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Project 17
Special Area Management Plan
Beale Air Force Base
Marysville, California
Burleson is completing the Special Area Management Plan for Beale Air Force Base (AFB). Beale AFB currently completes Section 404 permitting for individual projects on a case by case basis without strategic planning in the context of the overall aquatic environment.
A comprehensive basewide resource planning and implementation program would provide more certainty and predictability for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Beale AFB and would help maintain the functional integrity of aquatic resources. The SAMP would be a management tool that will achieve a balance between aquatic resource protection and General Plan development.
The SAMP will prioritize impact avoidance by developing a watershed-specific permitting program, targeting conservation of higher integrity aquatic resources while allowing more streamlined permitting strategies in lower integrity aquatic resource areas. The purpose of the SAMP is to implement a permitting program that would authorize some activities under a Regional General Permit (RGP) to streamline Section 404 permitting processes as an alternative to issuing Individual Permits (IP) and Nationwide Permits (NWP).
Burleson's role was to manage the SAMP and develop the SAMP strategy. We initially determined 3 permit categories: developed low integrity, undeveloped low integrity, and conservation high integrity areas. For each permit area, the typical military activities associated with these areas were evaluated. Burleson worked with Beale AFB and the USACE to determine acceptable thresholds that would not trigger additional permitting or delays in the process.
Burleson interfaced with USACE representatives to keep the project moving forward. The SAMP EA is in Progress and will complement the SAMP.
Coordination, Consultation, Permitting
The SAMP team consulted with USFWS, California State Water Board, and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to potentially gain programmatic agreements with these agencies.
Experience with Environmental Regulators and Local Governments
Burleson's SAMP is far ahead of other local SAMP efforts. Our approach is being presented by the USACE to other entities including the City of South Sacramento.
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