Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Ballona Creek Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, Los Angeles County, CA, 55116-55117 [05-18651]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
55116
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 20, 2005 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the
Ballona Creek Ecosystem Restoration
Feasibility Study, Los Angeles County,
CA
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District
intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to support a
cost-shared ecosystem restoration
feasibility study with the Santa Monica
Bay Restoration Commission. The
proposed project study areas has been
degraded by encroachment of nonnative plants, placement of fill from
Marina Del Rey, interruption of the
hydrologic regime, trash accumulation,
and varied attempts at bank protection
along the creek using rock and concrete.
Direct benefits of the proposed project
include improved habitat and water
quality, reductions in waste and trash,
and aesthetics. The watershed is an
important resource for both recreational
uses and for fish, and wildlife and
further degradation could jeopardize
remaining. The purpose of the
feasibility study is to evaluate
alternatives for channel modification,
habitat restoration (coastal and
freshwater wetlands and riparian),
recreation, and related purposes along
the lower reach of the Ballona Creek.
DATES: A public scoping meeting will be
held on September 29, 2005 at 6 p.m.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL–
PD, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA
90053 and Santa Monica Bay
Restoration Commission, 320 West 4th
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shannon Dellaquila, Project
Environmental Manager, at (213) 452–
3850 or Malisa Martin, Project Study
Manager at (213) 452–3828.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization
This study was prepared as an interim
response to the following authorities
provided by Congress under Section 216
of the Flood Control Act of 1970, which
states:
The Secretary of the Army, acting through
the Chief of Engineers, is authorized to
review the operation of projects the
construction of which has been completed
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:53 Sep 19, 2005
Jkt 205001
and which were constructed by the Corps of
Engineers in the interest of navigation, flood
control, water supply, and related purposes,
when found advisable due the significantly
changed physical or economic conditions,
and to report thereon to Congress with
recommendations on the advisability of
modifying the structures or their operation,
and for improving the quality of the
environment in the overall public interest;
supplemented by House Resolution on
Public Works and Transportation dated
September 28, 1994 which states:
The Secretary of the Army is requested to
review the report of the Chief of Engineers on
Playa del Rey Inlet and Basin, Venice,
California, published as House Document
389, Eighty-third Congress, Second Session,
and other pertinent reports, to determine
whether modifications of the
recommendations contained therein are
advisable at present time, in the interest of
navigation, hurricane and storm damage
reduction, environmental restoration, and
other purposes at Marina del Rey Harbor, Los
Angeles, California, with consideration given
to disposal of contaminated sediments from
the entrance channel required under the
existing operation and maintenance program
at Marina del Rey.
2. Background
The Ballona Creek Ecosystem
Restoration study area lies within Los
Angeles County, CA and includes
portions of Marina del Rey, Culver City,
Playa del Rey, and the City of Los
Angeles. The study area, a component of
the greater Ballona Creek Watershed,
includes the lower reach of Ballona
Creek extending southwest from
Cochran Avenue, in Los Angeles, to
Pacific Ocean in Marina del Rey.
specific features of the Ballona Creek
watershed, including existing and
historic wetland areas, the Ballona
Lagoon, Del Rey Lagoon, Venice Canal,
Grand Canal, the Oxford Drain and the
Ballona Channel and tributaries, will be
addressed in this study.
The greater Ballona Creek system
drains a watershed of approximately
329 square kilometers (81,300 acres),
and is the largest tributary that drains
into the Santa Monica Bay. Ballona
Creek collects runoff from several
partially urbanized canyons on the
south slopes of the Santa Monica
Mountains as well as from intensely
urbanized areas of West Los Angeles,
Culver City, Beverly Hills, Hollywood,
and parts of Central Los Angeles. The
urbanized areas account for 80 percent
of the watershed area, and the partially
developed foothills and mountains
make up the remaining 20 percent. The
watershed boundary includes the Santa
Monica Mountains on the north, the
unincorporated area known as Baldwin
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Hills, and the City of Inglewood on the
south.
The Ballona Creek Ecosystem
Restoration study footprint’s southern
boundary is defined by the Westcheste
Bluffs, which run southwest from the
San Diego (405) Freeway beyond Loyola
Marymount University. The western
boundary extends from the Pacific
Ocean. The eastern boundary begins
where Ballona Creek daylights at
Cochran Avenue and Venice Boulevard
in a section of Los Angeles known as the
Mid City. Tributaries of Ballona Creek
include Centinela Creek, Sepulveda
Canyon Channel, Benedict Canyon
Channel, and numerous storm drains.
The Ballona Creek watershed
ecosystem has been altered by intense
land development, encroachment of
non-native plants, trash accumulation,
and varied attempts at bank protection
along the creek using rock and concrete.
Although an important function of the
Ballona Creek is as a flood control
channel, the lower watershed is still an
important resource for both recreational
uses and for fish and wildlife habitat.
Further impairment could jeopardize
remaining habitat. This study will
evaluate opportunities for habitat
restoration (including wetland and
riparian habitat), improvements to water
quality, trash mitigation, and recreation
and related purposes along the lower
reach of the Ballona creek.
3. Problems and Needs
At least ninety (90) percent of historic
coastal wetlands in California have been
lost due to filing, dredging, flood control
and intensive development. Within the
Lower Ballona Creek Watershed,
remaining fragmented wetland areas
have been degraded due to diminished
hydraulic function, poor water quality
and introduction of exotic plants and
animals. While functioning wetland
systems and riparian habitat remain,
they are stressed.
• Channelization of the Ballona Creek
and filling of historic wetland and
riparian areas have contributed to
degradation and loss of habitat due to
impeded tidal exchange and circulation.
• Contaminated stormwater runoff and
trash loading has degraded Ballona
Creek water quality.
• Habitat alteration and loss has
decreased biodiversity and overall
ecological health, threatening the
survival of native endangered species
such as the California least tern (Sterna
antillarum brown), snowy plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus), and the
Belding’s Savannah Sparrow
(Sandwichensis beldingi).
• The current design of the Flood
Control channel has resulted in a lack
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 20, 2005 / Notices
of recreational opportunities and is
considered aesthetically challenged.
• At present there is no integrated
approach and partnership amongst
stakeholders to resolve lower Ballona
Creek in-stream and wetland
degradation issues, which has led to
uncoordinated and sometimes
redundant and unsuccessful
improvement measures.
4. Proposed Action and Alternative
The Los Angeles District will
investigate and evaluate all reasonable
alternatives to address the problems and
need stated above. In addition to a
without project (No Action) Alternative,
both structural and non-structural
environmental measures will be
investigated. An assessment of the
feasibility of removing impervious
surfaces from the Ballona Channel will
also be evaluated. Proposed restoration
measures include: re-grading and
removal of fill, remove invasive and
non-native plant species, reintroduction
of a water source and installation of
native plants to restore previously filled
coastal wetlands. Other measures to be
evaluated include features to improve or
restore tidal regime in Oxford Basin, the
Grand and Venice canals, and Ballona
and Del Rey Lagoons; the potential for
in stream wetland development in
Centinela, Sepulveda and Ballona
Creek; sediment loading in the upper
watershed; and related recreation and
educational opportunities.
5. Scoping Process
The scoping process is on-going, and
has involved preliminary coordination
with Federal, State, and local agencies
and the general public. A public scoping
meeting is scheduled for Thursday
September 29th from 6–8 p.m. at the
Rotunda Room of the Veteran’s
Memorial Building, 4117 Overland
Avenue, Culver City, CA. This
information is being published in the
local news media, and a notice is being
mailed to all parties on the study
mailing list to ensure that public will
have an opportunity to express opinions
and raise any issues relating to the
scope of the Feasibility Study and the
Environmental Impact Study/
Environmental Impact Report. The
public as well as Federal, state, and
local agencies are encouraged to
participate by submitting data,
information, and comments identifying
relevant environmental and
socioeconomic issues to be addressed in
the study. Useful information includes
other environmental studies, published
and unpublished data, alternatives that
could be addressed in the analysis, and,
potential mitigation measures associated
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:53 Sep 19, 2005
Jkt 205001
with the proposed action. All comments
will be considered in the project
development. Concerns may be
submitted in writing to the Santa
Monica Bay Restoration Commission, or
to the Los Angeles District (see
ADDRESSES). Comments, suggestions,
and request to be placed on the mailing
list for announcements should be sent to
MaLisa Martin (see ADDRESSES) or by
e-mail to MaLisa.M.Martin@
sp101.usace.army.mil.
Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR
The Draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be
published and circulated in December
2007, and a public hearing to receive
comments on the Draft EIS/EIR will be
held after it is published.
Dated: September 13, 2005.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05–18651 Filed 9–19–05; 8:45 am]
55117
CF (Mr. Faughnan), Fort Monroe, VA
23651–5000; e-mail
faughnanm@monroe.army.mil.
Meeting of
the advisory committee is open to the
public. Because of restricted meeting
space, attendance will be limited to
those persons who have notified the
Advisory Committee Management
Office in writing, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting, of their intention to attend.
Contact Mr. Faughnan
(faughnanm@monroe.army.mil) for
meeting agenda and specific locations.
Any member of the public may file a
written statement with the committee
before, during, or after the meeting. To
the extent that time permits, the
committee chairman may allow public
presentations or oral statements at the
meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
BILLING CODE 3710–KF–M
Robert E. Seger,
Senior Executive Service, Assistant Deputy
Chief of Staff for Operations and Training.
[FR Doc. 05–18649 Filed 9–19–05; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
BILLING CODE 3710–08–M
Department of the Army
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Advisory Committee Meeting Notice
Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463),
announcement is made of the following
meeting:
Name of Committee: Distance
Learning/Training Technology
Applications Subcommittee of the Army
Education Advisory Committee.
Date: October 5–6, 2005.
Place: Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at
Fort Magruder, Williamsburg, VA.
Time: 0800–1630 on 5 Oct 05; 0800–
1630 on 6 Oct 05.
Proposed Agenda: The meeting
agenda includes updates on The Army
Distributed Learning Program (TADLP)
and infrastructure, review of selected
courseware, and discussions focused on
learning and technology.
Purpose of the Meeting: To provide
for the continuous exchange of
information and ideas for distance
learning between the HQ, U.S. Army
Training and Doctrine Command
(TRADOC), Department of the Army,
and the academic and business
communities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All
communications regarding this
subcommittee should be addressed to
Mr. Mike Faughnan, at Headquarters
TRADOC, Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations and Training, ATTN: ATTG–
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Department of the Army
Department of Defense Historical
Advisory Committee; Meeting
Department of the Army, DoD.
Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with section
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (Pub. L 92–463),
announcement is made of the following
committee meeting:
Name of Committee: Department of
Defense Historical Advisory Committee.
Date: October 27, 2005.
Time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: U.S. Army Center of Military
History, Collins Hall, Building 35, 103
Third Avenue, Fort McNair, DC 20319–
5058.
Proposed Agenda: Review and
discussion of the status of historical
activities in the United States Army.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Jeffrey J. Clarke, U.S. Army Center of
Military History, ATTN: DAMH–ZC,
103 Third Avenue, Fort McNair, DC
20319–5058; telephone number (202)
685–2709.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
committee will review the Army’s
historical activities for FY 2005 and
those projected for FY 2006 based upon
reports and manuscripts received
throughout the period. And the
committee will formulate
recommendations through the Chief of
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55116-55117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18651]
[[Page 55116]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Ballona Creek Ecosystem Restoration
Feasibility Study, Los Angeles County, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to support a
cost-shared ecosystem restoration feasibility study with the Santa
Monica Bay Restoration Commission. The proposed project study areas has
been degraded by encroachment of non-native plants, placement of fill
from Marina Del Rey, interruption of the hydrologic regime, trash
accumulation, and varied attempts at bank protection along the creek
using rock and concrete. Direct benefits of the proposed project
include improved habitat and water quality, reductions in waste and
trash, and aesthetics. The watershed is an important resource for both
recreational uses and for fish, and wildlife and further degradation
could jeopardize remaining. The purpose of the feasibility study is to
evaluate alternatives for channel modification, habitat restoration
(coastal and freshwater wetlands and riparian), recreation, and related
purposes along the lower reach of the Ballona Creek.
DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on September 29, 2005 at 6
p.m.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-
PD, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053 and Santa Monica Bay
Restoration Commission, 320 West 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Dellaquila, Project
Environmental Manager, at (213) 452-3850 or Malisa Martin, Project
Study Manager at (213) 452-3828.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization
This study was prepared as an interim response to the following
authorities provided by Congress under Section 216 of the Flood Control
Act of 1970, which states:
The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of
Engineers, is authorized to review the operation of projects the
construction of which has been completed and which were constructed
by the Corps of Engineers in the interest of navigation, flood
control, water supply, and related purposes, when found advisable
due the significantly changed physical or economic conditions, and
to report thereon to Congress with recommendations on the
advisability of modifying the structures or their operation, and for
improving the quality of the environment in the overall public
interest;
supplemented by House Resolution on Public Works and Transportation
dated September 28, 1994 which states:
The Secretary of the Army is requested to review the report of
the Chief of Engineers on Playa del Rey Inlet and Basin, Venice,
California, published as House Document 389, Eighty-third Congress,
Second Session, and other pertinent reports, to determine whether
modifications of the recommendations contained therein are advisable
at present time, in the interest of navigation, hurricane and storm
damage reduction, environmental restoration, and other purposes at
Marina del Rey Harbor, Los Angeles, California, with consideration
given to disposal of contaminated sediments from the entrance
channel required under the existing operation and maintenance
program at Marina del Rey.
2. Background
The Ballona Creek Ecosystem Restoration study area lies within Los
Angeles County, CA and includes portions of Marina del Rey, Culver
City, Playa del Rey, and the City of Los Angeles. The study area, a
component of the greater Ballona Creek Watershed, includes the lower
reach of Ballona Creek extending southwest from Cochran Avenue, in Los
Angeles, to Pacific Ocean in Marina del Rey. specific features of the
Ballona Creek watershed, including existing and historic wetland areas,
the Ballona Lagoon, Del Rey Lagoon, Venice Canal, Grand Canal, the
Oxford Drain and the Ballona Channel and tributaries, will be addressed
in this study.
The greater Ballona Creek system drains a watershed of
approximately 329 square kilometers (81,300 acres), and is the largest
tributary that drains into the Santa Monica Bay. Ballona Creek collects
runoff from several partially urbanized canyons on the south slopes of
the Santa Monica Mountains as well as from intensely urbanized areas of
West Los Angeles, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and parts of
Central Los Angeles. The urbanized areas account for 80 percent of the
watershed area, and the partially developed foothills and mountains
make up the remaining 20 percent. The watershed boundary includes the
Santa Monica Mountains on the north, the unincorporated area known as
Baldwin Hills, and the City of Inglewood on the south.
The Ballona Creek Ecosystem Restoration study footprint's southern
boundary is defined by the Westcheste Bluffs, which run southwest from
the San Diego (405) Freeway beyond Loyola Marymount University. The
western boundary extends from the Pacific Ocean. The eastern boundary
begins where Ballona Creek daylights at Cochran Avenue and Venice
Boulevard in a section of Los Angeles known as the Mid City.
Tributaries of Ballona Creek include Centinela Creek, Sepulveda Canyon
Channel, Benedict Canyon Channel, and numerous storm drains.
The Ballona Creek watershed ecosystem has been altered by intense
land development, encroachment of non-native plants, trash
accumulation, and varied attempts at bank protection along the creek
using rock and concrete. Although an important function of the Ballona
Creek is as a flood control channel, the lower watershed is still an
important resource for both recreational uses and for fish and wildlife
habitat. Further impairment could jeopardize remaining habitat. This
study will evaluate opportunities for habitat restoration (including
wetland and riparian habitat), improvements to water quality, trash
mitigation, and recreation and related purposes along the lower reach
of the Ballona creek.
3. Problems and Needs
At least ninety (90) percent of historic coastal wetlands in
California have been lost due to filing, dredging, flood control and
intensive development. Within the Lower Ballona Creek Watershed,
remaining fragmented wetland areas have been degraded due to diminished
hydraulic function, poor water quality and introduction of exotic
plants and animals. While functioning wetland systems and riparian
habitat remain, they are stressed.
Channelization of the Ballona Creek and filling of
historic wetland and riparian areas have contributed to degradation and
loss of habitat due to impeded tidal exchange and circulation.
Contaminated stormwater runoff and trash loading has
degraded Ballona Creek water quality.
Habitat alteration and loss has decreased biodiversity and
overall ecological health, threatening the survival of native
endangered species such as the California least tern (Sterna antillarum
brown), snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), and the Belding's
Savannah Sparrow (Sandwichensis beldingi).
The current design of the Flood Control channel has
resulted in a lack
[[Page 55117]]
of recreational opportunities and is considered aesthetically
challenged.
At present there is no integrated approach and partnership
amongst stakeholders to resolve lower Ballona Creek in-stream and
wetland degradation issues, which has led to uncoordinated and
sometimes redundant and unsuccessful improvement measures.
4. Proposed Action and Alternative
The Los Angeles District will investigate and evaluate all
reasonable alternatives to address the problems and need stated above.
In addition to a without project (No Action) Alternative, both
structural and non-structural environmental measures will be
investigated. An assessment of the feasibility of removing impervious
surfaces from the Ballona Channel will also be evaluated. Proposed
restoration measures include: re-grading and removal of fill, remove
invasive and non-native plant species, reintroduction of a water source
and installation of native plants to restore previously filled coastal
wetlands. Other measures to be evaluated include features to improve or
restore tidal regime in Oxford Basin, the Grand and Venice canals, and
Ballona and Del Rey Lagoons; the potential for in stream wetland
development in Centinela, Sepulveda and Ballona Creek; sediment loading
in the upper watershed; and related recreation and educational
opportunities.
5. Scoping Process
The scoping process is on-going, and has involved preliminary
coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies and the general
public. A public scoping meeting is scheduled for Thursday September
29th from 6-8 p.m. at the Rotunda Room of the Veteran's Memorial
Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA. This information is
being published in the local news media, and a notice is being mailed
to all parties on the study mailing list to ensure that public will
have an opportunity to express opinions and raise any issues relating
to the scope of the Feasibility Study and the Environmental Impact
Study/Environmental Impact Report. The public as well as Federal,
state, and local agencies are encouraged to participate by submitting
data, information, and comments identifying relevant environmental and
socioeconomic issues to be addressed in the study. Useful information
includes other environmental studies, published and unpublished data,
alternatives that could be addressed in the analysis, and, potential
mitigation measures associated with the proposed action. All comments
will be considered in the project development. Concerns may be
submitted in writing to the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, or
to the Los Angeles District (see ADDRESSES). Comments, suggestions, and
request to be placed on the mailing list for announcements should be
sent to MaLisa Martin (see ADDRESSES) or by e-mail to MaLisa.M.Martin@
sp101.usace.army.mil.
Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR
The Draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be published and circulated in
December 2007, and a public hearing to receive comments on the Draft
EIS/EIR will be held after it is published.
Dated: September 13, 2005.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-18651 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-M
