[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21226]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Corps of Engineers; Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Whitewater River Basin (Thousand Palms) 
Flood Control Feasibility Study, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY:  The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an EIS to support 
the proposed flood protection study within the Thousand Palms area of 
the Coachella Valley. The area to be studied extends from Long Canyon 
to Indio, and from the Indio, and from the Interstate-10 Freeway to the 
Indio Hills. The purpose of the proposal is to identify measures that 
will provide flood protection of the FEMA flood hazard zone and flood 
plain. Secondary objectives include: consideration of environmental 
opportunities to enhance the viability of the Coachella Valley Preserve 
(an endangered species preserve); and development of coincidental 
recreation opportunities along project rights-of-way. Alternative 
measures include detention basins, channels, and, or, levees to control 
runoff from the Indio Hills, as well as a no action alternative. The 
EIS will analyze potential impacts on the environment of a range of 
alternatives, including the recommended plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Hayley Lovan, Project 
Environmental Coordinator, (213) 452-3863, or Mr. Brian Whelan, Study 
Manager, (213) 452-3795.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to 
prepare an EIS to assess the environmental effects associated with the 
proposed flood protection measures within the Thousand Palms area. The 
public will have the opportunity to comment on this analysis before any 
action is taken to implement the proposed action.

Scoping

    a. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a scoping meeting 
prior to preparing the EIS to aid in determination of significant 
environmental issues associated with the proposed action. The public, 
as well as Federal, State, and local agencies are encouraged to 
participate in the scoping process by submitting data, information, and 
comments identifying relevant environemtal and socioeconomic issues to 
be addressed in the environmental analysis. Useful information includes 
other environmental studies, published and unpublished data, 
alternatives that could be addressed in the analysis, and potential 
mitigation measures associated with the proposed action.
    b. A public scoping meeting will be held in the community of 
Thousand Palms the week of August 5, 1997, concurrent with a public 
workshop. The location, date, and time of the public scoping meeting 
will be announced in the local news media. A separate notice of this 
meeting will be sent to all parties on the study mailing list.
    c. Individuals and agencies may offer information or data relevant 
to the environment or socioeconomic impacts by attending the public 
scoping meeting. Comments, suggestions, and requests to be placed on 
the mailing list for announcements should be sent to Hayley Lovan, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los 
Angeles, CA 90053-2325, ATTN: CESPL-PD-RQ.

Availability of the Draft EIS

    The draft EIS is scheduled to be published and circulated in 
December, 1998, and a public hearing to receive comments on the Draft 
EIS will be held after it is published.

    Dated: July 28, 1997.
Herbert M. Chong,
Captain, Corps of Engineers, Acting District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 97-21226 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]
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