Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for the San Jacinto River, Riverside County, CA, 39802 [07-3539]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 139 (Friday, July 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 39802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3539]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for the San Jacinto River, 
Riverside County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of the study is to evaluate approximately a 2-mile 
reach of the San Jacinto River located in Riverside County in the City 
of San Jacinto, CA. The focus will be on watershed improvements by 
developing alternatives for ecosystem restoration and incorporating 
conjunctive uses for groundwater recharge, water quality and water 
conservation from a mile up from Main Street to a mile past the end of 
San Jacinto Street. The restoration project will focus on 
revitalization of the riparian vegetation community; establish 
environmental corridor to benefit wildlife and sensitive species; 
increasing recharge of the San Jacinto groundwater basins; and 
restoring the habitat for the endangered San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat. 
The San Jacinto River is located about 20 miles southeast of the City 
of Riverside and is entirely within Riverside County, CA.

DATES: Provide comments by August 22, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Mrs. Priscilla E. Perry at U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-PD-RL, P.O. Box 532711, 
Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Priscilla E. Perry, Chief, 
Regional Planning, Environmental Engineers, at 213-452-3867, 213-713-
2677; Fax 213-452-4204 or e-mail at Priscilla.e.Perry@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authorization. The proposed study is authorized by the Flood 
Control Act 1936; WRDA 1986, Public Law 99-662: House Resolution dated 
October 9, 1998, Section 416 of WRDA 2000, which reads as follows:

    ``San Jacinto River, California.--The Committee has provided 
$100,000 for the Corps of Engineers to initiate a reconnaissance 
study to examine flood control, environmental enhancement and 
related purposes along the San Jacinto River, California, between 
the City of San Jacinto and the City of Lake Elsinore''.
Section 416 of WRDA 2000:
Section 416. San Jacinto Watershed, California.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a watershed study 
for the San Jacinto watershed, California.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $250,000''.

    2. Background. The construction of the San Jacinto levee project in 
1961 proved to be effective in preventing flood damages during the 1969 
floods on the San Jacinto River. The February 1980 floods were not any 
greater than the 1969 floods, but caused the San Jacinto River levee to 
fail resulting in massive flooding in the City of San Jacinto. The 
levee was repaired by adding toe stone, groins, and extending the 
Bautista Creek concrete channel by another 1.3 miles to the confluence 
with San Jacinto Creek around the late 1984 to early 1985 timeframe. 
The 2-mile reach of the San Jacinto River which is located a mile up 
from Main Street to a mile past the end of San Jacinto Street, poses 
damage to aquatic ecosytems from past flooding and types of 
anthropogenic activities. Ecosystems processes that help maintain 
groundwater supplies must be protected and restored where degraded. 
Increasing groundwater recharge is a way to support the ecosystem and 
improve the habitat for the endangered San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat. 
Alternatives to be considered are those that will reduce adverse water 
quality impacts from runoff; reduce further degradation of the river 
and the area ecosystem and improve the quality of both ground and 
surface waters.
    3. Scoping Process. a. A scoping meeting is scheduled for August 
22, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Simpson Center--305 E. Devonshire Ave., Hemet, CA 
92543.
    For specific dates, times and locations please contact Peter 
Odencrans, Eastern Municipal Water District, at 951-928-3777 or e-mail 
at: odencransp@emwd.org. Potential impacts associated with the proposed 
action will be evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed 
are: physical environment, geology, biological resources, air quality, 
water quality, recreational usage, aesthetics, cultural resources, 
transportation, noise, 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. Public participation 
will be especially important in defining the scope of analysis in the 
Draft EIS/EIR, identifying significant environmental issues and impact 
analysis of the Draft EIS/EIR and providing useful information such as 
published and unpublished data, personal knowledge of relevant issues 
and recommending mitigation measures associated with the proposed 
action.
    c. Those interested in providing information or data relevant to 
the environmental or social impacts that should be included or 
considered in the environmental analysis can furnish this information 
by writing to the points of contact indicated above or by attending the 
public scoping meeting. A mailing list will also be established so 
pertinent data may be distributed to interested parties.

    Dated: July 9, 2007.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 07-3539 Filed 7-19-07; 8:45 am]
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