Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch has completed a Draft EIS for the San Juan Creek Watershed/Western San Mateo Creek Watershed Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). The San Juan Creek Watershed/Western San Mateo Creek Watershed SAMP establishes three alternative permitting procedures that balance aquatic resource protection and reasonable economic development for the San Juan Creek Watershed and Western San Mateo Creed Watershed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Los Angeles District in conjunction with the Los Angeles Harbor Department (Port) is examining the feasibility of various waterside navigation improvements as part of the Port's proposed San Pedro Waterfront and Promenade redevelopment proposal in the Port of Los Angeles. The Corps is considering the Port's application for a Department of the Army permit under Clean Water Act Section 404 and River and Harbor Act Section 10 to conduct dredge and fill activities and construct various navigation improvements The primary Federal involvement is the discharge of dredge and/or fill materials within waters of the United States, work (e.g. dredging) and structures in or affecting navigable waters of the United States, and 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 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to rendering a final decision on the Port's permit application. 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 Port will serve as Lead Agency for the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Corps and the Port have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR for the improvements at Berth 136-147 in order to optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is intended to be sufficient in scope to address both the Federal and the state and local requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed activities and permit approvals.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to establish a procedure for modifying scheduled operational hours at the Lake Washington Ship Canal, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle, Washington. This procedure would allow the district engineer to change the scheduled operational hours of the locks after issuing a public notice and providing a 30-day comment period for any proposed change. Corrections are also made to two citations.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch is considering an application from the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) for a Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct a groundwater recharge and storage facility in and adjacent to the San Jacinto River. The proposed project would consist of up to fifteen recharge basins (six in proposed Phase 1 and nine in proposed Phase 2) on approximately 100- acres in the San Jacinto River Channel, upgrades to two existing pump stations, a new approximately 7.7-mile-long water supply pipeline, up to ten extraction wells located west of the San Jacinto River, and up to six monitoring wells located near the western edge of the proposed recharge basins. The Federal action involved in the project is the discharge of dredge and/or fill materials within waters of the United States. The Corps has determined that the potential impacts on the human environment from such activities may be adverse and significant. Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to rendering a final decision on EMWD's permit application. The Corps may ultimately make a determination to grant or deny the permit or conditionally grant the permit. The Draft EIS is intended to be sufficient in scope to address the Federal and environmental issues concerning the proposed Federal permit action.