Blue Mountain Biomass Project (SNC 1288-RC)
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2017052033
Lead Agency
Calaveras County
Document Title
Blue Mountain Biomass Project (SNC 1288-RC)
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
3/8/2022
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) will provide grant funding to the Sierra Business Council for the design, purchase and installation of fuel preparation and water treatment equipment to support the Blue Mountain Biomass Project (project). The project involves the construction and operation of a 3-Megawatt Forest Biomass Plant in Wilseyville, CA which will sell electricity under a 20-year agreement with PG&E. It will also produce and sell biochar, a carbon negative byproduct of the advanced gasification technology. The facility is designed to create electricity, heat, and biochar from forest-sourced biomass. The entire Blue Mountain Biomass Project was evaluated by Calaveras County, including the preparation of an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and an addendum to the IS/MND. In November 2021, Calaveras County approved the IS/MND and addendum, and issued a Conditional Use Permit for the project. SNC has independently reviewed the analysis in the IS/MND and has determined that the project, with mitigation measures incorporated, would not have a significant effect on the environment.
Contact Information
Name
Shannon Ciotti
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Grants & Reimbursements Manager
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Wilseyville
Counties
Calaveras
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
The project is located near the boundary of the Eldorado and Sierra National Forests. Surrounding communities include West Point, Mokelumne Hill, Pine Grove, Railroad Flat, Arnold and Pioneer. The region benefiting from the project is Wilseyville, a small, severely economically disadvantaged (“SDAC”) and fire threatened town in census tract 4 of Calaveras County.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Calaveras
Final Environmental Document Available at
Sierra Nevada Conservancy, 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 205, Auburn, CA 95603
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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