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[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71142-71143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9597]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Rio del Oro Specific Plan Project, in the City of 
Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), DoD. Sacramento District has 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that analyzes 
the potential effects of implementing each of five alternative 
scenarios for a mixed-use development in the approximately 3,828-acre 
Rio del Oro Specific Plan area, in the City of Rancho Cordova, 
Sacramento County, CA. The EIS documents the existing

[[Page 71143]]

condition of environmental resources in and around areas considered for 
development, and potential impacts on those resources as a result of 
implementing the alternatives. The alternatives considered in detail 
are: (1) Proposed Project/Proposed Action (i.e., Proposed Project 
Alternative), the Applicants' Preferred Alternative; (2) High Density 
(Increased Densities Consistent with Sacramento Area Council of 
Governments Blueprint); (3) Impact Minimization; (4) No Federal Action 
(No Section 404 of the Clean Water Act Permit); and (5) No Project/No 
Action (No development).

DATES: All written comments must be postmarked on or before February 5, 
2007. A public hearing will be held on a date to be determined 
following the close of the comment period; notice of this hearing will 
be sent to all appropriate parties at a later date.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing to: Anna Sutton, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Regulatory Branch, 1325 J 
Street, Room 1480, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922, or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. mil. Oral and written comments may also 
be submitted at the public hearing described in the DATES section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Sutton at (916) 557-7759 or via 
e-mail at [email protected].mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Elliott Homes and GenCorp Realty Investments 
(GenCorp), the project applicant(s), are seeking adoption by the City 
of Rancho Cordova of the proposed Rio del Oro Specific Plan. Elliott 
Homes is seeking specific development entitlements (e.g., tentative 
subdivision maps); GenCorp is seeking overall development entitlements, 
but has not proposed specific development entitlements necessary for 
immediate or short-term development. Both Elliott Homes and GenCorp are 
also seeking authorization from USACE to place dredged or fill material 
into waters of the United States.
    Five alternatives are evaluated in detail in the DEIS. Under the 
Proposed Project/Proposed Action (Proposed Project Alternative), 
buildout of the project would be split into five phases and is 
anticipated to occur over a 25- to 30-year period. The project provides 
for construction of approximately 11,601 residential dwelling units in 
three residential land use classifications on 1,920 acres, along with 
commercial land uses, neighborhood parks and other uses such as a 
landscape corridor and greenbelt, and several public schools. New 
utilities and communications infrastructure would be installed and new 
roadways and on- and off-site infrastructure improvements would be 
completed. The project designates a 507-acre wetland preserve area and 
two elderberry preserve areas on the project site. The four 
alternatives to the Proposed Project/Proposed Action are described 
briefly below.
    (1) The High Density Alternative embraces the concept of ``Smart 
Growth,'' consistent with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments' 
Regional Blueprint Project. Under Smart Growth principles, areas 
planned for development are developed at higher densities. Although 
these higher densities may result in greater localized impacts on 
resources, the overall area of disturbance is reduced by concentrating 
development in particular locations. The total acreage of residential 
development would be the same under this alternative as under the 
Proposed Project/Proposed Action, but approximately 3,800 additional 
residential units would be constructed. The acreage of commercial and 
industrial development as well as the wetland preserve would be the 
same.
    (2) The Impact Minimization Alternative would reconfigure project 
components to reduce impacts on waters of the United States, including 
wetlands and high-quality biological habitat. An additional 485 acres 
of the project site would be designated as part of the protected 
wetland preserve; as a result, approximately 25% of the project site 
would become a part of the wetland preserve. The total acreage of 
residential development would be reduced by approximately 470 acres and 
approximately 1,040 fewer residential units would be constructed, 
although overall density would increase because a greater proportion of 
residential acreage would be developed with medium and high density. 
Commercial and industrial development sites would be slightly reduced.
    (3) The No Federal Action Alternative was designed to allow some 
development of the project site while avoiding the placement of dredged 
or fill material into waters of the United States. Under this 
alternative, 872 acres of the project site would be designated 
``Natural Resources'' under the City of Rancho Cordova General Plan. 
Land with this use designation is set aside as natural habitat with no 
urban development; public access into this area would be prohibited. 
The types of land uses would remain the same as under the Proposed 
Project/Proposed Action.
    (4) The No Project/No Action Alternative would preclude development 
of the project; under this alternative the majority of the project site 
would remain under the jurisdiction of the City of Rancho Cordova. This 
alternative assumes that aggregate mining operations to remove portions 
of existing dredge tailings at the project site would continue under 
existing Conditional Use Permits. Aggregate mining operations are not 
part of the Rio del Oro project.
    USACE invites full public participation to promote open 
communication and better decision-making. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the Rio del Oro Specific Plan Project are 
urged to participate in the NEPA process. A public hearing will be held 
as described in the DATES section. This hearing will be announced in 
advance through notices, media news releases, and/or mailings.
    Copies of the DEIS may be reviewed at the following locations:
    1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District Web site: 
http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/organizations/cespk-co/regulatory/index.html.
    2. City of Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, 
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.
    3. City of Rancho Cordova Planning Department Web site: http://www.cityofranchocordova.org/city_departments/planning_main.html.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-9597 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-EZ-M
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