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The proposed DeWitt Nelson project is included in the CDCR Division of Correctional Health Care Services (DCHCS) plans (May 26, 2009 and November 6, 2009) to meet the long-range mental health bed needs ordered by the Federal Coleman Court on behalf of the plaintiffs. On January. 4, 2010, the United States District Court in Coleman included this project in CDCR's plans, pursuant to the provisions of the governing June 18, 2009 order. The proposed DeWitt Nelson project has been authorized by the State Public Works Board (PWB)for design and environmental review in accordance with AB 900. AB 900 authorizes the design and construction of infill projects to increase prison capacity and reentry facilities along with other corrections programs_ The PWB authorization does not authorize or otherwise approve the project for construction. The project would need to complete all appropriate environmental reviews prior to CDCR considering the project for approval. PROJECT BACKGROUND NCRF In February 2008, an Initial StudylProposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the conversion of the former Northern California Women's Facility (NCWF) to an adult male reentry facility was released for public review. CDCR approved the project in April 2008. At the time the IS/MND was prepared and the project approved, the site was used as a correctional officer training academy. The California Correctional and Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) subsequently challenged the adequacy of the ISfMND. On March 12, 2009, the Superior Court of San Joaquin County found that the environmental analysis was not adequate and ordered CDCR to set aside its approval of the MND and the project. In May 2009, CDCR rescinded and set aside all resolutions, decisions, and orders approving the MND (State Clearinghouse Number 2008021233) for the proposed NCRF. CDCR determined following the court's decision that it was necessary to prepare an EIR for the project. The facility remains closed with the exception of occasional use for officer training. The current condition of the project site and surrounding area (at the time this August 2010 Revised NOP is released)will comprise the baseline used for the EIR's environmental.analysis. The description of the proposed NCRF project has not changed since the release of the September 2009 NOP (see Attachment A). DEWITT NELSON CONVERSION As mentioned above, one of the primary reasons the NOP for the NCRF project was recirculated in December 2009 was to inform the public and responsible agencies that CDCR had determined that it would potentially reuse the former DeWitt Nelson facility for a proposed 1,133-bed correctional facility that would serve mental health and medical health care needs for adult male inmates. Because the project was in the very early planning stages, CDCR planned to analyze the proposed DeWitt Nelson project as a related project in the cumulative analysis section of the NCRF EIR. Revised Notice of Preparationllnitial Study NCRF and DeWitt Nelson Conversion Project August 2010 6 California Department of corrections and Rehabilitation