[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45960-45961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17471]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Joint Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement and Environmental Impact Report for Sacramento River East
Levee and Natomas Cross Canal Levee Modifications as a Feature of the
American River (Common Features), CA Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The action being taken is preparation of a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/
EIR) to address potential improvements to the existing flood control
systems. The American River (Common Features) project is located in
Sacramento and Sutter Counties. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) is currently completing slurry wall work on approximately 20
miles of levee along the lower American River. In 1996 and 1999,
Congress authorized modification of 12 miles of Sacramento River east
levees and 5 miles of Natomas Cross Canal north and south levees in the
Natomas basin area. Since that time engineering studies have shown that
an additional 6 miles of levee improvements along the Sacramento River
east levee are required for a total of about 18 miles from the mouth of
the Natomas Cross Canal to Natomas Main Drain.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and SEIS/EIR should be addressed to Liz Holland at (916) 557-6763 or by
mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN CESPK-PD-R, 1325 J Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814-2922.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action
The Corps, in partnership with the State of California, Reclamation
Board and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency are conducting a
study on modifying the levees in the Natomas Basin area, which will be
documented in the SEIS/EIR. The study focuses on ways to improve flood
protection to portions of the City and County of Sacramento and Sutter
County lying within the Natomas Basin.
2. Alternatives
The SEIS/EIR will address an array of flood control improvement
alternatives. Alternatives analyzed during the investigation will
include a combination of one or more flood protection measures. These
measures include levee raising, seepage berms, seepage wells, and
slurry walls.
3. Scoping Process
a. The project study plan provides for a series of public scoping
meetings to present information to the public and to receive comments
from the public. The Corps has initiated a process to involve concerned
individuals, and local, State, and Federal agencies.
b. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the SEIS/EIR
include: Adverse effects on vegetation and wildlife resources; special-
status species; esthetics; cultural resources; recreation; land use;
fisheries; water quality; air quality; transportation and
socioeconomics; and cumulative effects of related projects in the study
area.
c. The Corps will consult with the State Historic Preservation
Officer to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act Report as an appendix to the SEIS/EIR.
d. A 30-day public review period will be provided for individuals
and agencies to review and comment on the draft SEIS/EIR. All
interested parties are
[[Page 45961]]
encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current address if
they wish to be notified of the SEIS/EIR circulation.
4. Public Scoping Meeting
A series of public scoping meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on
the following dates: July 25, 2002, South Natomas Community Center,
July 30, 2002, Teal Bend Golf Course; and July 31, 2002, Holt of
California Conference Room.
5. Availability
The draft SEIS/EIR is scheduled to be available for public review
and comment in the summer of 2003.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-17471 Filed 7-10-02; 8:45 am]
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