Army Department September 1, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In 2008, the Cordova Hills Ownership Group (applicant) submitted a Department of the Army permit application for the proposed Cordova Hills project. On June 18, 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (Corps) determined that the proposed project may result in significant impacts to the environment, and that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary. A revised permit application was submitted by the applicant on March 15, 2011. The applicant proposes to implement a large-scale, mixed-use, mixed-density master planned community with an integrated university, neighborhood and regional commercial and residential uses and associated infrastructure. The proposed project consists of approximately: 1,000 acres of residential uses ranging from one dwelling unit per acre to 40 dwelling units per acres; 1,380,000 square feet of retail and commercial uses; 240 acres of private university campus; 635 acres of recreation areas, parks, natural avoided areas and open space corridors; 538 acres for on-site wetland and habitat avoidance, and; 18 miles of off-street/multi-use trails. The project site is approximately 2,688 acres and contains 89.106 acres of waters of the United States. The proposed project would involve the discharge of fill material into approximately 39.630 acres of waters of the United States, including vernal pools, seasonal wetlands, seeps, intermittent drainages, and stock ponds. The proposed project may also have have indirect impacts on other waters of the U.S.

This announces the availability of the Proposed Report of the Chief of Engineers and the Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/R) which analyzes the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed action and alternatives for providing shoreline protection to approximately 3,412 feet ([ft], 1,040 meters [m]) of the San Clemente shoreline from coastal storms. Maintaining the beach is needed to prevent the beach erosion that results from winter storms and to prevent damage to adjacent commuter and national defense rail line that runs along the beach through the City. In addition, the loss of sand at the beach would have an impact on City beachfront structures and beach recreation, which contributes to the local economy, and would reduce the ecological functioning of the sand beach/littoral zone.