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   ACRONYMS                                 

• 1. What is an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)?
• 2. What is a Program Environmental Impact Report?
• 3. Why is a Program EIR being prepared for the DNA project?
• 4. Why did we develop a program-level EIR instead of an EIS?
• 5. What resources are evaluated in the Program Environmental Impact Report for the DNA project?
• 6. How can I get a copy of the Program DEIR?
• 7. How can I submit comments on the Program DEIR?
• 8. What are the next steps in the EIR process for DNA?
• 9. What is a “MOS”?
• 10. When does RT expect to build the DNA project?

1. What is an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)?

An environmental impact report (EIR) is an informational document used in state, regional, and local planning and decision-making processes to meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In general, the EIR for a proposed project must disclose environmental effects that cannot be avoided; growth-inducing effects; effects found not to be significant; and significant cumulative impacts of all past, present, and reasonably anticipated future projects. In addition, an EIR must identify potential methods of avoiding or reducing effects (i.e., mitigation measures) and alternatives to the proposed project or program.

A program EIR can be prepared on a set of related projects. Program EIRs provide a framework for future, more detailed environmental analyses on individual projects. This is often called “tiering” of the environmental analysis and documentation. As described in the CEQA Guidelines (Section 15168), a program-level document can be incorporated into future project-level documents to:

• Provide a basis for determining whether subsequent phases may have significant environmental effects;
• Help address regional influences, secondary effects, cumulative impacts, broad alternatives, and other elements that apply to the program as a whole; and
• Focus the subsequent evaluation on new effects that had not been considered before.

The Downtown-Natomas-Airport (DNA) project is being advanced as a series of related actions – individual phases that will be implemented over time depending on available funding. The DNA PEIR presents an assessment of the DNA project’s impacts as a whole and focuses on those impacts of the overall project that may be significant. Project-level impacts of individual phases of the DNA project are not included in the DNA PEIR. More focused project-level environmental analysis of each phase will be undertaken by RT prior to being considered for approval.

As a programmatic document, this analysis addresses the general environmental impacts of the DNA project as a whole based upon the general alignment adopted by RT in 2003. Further analysis and final decisions on the exact alignment and design will be made in conjunction with future project-level environmental documents. In addition, this program EIR highlights potential impacts which will need to be further evaluated as precise scopes, designs, and locations of project components are being more clearly defined.

Initially, RT expected to combine the EIR for this project with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An EIS is required when there is a major Federal action that would have a significant effect on the environment. At this time, no federal action is pending on the DNA project. The PEIR is intended only to meet RT’s obligations under CEQA.

RT intends to seek Federal funding for one or more future phases, and there may be federal permits for certain project elements. RT assumes that these phases will be subject to NEPA requirements. This program EIR provides the basis for further project-level CEQA and NEPA compliance for individual project phases.

The following topics are analyzed in the DNA PEIR:

• Land Use
• Farmlands
• Community Impacts
• Socioeconomic Impacts
• Property Acquisition and Displacement
• Environmental Justice
• Cultural Resources
• Parklands
• Public Safety and Security
• Visual and Aesthetic Resources
• Air Quality
• Noise and Vibration
• Biological Resources
• Hazardous Materials
• Utilities
• Energy Resources and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Water Resources
• Wetland Resources
• Summary of Construction Impacts
• Regulatory and Institutional Requirements
• Cumulative and Growth-Inducing Impacts
• Irreversible Environmental Changes

There are three ways to review the Draft Program EIR. The document is available for download at www.dnart.org. CDs can be obtained from RT (Contact Don Smith, Senior Planner, P.O. Box 2110, Sacramento, CA 95812-2110; P: 916-556-0506, F: 916-444-2156). Copies of the EIR are also available for review at area locations:

• Sacramento City Hall (915 I Street)
• County Administration Building (700 H Street)
• Tsakopoulos Library Galleria (828 I Street)
• North Natomas Library at Inderkum HS (2500 New Market Drive)
• Natomas High School (3301 Fong Ranch Road)
• The Club at Natomas Park (2101 Club Center Drive)
• South Natomas Community Center (2921 Truxel Road)
• Natomas Chamber of Commerce (1143 N. Market Boulevard, #2)
• South Natomas TMA (2595 Capital Oaks Drive, Suite 275)
• North Natomas TMA (1930 Del Paso Road, Suite 121)
• Sacramento Metro Chamber (One Capitol Mall, Suite 300)
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (1491 River Drive, Suite 101)
• Asian/Pacific Chamber (2012 H Street, Suite 202)
• Black Chamber (2655 Del Monte Street, West Sacramento)

RT is interested in receiving your comments. Comment cards will be provided at the February 9 and February 11 Open Houses – simply fill one out and drop it in the comment box. In addition, there will be a court reporter at the Open Houses who will take your verbal comments.

During the 60 day comment period, which ends on February 26, written comments can be submitted by mail to the Sacramento Regional Transit District, Attn: Don Smith, P.O. Box 2110, Sacramento, CA 95812-2110. Comments may also be made at the RT Board’s public hearing to be held on February 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the RT Auditorium (1400 29th Street).

Once the comment period ends, RT will prepare responses to the comments received and prepare a Final PEIR. A mitigation and monitoring plan will also be prepared. The RT Board will then decide whether to “certify” the Final PEIR as meeting the requirements of CEQA.

Subsequently, project level analyses will be undertaken on individual phases of the overall project. RT intends to undertake a project-level EIR for the first phase of the DNA project, from 7th and H to Richards, later this year. This phase is sometimes referred to as “MOS-1”.

MOS stands for Minimum Operable Segment, but generally is used to refer to a phase of project implementation. MOS-1, for example, means the first phase that would be implemented for the DNA project. Each phase or MOS can be built independently – it connects logical termini, and its usefulness as a transportation investment does not depend upon the implementation of subsequent phases.

RT hopes to complete engineering on the first phase (MOS-1) of the project, from 7th and H to Richards, over the next year. The target date for starting construction is 2009, with service start-up possible as early as 2010.

Meanwhile, RT will be preparing a phasing plan for subsequent phases. The schedule will depend on the availability of local, state and federal funding.