El Dorado Cloud Seeding Program Expansion Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Addendum
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2017052041
Lead Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
El Dorado Cloud Seeding Program Expansion Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Addendum
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
9/15/2020
Document Description
The SMUD Board of Directors adopted an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) (State Clearinghouse No. 2017052041) and approved the El Dorado Cloud Seeding Program Expansion Project (Project) on October 19, 2017. The Project increased the cloud seeding area from 190 square miles to 444 square miles, and expanded the mix of techniques used to disperse silver iodide nuclei. The cloud seeding techniques included a combination of stationary ground-based units, aircraft, and mobile units transported to selected sites. For using aircrafts, the IS/MND only evaluated the use of wing-mounted burn-in-place flare racks that allowed silver iodide flares to be burned in any quantity throughout the flight. Since adoption of the IS/MND, the use of silver iodide ejectable flares as a supplemental method for aerial cloud seeding has been proposed for the Project. As a result, the Addendum discusses only those impacts which have the potential to be affected by the proposed use of ejectable flares. The Addendum does not affect the remainder of the IS/MND and the IS/MND continues to serve as the appropriate document addressing the environmental impacts of the Project pursuant to CEQA.
Contact Information
Name
Jerry Park
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento
Other Location Info
The existing 444-square-mile cloud seeding area is located primarily in El Dorado County. California. east of Sacramento County and west of the Tahoe Basin, but includes small portions of Placer, Amador, and Alpine counties.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
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
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes (Addendum to a previously adopted MND)
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
No
(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
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.