To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Steve Madrone
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Consider Sending a Letter Commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Golden State Natural Resources’ Forest Resiliency Demonstration Project
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair to sign the letter; and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to send the letter to Golden State Natural Resources.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 5001 - Enhance climate adaptation landscapes and communities
DISCUSSION:
On Oct. 29, 2024, the Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from Patrick Blacklock regarding Golden State Natural Resources’ Forest Resiliency Demonstration Project.
According to the information provided by Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR), the Forest Resiliency Demonstration Project would sustainably procure, and process excess biomass produced as part of forest health initiatives into wood pellets for use in renewable energy generation overseas as a replacement for fossil fuels, such as coal. The proposed project would include the development of two wood pellet processing facilities, one in the foothills of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Tuolumne County, and one in the Modoc Plateau of Northern California, located in Lassen County. The finished pellets would be shipped by rail to the Port of Stockton for international shipping.
The Board had many questions and a healthy conversation with Blacklock but also shared some concerns about the project.
The GSNR team released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for this project on Oct. 22, 2024, for a 90-day review period, ending Jan. 20, 2025. Supervisor Madrone would like the Board to consider sending a letter (Attachment 1) with comments on the DEIR that outline the concerns previously shared with Blacklock and also provides recommendations.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to sending a letter from the Board of Supervisors.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Golden State Natural Resources
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose to edit the letter as directed or to not send a letter.
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter to GSNR dated Jan. 14, 2025
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: Oct. 29, 2024
File No.: 24-1482