Oakland releases Final Environmental Impact Report for the Revised Oakland Vegetation Management Plan...HCN response forthcoming

Publication of Final Environmental Impact Report for the Revised Oakland Vegetation Management Plan 

May 3, 2024

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the City of Oakland (“City”) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Revised Oakland Vegetation Management Plan (Revised VMP) for City-owned parcels located within the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) designated Very High Fire Severity Zone (VHFSZ).PUBLIC REVIEW: The City invites comments on the Final EIR prior and up to the upcoming public hearings when the VMP and certification of the EIR will be considered for approval. that The City prefers that written comments be submitted via email at: DEIR-comments@oaklandvegmanagement.orgPlease reference the VMP and VMP Final EIR in all correspondence. Comments may also be submitted via mail to the following address:Montrose EnvironmentalAttn: Ken Schwarz, Principal, VMP Final EIR Comments 1 Kaiser Plaza, Suite 340Oakland, CA 94612Comments will also be received at the public hearings to be held as noticed below.ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: A Final EIR was prepared for the VMP under the requirements of CEQA, pursuant to the Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq. The Final EIR analyzes potentially significant environmental impacts in categories such as: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Geology, Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Global Climate Change, Hydrology and Water Quality, Recreation, and Transportation. The Final EIR identified one significant and unavoidable environmental impact related to a temporary increase in noise levels that exceed local noise standards due to VMP activities.The City of Oakland is hereby releasing this Final EIR finding it to be accurate and complete and ready for public review. Members of the public are invited to comment on the Final EIR and the VMP during the following public hearings.DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY: The FEIR and the Revised VMP are available for review online at:https://oaklandvegmanagement.orgThe FEIR is also available for review by the public during normal operating hours at the Oakland Fire Department office at 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 3354, Oakland, CA 94612. If assistance accessing documents is needed, including documents incorporated by reference in the FEIR, pleasecontact the Oakland Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau at (510) 238-6353 or by email at MHunt@oaklandca.gov.PUBLIC HEARINGS:The City Public Safety Committee of the City Council will conduct a public meeting on certification of the Final EIR and approval of the VMP on May 14, 2024, at 6:00 PM.If the City Public Safety Committee refers the item on to City Council on May 14, 2024, the City Council will conduct a public meeting on certification of the Final EIR and approval of the VMP on May 21, 2024, at 1:30 PM.For more information about how to participate in these meeting, please visit: City of Oakland - Calendar (legistar.com)Download the Notice of Availability here.