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Ms Harmon:
I am concerned that the Draft EIR for the proposed Richardson Grove Operational
Improvement project is deficient in several respects.
However, there is no analysis of the type of growth that would ensue. Would the likely
outcome of this investment be increased growth in Humboldt County? Would these
investors build new shopping malls, new housing tacks, new industry? The DEIR fails to
address this question.
The DEIR relies upon economic evaluations and predictions from an undefined sub-set of
the business community
The DEIR bases its assumptions about economic impacts and growth on the Gallo, 2008
report: Realigning Highway 101 at Richardson Grove: The Economic
Impact on Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. The report is not included
in the DEIR appendices, nor does the DEIR state where to access this
report. It does not appear to be available on the Internet. The public
should be able to readily access and review this study, and to see
comments by peer reviewers. Was the study peer reviewed?
The Project would open the Highway 101 corridor to increased traffic, not only to
Humboldt County, but to Del Norte County and points north. However, the DEIR
considers only the potential for increased truck traffic to Humboldt County, and does not
consider increased truck traffic through the county. It is very likely that the number of
trucks driving through Humboldt County would increase once the “bottleneck” at
Richardson Grove is eliminated. This would bring increased air pollution, noise and
congestion to the portions of Hwy 101 in Humboldt County, including the City of
Eureka, where the highway is the main north-south thoroughfare. By ignoring the
potential impacts of increased through-traffic, the DEIR analysis has taken a piecemeal
approach. The cumulative increase in traffic, noise and pollution brought by all the new
traffic should have been evaluated. The DEIR is deficient in this regard.
"Where the traffic safety or capacity of the highway would be increased, the
department shall pay for the construction and maintenance of non-motorized
transportation facilities approximately paralleling the highway."
The proposed project does not include provisions for bicycle or pedestrian facilities. The
DEIR does not address this issue.
The DEIR does not consider the viable alternative of transporting goods by short sea
shipping. This alternative would eliminate the need for the Project and save the public
money, while reducing fuel consumption, pollution, noise and congestion. Humboldt Bay
is ready receive ships now. (See article in the Eureka Times Standard http://www.times-
standard.com/localnews/ci_11078314 ).
The DEIR was informed by surveys (cited above) about potential impacts to the economy
and growth. Did these surveys include questions about using short sea shipping? Lack of
consideration of this alternative is a serious omission.
Diane Higgins
4649 Aster Avenue
McKinleyville, CA 95519