Delta Plan Will Not Meet Jan. 1 Deadline; New Date Announced for Draft EIR Release

The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan will not be completed by the Jan. 1, 2012 deadline, the council’s executive officer reported at a council meeting Oct. 27.

The draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the plan is now expected to be released on Friday, Nov. 4. At least two public hearings will be held to discuss the 2,000-page document, and the council may create additional opportunities to receive public comment, Executive Officer Joe Grindstaff said.

A final Delta Plan is now expected to be adopted in late March or early April 2012.

Grindstaff said the draft EIR is almost complete, but more time is needed to produce the type of draft EIR demanded by the complex and comprehensive Delta Plan.

"It is imperative the draft EIR is prepared as thoroughly as possible,” Grindstaff said. “Producing the Delta Plan EIR is an enormous undertaking that has been done relatively quickly, and staff and consultants have been working nights and weekends for months to get it done.”

The first public hearing on the draft EIR will be Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. The second hearing will be Thursday, Dec. 15 at the State Capitol.

All schedules and details for providing comment will be posted on the DSC website soon.

The council will review and consider public comments made on the draft EIR as it prepares the final Delta Plan.

A summary of Grindstaff’s report on the EIR process is available here.