2.0 Alternatives Considered
CHAPTER 2.0
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
This section discusses alternatives to satisfy the purpose and need. CEQA and NEPA require that an
EIR/EA evaluate a "reasonable" range of alternatives. According to the CEQA Guidelines, "...an EIR shall
describe a range of reasonable alternatives to the project, or to the location of the project, which would
feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project but would avoid or substantially lessen any of the
significant effects of the project, and evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives"(Cal. Code Regs.,
Title 14, 15126.6(a)). Under NEPA, reasonable alternatives are those that are practical or feasible from
a technical or economic perspective, and based on common sense (46 Fed. Reg. 18026, as amended, 51
Fed. Reg 15618). Under CEQA, the factors that can determine feasibility are site suitability, economic
limitations, General Plan consistency, other plan or regulatorylimitations, and jurisdictional boundaries. An
EIR need not consider an alternative whose effects cannot be reasonably ascertained and whose
implementation is remote and speculative.
This chapter of the EIR/EA is organized into seven primary sections. Section 2.1 discusses the alternative
selection criteria. Section 2.2 briefly describes the process undertaken to generate and evaluate
alternatives, including a brief overview of the modeling process used to predict sand transport with
implementation of the project. Alternatives eliminated from detailed review in this EIR/EA and the reasons
for their elimination are addressed in Section 2.3. Section 2.4 provides detailed descriptions of the
alternatives evaluated in this EIR/EA. As with the Navy's previous sand disposal project, monitoring would
be required to understand how the nearby ocean system responds to the introduction of this material over
time and mitigation commitments are identified givenvarious outcomes. The framework for monitoring and
mitigation is provided in Section 2.5. A summary comparison of the potential impacts for each alternative
is provided in Section 2.6. Section 2.7 provides a list of permits and approvals required for the proposed
action.
2.1
ALTERNATIVE SELECTION CRITERIA
Various alternatives for beach replenishment were established based on the following selection criteria. In
total, up to a maximum of six sites were selected for dredging activities, and up to 13 sites were selected
for beach sand replenishment.
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
Page 2-1
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