As required by CEQA, the City has made specific findings regarding the environmental effects of the project. These findings constitute the City Council’s best efforts to set forth the evidentiary and policy bases for its decision to approve the project in a manner consistent with the requirements of CEQA. These findings, in other words, are not merely informational, but rather constitute a binding set of obligations that come into effect with the City Council’s approval of the proposed project.
 

Since the City of Ridgecrest’s (City’s) proposed Ridgecrest 2030 General Plan Update (General Plan or Proposed Project) and draft Environment Impact Report (EIR) were published (May 19, 2009), the City received written comments from public agencies, organizations, and individuals concerning these documents and the recommendations and findings they contain.

The purpose of this final EIR is twofold. First, this document provides copies of the comment letters made on the Proposed Project and EIR and provides written responses to all environmental issues raised in these comments on the Draft EIR (see Public Resources Code, Section 21091(d)(2)(B); CEQA Guidelines, Section 15088(c)). Second, this document is designed to function as the Final EIR for the Proposed Project, and as such has been designed to meet the content requirements of a final program EIR as specified in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (See Public Resources Code, Section 21000 et seq. and the CEQA Guidelines [California Code of Regulations, title 14, Section 15000 et seq.]

The information provided in this document will be presented to the Ridgecrest City Council and will be used as part of their review, consideration, and approval of the Proposed Project.
   

A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an environmental impact report (EIR) on the Ridgecrest 2030 General Plan was filed with the State of California Clearinghouse on November 26, 2008.  The NOP and associated Notice of Completion & Environmental Document Transmittal (NOC) were  filed with the State of California Clearinghouse on November 26, 2008.  This document transmitted the NOP for the Ridgecrest 2030 General Plan Update EIR and started the public review of these documents.  Comments on the NOP are due to the City by December 30, 2008.  See the NOP for further information.

The purpose of the NOP is to provide a project description, location, alternatives being assessed, and the scope of the environmental assessment. Since an EIR will be prepared, the City is not required to complete an initial study. However, to assist agencies and the public in understanding what will be covered in the EIR, the attached materials contain the typical information covered by an initial study checklist as specified in Appendix G of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.  
  

Public Draft
 
The General Plan contains the goals and policies that will guide future decisions within the City. This document also identifies a full set of implementation measures that will ensure the goals and policies in the General Plan are carried out.

This version was prepared based on comments received from the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), the public, and City staff.