Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Study, Los Angeles, CA, 6058-6059 [06-1052]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
• Engineers Corps
• Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6058-6059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1052]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Los Angeles River 
Ecosystem Restoration Study, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION:  Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The study area is located within the Los Angeles Basin on a 
broad alluvial plain flanked by the Santa Monica Mountains, to the 
west, and by the San Gabriel Mountains to the northeast. The Los 
Angeles River flows from the headwaters of Bell Creek and Calabasas 
Creek in the San Fernando Valley community of Canoga Park southeast 
through the San Fernando Valley some 35 miles to downtown Los Angeles. 
From there it continues in a southerly direction until it empties into 
the Pacific Ocean at Long Beach. The specific study area comprises the 
32 miles of the River within the City of Los Angeles that extends from 
Owensmouth Avenue, in the upper reaches of northwest San Fernando 
Valley, to the border of the City of Vernon, at the southern end of 
Downtown Los Angeles. The study proposes to consider a range of 
activities to restore riparian and aquatic habitat, and related habitat 
functions, in and adjacent to the Los Angeles River. Compatible 
activities to conserve cultural resources, and to provide recreational 
and interpretive amenities, will also be considered.
    Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify a range of 
opportunities to improve the general environment of the Los Angeles 
River through ecosystem restoration and related measures. The study 
area includes several locations where potential exists for restoring a 
more natural riverine environment along the Los Angeles River, while 
maintaining and improving levels of flood protection. Creation of 
treatment wetlands in and around the river, to treat effluent river 
flows and to restore missing linkages of fragmented habitat, would also 
be pursued. Restored areas would provide natural riparian habitat to 
support indigenous wildlife and avifauna along a corridor transecting 
most of the San Fernando Valley, and extending into downtown Los 
Angeles. Other purposes include provision of public access to the 
river, identification of incidental recreation space, and delineation 
of trails. Site-specific Environmental Impact Statement-Environment 
Impact Reports (EIS/EIR) would be prepared in the future to evaluate 
and document individual projects that may result from this study.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
Environmental Resources Branch, CESPL-PD-RN, 915 Wilshire Boulevard, 
Los Angeles, CA 90017. Attention to Randy Tabije, Ecosystem Planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Tabije, Environmental 
Coordinator, (213) 452-3871 or e-mail at Roland.R.Tabije@usace.army.
mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authorization. The proposed feasibility study was authorized 
under Congressional Resolution, which reads as follows:

    Senate Resolution, approved 25 June 1969, reading in part: 
``Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the United States 
Senate, that the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, created 
under section 3 of the River and Harbor Act, approved June 13, 1902, 
be, and is hereby requested to review the report of the Chief of 
Engineers on the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Ballona 
Creek, California, published as House Document Numbered 838, 
Seventy-sixth Congress, and other pertinent reports, with a view to 
determining whether any modifications contained herein are advisable 
at the present time, in the resources in the Los Angeles County 
Drainage Area.''

    2. Background. The Los Angeles River is subject to serious flooding 
and experienced two major floods in the 1930's that caused substantial 
loss of life and substantial property damage. During the late 1930's, 
in response, the Federal Government constructed the concrete flood 
control channel in the Los Angeles River. The City of Los Angeles and 
other local agencies have expressed interest and early support for a 
feasibility study that would evaluate the potential for restoration of 
environmental resources on the Los Angeles River.
    3. Proposed Objectives. The proposed objectives are as follows:
    a. Restore a more natural riverine environment along the river.

[[Page 6059]]

    b. Improve water quality by developing treatment wetlands to treat 
effluent river flows.
    c. Restore and re-connect fragmented wetland habitats.
    d. Within the Los Angeles Basin, maintain and improve current 
levels of flood protection.
    e. Protect the community's cultural and historic resources along 
this reach of the River, while improving connectivity and public access 
to historical and cultural sites in this area.
    f. Visually improve the River's scenic values through environmental 
restoration.
    g. Improve linkages to existing recreational features in the 
vicinity of the River, and enhance open space along the River.
    h. Better manage, optimize and conserve water resources.
    i. Restore, protect, and augment habitat quality, quantity, and 
connectivity. Based on these objectives, the programmatic EIS/EIR would 
evaluate a range of potential alternative sites as a basis for 
selecting site specific improvements.
    4. Scoping Process. a. Potential impacts associated with the 
proposed action will be evaluated. Resource categories that will be 
analyzed include: land use, physical environment, geology, biological 
resources, agricultural resources, air quality, ground water, 
recreational usage, aesthetics, cultural resources, transportation, 
communications, hazardous waste, socioeconomics and safety.
    b. Participation of affected Federal, State and local resource 
agencies, native American groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals is encouraged in the scoping process. Time and location of 
the Public Scoping meetings will be announced by means of letters, 
public announcements and news releases. Public participation will be 
especially important in defining the scope of analysis in the EIS/EIR, 
identifying potentially significant environmental issues, and obtaining 
relevant published and unpublished data, gathering personal input on 
relevant issues, and identifying acceptable mitigative measures for 
proposed actions. Those interested in providing information or data 
relevant to the environmental or social impacts to be included or 
considered in the environmental analysis can furnish this information 
by writing to the points of contact indicated above, or by attending a 
public scoping meeting. A mailing list will also be established so 
pertinent data may be distributed to interested parties.

    Dated: January 27, 2006.
Mark R. Blackburn,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Deputy District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 06-1052 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
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