Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project, Sonoma County, CA; Final Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement, 23740-23741 [2012-9577]

Download as PDF 23740 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2012 / Notices year immediately following the first phase application year. Findings and Certifications Environmental Impact In accordance with 40 CFR 1508.4 of the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality and 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6) of HUD’s regulations, the policies and procedures contained in this notice provide for the establishment of fiscal requirements or procedures that do not constitute a development decision affecting the physical condition of specific project areas or building sites and, therefore, are categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, except for extraordinary circumstances, and no Finding of No Significant Impact is required. Federalism Impact Executive Order 13132 (entitled ‘‘Federalism’’) prohibits an agency from publishing any policy document that has federalism implications if the document either imposes substantial direct compliance costs on state and local governments and is not required by statute, or the document preempts state law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements of section 6 of the executive order. This notice merely designates DDAs as required under Section 42 of the IRC, as amended, for the use by political subdivisions of the states in allocating the LIHTC. This notice also details the technical methodology used in making such designations. As a result, this notice is not subject to review under the order. Dated: April 13, 2012. Raphael W. Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. [FR Doc. 2012–9630 Filed 4–19–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P stakeholders from across the nation, the purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide advice to the National Invasive Species Council, as authorized by Executive Order 13112, on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce. The duty of the Council is to provide national leadership regarding invasive species issues. Purpose of Meeting: The meeting will be held on May 22–24, 2012 in Portland, Oregon, and will focus primarily on invasive species in the Pacific Northwest. A ‘‘systems thinking’’ approach to this meeting in both ecological and management contexts, will center on topics that: (1) Pertain to invasive species issues at the community and ecosystem level; or that, (2) holistically address prevention, eradication, control and restoration activities within the region. A copy of the meeting agenda is available on the NISC Web site, www.invasivespecies.gov. Meeting of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 and Thursday, May 24, 2012; beginning at approximately 8 a.m., and ending at approximately 5 p.m. each day. Members will be participating in an off-site field tour on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. The field tour is closed to the public. DATES: The Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205. The general session on May 22, 2012 and May 24, 2012 will be held in the Crystal Ballroom. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelsey Brantley, National Invasive Species Council Program Specialist and ISAC Coordinator, (202) 513–7243; Fax: (202) 371–1751. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of the Secretary Invasive Species Advisory Committee Office of the Secretary, Interior. Notice of Public Meetings of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee. AGENCY: tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of meetings of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). Comprised of 30 nonfederal invasive species experts and SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:17 Apr 19, 2012 Jkt 226001 Dated: April 16, 2012. Lori C. Williams, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council. [FR Doc. 2012–9546 Filed 4–19–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–RK–P PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–R–2011–N276; FGRS12610800000V5–123–FF08RSFC00] Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project, Sonoma County, CA; Final Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), in cooperation with the Sonoma Land Trust (SLT), announce that a final environmental impact report and environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) for the Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project is now available. The final EIR/EIS, which we prepared and now announce in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), describes the restoration of approximately 2,300 acres (ac) of former farmland located in Sonoma County, California, near the San Pablo Bay. The final EIR/EIS responds to all comments we received on the draft document. The restoration project, which would be implemented by the SLT, would restore natural estuarine ecosystems on diked baylands, while providing public access and recreational and educational opportunities compatible with ecological and cultural resources protection. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, and the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are cooperating agencies on the final EIR/EIS. ADDRESSES: The Final EIR/EIS is available at: • Refuge Headquarters Office, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 2100 Highway 37, Petaluma, CA 94954; (707) 769–4200. • San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 9500 Thornton Avenue, Newark, CA 94560; (510) 792–0222. • John F. Kennedy Public Library, 505 Santa Clara, Vallejo, CA 94590. • Internet: www.sonomalandtrust.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Brubaker, Refuge Manager, San Pablo Bay NWR, (707) 769–4200 x100 (phone); don_brubaker@fws.gov. (email), or Julian Meisler, Baylands Program Manager, Sonoma Land Trust, at (707) 526–6930 x109 (phone); julian@sonomalandtrust.org (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2012 / Notices Location The project site is located at Sears Point, near the intersection of LakevilleReclamation Road and State Route 37 (SR 37) in southern Sonoma County, California. The site is also traversed from east to west by a rail line owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District. The project site is a total of 2,327 ac owned by the Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) and is comprised of two large properties, the North Point Joint Venture (NPJV) parcel and the Dickson Ranch parcel, which are situated on the edge of San Pablo Bay between the mouth of the Petaluma River and Tolay Creek. The 1,679-ac NPJV parcel extends both north and south of SR 37. The parcel is bounded on the north by the Infineon Raceway property, on the east by Cougar Mountain (north of SR 37) and Paradise Vineyards (south of SR 37), on the south by the SMART rail line, and on the west by LakevilleReclamation Road. The 648-ac Dickson Ranch parcel is located entirely south of Highway 37, and is bounded on the south by San Pablo Bay and on the west by Tolay Creek and the outboard levee as it veers bayward from the SMART rail line. The entire Dickson Ranch parcel and 858 ac of the NPJV parcel are located within the approved acquisition boundary of the Service’s San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The SLT is transferring approximately 500-ac of the land bounded by Highway 37 and the SMART rail line to the Service, and the remainder of the land to CDFG. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Alternatives We identified and analyzed a total of eight alternatives. The alternatives were analyzed based on a set of criteria, including (1) ability to meet the project purpose and need; (2) technical, logistical, and financial feasibility; and (3) ability to avoid or substantially reduce one or more significant impacts. We removed five of these alternatives from further consideration because they did not meet the purpose and need, were not feasible, or did not provide substantial variation in environmental impacts. The lead agencies carried forward three possible alternatives for environmental analysis: The No-Action Alternative, the Partial-Tidal (Preferred) Restoration Alternative, and the FullTidal Restoration Alternative. No-Action Alternative Under the No-Action Alternative, there would be no wetland restoration or enhancement, no new trails, and no new habitat creation, with the exception of the California red-legged frog VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:17 Apr 19, 2012 Jkt 226001 enhancement, which would likely proceed as a separate enhancement project. The Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) would maintain ownership of the property north of Highway 37, and would still move forward with the transfer of title of the Sears Point properties south of Highway 37 to the Federal and State agencies. SLT will honor existing agricultural and commercial leases on the property through May 2012. Partial-Tidal (Proposed) Restoration Alternative The Partial-Tidal Restoration Alternative would restore 955 acres of tidal marsh; preserve and enhance a 106-acre area of non-tidal seasonal wetland while maintaining agriculture between the SMART line and Highway 37; provide public recreation access south and possibly north of Highway 37; and enhance 15.5 acres of additional breeding habitat for the California redlegged frog, including 0.86 acres of excavation in the floodplain near the northern project boundary. Full-Tidal Restoration Alternative The Full-Tidal Restoration Alternative would restore 1,352 acres of tidal marsh; provide public recreation access south and possibly north of Highway 37; and enhance 15.5 acres of additional breeding habitat, including 0.86 acres of excavation in the floodplain, for the California red-legged frog near the northern project boundary. NEPA Compliance The entire Dickson Ranch parcel and 858 acres of the NPJV parcel are located within the approved acquisition boundary of the San Pablo Bay NWR. Federally owned lands within the Refuge boundary are adjacent to these properties. In order to implement the action alternatives described above, some activity (levee breaching and habitat restoration) within the San Pablo Bay NWR is necessary. We will use the EIR/EIS to determine whether to authorize activities within the San Pablo Bay NWR in order to accomplish project goals. The EIR/EIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources, land use, air quality, water quality, water resources, and other environmental resources. It also identifies appropriate mitigation measures for adverse environmental effects. Public Review We conducted public review of the EIR/EIS in accordance with the PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23741 requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), other applicable regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations. The formal public comment period for the draft EIR/EIS opened on August 28, 2009, and closed on October 13, 2009. We announced the availability of the draft document by several methods, including press releases and public notice, including a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 44379, August 28, 2009). While we received a number of comments on the draft EIR/EIS, none of the comments received from interested individuals, groups, or agencies required us or CDFG to add new alternatives or to significantly alter existing alternatives. The EIR/EIS meets the requirements of both NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Department of Fish and Game is the CEQA lead agency. The final EIR/ EIS contains our responses to all comments received on the draft document. Following the release of the final EIR/EIS, we will prepare a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency has published its notice of filing of the document in the Federal Register. We anticipate that we will issue a Record of Decision in the spring of 2012. We provide this notice under regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6). Alexandra Pitts, Acting, Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2012–9577 Filed 4–19–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–FHC–2012–N093; FVHC98130406900Y4–XXX–FF04G01000] DEEPWATER HORIZON Oil Spill; Final Phase I Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of final report. AGENCY: In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Framework Agreement for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the DEEPWATER HORIZON Oil Spill (Framework Agreement), notice is hereby given that SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23740-23741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9577]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2011-N276; FGRS12610800000V5-123-FF08RSFC00]


Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project, Sonoma 
County, CA; Final Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), in cooperation with the 
Sonoma Land Trust (SLT), announce that a final environmental impact 
report and environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) for the Sears Point 
Wetland and Watershed Restoration Project is now available. The final 
EIR/EIS, which we prepared and now announce in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), describes the 
restoration of approximately 2,300 acres (ac) of former farmland 
located in Sonoma County, California, near the San Pablo Bay. The final 
EIR/EIS responds to all comments we received on the draft document. The 
restoration project, which would be implemented by the SLT, would 
restore natural estuarine ecosystems on diked baylands, while providing 
public access and recreational and educational opportunities compatible 
with ecological and cultural resources protection. The U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, San Francisco District, and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are 
cooperating agencies on the final EIR/EIS.

ADDRESSES: The Final EIR/EIS is available at:
     Refuge Headquarters Office, San Pablo Bay National 
Wildlife Refuge, 2100 Highway 37, Petaluma, CA 94954; (707) 769-4200.
     San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 9500 
Thornton Avenue, Newark, CA 94560; (510) 792-0222.
     John F. Kennedy Public Library, 505 Santa Clara, Vallejo, 
CA 94590.
     Internet: www.sonomalandtrust.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Brubaker, Refuge Manager, San 
Pablo Bay NWR, (707) 769-4200 x100 (phone); don_brubaker@fws.gov. 
(email), or Julian Meisler, Baylands Program Manager, Sonoma Land 
Trust, at (707) 526-6930 x109 (phone); julian@sonomalandtrust.org 
(email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 23741]]

Location

    The project site is located at Sears Point, near the intersection 
of Lakeville-Reclamation Road and State Route 37 (SR 37) in southern 
Sonoma County, California. The site is also traversed from east to west 
by a rail line owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) 
District.
    The project site is a total of 2,327 ac owned by the Sonoma Land 
Trust (SLT) and is comprised of two large properties, the North Point 
Joint Venture (NPJV) parcel and the Dickson Ranch parcel, which are 
situated on the edge of San Pablo Bay between the mouth of the Petaluma 
River and Tolay Creek. The 1,679-ac NPJV parcel extends both north and 
south of SR 37. The parcel is bounded on the north by the Infineon 
Raceway property, on the east by Cougar Mountain (north of SR 37) and 
Paradise Vineyards (south of SR 37), on the south by the SMART rail 
line, and on the west by Lakeville-Reclamation Road. The 648-ac Dickson 
Ranch parcel is located entirely south of Highway 37, and is bounded on 
the south by San Pablo Bay and on the west by Tolay Creek and the 
outboard levee as it veers bayward from the SMART rail line. The entire 
Dickson Ranch parcel and 858 ac of the NPJV parcel are located within 
the approved acquisition boundary of the Service's San Pablo Bay 
National Wildlife Refuge. The SLT is transferring approximately 500-ac 
of the land bounded by Highway 37 and the SMART rail line to the 
Service, and the remainder of the land to CDFG.

Alternatives

    We identified and analyzed a total of eight alternatives. The 
alternatives were analyzed based on a set of criteria, including (1) 
ability to meet the project purpose and need; (2) technical, 
logistical, and financial feasibility; and (3) ability to avoid or 
substantially reduce one or more significant impacts. We removed five 
of these alternatives from further consideration because they did not 
meet the purpose and need, were not feasible, or did not provide 
substantial variation in environmental impacts. The lead agencies 
carried forward three possible alternatives for environmental analysis: 
The No-Action Alternative, the Partial-Tidal (Preferred) Restoration 
Alternative, and the Full-Tidal Restoration Alternative.

No-Action Alternative

    Under the No-Action Alternative, there would be no wetland 
restoration or enhancement, no new trails, and no new habitat creation, 
with the exception of the California red-legged frog enhancement, which 
would likely proceed as a separate enhancement project. The Sonoma Land 
Trust (SLT) would maintain ownership of the property north of Highway 
37, and would still move forward with the transfer of title of the 
Sears Point properties south of Highway 37 to the Federal and State 
agencies. SLT will honor existing agricultural and commercial leases on 
the property through May 2012.

Partial-Tidal (Proposed) Restoration Alternative

    The Partial-Tidal Restoration Alternative would restore 955 acres 
of tidal marsh; preserve and enhance a 106-acre area of non-tidal 
seasonal wetland while maintaining agriculture between the SMART line 
and Highway 37; provide public recreation access south and possibly 
north of Highway 37; and enhance 15.5 acres of additional breeding 
habitat for the California red-legged frog, including 0.86 acres of 
excavation in the floodplain near the northern project boundary.

Full-Tidal Restoration Alternative

    The Full-Tidal Restoration Alternative would restore 1,352 acres of 
tidal marsh; provide public recreation access south and possibly north 
of Highway 37; and enhance 15.5 acres of additional breeding habitat, 
including 0.86 acres of excavation in the floodplain, for the 
California red-legged frog near the northern project boundary.

NEPA Compliance

    The entire Dickson Ranch parcel and 858 acres of the NPJV parcel 
are located within the approved acquisition boundary of the San Pablo 
Bay NWR. Federally owned lands within the Refuge boundary are adjacent 
to these properties. In order to implement the action alternatives 
described above, some activity (levee breaching and habitat 
restoration) within the San Pablo Bay NWR is necessary. We will use the 
EIR/EIS to determine whether to authorize activities within the San 
Pablo Bay NWR in order to accomplish project goals.
    The EIR/EIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts 
of the alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources, land 
use, air quality, water quality, water resources, and other 
environmental resources. It also identifies appropriate mitigation 
measures for adverse environmental effects.

Public Review

    We conducted public review of the EIR/EIS in accordance with the 
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable 
regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations. 
The formal public comment period for the draft EIR/EIS opened on August 
28, 2009, and closed on October 13, 2009. We announced the availability 
of the draft document by several methods, including press releases and 
public notice, including a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 44379, 
August 28, 2009). While we received a number of comments on the draft 
EIR/EIS, none of the comments received from interested individuals, 
groups, or agencies required us or CDFG to add new alternatives or to 
significantly alter existing alternatives.
    The EIR/EIS meets the requirements of both NEPA and the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Department of Fish and 
Game is the CEQA lead agency. The final EIR/EIS contains our responses 
to all comments received on the draft document. Following the release 
of the final EIR/EIS, we will prepare a Record of Decision not sooner 
than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency has published 
its notice of filing of the document in the Federal Register. We 
anticipate that we will issue a Record of Decision in the spring of 
2012.
    We provide this notice under regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 
1506.6).

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting, Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-9577 Filed 4-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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