On 30 May 2014, CSPA joined the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water in requesting a restart of the BDCP comment period. The BDCP comment period extension was requested because agencies failed to provide meaningful access and participation for California’s limited English speakers and low income communities.
The request points to forty-seven significant and unavoidable adverse impacts listed in the EIS/EIR that will have direct impact on residents of 5 Delta counties (San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, Yolo, Contra Costa). In these counties 14% of the population speaks languages other than English and 17% of the population is living below the poverty line. To allow the thousands of low-income and limited English speakers to have meaningful participation the coalition is requesting agencies hold public hearings and provide interpreters; translate vital documents such as, at the very least, the Executive Summary of the draft EIS/EIR; and provide affordable access to documents. Failing to do so would constitute violations of CEQA and NEPA, as well as federal and state civil rights of a significant population of the five Delta counties.