[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30015-30016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14661]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration
Project, San Diego County, California
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The Service, San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space
Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA), and Southern California Edison (SCE)
propose to participate in the restoration of the San Dieguito Wetlands,
as well as process a Park Master Plan for the area that would address
upland restoration and public access. The tidal wetland restoration
portion of the project would involve the excavation of approximately
130 acres of land located both east and west of I-5 and would generate
approximately 2.07 million cubic yards of dredged material. Upland
restoration would involve converting old agricultural fields to various
native habitats. A system of public trails is also proposed for
development within the study area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding the scoping process or preparation of the EIS/EIR
may be directed to Mr. Jack Fancher, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730
Loker Ave., West, Carlsbad, California 92008, (760) 431-9440 or Ms.
Victoria Touchstone, Principal Planner, San Dieguito River Park JPA,
1500 State Street, Suite 280, San Diego, California 92101, (619) 235-
5440 ex. 13.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Project Location
The project is located in the western San Dieguito River Valley
both within the northwestern most portions of the City of San Diego and
the City of Del Mar. The project boundaries are generally located from
El Camino Real west to the ocean and for the most part include the
public properties located south of Via de la Valle and north of the
Carmel Valley planning area.
Proposed Action
The purpose of the project is to implement a tidal wetland
restoration project at the San Dieguito Lagoon that would both restore
the aquatic functions of the lagoon through permanent inlet maintenance
and expansion of the tidal basin and create approximately 120 acres of
subtidal and intertidal habitats. Other secondary purposes include
development of a Park Master Plan for the area that would address
upland and non-tidal wetland habitat restoration and public access.
It is anticipated that tidal restoration work at San Dieguito
Lagoon would be accomplished primarily with funds provided by Southern
California Edison and partners (SCE). SCE would fund restoration at San
Dieguito, provided the restoration satisfies the conditions of the
California Coastal Commission (CCC) permit for the construction and
operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The
Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), National Marine
Fisheries Service, CCC, California Department of Fish and Game, and
several local agencies have participated in the development of a
conceptual proposal for restoring wetland and aquatic functions at San
Dieguito Lagoon that would, among other things, satisfy the CCC permit
condition for SONGS. Although this proposal will be assessed in the
EIS/EIR review process as one of an appropriate range of restoration
alternatives, the agencies have not yet determined whether this
conceptual proposal is the preferred approach for restoring the optimal
mix of wetland and aquatic functions at San Dieguito Lagoon.
The project goal is to preserve, improve, and create a variety of
habitats within the project site to increase and maintain fish and
wildlife and ensure the protection of endangered species. Project
objectives state that the wetland project design should ensure adequate
tidal and fluvial flushing and circulation to support a diversity of
biological resources while maintaining the appearance of a natural
wetland ecosystem. Proposals for upland restoration should complement
the adjoining coastal wetland areas and provide habitats that have
historically occurred in the area. Proposed public access and use areas
should be sited in a manner that would not interfere with the naturally
functioning ecosystem or the open space character of the western San
Dieguito River Valley.
The proposed project would consist of the following elements: (1)
Tidal inlet maintenance to maintain the regular tidal exchange in
perpetuity through excavation of approximately 5 acres of the river
channel and periodic maintenance dredging to -3 to -3.5 National
Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD); (2) excavate tidal and upland areas to
create approximately 120 acres of subtital and intertidal habitat; (3)
create approximately 10 acres of seasonal salt marsh; set aside
approximately 19 acres within the
[[Page 30016]]
project area for the creation of nesting habitat for the California
least tern; (5) construct levees within the river's effective flow area
in order to maintain the existing sediment flows within the river and
to the beach; (6) identify appropriate sites for dredge disposal; (7)
restore native habitat to non-tidal areas surrounding the wetland
restoration project; and (8) create public access trails and
opportunities for interpretation.
Alternatives
Over the past several years various informal meetings have been
held involving local, state, and federal agencies, as well as members
of the public, to discuss various alternatives for achieving the
overall project goal of restoring the coastal wetlands at the San
Dieguioto Lagoon. As a result of that effort, a number of alternatives
have been developed which include ``No Action,'' Reduced Levee, Mixed
Habitat, Maximum Tidal Basin, and Maximum Salt Marsh. The Mixed Habitat
Alternative is the SCE proposed alternative. As a result of the scoping
process, it is possible that these preliminary project alternatives
will be further refined and/or additional alternatives considered. Once
identified, the final alternatives will be carried forward into
detailed analysis pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 432 et seq.) and the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended (Public Resources
Code, Section 21000-21177).
Scoping Process
The Service and the JPA are preparing a joint Environmental Impact
Statement/Report (EIS/R) to address potential impacts associated with
implementing their respective discretionary actions for the proposed
project. The Service is the Lead Federal Agency for compliance with
NEPA for the Federal aspects of the project, and the JPA is the Lead
State Agency for compliance with CEQA for the non-Federal aspects of
the project. The Draft EIS/R (DEIS/R) document will incorporate public
concerns in the analysis of impacts associated with the Proposed Action
and associated project alternatives. The DEIS/R will be sent out for a
minimum 45-day public review period, during which time both written and
verbal comments will be solicited on the adequacy of the document. The
Final EIS/R (FEIS/R) will address the comments received on the DEIS/R
during public review, and will be furnished to all who commented on the
DEIS/R, and made available to anyone that requests a copy during a
minimum 30-day period following publication of the FEIS/R. The final
step involves, for the Federal EIS, preparing a Record of Decision
(ROD) and, for the State EIR, certifying the EIR and adopting a
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan. The ROD is a concise summary
of the decisions made by the Service (in cooperation with the Corps)
from among the alternatives presented in the FEIS/R. A certified EIR
indicates that the environmental document has been completed in
compliance with CEQA, that the decision-making body of the lead agency
reviewed and considered the FEIR prior to approving the project; and
that the FEIR reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and
analysis.
A public scoping meeting to solicit public comment on the proposed
action and alternatives will be held on Monday, June 15, 1998 at 7:00
pm, in the Solana Beach City Council Chambers, 635 South Highway 101,
Solana Beach, California.
Dated: May 28, 1998.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-14661 Filed 6-1-98; 8:45 am]
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