Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Section 408 Permission for the Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project, West Sacramento, CA, 53423-53424 [2011-21878]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Notices
Act (NEPA) coverage for the proposed
action.
The ROD discusses each alternative
considered for the proposed action and
those that are environmentally
preferable. The Corps has identified an
Adaptive Management Implementation
Process (AMIP), with a construction
ceiling of Alternative 3.5 (approximately
4,370 acres), as the selected plan. The
key aspect of the AMIP is that, rather
than selecting a specific acreage
alternative, actions would be
progressively implemented and
monitored until the desired biological
response of terns and plovers is attained
and sustained. The Corps recognizes
that alternative methods such as
vegetation removal, while relatively
untested, provide the potential to
decrease impacts and costs, and could
be incorporated if proven successful.
The FPEIS describes the potential
environmental consequences of the
alternatives considered in detail. During
analysis, impacts of the larger
alternatives (3, 2 and 1) were deemed to
be moderate to high and impacts of
lesser alternatives (3.5, 4 and 5) were
deemed to be moderate to low.
Alternative 3.5 represents a midrange of
habitat available at a time when the
birds were productive, and it is
anticipated that biological metrics will
be met before fully implementing up to
Alternative 3.5. If Alternative 3.5 is fully
implemented and biological metrics are
not met, the Corps can consider
continuing to higher acreage alternatives
or other methodologies, in which case
appropriate coordination and disclosure
would be pursued (potential amended
ROD or additional NEPA).
The AMIP allows for flexibility to
provide habitat up to a point of meeting
population goals, and to minimize
impacts through approaches such as
monitoring, redistributing acreage
targets among segments if needed,
avoiding sensitive resources, using lessimpactful or costly construction
methodologies as they become available,
and avoiding over-construction of
habitat.
Implementing the selected alternative
will provide the most effective means
for the Corps to meet its obligations,
including avoiding jeopardy to the bird
species, while managing the river for all
authorized purposes. Risk of significant
impacts to the environment appears to
be low to moderate as a result of
implementation of the ESH program,
and numerous acres of ESH would be
created, which is considered important
not only to protected bird species, but
to the overall ecology of the Missouri
River.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:37 Aug 25, 2011
Jkt 223001
Concurrently with the ROD, an errata
sheet is also being made available,
which provides the comments received
on the Final PEIS along with the Corps
response to each. Also included in the
errata is an update regarding Tribal
coordination and the PEIS.
2. Document Availability. The Final
PEIS (May 2011), the ROD, the errata
sheet, and an updated Final PEIS which
incorporates the ROD and the errata
items (August 2011), are available at:
https://www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/
f?p=MRRP:documents.
For more information about the
Emergent Sandbar Habitat program,
please visit https://
www.moriverrecovery.org under ‘‘BiOp/
Mit Efforts.’’
Dated: August 15, 2011.
Christopher D. Wiehl,
Acting Chief, Planning Branch, Omaha
District.
[FR Doc. 2011–21894 Filed 8–25–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the
Section 408 Permission for the
Southport Sacramento River Early
Implementation Project, West
Sacramento, CA
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers; DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, and the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) under Section
14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
(as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), and
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33
U.S.C. 1344), for the proposed
Southport Sacramento River Early
Implementation Project (EIP), sponsored
by the West Sacramento Area Flood
Control Agency (WSAFCA). Figures of
the project area can be viewed at
https://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/
city/flood.
WSAFCA is planning the Southport
Sacramento River EIP to implement
flood-risk reduction measures along the
Sacramento River South Levee in the
City of West Sacramento, Yolo County,
CA. The project reach extends along the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
53423
right bank of the Sacramento River
south of the barge canal, downstream
approximately 6.4 miles to the South
Cross Levee, protecting the Southport
community of West Sacramento. The
3.3-square mile study area encompasses
the area of levee improvement along the
river corridor and the potential soil
borrow sites. In order to implement the
project, the sponsor must acquire
permission from USACE to alter the
Federal project under Section 14 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as
amended) (33 U.S.C. 408 or, Section
408). USACE also has authority under
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33
U.S.C. 1344) over activities involving
the discharge of dredged or fill material
to waters of the United States, which are
known to be in the project area. The
project would bring the levee up to
standard with Federal and state flood
protection criteria, as well as providing
opportunities for ecosystem restoration
and public recreation. USACE, acting as
the federal lead agency under NEPA,
and WSAFCA, acting as the state lead
agency under the CEQA in coordination
with the Central Valley Flood Protection
Board, have determined that an EIS/EIR
should be prepared to describe
alternatives, potential environmental
effects, and mitigation measures.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be
held on Thursday, September 15, 2011
at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the West
Sacramento Recreation Center, 2801
Jefferson Boulevard, West Sacramento,
CA. Send written comments by
September 26, 2011 (see ADDRESSES).
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
suggestions concerning the scope and
content of the environmental
information may be submitted to Mr.
John Suazo, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Sacramento District, Attn:
Planning Division (CESPK–PD–R), 1325
J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Requests to be placed on the mailing list
also should be sent to this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed actions
and environmental review process
should be addressed to John Suazo at
(916) 557–6719, e-mail:
john.suazo@usace.army.mil (see
ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. WSAFCA is
proposing a project along the
Sacramento River west levee under the
California DWR’s Early Implementation
Program to expeditiously complete
flood-risk reduction measures. Known
as the Southport Sacramento River EIP,
the project proposes implementation of
flood-risk reduction measures
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
53424
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2011 / Notices
(measures) along a 6.4-mile long reach
between the barge canal downstream to
the South Cross Levee. Primary
deficiencies of the levee include
through-seepage, under-seepage, and
embankment instability (e.g., overly
steepened slopes). As part of the project,
an EIS/EIR is being prepared. USACE
has authority under Section 14 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as
amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), over
alterations to federal flood control
project levees and any such alterations
as proposed by WSAFCA are subject to
approval by USACE. USACE also has
authority under Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) over
activities involving the discharge of
dredged or fill material to waters of the
United States, which are known to be in
the project area. Under Section 10 of the
Rives and Harbors Act, the District
Engineer may permit activities which do
not affect navigable waters. Due to these
authorities, USACE is acting as the lead
agency for the EIS pursuant to NEPA.
WSAFCA will be acting as the lead
agency for the EIR according to CEQA
as the public agency that has the
principal responsibility for carrying out
and approving the project.
2. Alternatives. The EIS/EIR will
consider several alternatives for
reducing flood damage. Each alternative
analyzed during the investigation will
consist of a combination of several
measures to reduce the risk of flooding.
These measures include, but are not
limited to, installing slurry cutoff walls,
constructing seepage or stability berms,
relief wells, rock slope protection, slope
flattening, and potential new levee
alignments (setback or adjacent levees).
3. Scoping Process.
a. Public scoping meetings will be
held on September 15, 2011, to present
information to the public and to receive
comments from the public on the
project. These meetings are intended to
initiate the process to involve concerned
individuals, and local, State, and
Federal agencies.
b. Significant issues to be analyzed in
depth in the environmental documents
include effects on hydraulics, wetlands
and other waters of the U.S., vegetation
and wildlife resources, special-status
species, aesthetics, cultural resources,
recreation, land use, fisheries,
agricultural resources, water quality, air
quality, transportation, and
socioeconomics; and cumulative effects
of related projects in the study area.
c. USACE is consulting with the State
Historic Preservation Officer to comply
with the National Historic Preservation
Act and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and National Marine Fisheries
Service to comply with the Endangered
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:37 Aug 25, 2011
Jkt 223001
Species Act. USACE also is coordinating
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
to comply with the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act.
d. A 45-day public review period will
be provided for individuals and
agencies to review and comment on the
draft environmental document. All
interested parties are encouraged to
respond to this notice and provide a
current address if they wish to be
notified of the draft EIS/EIR circulation.
4. Availability. The draft EIS/EIR for
the Southport Sacramento River EIP is
scheduled to be available for public
review and comment in mid-2012.
Dated: August 17, 2011.
William J. Leady,
COL, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2011–21878 Filed 8–25–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Larose to Golden Meadow
Hurricane Protection Project, PostAuthorization Change Study, in
Lafourche Parish, LA
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact
statement (SEIS) for the Larose to
Golden Meadow Hurricane Protection
Project, Post-Authorization Change
(PAC) Study. This project was originally
authorized in 1965. Construction began
in 1972 and is still underway. The PAC
Study was initiated to identify and
evaluate modifications needed to ensure
that completion of project features,
designed and constructed before
development of the post-Katrina
Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk
Reduction System (HSDRRS) Design
Guidelines, are in compliance with
these new guidelines.
The subject SEIS will supplement the
original environmental impact
statement (EIS) prepared for the project
as authorized in 1965. The Statement of
Findings for the original EIS was signed
on April 4, 1975. An SEIS was
subsequently prepared to address
proposed modifications to the
authorized plan. The Record of Decision
for this first SEIS was signed on May 20,
1985.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the draft SEIS
should be addressed to Charlene
Carmack, Rock Island District, Corps of
Engineers, CEMVP–PD–C, Clock Tower
Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL
61204–2004; telephone (309) 794–5570;
fax (309) 794–5157; or be e-mail:
Charlene.Carmack@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. This SEIS will be the
second supplement to the EIS originally
prepared for the Larose to Golden
Meadow Hurricane Protection Project.
This project was authorized by the
Flood Control Act of 27 October 1965,
House Document No. 184, 89th
Congress (Pub. L. 89–298), which
authorized the project ‘‘hurricane-flood
protection at Grand Isle and Vicinity,
Louisiana’’ to provide protection in
accordance with the recommendation of
the Chief of Engineers in his report
entitled ‘‘Grand Isle and Vicinity, La.’’,
and contained in House Document No.
184, Eighty-ninth Congress, 1st Session.
The authorized project is a ring levee
system with associated control
structures that provides hurricane and
storm damage risk reduction to
communities located along both sides of
Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish,
Louisiana. The overall levee system is
approximately 43 miles long, extending
from Larose to a point 2 miles south of
Golden Meadow, Louisiana. Roughly
25,000 people live in the communities
of Larose, Galliano, Cutoff, and Golden
Meadow, which are located within the
ring levee system.
2. Alternatives. Alternatives currently
being evaluated in the PAC Study
include: (1) Stabilize the existing levee
using current criteria for still-water
elevations, which would complete the
project without exceeding the 1965
authorized elevation listed in the Grand
Isle, Louisiana, and Vicinity General
Design Memorandum (with datum
adjustments), and meet the current
approved design guidelines excluding
the Post-Hurricane Katrina hydrology
and hydraulics design guidelines; (2)
modify the 1965 design to complete the
project providing a level of risk
reduction based on the 1965 storm surge
design elevations (with datum
adjustments) using the current HSDRRS
Design Guidelines to include the PostHurricane Katrina surge models; (3)
complete the existing levee system in
general conformance with the
previously authorized design. These
alternatives will be further formulated
and developed during the scoping
process and an appropriate range of
alternatives will be considered in the
new SEIS. These may include
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53423-53424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21878]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Section 408 Permission for the
Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project, West
Sacramento, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) under Section 14
of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), and
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), for the proposed
Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project (EIP),
sponsored by the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA).
Figures of the project area can be viewed at https://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/city/flood.
WSAFCA is planning the Southport Sacramento River EIP to implement
flood-risk reduction measures along the Sacramento River South Levee in
the City of West Sacramento, Yolo County, CA. The project reach extends
along the right bank of the Sacramento River south of the barge canal,
downstream approximately 6.4 miles to the South Cross Levee, protecting
the Southport community of West Sacramento. The 3.3-square mile study
area encompasses the area of levee improvement along the river corridor
and the potential soil borrow sites. In order to implement the project,
the sponsor must acquire permission from USACE to alter the Federal
project under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as
amended) (33 U.S.C. 408 or, Section 408). USACE also has authority
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) over
activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material to
waters of the United States, which are known to be in the project area.
The project would bring the levee up to standard with Federal and state
flood protection criteria, as well as providing opportunities for
ecosystem restoration and public recreation. USACE, acting as the
federal lead agency under NEPA, and WSAFCA, acting as the state lead
agency under the CEQA in coordination with the Central Valley Flood
Protection Board, have determined that an EIS/EIR should be prepared to
describe alternatives, potential environmental effects, and mitigation
measures.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held on Thursday, September 15,
2011 at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the West Sacramento Recreation
Center, 2801 Jefferson Boulevard, West Sacramento, CA. Send written
comments by September 26, 2011 (see ADDRESSES).
ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope and
content of the environmental information may be submitted to Mr. John
Suazo, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Attn:
Planning Division (CESPK-PD-R), 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Requests to be placed on the mailing list also should be sent to this
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed actions
and environmental review process should be addressed to John Suazo at
(916) 557-6719, e-mail: john.suazo@usace.army.mil (see ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. WSAFCA is proposing a project along the
Sacramento River west levee under the California DWR's Early
Implementation Program to expeditiously complete flood-risk reduction
measures. Known as the Southport Sacramento River EIP, the project
proposes implementation of flood-risk reduction measures
[[Page 53424]]
(measures) along a 6.4-mile long reach between the barge canal
downstream to the South Cross Levee. Primary deficiencies of the levee
include through-seepage, under-seepage, and embankment instability
(e.g., overly steepened slopes). As part of the project, an EIS/EIR is
being prepared. USACE has authority under Section 14 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), over alterations to
federal flood control project levees and any such alterations as
proposed by WSAFCA are subject to approval by USACE. USACE also has
authority under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344)
over activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material to
waters of the United States, which are known to be in the project area.
Under Section 10 of the Rives and Harbors Act, the District Engineer
may permit activities which do not affect navigable waters. Due to
these authorities, USACE is acting as the lead agency for the EIS
pursuant to NEPA. WSAFCA will be acting as the lead agency for the EIR
according to CEQA as the public agency that has the principal
responsibility for carrying out and approving the project.
2. Alternatives. The EIS/EIR will consider several alternatives for
reducing flood damage. Each alternative analyzed during the
investigation will consist of a combination of several measures to
reduce the risk of flooding. These measures include, but are not
limited to, installing slurry cutoff walls, constructing seepage or
stability berms, relief wells, rock slope protection, slope flattening,
and potential new levee alignments (setback or adjacent levees).
3. Scoping Process.
a. Public scoping meetings will be held on September 15, 2011, to
present information to the public and to receive comments from the
public on the project. These meetings are intended to initiate the
process to involve concerned individuals, and local, State, and Federal
agencies.
b. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the environmental
documents include effects on hydraulics, wetlands and other waters of
the U.S., vegetation and wildlife resources, special-status species,
aesthetics, cultural resources, recreation, land use, fisheries,
agricultural resources, water quality, air quality, transportation, and
socioeconomics; and cumulative effects of related projects in the study
area.
c. USACE is consulting with the State Historic Preservation Officer
to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to
comply with the Endangered Species Act. USACE also is coordinating with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to comply with the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act.
d. A 45-day public review period will be provided for individuals
and agencies to review and comment on the draft environmental document.
All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and
provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the draft EIS/
EIR circulation.
4. Availability. The draft EIS/EIR for the Southport Sacramento
River EIP is scheduled to be available for public review and comment in
mid-2012.
Dated: August 17, 2011.
William J. Leady,
COL, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2011-21878 Filed 8-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
