Engineers Corps July 19, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The project proponent and landowner, The Newhall Land and Farming Company (Newhall Land), has requested a long-term Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the Corps of Engineers for facilities associated with the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan. The action is necessary to facilitate buildout of the Specific Plan. The effect will be to authorize the construction of bridges, flood control structures, and to grade and fill certain side drainages for roads and buildings. The reason for this revised notice of intent (NOI) is because the project proponent's proposed action has been expanded to include development of a voluntary CCAA between Newhall Land and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to specify spineflower preserve locations, manage spineflower habitat, and to authorize future take of spineflower, in the event it becomes federally listed under the federal Endangered Species Act as threatened or endangered, involving three properties: Newhall Ranch, Valencia Commerce Center, and Entrada. The Corps of Engineers intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to evaluate the potential effects of the proposed action on the environment. To eliminate duplication of paperwork, the Corps of Engineers intends to coordinate the DEIS with the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) being prepared by the California Department of Fish and Game. The joint document will meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as well as enable the Corps to analyze the project pursuant to the 404(b)(1) Guidelines and assess potential impacts on various public interest factors.