Many potentially significant impacts can be mitigated, which leads to an evaluation of Less than Significant Impact. If all potential significant impacts can be mitigated, an EIR is not required and a Mitigated Negative Declaration or Negative Declaration is prepared. In all cases, the lead agency is required to notify the public of a review period for the environmental documentation. Construction of new ferry terminals in locations without existing facilities is likely to require preparation of an EIR with the EIR process being triggered by land use, biological, traffic and other factors. In these instances, the environmental concerns relative to the development of the waterside aspect of the ferry terminal are lessened because of historical use.
All vessels create waves, or a wake, as they pass through water.
If the energy in the wake wave reaching the shoreline is significantly greater than the natural energy regime, adverse shoreline impacts are possible. The issue of wake energy is particularly important in San Francisco Bay due to the presence of sensitive wetlands. Both the Vallejo and Larkspur high-speed ferry systems currently operating in the Bay Area are subject to wake related speed restrictions in the channels leading up to the Vallejo and Larkspur terminals. Waves which are higher than the naturally occurring or ambient wave climate can cause erosion of wetland perimeters and disruption of sediment movement along the shoreline. Wetlands usually form in more tranquil areas that experience lower wave and current energy than the rest of San Francisco Bay.