County releases draft EIR on proposed detention center
Riverside County on Wednesday released the draft environmental impact report for a new regional detention center proposed near the San Gorgonio Pass area in the County’s Fifth District.
Riverside County’s need for detention beds has grown along with its population. In recent years, the Sheriff’s Department has been forced to release thousands of inmates because of a court order that caps the jail population.
The draft environmental impact report describes the effects involved in planning, constructing and operating the facility and identifies appropriate, feasible mitigation measures and alternatives that may be adopted to reduce or eliminate impacts. The EIR also evaluates reasonable alternatives to the proposed project.
The county reviewed dozens of locations before identifying a preferred site, just under 200 acres along I-10 in the unincorporated Whitewater/San Gorgonio area. The project’s first phase includes a detention center with up to 2,000 beds and ancillary buildings and infrastructure. No date has been set to begin construction on the first phase and there is no timeline for developing any subsequent phases. The project’s exact cost has not been determined and will depend largely on bids from contractors.
As part of the environmental review process, the public has until Jan. 15 to comment on the draft environmental impact report. The normal 45-day comment period has been extended because of the holidays. After the public review period, responses to substantive comments concerning the adequacy of the report will be prepared and incorporated into a final EIR.
A public hearing before the Board of Supervisors must be held to consider certification of the final EIR and other actions related to the project. A date for that public hearing has not yet been set.
All comments on the draft report should be written and directed to:
County of Riverside
Economic Development Agency
Attn: Ms. Claudia Steiding
P.O. Box 1468, Riverside, CA 92502-1468
Email:
SAFERSTREETS@co.riverside.ca.us
The draft EIR may be reviewed online at
http://saferstreets.countyofriverside.us.
The following libraries will also have the draft EIR available for review via computer compact
disc:
Desert Hot Springs
11691 West Drive
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Helen Kerrigan
(760) 329-5926
Banning Library District
21 West Nicolet Street
Banning, CA 92220
(951) 849-3192
Cabazon Branch
50171 Ramona Avenue
Cabazon, CA 92230
(951) 849-4082