[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 554-555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-182]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for South Sacramento County
Streams Investigation, California
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), lead agency under the
National Environmental Policy Act, and the Sacramento Area Flood
Control Agency (SAFCA), lead agency under the California Environmental
Quality Act, intend to prepare a joint document to evaluate the
environmental effects of proposed flood protection for the southern
part of the City and County of Sacramento. The Corps and SAFCA are
working with the City and County of Sacramento to jointly provide this
protection.
SUMMARY: This investigation will identify and evaluate potential
measures to provide additional flood protection for the 180-square mile
study area, which includes Morrison and Laguna Creeks and their
tributaries, and the flood prone areas associated with the Beach-Stone
Lakes system. Measures will include channel improvements, levee
raising, and levee reconstruction and extension at various locations
within the study area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the proposed action and EIR/EIS should be directed
to Ms. Jane Rinck, Environmental Resources Branch, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814-2922, telephone
(916) 557-6715. All persons interested in receiving the draft document
should contact Ms. Trina Farris, telephone (916) 557-6777.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Project Location:
The project area is located in south Sacramento County, California,
and includes a populated area in the southern portion of the City and
County of Sacramento. The study area encompasses a 180-square mile
drainage basin. The upper part of the basin is sloped and is drained by
Morrison and Laguna Creeks and their tributaries. Morrison Creek then
flows into the lower basin, called the Beach-Stone Lakes area. Streams
with 10-year flows great enough to qualify for Corps involvement are
Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse, and Laguna Creeks.
2. Proposed Action and Alternatives:
The Corps and SAFCA, the non-Federal sponsor, are conducting a
feasibility investigation to identify and evaluate alternative measures
to provide additional flood protection to the southern part of the City
and County of Sacramento.
The feasibility report and EIS/EIR will include the alternatives
analyzed in the 1994 reconnaissance report and carried forward for
analysis in the feasibility phase along with any feasible alternatives
resulting from public scoping and coordination. These alternatives
include the no-action alternative and the following flood control
plans: (1) Nonstructural measures; (2) channel improvements on
Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse, and Laguna Creeks; and (3) levee raising
and reconstruction on Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse, and Laguna Creeks.
The
[[Page 555]]
reconnaissance report also considered upstream detention basins but it
was determined that detention was not an economically effective means
of flood control. The EIS/EIR will also address environmental
mitigation and evaluate potential restoration and enhancement
opportunities.
3. Environmental Consequences:
The lead agencies have identified potential environmental effects
of the proposed action in the following areas:
Aquatic, wetland, and riparian habitats.
Fish and wildlife populations.
Esthetics, recreation opportunity and use.
Construction-related traffic, air quality, and noise.
Water quality.
Cultural resources.
Threatened and endangered species.
The EIS/EIR will evaluate the effects on these areas and any other
potentially significant effects identified in the scoping process. The
no-action alternative (no Federal action to improve flood protection)
will be the baseline for evaluating effects of the proposed action and
other alternatives.
4. Schedule: The draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be distributed for
public review and comment in 1997.
John N. Reese,
Col, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 96-182 Filed 1-5-96; 8:45 am]
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