Agency Review And Public Input

The Preservation Ranch project will be reviewed under CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act), with Sonoma County as the "lead agency" creating a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the entire project with input from federal, state and local agencies and the general public. The Sonoma County Permit/Entitlement Approval Process will be as follows (subject to revision by County and State agencies):

1. Preservation Ranch submits its project applications to the County of Sonoma for the following:
   
   • Rezone of select areas from RRD to TPZ and TPZ to RRD (overall, timber resource acreage remains unchanged)
   • Conditional Use Permit for Conversion from Timberland to Vineyard (8.4% of the property)
   • Merger of existing parcels (reduction from current 160+ parcels to 62)
2. Sonoma County reviews the application, requests additional information as needed and begins the CEQA process as Lead Agency.
3. The CEQA process involves the following:
   
   • An Initial Study and Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report is circulated to Responsible and Trustee Agencies and the public for a 30-day comment period during which time a Scoping meeting will be held to allow agencies and the public to learn more about the project and to express any concerns or questions they may have.
   • Based on the Initial Study and NOP/scoping comments, any additional studies needed are identified and begun along with the research and writing of the Draft EIR. Once completed, the County will file a Notice of Completion and the DEIR will be circulated to agencies and the public for a 45-day comment period.
   • Upon completion of the 45-day DEIR comment period, all the comments received will be reviewed and responded to by the County in the Final EIR. In the event that issues have been identified at this time not adequately addressed in the DEIR, the document may be revised and re-circulated for another 45-day comment period, if determined necessary by the County.
   • The Final EIR will include all responses to comments received on the DEIR and will be reviewed by the County to determine its adequacy prior to certification. At the time the County certifies the FEIR it will also adopted findings regarding the feasibility of mitigation measures and alternatives to reduce significant impacts as well as any required Statements of Overriding Concerns.
   • Project approval (rezone, conditional use permit, parcel merger) cannot take place until all of the above steps have been completed. Within 5 days of approving the project the County would file a Notice of Determination giving notice to all interested parties that the County has certified the FEIR and approved the project.

   In addition, the California Department of Forestryand Fire Protection will implement a separate approval process for timber conversion and timber harvest permits.

   Overall, a number of agency approvals and permits will be required prior to construction.:

   Sonoma County, CEQA Lead Agency

   • Rezoning
   • Conditional Use Permit or Development Agreement
   • Parcel merger
   • VESCO Erosion Control Plan/Grading Permit
   • Well Permits (farm labor housing)
   • Public Works permits (various)
   • Septic Permits (farm labor housing)
   • Surface Mining Permits (gravel for surfacing roads)

   California Department of Forestry and FIre Protection

   • Timber Conversion Permit
   • Timber Harvest Plan (CEQA Certified State Regulatory Program)

   California Department of Fish and Game

   • Lake and Streambed Alteration Permits
   • Endangered Species Act Permit

   California State Water Resources Control Board

   • U.S. Clean Water Act Storm Water Pollution Prevention Permits (SWPPPs)

   California North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

   • Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs)
   • U.S. Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification

   Division of Dam Safety

   • Reservoirs should be exempt if <50 af and/or <25 ft in height.

   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

   • U.S. Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit - NEPA compliance
     - NHPA Section 106
     - ESA Section 7
     - CWA Section 401 certification (see RWQCB)

   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

   • Federal Endangered Species Act, Section 7/10 Consultation/Permit (See USACE)

   NOAA Fisheries

   • Federal Endangered Species Act, Section 7/10 Consultation/Permit (See USACE)