[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53423-53424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21878]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Section 408 Permission for the
Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project, West
Sacramento, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) under Section 14
of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), and
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), for the proposed
Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project (EIP),
sponsored by the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA).
Figures of the project area can be viewed at http://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/city/flood.
WSAFCA is planning the Southport Sacramento River EIP to implement
flood-risk reduction measures along the Sacramento River South Levee in
the City of West Sacramento, Yolo County, CA. The project reach extends
along the right bank of the Sacramento River south of the barge canal,
downstream approximately 6.4 miles to the South Cross Levee, protecting
the Southport community of West Sacramento. The 3.3-square mile study
area encompasses the area of levee improvement along the river corridor
and the potential soil borrow sites. In order to implement the project,
the sponsor must acquire permission from USACE to alter the Federal
project under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as
amended) (33 U.S.C. 408 or, Section 408). USACE also has authority
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) over
activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material to
waters of the United States, which are known to be in the project area.
The project would bring the levee up to standard with Federal and state
flood protection criteria, as well as providing opportunities for
ecosystem restoration and public recreation. USACE, acting as the
federal lead agency under NEPA, and WSAFCA, acting as the state lead
agency under the CEQA in coordination with the Central Valley Flood
Protection Board, have determined that an EIS/EIR should be prepared to
describe alternatives, potential environmental effects, and mitigation
measures.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held on Thursday, September 15,
2011 at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the West Sacramento Recreation
Center, 2801 Jefferson Boulevard, West Sacramento, CA. Send written
comments by September 26, 2011 (see ADDRESSES).
ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope and
content of the environmental information may be submitted to Mr. John
Suazo, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Attn:
Planning Division (CESPK-PD-R), 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Requests to be placed on the mailing list also should be sent to this
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed actions
and environmental review process should be addressed to John Suazo at
(916) 557-6719, e-mail: [email protected] (see ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. WSAFCA is proposing a project along the
Sacramento River west levee under the California DWR's Early
Implementation Program to expeditiously complete flood-risk reduction
measures. Known as the Southport Sacramento River EIP, the project
proposes implementation of flood-risk reduction measures
[[Page 53424]]
(measures) along a 6.4-mile long reach between the barge canal
downstream to the South Cross Levee. Primary deficiencies of the levee
include through-seepage, under-seepage, and embankment instability
(e.g., overly steepened slopes). As part of the project, an EIS/EIR is
being prepared. USACE has authority under Section 14 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), over alterations to
federal flood control project levees and any such alterations as
proposed by WSAFCA are subject to approval by USACE. USACE also has
authority under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344)
over activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material to
waters of the United States, which are known to be in the project area.
Under Section 10 of the Rives and Harbors Act, the District Engineer
may permit activities which do not affect navigable waters. Due to
these authorities, USACE is acting as the lead agency for the EIS
pursuant to NEPA. WSAFCA will be acting as the lead agency for the EIR
according to CEQA as the public agency that has the principal
responsibility for carrying out and approving the project.
2. Alternatives. The EIS/EIR will consider several alternatives for
reducing flood damage. Each alternative analyzed during the
investigation will consist of a combination of several measures to
reduce the risk of flooding. These measures include, but are not
limited to, installing slurry cutoff walls, constructing seepage or
stability berms, relief wells, rock slope protection, slope flattening,
and potential new levee alignments (setback or adjacent levees).
3. Scoping Process.
a. Public scoping meetings will be held on September 15, 2011, to
present information to the public and to receive comments from the
public on the project. These meetings are intended to initiate the
process to involve concerned individuals, and local, State, and Federal
agencies.
b. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the environmental
documents include effects on hydraulics, wetlands and other waters of
the U.S., vegetation and wildlife resources, special-status species,
aesthetics, cultural resources, recreation, land use, fisheries,
agricultural resources, water quality, air quality, transportation, and
socioeconomics; and cumulative effects of related projects in the study
area.
c. USACE is consulting with the State Historic Preservation Officer
to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to
comply with the Endangered Species Act. USACE also is coordinating with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to comply with the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act.
d. A 45-day public review period will be provided for individuals
and agencies to review and comment on the draft environmental document.
All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and
provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the draft EIS/
EIR circulation.
4. Availability. The draft EIS/EIR for the Southport Sacramento
River EIP is scheduled to be available for public review and comment in
mid-2012.
Dated: August 17, 2011.
William J. Leady,
COL, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2011-21878 Filed 8-25-11; 8:45 am]
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