Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project at Ballona Creek Within the City and County of Los Angeles, CA, 43575-43577 [2012-18166]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 143 / Wednesday, July 25, 2012 / Notices
NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland
20910. Phone: 301–734–1156, Fax: 301–
713–1459, Email:
Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov.
Dated: July 18, 2012.
Terry Bevels,
Acting Chief Financial Officer/Acting
Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–18034 Filed 7–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Department of Defense Wage
Committee; Notice of Closed Meetings
Department of Defense (DoD).
Notice of closed meetings.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to the provisions of
section 10 of Public Law 92–463, the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice
is hereby given that closed meeting of
the Department of Defense Wage
Committee will be held.
DATES: Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at
10 a.m.
ADDRESSES: 4800 Mark Center Drive,
Room 05K25, Alexandria, VA 22350–
1100.
SUMMARY:
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Additional information concerning the
meetings may be obtained by writing to
the Chairman, Department of Defense
Wage Committee, 4000 Defense
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–4000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
provisions of section 10(d) of Public
Law 92–463, the Department of Defense
has determined that the meetings meet
the criteria to close meetings to the
public because the matters to be
considered are related to internal rules
and practices of the Department of
Defense and the detailed wage data to be
considered were obtained from officials
of private establishments with a
guarantee that the data will be held in
confidence.
However, members of the public who
may wish to do so are invited to submit
material in writing to the chairman
concerning matters believed to be
deserving of the Committee’s attention.
Dated: July 19, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012–18097 Filed 7–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
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Office of the Secretary
Department of Defense Wage
Committee; Notice of Closed Meetings
Department of Defense (DoD).
Notice of closed meetings.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to the provisions of
section 10 of Public Law 92–463, the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice
is hereby given that closed meeting of
the Department of Defense Wage
Committee will be held.
DATES: Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at
10 a.m.
ADDRESSES: 4800 Mark Center Drive,
Room 05K25, Alexandria, VA 22350–
1100.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Additional information concerning the
meetings may be obtained by writing to
the Chairman, Department of Defense
Wage Committee, 4000 Defense
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–4000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
provisions of section 10(d) of Public
Law 92–463, the Department of Defense
has determined that the meetings meet
the criteria to close meetings to the
public because the matters to be
considered are related to internal rules
and practices of the Department of
Defense and the detailed wage data to be
considered were obtained from officials
of private establishments with a
guarantee that the data will be held in
confidence.
However, members of the public who
may wish to do so are invited to submit
material in writing to the chairman
concerning matters believed to be
deserving of the Committee’s attention.
SUMMARY:
Dated: July 19, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012–18112 Filed 7–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the
Proposed Ballona Wetlands
Restoration Project at Ballona Creek
Within the City and County of Los
Angeles, CA
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) and the California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG)
intend to jointly prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/
EIR) for the proposed Ballona Wetlands
Restoration Project. The proposed
project is intended to return the daily
ebb and flow of tidal waters, maintain
freshwater circulation, and augment the
physical and biological functions and
services in the project area. Restoring
the wetland functions and services
would allow native wetland vegetation
to be reestablished, providing important
habitat for a variety of wildlife species.
As a restored site, the Ballona Wetlands
would play an important role to provide
seasonal habitat for migratory birds. A
restored, optimally functioning wetland
would also benefit the adjacent marine
environment and enhance the quality of
tidal waters.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
September 10, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Daniel P. Swenson at (213) 452–
3414
(daniel.p.swenson@usace.army.mil),
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los
Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los
Angeles, CA 90053–2325.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps
intends to prepare a joint EIS/EIR to
assess the environmental effects
associated with the proposed project.
CDFG is the state lead agency for the
EIR pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
1. Background. The 600-acre Ballona
Wetlands Ecological Reserve is located
in the western portion of the City of Los
Angeles (partially within
unincorporated Los Angeles County),
south of Marina Del Rey and north of
Playa Del Rey. The project site is
situated approximately 1.5 miles west of
Interstate 405 and approximately 1⁄4mile east of Santa Monica Bay. The
project site is owned by the State of
California, and is bisected by and
includes a channelized span of Ballona
Creek, a component feature of a federal
flood risk management project.
2. Project Purpose and Need. A
substantial portion of California’s
historic coastal wetlands have been lost.
Restoration of coastal wetlands is
needed in order to increase available
nursery and foraging habitat for wildlife
and to provide recreational and
educational opportunities to the public.
The Ballona Wetlands ecosystem is one
of the last remaining major coastal
wetlands in Los Angeles County. It is
estimated that historically the wetlands
ecosystem spanned more than 2,000
SUMMARY:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
43575
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 143 / Wednesday, July 25, 2012 / Notices
acres in the vicinity of the site.
Development occurring over the last
century greatly reduced the Ballona
wetland area, now estimated at
approximately 600 acres. In addition,
the wetland habitat and natural
hydrological functions in the area have
been substantially degraded. The project
site provides habitat for a diversity of
plant and wildlife species, but most onsite habitat exhibits relatively low
physical and biological functions and
services.
The proposed project is intended to
return the daily ebb and flow of tidal
waters, maintain freshwater circulation,
and augment the physical and biological
functions and services in the project
area. Restoring the wetland functions
and services would allow native
wetland vegetation to be reestablished,
providing important habitat for a variety
of wildlife species. As a restored site,
the Ballona Wetlands would play an
important role to provide seasonal
habitat for migratory birds. A restored,
optimally functioning wetland would
also benefit the adjacent marine
environment and enhance the quality of
tidal waters. The proposed project
would provide the community with a
valuable educational resource and
access to a large wetland area.
The purpose of the project is to
restore ecological functions of the site,
in part, by enhancing tidal flow.
3. Proposed Action. CDFG is
proposing a large-scale restoration of the
Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.
The proposed project entails restoring,
enhancing, and establishing native
coastal wetland and upland habitats in
the approximately 600-acre Ballona
Wetlands Ecological Reserve. The
reserve currently supports large
expanses of previously filled and
dredged coastal wetland and upland
habitat that would be restored by
increasing tidal flow throughout the
project area, removing invasive species,
and planting native vegetation.
The main components of the
proposed project are:
• Habitat restoration of estuarine
wetland and upland habitats connected
to a realigned Ballona Creek.
• Removal of existing Ballona Creek
levees and realignment of Ballona Creak
to restore a more meandering channel.
• Construction of levees along the
perimeter of the project area to allow
restoration of tidally influenced
wetlands in the project area while
providing flood risk management for
Culver Boulevard and surrounding
developed areas.
• Installation of water control
structures, including culverts with selfregulating tide gates or similar
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structures, to provide a full range of
tides up to an elevation acceptable for
flood risk management and storm
drainage, while reducing the risk of
damage from storm events.
• Maintenance of existing levels of
flood risk management for areas
surrounding the Ballona Wetlands site.
• Provision of erosion protection as
an integral part of the restoration design.
• Modification of infrastructure and
utilities as necessary to implement the
restoration project.
• Improving public access by
realigning existing trails, creating new
trails, repairing existing fences,
constructing overlook platforms, and
providing other visitor-oriented
facilities.
• Long-term operations and
management activities including
inspections, repairs, clean-up,
vegetation maintenance, and related
activities.
The proposed project requires a
permit under section 404 of the Clean
Water Act (CWA) and section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act to conduct
dredge and fill activities in waters of the
United States and for work and (or)
structures in or affecting navigable
waters of the United States associated
with restoring wetlands and associated
habitat within the project site. Dredge
and fill activities in waters of the United
States are proposed to construct new
levees, form new tidal channels, modify
existing tidal channels, re-contour areas
to enhance tidal flow, and to create
elevations conducive to establishing
wetland habitat. Preliminary
conservative estimates indicate the
project would result in a balanced total
of 1,782,000 cubic yards of excavation
and 1,782,000 cubic yards of fill
placement, not all of which would affect
jurisdictional areas. Based on these
preliminary estimates, the volumes and
areas of fill are estimated as follows:
Permanent discharge of fill within 43.5
acres of non-wetland waters of the U.S.
(435,000 cubic yards) and within 65
acres of wetland waters of the U.S.
(600,000 cubic yards), as well as
temporary discharge of fill within 3.5
acres of non-wetland waters of the U.S.
(30,000 cubic yards) and within 0.3
acres of wetland waters of the U.S.
(structural fill).
The project will also require a permit
from the Corps to the Los Angeles
County Department of Public Works, as
the non-Federal sponsor of the Los
Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA)
project, pursuant to 33 U.S.C. section
408 (408 permit). A section 408 permit
is required to alter/modify a completed
Corps project. The Ballona Creek levees
were constructed by the Corps in the
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1930s as part of LACDA. This project
proposes to remove levees, construct a
larger levee reach around the perimeter
of the proposed side, reconfigure the
existing concrete-lined Ballona Creek
flood-control channel and realign the
creek. A permit for modification/
alteration of this magnitude would
require Corps Headquarters approval.
4. Alternatives Considered. The
feasibility of several alternatives is being
considered and will be addressed in the
DEIS/EIR. The No Federal Action/No
Project Alternative, as required by
NEPA and CEQA, would maintain the
status quo and would include no
improvements or discharges of fill
material in waters of the United States
or work or structures in or affecting
navigable waters of the United States.
Other alternatives that may be
considered include restoring smaller
portions of the 600-acre site, alternative
designs that would provide differing
amounts of various habitats types, and
alternative designs for enhancing tidal
flow. Additional alternatives may be
developed during scoping and will also
be considered in the DEIS/EIR.
5. Scoping Process.
a. Affected federal, state and local
resource agencies, Native American
groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals are encouraged to
participate in the scoping process.
Public participation is critical in
defining the scope of analysis in the
DEIS/EIR, identifying significant
environmental issues in the DEIS/EIR,
providing useful information such as
published and unpublished data, and
knowledge of relevant issues and
recommending mitigation measures to
offset potential impacts from proposed
actions.
b. Potential impacts associated with
the proposed project will be fully
evaluated. Potential significant issues to
be addressed in the DEIS/EIR include
aesthetics, air quality and greenhouse
gas emissions, biological resources,
cultural resources, geology and soils,
hazards and hazardous materials,
hydrology and water quality, land use
and planning, noise, public services,
recreation, sea-level rise, traffic, flood
control, and utilities. Additional issues
may be identified during the scoping
process.
c. Individuals and agencies may offer
information or data relevant to the
environmental or socioeconomic
impacts of the proposed project by
submitting comments, suggestions, and
requests to be placed on the mailing list
for announcements to (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) or the following
email address:
Daniel.p.swenson@usace.army.mil.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 143 / Wednesday, July 25, 2012 / Notices
d. The Corps anticipates formally
consulting with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act, the National
Marine Fisheries Service under Section
305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (MSA), and with the State Historic
Preservation Officer under Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation
Act. The CDFG, as the project
proponent, will need to obtain a CWA
section 401 water quality certification or
waiver and a consistency certification
from the California Coastal Commission
in accordance with the Coastal Zone
Management Act.
6. Scoping Meeting Date, Time, and
Location. A public scoping meeting to
receive input on the scope of the DEIS/
EIR will be conducted on August 16,
2012, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the Fiji
Gateway entrance to the Ballona
Wetlands (13720 Fiji Way, Marina del
Rey, CA 90292, across from Fisherman’s
Village and Los Angeles County
Department of Beaches and Harbors).
7. Availability of the DEIS/EIR. The
DEIS/EIR is expected to be published
and circulated in late 2012. A public
hearing will be held after its publication
to field comments on the document.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of
Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2012–18166 Filed 7–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Proposed
Westbrook Project, Corps Permit
Application Number SPK–2005–00938
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps)
received a Department of the Army
permit application from Westpark S.V.
400, LLC (Applicant) to fill
approximately 9.6 acres of waters of the
United States to construct the proposed
Westbrook Project in Placer County, CA,
in June 2011. The Corps, as the lead
agency responsible for compliance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), determined that the proposed
project may result in significant impacts
to the environment, and that the
preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) is required.
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SUMMARY:
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The Applicant proposes to implement
a moderate scale, mixed-use, mixeddensity master planned community. The
Westbrook Project, as proposed, would
include a mixture of land uses,
including new residential
neighborhoods, elementary school,
parks and several neighborhood serving
retail centers. The Westbrook Project
would involve approximately 146 acres
of low-density residential, 84 acres of
medium-density residential, 28 acres of
high-density residential and 43 acres of
commercial land uses. Other proposed
land uses include a 10-acre elementary
school site, approximately 16 acres for
three neighborhood parks, and
approximately 37 acres of open space
for the preservation of natural resources
areas.
The proposed project site is
approximately 400 acres and contains
approximately 13 acres of waters of the
United States. The project, as proposed,
would result in direct impacts to
approximately 9.6 acres of waters of the
United States. These acreages do not
include indirect impacts from the
proposed action or impacts anticipated
to result from offsite infrastructure that
may be determined to be required as
part of the project through the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
process.
ADDRESSES: To submit comments on
this notice or for questions about the
proposed action and the Draft EIS,
please contact James T. Robb, 1325 J
Street, Room 1350, Sacramento, CA
95814. Please refer to Identification
Number SPK–2005–00938 in any
correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
James T. Robb, (916) 557–7610, email:
DLL-CESPK-RD-EIS-Comments@usace.
army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested
parties are invited to submit written
comments on the permit application on
or before September 3, 2012. Scoping
comments should be submitted within
the next 45 days, but may be submitted
at any time prior to publication of the
Draft EIS.
The USACE will evaluate alternatives
including the no action alternative, the
proposed action alternative, and other
on-site and off-site alternatives. The
proposed project and the alternatives to
its proposed size, design, and location
will be developed through the EIS
process.
The proposed project would result in
direct impacts to approximately 9.6
acres of waters of the United States and
would avoid approximately 2.9 acres of
these waters of the United States.
Waters of the U.S. on-site include two
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43577
intermittent streams, seasonal wetlands,
wetland swales, and vernal pools.
The proposed site for the Westbrook
community is in unincorporated Placer
County, CA, immediately west of the
City of Roseville’s existing city limits.
The proposed project site is
approximately 6 miles west of Interstate
80 and State Route 65, 10 miles
northeast of the City of Sacramento, 10
miles east of State Route 99, 5 miles
west of downtown Roseville, and 4
miles east of the Sutter County line. The
proposed project site is bordered on the
west by Fiddyment Road and is
approximately 1.2 miles north of
Baseline Road. The property to the
north was previously authorized for
development under permit SPK–2002–
00666 (Westpark/Fiddyment Ranch) or
is under review in the case of Creekview
(SPK–2006–00650). The property to the
south, directly adjacent to Baseline
Road, is currently under review (Sierra
Vista Specific Plan, SPK–2006–01050
and Placer Vineyards, SPK–1999–
00737). The proposed project site was
once a part of the Sierra Vista Specific
Plan area, but the landowners at the
time withdrew their application for a
Section 404 permit and the area was
dropped from analysis under the Sierra
Vista EIS in 2008. A new permit
application was received for the
proposed Westbrook project on June 9,
2011.
The Corps’ public involvement
program includes several opportunities
to provide oral and written comments
on the Westbrook project through the
EIS drafting process. Affected federal,
state, and local agencies, Indian tribes,
and other interested private
organizations and parties are invited to
participate. Significant issues to be
analyzed in depth in the EIS include
impacts to waters of the United States,
including vernal pools and other
wetlands; agricultural resources;
cultural resources; threatened and
endangered species; transportation; air
quality; surface water and groundwater;
hydrology and water quality;
socioeconomic effects; and aesthetics.
The applicant reports that the project
area supports suitable habitat for certain
federally-listed branchiopods, including
the threatened vernal pool fairy shrimp
(Branchinecta lynchi) and endangered
Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta
conservatio) and vernal pool tadpole
shrimp (Lepidurus packardi). The
suitable habitat for branchiopods within
the project area includes vernal pools
and depressional seasonal wetlands
(including depressional areas within
wetland swales).
The Applicant reports that there are
historic properties within the Westbrook
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43575-43577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18166]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Ballona Wetlands
Restoration Project at Ballona Creek Within the City and County of Los
Angeles, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) intend to jointly prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR)
for the proposed Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project. The proposed
project is intended to return the daily ebb and flow of tidal waters,
maintain freshwater circulation, and augment the physical and
biological functions and services in the project area. Restoring the
wetland functions and services would allow native wetland vegetation to
be reestablished, providing important habitat for a variety of wildlife
species. As a restored site, the Ballona Wetlands would play an
important role to provide seasonal habitat for migratory birds. A
restored, optimally functioning wetland would also benefit the adjacent
marine environment and enhance the quality of tidal waters.
DATES: Submit comments on or before September 10, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Daniel P. Swenson at (213) 452-
3414 (daniel.p.swenson@usace.army.mil), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps intends to prepare a joint EIS/EIR
to assess the environmental effects associated with the proposed
project. CDFG is the state lead agency for the EIR pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
1. Background. The 600-acre Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is
located in the western portion of the City of Los Angeles (partially
within unincorporated Los Angeles County), south of Marina Del Rey and
north of Playa Del Rey. The project site is situated approximately 1.5
miles west of Interstate 405 and approximately \1/4\-mile east of Santa
Monica Bay. The project site is owned by the State of California, and
is bisected by and includes a channelized span of Ballona Creek, a
component feature of a federal flood risk management project.
2. Project Purpose and Need. A substantial portion of California's
historic coastal wetlands have been lost. Restoration of coastal
wetlands is needed in order to increase available nursery and foraging
habitat for wildlife and to provide recreational and educational
opportunities to the public. The Ballona Wetlands ecosystem is one of
the last remaining major coastal wetlands in Los Angeles County. It is
estimated that historically the wetlands ecosystem spanned more than
2,000
[[Page 43576]]
acres in the vicinity of the site. Development occurring over the last
century greatly reduced the Ballona wetland area, now estimated at
approximately 600 acres. In addition, the wetland habitat and natural
hydrological functions in the area have been substantially degraded.
The project site provides habitat for a diversity of plant and wildlife
species, but most on-site habitat exhibits relatively low physical and
biological functions and services.
The proposed project is intended to return the daily ebb and flow
of tidal waters, maintain freshwater circulation, and augment the
physical and biological functions and services in the project area.
Restoring the wetland functions and services would allow native wetland
vegetation to be reestablished, providing important habitat for a
variety of wildlife species. As a restored site, the Ballona Wetlands
would play an important role to provide seasonal habitat for migratory
birds. A restored, optimally functioning wetland would also benefit the
adjacent marine environment and enhance the quality of tidal waters.
The proposed project would provide the community with a valuable
educational resource and access to a large wetland area.
The purpose of the project is to restore ecological functions of
the site, in part, by enhancing tidal flow.
3. Proposed Action. CDFG is proposing a large-scale restoration of
the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve. The proposed project entails
restoring, enhancing, and establishing native coastal wetland and
upland habitats in the approximately 600-acre Ballona Wetlands
Ecological Reserve. The reserve currently supports large expanses of
previously filled and dredged coastal wetland and upland habitat that
would be restored by increasing tidal flow throughout the project area,
removing invasive species, and planting native vegetation.
The main components of the proposed project are:
Habitat restoration of estuarine wetland and upland
habitats connected to a realigned Ballona Creek.
Removal of existing Ballona Creek levees and realignment
of Ballona Creak to restore a more meandering channel.
Construction of levees along the perimeter of the project
area to allow restoration of tidally influenced wetlands in the project
area while providing flood risk management for Culver Boulevard and
surrounding developed areas.
Installation of water control structures, including
culverts with self-regulating tide gates or similar structures, to
provide a full range of tides up to an elevation acceptable for flood
risk management and storm drainage, while reducing the risk of damage
from storm events.
Maintenance of existing levels of flood risk management
for areas surrounding the Ballona Wetlands site.
Provision of erosion protection as an integral part of the
restoration design.
Modification of infrastructure and utilities as necessary
to implement the restoration project.
Improving public access by realigning existing trails,
creating new trails, repairing existing fences, constructing overlook
platforms, and providing other visitor-oriented facilities.
Long-term operations and management activities including
inspections, repairs, clean-up, vegetation maintenance, and related
activities.
The proposed project requires a permit under section 404 of the
Clean Water Act (CWA) and section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act to
conduct dredge and fill activities in waters of the United States and
for work and (or) structures in or affecting navigable waters of the
United States associated with restoring wetlands and associated habitat
within the project site. Dredge and fill activities in waters of the
United States are proposed to construct new levees, form new tidal
channels, modify existing tidal channels, re-contour areas to enhance
tidal flow, and to create elevations conducive to establishing wetland
habitat. Preliminary conservative estimates indicate the project would
result in a balanced total of 1,782,000 cubic yards of excavation and
1,782,000 cubic yards of fill placement, not all of which would affect
jurisdictional areas. Based on these preliminary estimates, the volumes
and areas of fill are estimated as follows: Permanent discharge of fill
within 43.5 acres of non-wetland waters of the U.S. (435,000 cubic
yards) and within 65 acres of wetland waters of the U.S. (600,000 cubic
yards), as well as temporary discharge of fill within 3.5 acres of non-
wetland waters of the U.S. (30,000 cubic yards) and within 0.3 acres of
wetland waters of the U.S. (structural fill).
The project will also require a permit from the Corps to the Los
Angeles County Department of Public Works, as the non-Federal sponsor
of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA) project, pursuant to 33
U.S.C. section 408 (408 permit). A section 408 permit is required to
alter/modify a completed Corps project. The Ballona Creek levees were
constructed by the Corps in the 1930s as part of LACDA. This project
proposes to remove levees, construct a larger levee reach around the
perimeter of the proposed side, reconfigure the existing concrete-lined
Ballona Creek flood-control channel and realign the creek. A permit for
modification/alteration of this magnitude would require Corps
Headquarters approval.
4. Alternatives Considered. The feasibility of several alternatives
is being considered and will be addressed in the DEIS/EIR. The No
Federal Action/No Project Alternative, as required by NEPA and CEQA,
would maintain the status quo and would include no improvements or
discharges of fill material in waters of the United States or work or
structures in or affecting navigable waters of the United States. Other
alternatives that may be considered include restoring smaller portions
of the 600-acre site, alternative designs that would provide differing
amounts of various habitats types, and alternative designs for
enhancing tidal flow. Additional alternatives may be developed during
scoping and will also be considered in the DEIS/EIR.
5. Scoping Process.
a. Affected federal, state and local resource agencies, Native
American groups and concerned interest groups/individuals are
encouraged to participate in the scoping process. Public participation
is critical in defining the scope of analysis in the DEIS/EIR,
identifying significant environmental issues in the DEIS/EIR, providing
useful information such as published and unpublished data, and
knowledge of relevant issues and recommending mitigation measures to
offset potential impacts from proposed actions.
b. Potential impacts associated with the proposed project will be
fully evaluated. Potential significant issues to be addressed in the
DEIS/EIR include aesthetics, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions,
biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards
and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and
planning, noise, public services, recreation, sea-level rise, traffic,
flood control, and utilities. Additional issues may be identified
during the scoping process.
c. Individuals and agencies may offer information or data relevant
to the environmental or socioeconomic impacts of the proposed project
by submitting comments, suggestions, and requests to be placed on the
mailing list for announcements to (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT)
or the following email address: Daniel.p.swenson@usace.army.mil.
[[Page 43577]]
d. The Corps anticipates formally consulting with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the
National Marine Fisheries Service under Section 305(b)(2) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), and
with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act. The CDFG, as the project proponent,
will need to obtain a CWA section 401 water quality certification or
waiver and a consistency certification from the California Coastal
Commission in accordance with the Coastal Zone Management Act.
6. Scoping Meeting Date, Time, and Location. A public scoping
meeting to receive input on the scope of the DEIS/EIR will be conducted
on August 16, 2012, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Fiji Gateway entrance to
the Ballona Wetlands (13720 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, across
from Fisherman's Village and Los Angeles County Department of Beaches
and Harbors).
7. Availability of the DEIS/EIR. The DEIS/EIR is expected to be
published and circulated in late 2012. A public hearing will be held
after its publication to field comments on the document.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2012-18166 Filed 7-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
