July 22, 2008
Fernando Armenta, Chair
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
168 West Alisal St.
Salinas, CA 93901

SUBJECT: REVIEW PERIOD FOR DEIR FOR GPU5

Dear Chair Armenta and Members of the Board:

The Leagues of Women Voters of the Salinas Valley and the Monterey Peninsula have participated in updating the County General Plan for over 8 years. It appears that we may be approaching approval of a final plan. To that end, we urge the Board of Supervisors to schedule a 60 day review period for comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) to assure that all members of the public and affected governmental jurisdiction have an adequate time to review the documents and prepare comments.

We acknowledge that the DEIR may contain a substantial amount of data and information from former EIRs which could justify a shorter review period. However, substantial comments were submitted on the DEIR for GPU4 by the League and other organization that were never fully addressed by the County. A 60 day review period is needed to assess those responses which should be subsumed in the upcoming DEIR as well as to evaluate environmental information and analysis related to new policies in GPU5.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

MaryEllen Dick, President                              Janet Brennan , President
LWV of the Salinas Valley                             LWV of the Monterey Peninsula