Environmental Process Moves Ahead for La Pata Gap Closure and Extension of Camino del Rio

The County of Orange is moving ahead with steps leading to an environmental impact report (EIR) for a project that will improve traffic congestion, minimize environmental impacts and maintain and improve south Orange County's quality of life.

On November 10, 2009, the County released the draft EIR Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the La Pata Gap Closure project between Ortega Highway and Calle Saluda in San Clemente. The NOP is a document stating that an EIR will be prepared for the project and requests comments from interested parties regarding the issues that should be studied in the forthcoming EIR.

The EIR will look at a proposed project that would widen La Pata Avenue from three to five lanes from about 2,700 feet south of Ortega Highway to the County's Prima Deshecha Landfill. The proposed project would also implement a gap closure by constructing four new lanes from the landfill south to Calle Saluda and Avenida La Pata in San Clemente. The project also includes extending Camino del Rio from where it ends to connect with the proposed La Pata extension.

The public will have 30 days to comment on the NOP. During the comment period, a public scoping meeting will be held on December 2, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente. After the 30-day period, the technical studies and draft EIR will be prepared and circulated for public review before a Final EIR is certified.

The process is expected to take approximately fifteen (15) months to complete. The County is in the process of developing website information, which will be available soon.

For more information regarding the proposed project, contact:

Division Manager/Project Manager Harry Persaud at :

714-834-2694 or Email   Harry Persaud or LaPataProject
You may also visit the project web site at http://www.ocpublicworks.com/PCPW/Projects/LaPata.aspx.

Copies of the Project NOP are also available at the Public Counter of the City of San Clemente, City of San Juan Capistrano, the San Clemente Public Library and the San Juan Capistrano Public Library.

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