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The public may get more time to respond the draft Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment for the McCloud Water Bottling Plant.
The 584-page document outlining the Nestle Waters North America bottling plant at McCloud's California Cedar Products mill site was released on July 12th starting a 45-day comment period.
But after several requests for more time, the Siskiyou County planning department may extend the August 28th deadline.
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“We have received several requests for a time extension, so we will be looking into that further,” said interim planning director Terry Barber.
Some of those requests have come from citizens groups outspoken against the plant like the McCloud Watershed Council and Concerned McCloud Citizens.
“Given the fact that the EIR was so long in coming out and the time it took to do the research, we now have a document that is hundreds of pages long,” said Debra Anderson of the MWC, which asked for a 90-day extension. “In order to do a thorough review, we'd like a longer extension.”
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Nestle released a statement on August 8th in favor of a 15-day extension to the comment period.
“NWNA has been contacted by several groups to inform us that they will be asking the county for additional time to review the Draft EIR/EA.” said Nestle project manager Dave Palais. “If the county decides to grant the extension, NWNA would be fully supportive of that decision. NWNA is committed to full compliance with California Environmental Quality Act, including meaningful and thorough public review and comment.”
“Nevertheless, this is an important project for us and we look forward to a timely consideration of the EIR/EA by the county.”
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Following public comment period, a final EIR/EA will be prepared that will include responses and comments, planning department said. A public hearing may be scheduled before the planning commission in October and the board of supervisors in November to consider certification of the final EIR/EA.
Copies of the draft EIR/EA are available at the McCloud Community Services District, McCloud Library, Shasta-Trinity National Forest ranger stations in both McCloud and Mount Shasta, the county planning department in Yreka and the Yreka and Mount Shasta Libraries.
It can also be viewed online at www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/planning/
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NESTLE.htm.