Scientific Review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Drakes Bay Oyster Company Special Use Permit

This book reviews the scientific information presented in the DEIS that is used to determine the potential environmental impacts of a ten year extension of DBOC operations. The book focuses on eight of twelve resource categories considered in the DEIS: wetlands, eelgrass, wildlife and wildlife habitat, special-status species, coastal flood zones, soundscapes, water quality, and socioeconomic resources.

This report responds to the following tasks given to the committee: assess the scientific information, analysis, and conclusions presented in the DEIS for Drakes Bay Oyster Company Special Use Permit, and evaluate whether the peer review of the DEIS is fundamentally sound and materially sufficient.

Contents
Summary
Chapter 1 Introduction
Drakes Estero
Shellfish Mariculture 1932 - 2012
Policy Context
Statement of Task
National Environmental Policy Act
Approach and Organization of the Report
Chapter 2 Framing of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Distinguishing Potential Impacts of Alternatives B, C, and D
Baseline Conditions
Scaling Impacts on Drakes Estero and Changes in Ecosystem Conditions
Chapter 3 Review of the Scientific Information and Analysis Presented in the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
Science-Based Levels of Uncertainty
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives
Chapter 4 Review of the Atkins Report
Overall Evaluation
Resource Categories Addressed in the Atkins Report
Chapter 5 Conclusions
Overall Assessment of Conclusions Presented in the DEIS
Suggestions for DEIS Revisions and Reducing Uncertainty in the Conclusions
References
Appendix A Statement of Task
Appendix B Committee Biographies
Appendix C NPS Intensity Definitions
Appendix D Committee Meeting Agenda and Participant List