United States Army Corps of Engineers July 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is soliciting nominations from the private sector to serve on the Committee on Levee Safety. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 requires formation of a sixteen member Committee on Levee Safety (Committee) charged with developing recommendations for a national levee safety program, including a strategic implementation plan. Two representatives of the private sector will be selected to serve on the Committee.

The action being taken is preparation of an environmental impact statement/environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the Natomas Levee Improvement Program (NLIP) Phase 3 Landside Improvements Project. The Corps is considering a request to issue both 408 permission to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and 404 permit to Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) for work on the NLIP. Under 33 U.S.C. 408, the Chief of Engineers may grant permission to alter an existing Federal project if it is not injurious to the public interest and does not impair the usefulness of the project. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the District Engineer permits the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States if the discharge meets the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency's 404 (b)(1) guidelines and is not contrary to the public interest. The NLIP is located in Sacramento and Sutter Counties, CA. The 408 permission and 404 permit are needed for construction along the landside of the Sacramento River east levee, the Natomas East Main Drain Canal, the Natomas Cross Canal, and the Pleasant Grove Creek Canal.