Public has 45 days to comment on Pinoleville EIR

The Daily Journal

Concerns about water pollution, significant traffic and lack of housing for workers were all sent to the Pinoleville tribe as local and state governments reacted to the tribe's plan for a large casino in north Ukiah.

The Pinoleville Band of Pomo Indians released a draft Tribal Environmental Impact Report this month for the casino it hopes to build just north of the Ukiah city limits on North State Street.

The proposed facility includes a 90,000-square-foot casino, a 72,100-square-foot hotel with 125 rooms and banquet facilities , and a five-level parking garage. The tribe expects the facility will attract up to 3,500 customers a day, and employ approximately 215 people.

The proposed site is located within the Pinoleville Reservation, approximately one mile north of the Ukiah city limits and adjacent to the U.S. 101 bridge at Ackerman Creek. North State Street is the main access route to the project site from U.S. 101.

According to the tribe, the project would provide more jobs for tribal members and the surrounding community, allow tribal members to become more economically self-sufficient, and provide a new recreational venue to the residents of and visitors to Ukiah.

A notice of preparation of a TEIR for the proposed project was prepared and circulated from June 30 to July 31, 2009, soliciting comments on the proposed project and for what issues should be evaluated in the TEIR.

Several agencies submitted comments, including the State Department of Transportation (CalTrans), the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB), the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District, and the Mendocino County Water Agency, and the Mendocino County Department of Planning and Building Services.

Jesse Robertson, a transportation planner with CalTrans, said the project could create "significant traffic impacts, both direct and cumulative, to Highway 101 at the North State Street interchange," and "the operation of the Highway 101 ramps to the south of the project area is closely tied to the operation of North State Street.

"We request that the study include, at a minimum, all North State Street intersections between the intersection with Ford Road and the intersection of Hollow Tree Road," Robertson wrote.

Cathleen A Goodwin, a water resources control engineer with the state water board, said it was "strongly recommended" that the study "address potential impacts to Ackerman Creek, a riparian corridor immediately adjacent to the project site. Potential impacts to the creek include: storm water runoff or discharge from the project site, grading or construction near or in the riparian area, and removal of riparian vegetation."

The water board: "strongly encourages utilizing low impact development techniques to address potential storm water impacts, promote healthy aquatic systems and (help) reduce flood and drainage control costs over time."

The county's Department of Planning and Building Services said the casino would: affect air quality based on "much more intense use, on potentially a 24-hour basis, from autos;" generate more noise, light pollution and "greatly increase water use and wastewater generated."

In addition, county planners said the Ukiah Valley is already in "great need of worker-based housing," and asked how the tribe will address "the housing demand created by this project."

According to the TEIR, the tribe intends to: reduce light and glare impacts by using "100 percent downcast lights," take steps to reduce dust, accidents with hazardous materials, fires, and implement water conservation measures.

As for its effects on local law enforcement and fire protection, the tribe intends to "provide funding" to both the Ukiah Valley Fire District and the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department.

The public now has 45 days to submit written comments to the tribe regarding the draft TEIR at: Pinoleville Pomo Nation, Attn: Leona Williams, Tribal Chairperson, 500B Pinoleville Drive, Ukiah, Calif., 95482.