accident? Keep in mond these are "training flights". There are I petroleum pipelines, petroleum storage tanks, a refinery adjacent to the Walnut Creek Flood Control Channel and residential areas in the vicinity. The conditions that exist pose a hazard--both to the flights and to persons and ; property on the ground. The sensitivity of the wetlands alone should qualify this proposal for an EIR.. In fact, the Mt. Diable Audubon Society requested an EIR in their letter to the Board dated March 27, 1991. If the Board is genuinely concerned about serving the ' public .interest, Byron Air Field is, and always has been, a viable alternate site. �Sincerely, Nancy Fand Supervisor, istric't II Dorothy Sakazaki 737 CentrallAve. Martinez, CAI 94553 228-5671 November 1, 1991 Tom Powers, Chairman Members of the Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Members of the Board: It has been brought to my attention that on Tuesday, November 5, 1991, Supervisor Nancy Fanden will ask the Board of Supervisors to support an E.I . R. for the proposedi helicopter pad on Acme Fill land. I will be unable to attend the Board meeting next Tuesday as I will be working on Election Day. However, I urge you to support this request. As you know I have written to the Board regarding this matter in the past and feel just as strongly today as I did then. The survey conducted by Hal Wight, Manager of Buchanan Airport, was a joke. It not only angered and embarrassed Supervisor Sunne McPeak, it was an insult to everyone who lives within the sphere of influence of Buchanan Airport. I An E.I . R. is a step in the right direction to rectify past mistakes made by County staff. It would clear up once and for all the issues raised by The Audubon Society, Blum Road Alert, residents in the Vine Hill area, Acme Fill Corporation and the cities of Pleasant Hill and Concord. It' s not to late to do the right thing for the right reason. Sincerely, cc: Clerk of the Board Mike Walford Hal Wight PCD Blum Road Alert Audubon Society RECEIVE® Acme Fill Corp. Martinez News-Gazette Contra Costa Times NOV 11991 cc: BOARD MEMBERS (?rovided) CI.ERKCoNTRACOC - ' CC • sa MT DIABLO AUDUBON SOCIETY PO BOX 53 _ WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA 94596 RECEIVED 18 October 1991 �OCT291991 Honorable Board of Supervisors Contra Costa County CHER BOARD CONTRA OF S SUPERVISORS O Greet ings:RE:Helcopter issues As we asserted months ago, helicoptor flites over and/or about the Tosco Refinery would seem to us to be obviously dangerous. That being the case we don't undertand why there is a continuing effort to permit such flites. We would also believe there are FAA Regulations on such matters. Furthermore, we have objected to use of wetlands, for take off and landing exercises because of the adverse.impacts on birds and other wildlife. I.t seems to us NO EiR should be necessary to make a decision in this matter. We further, respectfully suggest the helicopter people attempt make an arrangement with someone who owns some acerage, noir unplanted-so the helicopter exercizes can be continued. Respectful , A. B. McNabney , Vice President-Conservation cc:Conservation Committee cc 60arld /Yl�n�•l.�5 CAO