Excerpt:

The City of Alameda announced on Feb. 22 that it will be preparing an environmental impact report (EIR) on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) project for a health clinic and columbarium at Alameda Point. The VA completed its environmental review for the project in 2013. The deadline for commenting on what the city should evaluate is tomorrow, Friday, March 22.

The belated environmental review was triggered by California regulations requiring a state EIR in order for the Regional Water Quality Control Board to approve the VA’s wetland mitigation plan. An EIR is also required for City of Alameda approvals.

“Although construction of federal facilities by federal agencies is typically exempt from local land use regulations and review,” said city planner Andrew Thomas, “in this case, the VA plans to construct a road on approximately six acres of city land to the east of the VA Transfer Parcel and two new storm drains across city-owned land to the north of the VA property. This will require approval of easements from the city, which are discretionary actions subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.”