ADVISORY: for Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Contact:
Brian Smith, 415-320-9384, brian@bpspr.com
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta
Restore the Delta activists plan to “Transform the Open House”
Sacramento – On Tuesday, July 28, the first of two “open houses” will be held on the Delta Tunnels EIR/EIS (formerly known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.)
Four buses of Restore the Delta activists are coming to Sacramento from cities around the Bay-Delta. They plan to “Transform the Open House” with a spirited and respectful outpouring of opposition to Jerry Brown’s plan to build massive underground water tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom sustainable farms, salmon and other Pacific fisheries.
The format for these “open houses” will be very restricted. There will be no formal presentation to the public by agencies promoting the project, and no time set aside for the public to express their concerns in a community setting. Instead, these faux public hearings are being called “open houses” set up like a science fair. The public will move from one exhibit to the next, and perhaps have a chance to give a comment to the court reporter in attendance.
The two “open houses” are scheduled for:
– Sacramento – Tuesday July 28, 2015, 3:00 to 7:00pm, Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, Magnolia Room, 1230 J Street
– Walnut Grove – Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 3:00 to 7:00pm, Jean Harvie Senior and Community Center, 14273 River Road
At similar events last year, the public could not record answers, wear t-shirts promoting Delta organizations, or make public comments in a community setting.
“Is this an attempt to get the public to ‘shut up’ about our opposition to this expensive and destructive project as Governor Brown has asked us to?” asks Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta.
On the street outside the Sacramento hearing, a video crew will interview people to share their actual public comments with the Secretary Jewell at the Department of the Interior and with President Obama.
BACKGROUND
The Revised BDCP EIR/EIS at 48,000 pages of appendices, footnotes, tables, and renumbered alternatives is now open for public comment. The original 45-day comment period was met with outrage by community groups and agencies. The comment period has now been extended until October 30, 2015.
Written comments are due by close of business Friday, Oct. 30. Comments should be mailed to BDCP/WaterFix Comments, P.O. Box 1919, Sacramento, CA 95812 or emailed to BDCPComments@icfi.com