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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29215-29217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12510]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

Notice of Intent To Prepare Draft Environmental Impact 
Statements/Environmental Impact Reports for the Sutter Basin 
Feasibility Study and the Section 408 Permission for the Feather River 
West Levee Project, Sutter and Butte Counties, 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 a separate 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) 
for each of the following related flood risk management study efforts 
in north-central California: a Feasibility Study of flood risk 
management and related water resources problems in the Sutter Basin 
conducted by USACE under the authority of the Flood Control Act of 1962 
(Pub. L. 87-874); and under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act

[[Page 29216]]

of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), and Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), the proposed Feather River West Levee 
Project (FRWLP), sponsored by the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency 
(SBFCA) as a locally driven flood management improvement project. The 
two projects are being studied in close coordination because they 
partially overlap in their study areas, purpose, potential 
improvements, potential effects, and involved parties. Therefore, a 
joint scoping process is being conducted for the two projects to 
explain the relationship between the two efforts and obtain public 
input in a manner that is convenient, efficient, and integrated. 
Figures of the two project areas can be viewed at the SBFCA Web site 
at: http://www.sutterbutteflood.org/index.php/notices_documents.
    Sutter Basin Feasibility Study. On March 20, 2000, the State of 
California entered into a feasibility cost-sharing agreement (FCSA) 
with USACE to initiate a feasibility study. An amendment to the FCSA 
was signed in 2010, which included SBFCA as a non-Federal sponsor. The 
purpose of the study is to address flood risk, ecosystem restoration 
and recreation-related issues in the study area. If a Federal interest 
is determined, the study would result in a decision document, a General 
Investigation Feasibility Study report and EIS/EIR, which would be the 
basis for a recommendation to Congress for authorization. The Central 
Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB) and SBFCA are coordinating with 
USACE on the feasibility study. USACE, as the Federal lead agency under 
NEPA, and SBFCA, as the state lead agency under CEQA in coordination 
with CVFPB, have determined that an EIS/EIR will be prepared to 
describe alternatives, potential environmental effects, and mitigation 
measures.
    FRWLP. SBFCA is planning the FRWLP to construct improvements to the 
west levee of the Feather River from Thermalito Afterbay to the Sutter 
Bypass confluence to meet Federal, state, and local flood protection 
criteria and goals. In 2010, an assessment district was enacted to 
provide local funding toward flood management improvements. These funds 
may be matched with those from the Early Implementation Program (funded 
through previous state bonds) administered by the California Department 
of Water Resources (DWR). 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 purpose of the FRWLP 
would be to construct improvements as quickly as possible in advance of 
and compatible with the Sutter Basin Project. USACE, acting as the 
Federal lead agency under NEPA, and SBFCA, acting as the state lead 
agency under the CEQA in coordination with CVFPB, have determined that 
an EIS/EIR will be prepared to describe alternatives, potential 
environmental effects, and mitigation measures.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held on Monday, June 27 at 3:30 
p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Community Building, 1425 
Veterans Memorial Circle, Yuba City, CA and on Tuesday, June 28 at 3:30 
p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 245 Sycamore Street, 
Gridley, CA. Send written comments by July 8, 2011 (see ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope and 
content of the environmental information may be submitted to Mr. Matt 
Davis, 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 Matt Davis at 
(916) 557-6708, e-mail: Matthew.G.Davis@usace.army.mil (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action. Sutter Basin Feasibility Study. USACE is 
conducting a feasibility study to evaluate structural and non-
structural flood-risk-management measures, including re-operation of 
existing reservoirs; improvements to existing levees; construction of 
new levees; and other storage, conveyance, and non-structural options. 
The Sutter Basin study area covers approximately 285 square miles and 
is roughly bounded by the Feather River, Sutter Bypass, Wadsworth 
Canal, Sutter Buttes, and Cherokee Canal. Flood waters potentially 
threatening the study area originate from the Feather River watershed 
and/or the upper Sacramento River watershed, above Colusa Weir. The 
study area is essentially encircled by project levees and the high 
ground of Sutter Buttes. Geotechnical analysis and historical 
performance during past floods indicates the project levees are at risk 
of failure due to underseepage. The risk of levee failure coupled with 
the consequence of deep flooding presents a threat to public safety and 
property. Considering the collective changes to riparian and aquatic 
ecosystems brought about by agriculture, urbanization, mining, and 
flood risk management and water supply infrastructure, and the national 
concern for environmental quality and protection, every opportunity to 
restore and protect natural resources should be taken whenever changes 
in the water management system are being contemplated. Ecosystem 
restoration measures likely would include restoration of floodplain 
function and habitat. Recreation measures include those outdoor 
recreation opportunities associated with sustainable water resource 
development. The feasibility phase of this project is cost-shared 50% 
Federal, 50% non-Federal with the project sponsors, the State of 
California CVFPB and the SBFCA. The study will focus on alternatives in 
the study area that comprise flood risk management, ecosystem 
restoration, and recreation management measures. As part of the study, 
an EIS/EIR will be prepared with USACE as the lead agency under NEPA 
and SBFCA in cooperation with CVFPB as the lead agency under CEQA.
    FRWLP. SBFCA is proposing a levee improvement project along the 
Feather River west levee under the California DWR's Early 
Implementation Program to expeditiously complete flood-risk reduction 
measures in advance of the Sutter Basin Feasibility Study. Known as the 
FRWLP, the project proposes to construct levee improvements between the 
Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River/Sutter Bypass confluence. 
Primary deficiencies of the levee include through-seepage, under-
seepage, and embankment instability (e.g., overly steepened slopes). 
Alternatives considered may include measures such as slurry cutoff 
walls, seepage berms, stability berms, internal drains, relief wells, 
sheet-pile walls, slope flattening, and potential new levee alignments. 
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 SBFCA 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

[[Page 29217]]

the project area. Due to these authorities, USACE is acting as the lead 
agency for the EIS pursuant to NEPA. SBFCA will be acting as the lead 
agency for the EIR according to CEQA as an agency of the State of 
California with delegated authority to approve the project.
    2. Alternatives. The EIS/EIRs will consider several alternatives 
for reducing flood damage. Alternatives analyzed during the 
investigation will consist of a combination of one or more measures to 
reduce the risk of flooding. These measures include installing cutoff 
walls, and constructing seepage berms.
    3. Scoping Process.
    a. A series of public scoping meetings will be held on June 27 and 
28, 2011, to present information to the public and to receive comments 
from the public on both the feasibility study and the FRWLP. 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, 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 
documents. 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 FRWLP is scheduled to be 
available for public review and comment in late 2011. The draft EIS/EIR 
for the Sutter Basin Feasibility Study is scheduled to be available for 
public review and comment in mid 2012.

    Dated: May 12, 2011.
Andrew B. Kiger,
LTC, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2011-12510 Filed 5-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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