98-32516. Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Murrieta Creek Feasibility Study; Riverside County, CA

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67674-67675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32516]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Murrieta Creek Feasibility Study; Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Murrieta Creek is located in western Riverside County and 
encompasses a drainage area of approximately 220 square miles. The 
creek flows in a southeasterly direction and receives inflows from 
Slaughterhouse Canyon on the southern side and Warm Springs and Santa 
Gertrudis Creeks on the northern side. The feasibility study covers an 
eleven mile reach of Murrieta Creek from the McVicar Street bridge in 
Wildomar, downstream through the Cities of Murrieta and Temecula to the 
U.S. Geological Survey gaging station, just

[[Page 67675]]

north of the confluence with Temecula Creek. Rapid development over the 
past two decades has resulted in concerns over flood protection and 
environmental degradation throughout the project reach. In response to 
these and other concerns raised by federal, state, and local interests 
during the 1997 Reconnaissance Study, the Corps of Engineers has 
initiated a Feasibility Study to determine if a feasible plan exists 
for flood control along Murrieta Creek with associated environmental 
restoration and recreation components.

ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, Attn: CESPL-PD-RN, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California, 
90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For further information contact Mr. David Compas, phone [phone]; 
or E-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authorization: The study was authorized by U.S. Senate 
Resolution, dated 28 March 1996.
    2. Background: The Reconnaissance Study concluded that there is a 
Federal interest in flood control and watershed management.
    3. Proposed Action: The Feasibility Study is to determine if a plan 
can be formulated for flood control along Murrieta Creek and watershed 
management, with associated components for environmental restoration 
and recreation.
    4. Alternatives: A full array of alternatives will be developed for 
further analyses. Preliminary alternatives to be considered include 
combinations of features such as creation of detention basins, wetland 
restoration, in-channel modifications, and side-slope protection. The 
proposed plan, viable project alternatives, and the no action plan will 
be carried forward for detailed analysis in the National Environmental 
Policy Act/California Environmental Quality Act documentation.
    5. Scoping Process:
    a. Potential impacts associated with the proposed action will be 
fully evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed are: 
biology, air quality, water quality, cultural resources, land use, 
geology, recreational, aesthetics, transportation, scoioeconomics, 
hazardous sites, and safety.
    b. The public, as well as Federal, State, and local agencies are 
encouraged to participate in the scoping process by attending the 
scoping meeting and/or submitting data, information, and comments 
identifying relevant environmental and scoioeconomic issues to be 
addressed in the environmental analysis. Useful information includes 
other environmental studies, published and unpublished data, historical 
photos of the area, alternatives that should be addressed in the 
analysis, and potential environmental enhancement and restoration 
opportunities that exist along the creek. Individuals and agencies may 
offer information or data relevant to the proposed study and provide 
comments by attending the public scoping meeting, or by mailing the 
information to Mr. David Compas before 10 January 1999. Requests to be 
placed on the mailing list for announcements and the Draft EIS/R should 
also be sent to Mr. David Compas.
    6. Location and time: The scoping meeting is scheduled on 14 
January 1999 in the Temecula City Council chambers, at 43200 Business 
Park Drive, Temecula, California. The meeting will be held between 1 
and 3 p.m.

    Dated: November 30, 1998.
John P. Carroll,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 98-32516 Filed 12-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-M