Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environment Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for a Permit Application for the Proposed Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project at the Salton Sea, in Riverside and Imperial Counties, CA, 35770-35773 [2010-15176]

Download as PDF 35770 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 23, 2010 / Notices Pvt. Ltd. Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. was the only party to request this administrative review. On March 30, 2010, the Department published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain preserved mushrooms from India with respect to these companies. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 75 FR 15679 (March 30, 2010). On June 3, 2010, Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. timely withdrew its request for a review of the above–named companies. Rescission of Administrative Review Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), the Department will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the parties that requested a review withdraw the request within 90 days of the date of publication of notice of initiation of the requested review. Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. withdrew its request for review before the 90-day deadline, and no other party requested an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain preserved mushrooms from India. Therefore, in response to Monterey Mushrooms, Inc.’s withdrawal of its request for review, and pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), the Department is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain preserved mushrooms from India for the period February 1, 2009, through January 31, 2010. mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Assessment The Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate entries. Antidumping duties shall be assessed at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). The Department intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions directly to CBP 15 days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Notification to Importers This notice serves as a final reminder to importers of their responsibility, under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2), to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in the Secretary’s presumption that reimbursement of antidumping VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Jun 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of return/ destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation. This notice is published in accordance with section 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). Dated: June 18, 2010. Gary Taverman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2010–15220 Filed 6–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environment Impact Report (DEIS/ DEIR) for a Permit Application for the Proposed Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project at the Salton Sea, in Riverside and Imperial Counties, CA AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD. ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI). SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in conjunction with the California Natural Resources Agency, is preparing an EIS/EIR for the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project. The Corps is considering the Natural Resources Agency’s application for a Department of the Army permit under section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct habitat configured in a series of interconnected shallow ponds within the current footprint of the Salton Sea. Preliminary evaluations of potential siting areas indicate that ponds could be constructed at either the north or south ends of the Salton Sea, or in both areas. The SCH Project would be created as the Sea recedes by constructing dikes below the elevation of ¥228 feet mean sea PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 level (msl) using material excavated from the sea bed. Rivers, which have better water quality than agricultural drain water, would provide the source of water for the ponds. The Project size at total build-out is currently expected to be approximately 2,400 acres, which may be constructed over a period of several years depending on land availability and cost. The final project size may vary depending on the outcome of the alternatives development process. Habitat ponds would vary in size, with several ponds constructed in each phase depending on land availability. Habitat would continue to be constructed in phases in subsequent years as the Sea recedes until the targeted acreage of habitat was constructed. The habitat would be designed with varying ranges of salinity in order to maximize biological productivity and minimize adverse effects associated with water quality. It is anticipated that the SCH Project would begin construction in late 2011 or early 2012. The primary Federal involvement is the potential issuance of a permit under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge of dredged, excavated, or fill material in wetlands, streams, rivers, and other U.S. waters, as well as the evaluation of potential impacts on the human environment from such activities. Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation of an EIS prior to consideration of any permit action. The action must comply with the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (40 CFR part 230) and not be contrary to the public interest to be granted a Corps permit. The Corps may ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the above project or permit or deny modified versions of the above project. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Natural Resources Agency will be the Lead Agency for the preparation of an EIR and will use the EIR when considering whether to approve the project. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will act on behalf of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare the EIR and may issue incidental take authorization under section 2081 of the California Endangered Species Act and a Streambed Alteration Agreement under section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code. The Corps and the Natural Resources Agency have agreed to jointly prepare the EIS/EIR to optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The EIS/EIR is intended to be sufficient in E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 23, 2010 / Notices scope to address the Federal, State, and local requirements for environmental analysis and permitting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding scoping of the DEIS/DEIR may be addressed to: Ms. Lanika Cervantes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, San Diego Field Office, ATTN: CESPL–RG–RS– 2010–00142–LLC, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 105, Carlsbad, CA 92011, or lanika.l.cervantes@usace.army.mil. Comments and questions can also be sent to Ms. Kimberly Nicol, California Department of Fish and Game Project Manager, at 78078 Country Club Drive, Suite 109, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203, or at knicol@dfg.ca.gov. Ms. Lanika Cervantes, Corps Project Manager, can be reached at (760) 602–4838, and Ms. Nicol can be reached at (760) 200–9178. Comment letters sent via electronic mail should include the commenter’s physical mailing address, and the project title ‘‘Species Conservation Habitat Project’’ should be included in the electronic mail’s subject line. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Project Site and Background Information: The Salton Sea is located in both Imperial and Riverside counties in southeastern California, approximately 35 miles north of the U.S. Mexico border and 50 miles west of the Colorado River. Preliminary evaluations of potential sites indicate that SCH ponds could be constructed at either the north end of the Salton Sea near the Whitewater River, or the south end of the Salton Sea near the New and Alamo rivers, or in both areas. As the Sea recedes and becomes more saline, fish species will not be able to survive. Simultaneously, the fish-eating birds, including several species of special concern, will lose their forage base and begin to disappear. As the Sea continues to become more saline, current invertebrate species will become less diverse and be replaced by species tolerant of hyper-saline environments (e.g., brine flies and brine shrimp). The basic purpose of the proposed SCH Project is to protect the fish and wildlife species dependent on the Salton Sea in accordance with California Fish and Game Code, Section 2932 through the creation of aquatic habitat; this is a water dependent activity. The overall goals and purpose of the project under the Clean Water Act, and the objectives through which the goals would be met are as follows: Goal: Develop a range of aquatic habitats that will support fish and wildlife species dependent on the Salton Sea. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Jun 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 • Objectives for Goal: —Provide adequate foraging habitat for piscivorous (fish-eating) bird species. —Develop habitats required to support piscivorous bird species. —Support a sustainable, productive aquatic community. —Provide suitable water quality for fish. —Minimize adverse effects to desert pupfish. —Minimize risk of selenium. —Minimize risk of disease/toxicity impacts. 2. Proposed Action: The SCH Project would provide habitat for both fish and invertebrate species, which in turn would provide forage for the numerous bird species dependent on the Salton Sea ecosystem. Salinity would be managed to support various assemblages of invertebrates and fish to diversify the prey base for as wide a variety of bird species as possible. The SCH ponds would be designed to serve those piscivorous bird species that would experience significant declines if the amount of Salton Sea habitat were substantially reduced. For many of these species, a significant proportion of their population uses the Salton Sea. The SCH ponds would also benefit other bird species, such as the eared grebe, gull-billed tern, western snowy plover, ruddy duck, black tern, and California brown pelican. These species are either not piscivorous and/or only a small proportion of their population depends on the Salton Sea. There are also some subspecies or population segments that would likely use the created habitats as well, such as the least tern (interior subspecies of the California least tern or Mexican least tern, whichever is present at the Salton Sea) and Baja population of the California brown pelican which uses the Salton Sea as a post-breeding site. Ancillary affects to other federally threatened or endangered species may be identified during the development of the EIS/EIR, and would be addressed through either informal or formal section 7 consultation, or a combination there of, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as applicable. Fish currently existing in the Salton Sea or tributaries are the likely candidates for establishment in the SCH ponds. The ponds would likely not provide suitable habitat for the marine species (orangemouth corvina, gulf croaker, and sargo) previously found in the Salton Sea. Tilapia are currently found in large numbers in the Sea, and would likely be the species providing the primary forage base in the ponds for fish eating birds. Since a primary purpose of the ponds is to provide PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35771 habitat for fish as forage for birds, the ponds would be managed to maximize fish productivity. The SCH Project is being developed as a proof-of-concept project for future restoration to verify that the core ideas are functional and feasible prior to full scale restoration of the Salton Sea. The SCH Project would help establish viability, technical issues, and overall direction, as well as providing feedback for costs and requirements of construction, operations and management. The SCH project is planned to be constructed beginning in late 2011 or early 2012. The SCH Project would be created in phases as the Sea recedes by constructing dikes below the elevation of ¥228 feet mean sea level (msl) using material excavated from the sea bed. Rivers, which have better water quality than agricultural drain water, would provide the primary source of water for the ponds. Habitat ponds would vary in size, and several ponds could be constructed in each phase depending on funding and land availability. Habitat would continue to be constructed in subsequent years as the Sea continues to recede until the targeted acreage of habitat was reached. It is currently anticipated that about 2,400 acres of habitat would be created as part of the SCH Project, although the actual amount may vary depending on the outcome of the alternatives development process. Preliminary evaluations of potential siting areas indicate that ponds could be constructed at either the north or south ends of the Salton Sea, or in both areas. The SCH would be designed with varying ranges of salinity in order to maximize biological productivity and minimize adverse effects associated with water quality. Ponds would be designed to optimize fish habitat and maximize fish productivity to provide a sustainable prey base for fish-eating birds. Ponds could also be managed to optimize invertebrate production to enhance the prey base for shorebirds and wading birds. Depth of water in the ponds is dependent on the slope of the sea bed, but could range up to approximately 6 feet, depending on the areas available for development as the surface water elevation declines. Deeper areas could be created by excavating materials from within the ponds for construction of the dikes or islands. The dike separating adjacent ponds at similar elevations could also be modified to form larger ponds in the future, with portions of the original dike left intact to form islands. A sedimentation basin could be constructed on lands above elevation ¥228 msl, or the first SCH pond could E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 35772 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 23, 2010 / Notices function as a sedimentation basin in addition to providing habitat. The first pond may need to be drained periodically for vegetation management and sediment removal; triggers for such actions will be developed as part of the adaptive management plan. Water discharged from the first pond would flow into other ponds, and from there into further ponds or into the Salton Sea. A variety of methods for managing salinity will be thoroughly evaluated in the EIR/EIS. Several methods are currently under consideration, although additional methods may be identified as part of the scoping process and as a result of special studies that are underway. The method currently being considered is evapo-concentration of salts, which would result in higher salinity in each subsequent pond until the maximum salinity suitable for optimal biological productivity was achieved. Once the maximum desired salinity was achieved, the next series of ponds could again initially be supplied by river water. Saline water from the earlier ponds could be blended with river water to obtain targeted salinities in some of the newer ponds. If not needed for blending in the next phase of ponds, saline water from the ponds would discharge to the Salton Sea. This process would result in a mix of salinities throughout the SCH complex, with salinities being managed by balancing river inflow, evaporation, and discharge. Higher salinities in the initial ponds, if needed, also could be achieved by temporarily blending diverted river water with saline water pumped from the Salton Sea. If necessary, temporary pumping could also be used to initially achieve the targeted salinities in subsequent series of ponds, but longerterm salinity management would be maintained by balancing inflows, evaporation, and discharge. If additional salt water were needed in future years to maintain salinity, saline water from the higher salinity ponds could be recirculated to the lower salinity ponds. Siting SCH ponds adjacent to the confluence of the New, Alamo, or Whitewater rivers and the Salton Sea would minimize the need for conveyance facilities to transport freshwater from these rivers to the ponds. Water flow from the rivers and between the ponds could be controlled with valves to be able to respond to varying evaporation or seepage rates and to allow changes in operations to modify salinity or water depth goals. The precise method of conveying water will be evaluated as part of the engineering design and environmental review process. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Jun 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 Monitoring and evaluation would commence upon completion of the ponds in the first year and would continue thereafter. A monitoring and adaptive management plan would be implemented to monitor and evaluate biological and water quality parameters, habitat function, and engineering performance of the SCH Project. Information obtained from monitoring and evaluation would be used to refine the engineering design, wildlife management criteria, and adaptive strategies for continued development of subsequent phases of the SCH Project. Adaptive and flexible strategies would reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with operating larger complexes and facilitate managing or mitigating observed issues and problems. 3. Issues: A number of potential environmental issues will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified during the scoping process, but issues initially identified as potentially significant or that are believed to be of local concern include: 1. Agricultural Resources: Impacts from conversion of farmland to nonagricultural use, and dust due to construction. 2. Air Quality: Impacts during construction, operations, and maintenance, and also the beneficial impact on fugitive dust from covering exposed playa with water. 3. Biological Resources: Impacts on fish and wildlife during construction, operations, and maintenance. 4. Cultural Resources: Potential impacts to archaeological resources, human remains, and sacred sites activities. 5. Environmental Justice: Potential effects on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe and other local communities from construction. operations, and maintenance activities. 6. Geology and Soils: Impacts during construction, operations, and maintenance. 7. Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Climate Change: Impacts during construction, operations, and maintenance. 8. Hazards and Hazardous Materials: Impacts during construction, maintenance, and operations. 9. Hydrology and Water Quality: Impacts during construction, operations, and maintenance. 10. Indian Trust Assets: Effects on Torres Martinez Tribe’s trust assets from development of the sites near the Whitewater River. 11. Land Use: Potential conflicts with other existing or planned land uses and local plans, policies, and ordinances. PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12. Noise: Impacts during construction, operations, and maintenance. 13. Paleontological Resources: Potential impacts from grounddisturbing activities. 14. Transportation and Traffic: Impacts during construction, operations, and maintenance. 4. Alternatives: Several alternatives are being considered for the proposed action. The EIS/EIR may include a coequal analysis of the project alternatives considered. Alternatives initially being considered for the SCH Project include: (a) Alternative locations (at the confluence of the New, Alamo, or Whitewater rivers and the Salton Sea, or a combination of sites); (b) different acreages of created habitat; (c) different pond sizes and configurations; (d) different ranges of salinity within the ponds; and (e) no action. The range and characteristics of the alternatives addressed in the EIS/EIR will be further developed based on input from the scoping process and special studies that are underway. 5. Scoping Process: The Corps and the Natural Resources Agency will jointly conduct a series of public scoping meetings to receive public comments regarding the appropriate scope and content of for the SCH Project DEIS/ DEIR and to assess public concerns. Additionally, a public hearing will be held during the public comment period once the DEIS/DEIR is released. Participation in the public meetings by Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested organizations and persons is encouraged. Parties interested in being added to the electronic mail notification list for any projects associated with the Salton Sea can register at: https:// www.spl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/ under the Public Notice tab, Distribution List registration. This list will be used in the future to notify the public about scheduled hearings and availability of future public notices. Parties interested in obtaining additional information about the SCH Project can also visit the Natural Resources Agency Web site at https:// resources.ca.gov/ restoring_the_salton_sea.html. The scoping meetings will be held at: 1. Palm Desert—July 7, 2010 at 1 p.m. at University of California, 75–080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Room B200, Palm Desert, CA 92211. 2. Thermal—July 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Torrez-Martinez Tribal Administration Building, 66–725 Martinez Road, Thermal, CA 92274. E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 23, 2010 / Notices 3. Calipatria—July 8, 2010 at 1 p.m. at Calipatria Inn and Suites, 700 North Sorenson Avenue, Calipatria, CA 92233. 4. Brawley—July 8, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1420, 161 South Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227. Comments on the proposed action, alternatives, or any additional concerns should be submitted in writing. Written comment letters will be accepted through July 24, 2010. The following permits and consultations are expected to be required: Clean Water Act section 404 permit/section 401 water quality certification; Endangered Species Act section 7 consultation; National Historic Preservation Act section 106 consultation; California Endangered Species Act section 2081 incidental take authorization; California Fish and Game Code section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement; and air quality permits. 5. Availability of the DEIS/DEIR: The DEIS/DEIR is expected to be published and circulated by early 2011, and a public meeting will be held after its publication. Dated: June 14, 2010. Mark D. Cohen, Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of Engineers. [FR Doc. 2010–15176 Filed 6–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests Department of Education (ED). Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests. AGENCY: mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507(j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by July 15, 2010. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 23, 2010. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Education Desk Officer, VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Jun 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, be faxed to (202) 395–5806 or e-mailed to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov with a cc: to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency’s ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on respondents, including through the use of information technology. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: June 18, 2010. Darrin A. King, Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services PO 00000 Type of Review: New. Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35773 Title: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Grant Reallotment Form. Frequency: Annually. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Gov’t, SEAs or LEAs. Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 402. Burden Hours: 12. Abstract: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, authorizes the commissioner to reallot to other grant recipients that portion of a recipient’s annual grant that cannot be used. To maximize the use of appropriated funds under the formula grant programs, The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has established a reallotment process for the Basic Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Supported Employment State Grants; Independent Living State Grants, Part B (IL–Part B); Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL–OB); Client Assistance (CAP) and Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) Programs. The authority for the Rehabilitation Services Administration to reallot formula grant funds is found at sections 110(b)(2) (VR), 622(b) (SE), 711(c) (IL–Part B), 752(j)(4) (IL–OB), 112(e)(2) (CAP), and 509(e) (PAIR) of the act. The information will be used by the Rehabilitation Services Administration State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division to reallot formula grant funds for the awards mentioned above. Currently, the information is collected through the issuance of an annual Information Memorandum. For each grant award, the grantee will be required to enter the amount of funds being relinquished and/or any additional funds being requested. Additional Information: The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), within the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), has developed an online submission process for formula grant recipients to indicate the amount of funds they wish to relinquish during the reallotment process and/or the amount of funds they wish to request during this process. In previous years, this reallotment process was initiated through an Information Memorandum that RSA issued asking grantees to indicate the amount of funds being relinquished and/or requested. The reallotment process is based upon both statute and regulation and allows funds unused by some grantees receiving funds under the Rehabilitation Act of E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35770-35773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15176]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environment Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for a Permit 
Application for the Proposed Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat 
Project at the Salton Sea, in Riverside and Imperial Counties, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in conjunction with 
the California Natural Resources Agency, is preparing an EIS/EIR for 
the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project. The Corps is 
considering the Natural Resources Agency's application for a Department 
of the Army permit under section 404 of the Clean Water Act to 
construct habitat configured in a series of interconnected shallow 
ponds within the current footprint of the Salton Sea. Preliminary 
evaluations of potential siting areas indicate that ponds could be 
constructed at either the north or south ends of the Salton Sea, or in 
both areas. The SCH Project would be created as the Sea recedes by 
constructing dikes below the elevation of -228 feet mean sea level 
(msl) using material excavated from the sea bed. Rivers, which have 
better water quality than agricultural drain water, would provide the 
source of water for the ponds. The Project size at total build-out is 
currently expected to be approximately 2,400 acres, which may be 
constructed over a period of several years depending on land 
availability and cost. The final project size may vary depending on the 
outcome of the alternatives development process. Habitat ponds would 
vary in size, with several ponds constructed in each phase depending on 
land availability. Habitat would continue to be constructed in phases 
in subsequent years as the Sea recedes until the targeted acreage of 
habitat was constructed. The habitat would be designed with varying 
ranges of salinity in order to maximize biological productivity and 
minimize adverse effects associated with water quality. It is 
anticipated that the SCH Project would begin construction in late 2011 
or early 2012.
    The primary Federal involvement is the potential issuance of a 
permit under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the 
discharge of dredged, excavated, or fill material in wetlands, streams, 
rivers, and other U.S. waters, as well as the evaluation of potential 
impacts on the human environment from such activities. Therefore, in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps 
is requiring the preparation of an EIS prior to consideration of any 
permit action. The action must comply with the Section 404(b)(1) 
Guidelines (40 CFR part 230) and not be contrary to the public interest 
to be granted a Corps permit. The Corps may ultimately make a 
determination to permit or deny the above project or permit or deny 
modified versions of the above project.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Natural Resources Agency will be the Lead Agency for the preparation of 
an EIR and will use the EIR when considering whether to approve the 
project. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will act on 
behalf of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare the EIR and may issue 
incidental take authorization under section 2081 of the California 
Endangered Species Act and a Streambed Alteration Agreement under 
section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code. The Corps and the 
Natural Resources Agency have agreed to jointly prepare the EIS/EIR to 
optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The EIS/EIR is intended to 
be sufficient in

[[Page 35771]]

scope to address the Federal, State, and local requirements for 
environmental analysis and permitting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding 
scoping of the DEIS/DEIR may be addressed to: Ms. Lanika Cervantes, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory 
Division, San Diego Field Office, ATTN: CESPL-RG-RS-2010-00142-LLC, 
6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 105, Carlsbad, CA 92011, or 
lanika.l.cervantes@usace.army.mil. Comments and questions can also be 
sent to Ms. Kimberly Nicol, California Department of Fish and Game 
Project Manager, at 78078 Country Club Drive, Suite 109, Bermuda Dunes, 
CA 92203, or at knicol@dfg.ca.gov. Ms. Lanika Cervantes, Corps Project 
Manager, can be reached at (760) 602-4838, and Ms. Nicol can be reached 
at (760) 200-9178. Comment letters sent via electronic mail should 
include the commenter's physical mailing address, and the project title 
``Species Conservation Habitat Project'' should be included in the 
electronic mail's subject line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Project Site and Background Information: The Salton Sea is 
located in both Imperial and Riverside counties in southeastern 
California, approximately 35 miles north of the U.S. Mexico border and 
50 miles west of the Colorado River. Preliminary evaluations of 
potential sites indicate that SCH ponds could be constructed at either 
the north end of the Salton Sea near the Whitewater River, or the south 
end of the Salton Sea near the New and Alamo rivers, or in both areas.
    As the Sea recedes and becomes more saline, fish species will not 
be able to survive. Simultaneously, the fish-eating birds, including 
several species of special concern, will lose their forage base and 
begin to disappear. As the Sea continues to become more saline, current 
invertebrate species will become less diverse and be replaced by 
species tolerant of hyper-saline environments (e.g., brine flies and 
brine shrimp).
    The basic purpose of the proposed SCH Project is to protect the 
fish and wildlife species dependent on the Salton Sea in accordance 
with California Fish and Game Code, Section 2932 through the creation 
of aquatic habitat; this is a water dependent activity. The overall 
goals and purpose of the project under the Clean Water Act, and the 
objectives through which the goals would be met are as follows:
    Goal: Develop a range of aquatic habitats that will support fish 
and wildlife species dependent on the Salton Sea.
     Objectives for Goal:

--Provide adequate foraging habitat for piscivorous (fish-eating) bird 
species.
--Develop habitats required to support piscivorous bird species.
--Support a sustainable, productive aquatic community.
--Provide suitable water quality for fish.
--Minimize adverse effects to desert pupfish.
--Minimize risk of selenium.
--Minimize risk of disease/toxicity impacts.
    2. Proposed Action: The SCH Project would provide habitat for both 
fish and invertebrate species, which in turn would provide forage for 
the numerous bird species dependent on the Salton Sea ecosystem. 
Salinity would be managed to support various assemblages of 
invertebrates and fish to diversify the prey base for as wide a variety 
of bird species as possible. The SCH ponds would be designed to serve 
those piscivorous bird species that would experience significant 
declines if the amount of Salton Sea habitat were substantially 
reduced. For many of these species, a significant proportion of their 
population uses the Salton Sea.
    The SCH ponds would also benefit other bird species, such as the 
eared grebe, gull-billed tern, western snowy plover, ruddy duck, black 
tern, and California brown pelican. These species are either not 
piscivorous and/or only a small proportion of their population depends 
on the Salton Sea. There are also some subspecies or population 
segments that would likely use the created habitats as well, such as 
the least tern (interior subspecies of the California least tern or 
Mexican least tern, whichever is present at the Salton Sea) and Baja 
population of the California brown pelican which uses the Salton Sea as 
a post-breeding site. Ancillary affects to other federally threatened 
or endangered species may be identified during the development of the 
EIS/EIR, and would be addressed through either informal or formal 
section 7 consultation, or a combination there of, with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, as applicable.
    Fish currently existing in the Salton Sea or tributaries are the 
likely candidates for establishment in the SCH ponds. The ponds would 
likely not provide suitable habitat for the marine species (orangemouth 
corvina, gulf croaker, and sargo) previously found in the Salton Sea. 
Tilapia are currently found in large numbers in the Sea, and would 
likely be the species providing the primary forage base in the ponds 
for fish eating birds. Since a primary purpose of the ponds is to 
provide habitat for fish as forage for birds, the ponds would be 
managed to maximize fish productivity.
    The SCH Project is being developed as a proof-of-concept project 
for future restoration to verify that the core ideas are functional and 
feasible prior to full scale restoration of the Salton Sea. The SCH 
Project would help establish viability, technical issues, and overall 
direction, as well as providing feedback for costs and requirements of 
construction, operations and management. The SCH project is planned to 
be constructed beginning in late 2011 or early 2012. The SCH Project 
would be created in phases as the Sea recedes by constructing dikes 
below the elevation of -228 feet mean sea level (msl) using material 
excavated from the sea bed. Rivers, which have better water quality 
than agricultural drain water, would provide the primary source of 
water for the ponds. Habitat ponds would vary in size, and several 
ponds could be constructed in each phase depending on funding and land 
availability. Habitat would continue to be constructed in subsequent 
years as the Sea continues to recede until the targeted acreage of 
habitat was reached. It is currently anticipated that about 2,400 acres 
of habitat would be created as part of the SCH Project, although the 
actual amount may vary depending on the outcome of the alternatives 
development process. Preliminary evaluations of potential siting areas 
indicate that ponds could be constructed at either the north or south 
ends of the Salton Sea, or in both areas. The SCH would be designed 
with varying ranges of salinity in order to maximize biological 
productivity and minimize adverse effects associated with water 
quality. Ponds would be designed to optimize fish habitat and maximize 
fish productivity to provide a sustainable prey base for fish-eating 
birds. Ponds could also be managed to optimize invertebrate production 
to enhance the prey base for shorebirds and wading birds.
    Depth of water in the ponds is dependent on the slope of the sea 
bed, but could range up to approximately 6 feet, depending on the areas 
available for development as the surface water elevation declines. 
Deeper areas could be created by excavating materials from within the 
ponds for construction of the dikes or islands. The dike separating 
adjacent ponds at similar elevations could also be modified to form 
larger ponds in the future, with portions of the original dike left 
intact to form islands.
    A sedimentation basin could be constructed on lands above elevation 
-228 msl, or the first SCH pond could

[[Page 35772]]

function as a sedimentation basin in addition to providing habitat. The 
first pond may need to be drained periodically for vegetation 
management and sediment removal; triggers for such actions will be 
developed as part of the adaptive management plan. Water discharged 
from the first pond would flow into other ponds, and from there into 
further ponds or into the Salton Sea.
    A variety of methods for managing salinity will be thoroughly 
evaluated in the EIR/EIS. Several methods are currently under 
consideration, although additional methods may be identified as part of 
the scoping process and as a result of special studies that are 
underway. The method currently being considered is evapo-concentration 
of salts, which would result in higher salinity in each subsequent pond 
until the maximum salinity suitable for optimal biological productivity 
was achieved. Once the maximum desired salinity was achieved, the next 
series of ponds could again initially be supplied by river water. 
Saline water from the earlier ponds could be blended with river water 
to obtain targeted salinities in some of the newer ponds. If not needed 
for blending in the next phase of ponds, saline water from the ponds 
would discharge to the Salton Sea. This process would result in a mix 
of salinities throughout the SCH complex, with salinities being managed 
by balancing river inflow, evaporation, and discharge. Higher 
salinities in the initial ponds, if needed, also could be achieved by 
temporarily blending diverted river water with saline water pumped from 
the Salton Sea. If necessary, temporary pumping could also be used to 
initially achieve the targeted salinities in subsequent series of 
ponds, but longer-term salinity management would be maintained by 
balancing inflows, evaporation, and discharge. If additional salt water 
were needed in future years to maintain salinity, saline water from the 
higher salinity ponds could be recirculated to the lower salinity 
ponds.
    Siting SCH ponds adjacent to the confluence of the New, Alamo, or 
Whitewater rivers and the Salton Sea would minimize the need for 
conveyance facilities to transport freshwater from these rivers to the 
ponds. Water flow from the rivers and between the ponds could be 
controlled with valves to be able to respond to varying evaporation or 
seepage rates and to allow changes in operations to modify salinity or 
water depth goals. The precise method of conveying water will be 
evaluated as part of the engineering design and environmental review 
process.
    Monitoring and evaluation would commence upon completion of the 
ponds in the first year and would continue thereafter. A monitoring and 
adaptive management plan would be implemented to monitor and evaluate 
biological and water quality parameters, habitat function, and 
engineering performance of the SCH Project. Information obtained from 
monitoring and evaluation would be used to refine the engineering 
design, wildlife management criteria, and adaptive strategies for 
continued development of subsequent phases of the SCH Project. Adaptive 
and flexible strategies would reduce the risks and uncertainties 
associated with operating larger complexes and facilitate managing or 
mitigating observed issues and problems.
    3. Issues: A number of potential environmental issues will be 
addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified during 
the scoping process, but issues initially identified as potentially 
significant or that are believed to be of local concern include:
    1. Agricultural Resources: Impacts from conversion of farmland to 
non-agricultural use, and dust due to construction.
    2. Air Quality: Impacts during construction, operations, and 
maintenance, and also the beneficial impact on fugitive dust from 
covering exposed playa with water.
    3. Biological Resources: Impacts on fish and wildlife during 
construction, operations, and maintenance.
    4. Cultural Resources: Potential impacts to archaeological 
resources, human remains, and sacred sites activities.
    5. Environmental Justice: Potential effects on the Torres Martinez 
Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe and other local communities from 
construction. operations, and maintenance activities.
    6. Geology and Soils: Impacts during construction, operations, and 
maintenance.
    7. Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Climate Change: Impacts during 
construction, operations, and maintenance.
    8. Hazards and Hazardous Materials: Impacts during construction, 
maintenance, and operations.
    9. Hydrology and Water Quality: Impacts during construction, 
operations, and maintenance.
    10. Indian Trust Assets: Effects on Torres Martinez Tribe's trust 
assets from development of the sites near the Whitewater River.
    11. Land Use: Potential conflicts with other existing or planned 
land uses and local plans, policies, and ordinances.
    12. Noise: Impacts during construction, operations, and 
maintenance.
    13. Paleontological Resources: Potential impacts from ground-
disturbing activities.
    14. Transportation and Traffic: Impacts during construction, 
operations, and maintenance.
    4. Alternatives: Several alternatives are being considered for the 
proposed action. The EIS/EIR may include a co-equal analysis of the 
project alternatives considered. Alternatives initially being 
considered for the SCH Project include: (a) Alternative locations (at 
the confluence of the New, Alamo, or Whitewater rivers and the Salton 
Sea, or a combination of sites); (b) different acreages of created 
habitat; (c) different pond sizes and configurations; (d) different 
ranges of salinity within the ponds; and (e) no action. The range and 
characteristics of the alternatives addressed in the EIS/EIR will be 
further developed based on input from the scoping process and special 
studies that are underway.
    5. Scoping Process: The Corps and the Natural Resources Agency will 
jointly conduct a series of public scoping meetings to receive public 
comments regarding the appropriate scope and content of for the SCH 
Project DEIS/DEIR and to assess public concerns. Additionally, a public 
hearing will be held during the public comment period once the DEIS/
DEIR is released. Participation in the public meetings by Federal, 
State, and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested 
organizations and persons is encouraged. Parties interested in being 
added to the electronic mail notification list for any projects 
associated with the Salton Sea can register at: https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/ under the Public Notice tab, 
Distribution List registration. This list will be used in the future to 
notify the public about scheduled hearings and availability of future 
public notices. Parties interested in obtaining additional information 
about the SCH Project can also visit the Natural Resources Agency Web 
site at https://resources.ca.gov/restoring_the_salton_sea.html.
    The scoping meetings will be held at:
    1. Palm Desert--July 7, 2010 at 1 p.m. at University of California, 
75-080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Room B200, Palm Desert, CA 92211.
    2. Thermal--July 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Torrez-Martinez Tribal 
Administration Building, 66-725 Martinez Road, Thermal, CA 92274.

[[Page 35773]]

    3. Calipatria--July 8, 2010 at 1 p.m. at Calipatria Inn and Suites, 
700 North Sorenson Avenue, Calipatria, CA 92233.
    4. Brawley--July 8, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge 1420, 
161 South Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227.
    Comments on the proposed action, alternatives, or any additional 
concerns should be submitted in writing. Written comment letters will 
be accepted through July 24, 2010.
    The following permits and consultations are expected to be 
required: Clean Water Act section 404 permit/section 401 water quality 
certification; Endangered Species Act section 7 consultation; National 
Historic Preservation Act section 106 consultation; California 
Endangered Species Act section 2081 incidental take authorization; 
California Fish and Game Code section 1602 Streambed Alteration 
Agreement; and air quality permits.
    5. Availability of the DEIS/DEIR: The DEIS/DEIR is expected to be 
published and circulated by early 2011, and a public meeting will be 
held after its publication.

    Dated: June 14, 2010.
Mark D. Cohen,
Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2010-15176 Filed 6-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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