Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

Sonoma Land Trust
Chapter 4. Consultation and Other Requirements
related activities. However, in the long term, the site is expected to be
substantially more productive for habitat and wildlife values.
Growth-Inducing Impacts
Requirements in CEQA and NEPA
Section 21100(b)(5) of CEQA requires an EIR to discuss how a proposed project,
if implemented, may induce growth and the impacts of that induced growth
(State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126). CEQA requires the EIR to specifically
discuss “the ways in which the proposed project could foster economic or
population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or
indirectly, in the surrounding environment” (State CEQA Guidelines Section
15126.2(d)).
In addition, under authority of NEPA, CEQ NEPA Regulations require EISs to
consider the potential indirect impacts of a proposed action. The indirect effects
of an action include those that occur later in time or farther away in distance, but
are still reasonably foreseeable (CEQ NEPA Regulations, Section 1508.8(b)).
A project may be growth-inducing if it directly or indirectly fosters economic or
population growth or the construction of additional housing, removes obstacles to
population growth or taxes community services to the extent that the construction
of new facilities would be necessary, or encourages or facilitates other activities
that cause significant environmental effects.
Section 15126.2 of the CEQA Guidelines states specifically that “It must not be
assumed that growth in any area is necessarily beneficial, detrimental, or of little
significance to the environment.” In other words, growth inducement is not to be
considered bad per se; mitigation for impacts on resources resulting from growth
may be too far removed from the actions of the water supplylead agency to
require mitigation by the agency. The goal of the EIR in this regard is disclosure.
Impacts on Growth
Implementation of the proposed project would not induce major or significant
development or economic growth in the project vicinity. The construction and
operation of the proposed project or the Full Tidal Alternative may result in the
creation of a small number of jobs; however, this employment would be minimal
and temporary. The jobs created by this project would not induce growth in the
area or require additional housing to be built for employees.
As discussed in Chapter 2, enhanced and restored wetland habitat areas would be
created on the project site. The project would improve year-round access through
the inclusion of one of the trail system options for the extension of the Bay Trail
Alignment, but would not stimulate further development of the project area.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
4-19
April 2012