Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for New River Class I Bicycle Trail Project

The City of Calexico Engineering and Development Services Department proposes to construct a designated Class I Bike Trail located in Calexico, Imperial County, California. The proposed project consists of three primary components: 1) the construction and operation of a new Class I Bike Trail; 2) the improvement of parkways (e.g. landscaped overlooks) adjacent to the proposed bicycle pathway; and 3) a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge that would span over the New River.

The City has conducted an Initial Study to determine if the project may have a significant effect on the environmental and is proposing this Mitigated Negative Declaration based upon the following findings:

The Initial Study identifies potentially significant effects but:

(1)  Proposals made or agreed to by the applicant before this proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration was released for public review would avoid the effects or mitigate the effects to a point where clearly no significant effects would occur.

(2)  There is no substantial evidence before the agency that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.

(3)  Mitigation measures are required to ensure all potentially significant impacts are reduced of levels of insignificance.

A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

If adopted, the Mitigated Negative Declaration means that an Environmental Impact Report will not be required. Reasons to support this finding are included in the attached Initial Study. The project file and all related documents are available for review at the City of Calexico, Engineering and Development Services Department, 608 Heber Avenue, Calexico CA 92231 (760) 768-2106.

NOTICE

The public is invited to comment on the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration during the review period (October 2, 2015 - October 31, 2015).