Public comment period opens tomorrow on Bieber biomass project

Golden State National Resources expects to release a Draft EIR on its proposed Forest Resiliency Project, tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 22. The project has a 60-day public review process.

The project, under the direction of the RCRC, proposes two wood pellet processing facilities — one in Bieber and one in Tuolumne County — with the pellets to be transported by rail to the Port of Stockton for shipping to international markets.

According to GSNR, the project is supported through a 20-year Master Stewardship Agreement signed with the U.S. Forest Service for all of California’s 18 national forests in Region 5 as well as a blanket purchase agreement with the USFS.

Key topics of interest include wildfire mitigation and forest health benefits, air quality and greenhouse gas emission impacts (facility and forest operations and transportation), mitigation measures (utilize best available control technologies, dust collection and fire suppression) and other (GHG lifecycle analysis and workforce and economic benefit).

According to GSNR, “Once available, the report will be posted on GSNR’s website as well as the website of the lead agency, Golden State Finance Authority. GSFA is providing a 60-day review period for public evaluation and comment.

“The proposed project is currently in the environmental review process under the California Environmental Quality Act, with GSFA acting as the CEQA lead agency. The aim of the CEQA process is to evaluate potential impacts of a proposed project. A significant step in this process is the release of a publicly shared draft of the required Environmental Impact Report which provides an opportunity for public review and comment on the adequacy of the report before its completion. GSFA will also conduct three public meetings to receive comments on the DEIR during the comment period.

Public meetings
GSFA will conduct three public meetings to receive comments on the DEIR during the comment period. These meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the project and provide comments on the details of the report.

The dates and locations of these meetings are as follows
Lassen Meeting
6 p.m., Oct. 28
Bieber Veterans Memorial Building
657-575 Bridge St., Bieber, California

Stockton Meeting
6:30 p.m. Oct. 30
Kipp Stockton Elementary School
742 Dallas Ave, Stockton, California
A virtual participation option is available for this meeting by utilizing the following link: rcrcnet.zoom.us/j/88007664912 (Webinar ID: 880 0766 4912) or calling (833)548-0282. No registration required. Spanish and Tagalog translation will also be available for those attending on-site.

Tuolumne Meeting
6 p.m. Nov. 4
Chicken Ranch Casino, Event Hall
16929 Chicken Ranch Rd., Jamestown, California
Details regarding these meetings are available here.

Informational resources
Click here to visit the website, and click here to review the draft EIR and submit comments.