### 63448 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 199 / Friday, October 15, 2010 / Notices

should be addressed to Patricia S. Leroux, CEMVN–PDR–RS, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160–0267; telephone: (504) 862–1544; fax: (504) 862–2088; or by e-mail: patricia.s.leroux@usace.army.mil.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

1. Authority. This EIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the LCA Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18, 2005. The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007) authorized the LCA program. The authority includes requirements for comprehensive planning, program governance, implementation, and other program components. The LCA restoration program facilitates the implementation of critical restoration features and essential science and technology demonstration projects, increasing the beneficial use of dredged material and determining the need for modifications of selected existing projects to support coastal restoration objectives. The LCA near-term plan includes fifteen elements authorized for implementation contingent upon meeting certain reporting requirements. Specifically, Section 7006(c)(1) authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out the five specifically named near-term projects substantially in accordance with the restoration plan set out in the Chief’s Report dated January 31, 2005. The five elements are: (1) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Environmental Restoration, (2) Small Diversion at Hope Canal, (3) Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration, (4) Small Bayou Lafourche Reintroduction, and (5) Medium Diversion at Myrtle Grove with Dedicated Dredging. The Congressional authorization further states that before the Secretary may begin construction of any project under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit a report documenting any modification to the project, including cost changes, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate.

2. Proposed Action. As recommended in the 2005 Chief’s Report, the restoration feature consists of a freshwater diversion ranging from 2,500 to 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) coupled with dedicated dredging for the creation of up to 19,700 acres of new wetlands. The project would allow the reintroduction of freshwater, sediment and nutrients into the critically effected area of the Barataria Basin in a manner similar to the rise and fall of the river’s hydrological cycle. This combination would allow for rapid creation of wetland acreage and long-term stability. It is also expected to maximize the amount of acreage created per yard of sediment placed by capitalizing on incremental accretion of diverted sediment.

3. Public Involvement. Public involvement, an essential part of the EIS process, is integral to assessing the environmental consequences of the proposed action and improving the quality of the environmental decision making. The public includes affected and interested Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, concerned citizens, stakeholders, and other interested parties. Public participation in the EIS process would be strongly encouraged, both formally and informally, to enhance the probability of a more technically accurate, economically feasible, and socially and politically acceptable EIS. Public involvement would include but is not limited to: information dissemination; identification of problems, needs and opportunities; idea generation; public education; problem solving; providing feedback on proposals; evaluation of alternatives; conflict resolution by consensus; public and scoping notices and meetings; public, stakeholder and advisory groups consultation and meetings; and making the EIS and supporting information readily available in conveniently located places, such as libraries and on the world wide web.

4. Scoping. Scoping, an early and open process for identifying the scope of significant issues related to the proposed action to be addressed in the EIS, would be used to: (a) Identify the affected public and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient EIS preparation process; (c) define the issues and alternatives that would be examined in detail in the EIS; and (d) save time in the overall process by helping to ensure that the draft EIS adequately addresses relevant issues. A Scoping Meeting Notice announcing the locations, dates and times for scoping meetings will be mailed to all interested parties in October 2011.

5. Coordination. The USACE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have formally committed to work together to conserve, protect, and restore fish and wildlife resources while ensuring environmental sustainability of our Nation’s water resources under the January 22, 2003, Partnership Agreement for Water Resources and Fish and Wildlife. The USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report. Coordination will be maintained with the USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding threatened and endangered species under their respective jurisdictional responsibilities. Coordination will be maintained with the NMFS regarding essential fish habitat. Coordination will be maintained with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service regarding prime and unique farmlands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be consulted regarding the

‘‘ Swampbuster’’ provisions of the Food Security Act. Coordination will be maintained with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning compliance with Executive Order
12898, ‘‘Federal Action to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. ’’ Coordination will be maintained with the Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources will be consulted regarding consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be consulted concerning potential impacts to Natural and Scenic Streams.

6. Availability of Draft EIS. The earliest that the draft EIS would be available for public review would be in October of 2012. The draft EIS or a notice of availability will be distributed to affected Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties.

Edward R. Fleming, Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.

[FR Doc. 2010–25987 Filed 10–14–10; 8:45 am]

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**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers** 

**Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement for**  **the Sunridge Properties in the Sunridge Specific Plan Area, in**  **Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, CA, ID SPK–2009–00511** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is issuing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which analyzes programmatically the direct, indirect and cumulative effects associated with six residential development projects in


### 63449 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 199 / Friday, October 15, 2010 / Notices

the Sunridge Specific Plan area in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County,
CA.

The purpose of the EIS is to provide decision-makers and the public with information pertaining to the Proposed Action and alternatives, and disclose environmental impacts and identify mitigation measures to reduce impacts. The Proposed Action is the construction of the six projects (collectively, the

‘‘ Sunridge Properties’’) which would require the filling of approximately 29.7 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands. The EIS has been prepared as part of ongoing litigation concerning Department of the Army (DA) permits issued by the Corps between 2005 and 2007 for five of the projects and a pending DA permit decision for the sixth. A stay in the litigation is in place for the Corps to complete the EIS.

The EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Corps’ regulations for NEPA implementation at 33 Code of Federal Regulations parts 230 and 325 Appendix B. The Corps is the lead Federal agency responsible for complying with NEPA and information contained in the EIS serves as the basis for decisions regarding issuance of a DA permit.

**DATES :**  Comments on the Final EIS must be submitted to the Corps by November
15, 2010.

**ADDRESSES :**  Please send written comments to Michael Jewell, Chief of the Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1325 J Street, Room 1480, Sacramento, CA 95814–2922. You may also e-mail your comments to michael.s.jewell@usace.army.mil.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Michael Jewell, (916) 557–6605, e-mail: michael.s.jewell@usace.army.mil.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  TheSunridge Specific Plan area is a masterplanned area consisting of nine residential and commercial developments located in eastern Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, CA. The Specific Plan, which was originally approved by the County of Sacramento in 2002, is part of a larger planning effort in the City of Rancho Cordova called the Sunrise-Douglas Community Plan. Three of the nine projects in the Sunridge Specific Plan area have been built. The Proposed Action is the construction of the remaining six projects in the Specific Plan area. Collectively, these six projects are referred to as the Sunridge Properties. The overall purpose of the action is to construct a large residential development, including supporting infrastructure, in southeastern Sacramento County, California.

Between 2005 and 2007, the Corps completed Environmental Assessments, made Findings of No Significant Impact, and issued DA permits for five of the six Sunridge Specific Plan projects. The permitted projects are Anatolia IV, Sunridge Village J, Grantline 208, Douglas Road 98, and Douglas Road 103. A DA permit decision has not been rendered for the sixth project, Arista Del Sol.

The EIS includes an evaluation of a reasonable range of alternatives, including several on-site and off-site alternatives. Three alternatives were carried through for detailed analysis: (1) The no action alternative, (2) the proposed action (the applicants’ preferred projects), and (3) a reduced footprint alternative. The no action alternative is limited to development in uplands, avoiding all waters of the United States. The reduced development footprint alternative involves less development with fewer impacts to waters of the United States.

A Draft EIS was issued on July 2, 2010. The Draft EIS was noticed in the Federal Register on July 2, 2010 (Vol. 75, No. 127, page 38502) and a public notice was issued by the Corps, both soliciting public input. The Corps also held public meetings on July 27, 2010, regarding the EIS. During the public review period, the Corps received eleven letters with comments. The Final EIS includes responses to each of the comments received.

Comments on the Final EIS must be submitted to the Corps by November 15, 2010. The public and affected federal, state, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and other organizations and parties are invited to comment. Electronic copies of the Draft EIS may be found on the Corps’ Web
site at http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/ organizations/cespk-co/regulatory/EISs/ EIS-index.html. A hard copy of the Final EIS may also be requested by contacting Michael Jewell. In addition to this notice, the Corps will issue a public notice advising interested parties of the availability of the Final EIS. Interested parties may register for Corps’ public
notices at: http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/ organizations/cespk-co/regulatory/ pnlist.html. All comments on the Final EIS will be addressed in the Record of
Decision. Dated: October 5, 2010. Michael S. Jewell, Chief, Regulatory Division, Sacramento District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

[FR Doc. 2010–25989 Filed 10–14–10; 8:45 am]

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**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers** 

**Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of open meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), announcement is made of the following committee meeting:

Name of Committee: Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board (EAB).

Topic: The EAB will discuss national considerations related to ecosystem restoration through integrated water resources management with emphasis on long-term recovery in the Gulf of Mexico, sea level rise in south Florida, and progress and status of South Florida ecosystem restoration.

Date of Meeting: October 29, 2010. Place: The Westin Colonnade, 180 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida

33134.

Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thirty minutes will be set aside for public comment. Members of the public who wish to speak are asked to register prior to the start of the meeting. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Statements are limited to 3 minutes.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Ms. Rennie Sherman, Executive Secretary, rennie.h.sherman@usace.army.mil, 202–

761–7771.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The EAB advises the Chief of Engineers by providing expert and independent advice on environmental issues facing the Corps of Engineers. The public meeting will include discussion between the EAB and the Chief of Engineers and may include presentations related to the topics of discussion. The meeting is open to the public, and public comment is tentatively scheduled for 30 minutes beginning at 11:15.

Brenda S. Bowen, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 2010–25988 Filed 10–14–10; 8:45 am]

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