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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16479-16480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05928]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare a joint Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Southport Sacramento 
River Early Implementation Project, West Sacramento, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a revision of the Notice of Intent published 
August 26, 2011 (76 FR 53423). 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) is 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report 
(EIS/EIR) under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as 
amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 
U.S.C. 1344), for the proposed Southport Sacramento River Early 
Implementation Project (EIP), sponsored by the West Sacramento Area 
Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA). Figures of the project area can be 
viewed at http://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/city/flood. WSAFCA is 
planning the Southport Sacramento River EIP to implement flood-risk 
management measures along the Sacramento River South Levee in the City 
of West Sacramento, Yolo County, CA. Since publication of the 2011 
Notice of Intent, WSAFCA has expanded the study area to include 
additional potential soil borrow sites. Material from these borrow 
sites may be used as part of project construction. The potential 
construction area extends along the right (west) bank of the Sacramento 
River south of the Barge Canal downstream approximately 6 miles to the 
South Cross Levee, adjacent to the Southport community of West 
Sacramento. The potential soil borrow sites are located to the east and 
west of southern Jefferson Blvd.; adjacent to the construction area; 
immediately west of the Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel; and south 
of the South Cross Levee. In order to implement the project, the 
sponsor must receive 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 project would bring the 
levee up to current Federal and state levee design standards, and 
provide some opportunities for ecosystem restoration and public 
recreation. USACE, acting as the federal lead agency under NEPA, and 
WSAFCA, acting as the state lead agency under the CEQA in coordination 
with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, have determined that an 
EIS/EIR should be prepared to describe alternatives, potential 
environmental effects, and mitigation measures.

DATES: Written comments regarding the scope of the environmental 
analysis should be received by April 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this study and requests to be 
included on the Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project 
mailing list should be submitted to Ms. Tanis Toland, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Sacramento District, Attn: Planning Division (CESPK-PD-
R), 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tanis Toland via telephone at 
(916)

[[Page 16480]]

557-6717, email: Tanis.J.Toland@usace.army.mil or regular mail at (see 
ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action. WSAFCA is proposing a project along the 
Sacramento River west levee under the California Department of Water 
Resources' Early Implementation Program to expeditiously complete 
flood-risk reduction measures. Known as the Southport Sacramento River 
EIP, the project proposes implementation of flood-risk reduction 
measures along a 6-mile long reach between the Barge Canal downstream 
to the South Cross Levee. Improvements to the levee would address 
through-seepage, under-seepage, and embankment instability (e.g., 
overly steepened slopes). 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 WSAFCA 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 the project area. 
Under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, the District Engineer 
may permit activities which do not affect navigable waters. Due to 
these authorities, USACE is the lead agency for the EIS pursuant to 
NEPA. WSAFCA is the lead agency for the EIR according to CEQA as the 
public agency that has the principal responsibility for carrying out 
and approving the project.
    2. Alternatives. The EIS/EIR will consider several alternatives for 
reducing flood damage. Each alternative analyzed during the 
investigation will consist of a combination of several measures to 
reduce the risk of flooding. These measures include, but are not 
limited to, installing slurry cutoff walls, constructing seepage or 
stability berms, relief wells, rock slope protection, slope flattening, 
and potential new levee alignments (setback or adjacent levees).
    3. Scoping Process.
    a. Public scoping meetings were held on September 15, 2011, to 
present information to the public and receive comments from the public 
on the project. An additional public scoping meeting will be held to 
present an overview of changes to the scope of the EIS/EIR since 
publication of the 2011 Notice of Intent, and to afford all interested 
parties with an opportunity to provide comments regarding the scope of 
analysis and potential alternatives. A public scoping meeting will be 
held on March 28, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. at the City of West Sacramento 
City Hall Galleria Room, 1110 W. Capitol Ave., West Sacramento, CA 
95691. The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. Scoping comments 
previously submitted following publication of the original August 26, 
2011, Notice of Intent are still valid and need not be resubmitted.
    b. Potentially significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the 
EIS/EIR 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, 
agricultural resources, 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 is also 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 all 
interested parties, individuals, and agencies to review and comment on 
the draft EIS/EIR. 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 is currently scheduled to be 
available for public review and comment in Summer 2013.

    Dated: March 7, 2013.
William J. Leady,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2013-05928 Filed 3-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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