Subject: Extension of Public Review Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report on General Plan Update #4

August 31, 2006

Jerry Smith, Chair
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
168 West Alisal St. Salinas,
CA 93901

Dear Chair Smith and Members of the Board:

The Leagues of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley request the County extend the public review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Monterey General Plan Update #4 to provide agencies and the public with sufficient time to review and comment.

CEQA requires a review period that is sufficient to achieve the Act's objective for public review, which is to assist the lead agency in identifying potentially significant effects of a project, alternatives, and mitigation measures (PRC §21003.1). CEQA provides for a review period of up to 60 days for complex projects such as this one (CEQA Guidelines §15105). The DEIR is massive in size, the issues addressed are very complex, and the impacts of the project will affect county residents years into the future. It is critical that the public be given sufficient time to review and comment on the DEIR.

We request that the County provide a minimum of 60 days for the public comment period, commencing August 23, the time the documents were readily available to all members of the community. Your timely response to this request is necessary to ensure that members of the public can effectively participate in this important planning process.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Maxner, President                              MaryEllen Dick, President
LWV of the Monterey Peninsula                       LWV of the Salinas Valley

cc: Planning Director
     Planning Commission
     California Attorney General’s Office
     California Department of Fish and Game
     Caltrans
     US Fish and Wildlife Service
     State Clearinghouse