[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30015-30016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14661]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration 
Project, San Diego County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Service, San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space 
Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA), and Southern California Edison (SCE) 
propose to participate in the restoration of the San Dieguito Wetlands, 
as well as process a Park Master Plan for the area that would address 
upland restoration and public access. The tidal wetland restoration 
portion of the project would involve the excavation of approximately 
130 acres of land located both east and west of I-5 and would generate 
approximately 2.07 million cubic yards of dredged material. Upland 
restoration would involve converting old agricultural fields to various 
native habitats. A system of public trails is also proposed for 
development within the study area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding the scoping process or preparation of the EIS/EIR 
may be directed to Mr. Jack Fancher, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 
Loker Ave., West, Carlsbad, California 92008, (760) 431-9440 or Ms. 
Victoria Touchstone, Principal Planner, San Dieguito River Park JPA, 
1500 State Street, Suite 280, San Diego, California 92101, (619) 235-
5440 ex. 13.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Project Location

    The project is located in the western San Dieguito River Valley 
both within the northwestern most portions of the City of San Diego and 
the City of Del Mar. The project boundaries are generally located from 
El Camino Real west to the ocean and for the most part include the 
public properties located south of Via de la Valle and north of the 
Carmel Valley planning area.

Proposed Action

    The purpose of the project is to implement a tidal wetland 
restoration project at the San Dieguito Lagoon that would both restore 
the aquatic functions of the lagoon through permanent inlet maintenance 
and expansion of the tidal basin and create approximately 120 acres of 
subtidal and intertidal habitats. Other secondary purposes include 
development of a Park Master Plan for the area that would address 
upland and non-tidal wetland habitat restoration and public access.
    It is anticipated that tidal restoration work at San Dieguito 
Lagoon would be accomplished primarily with funds provided by Southern 
California Edison and partners (SCE). SCE would fund restoration at San 
Dieguito, provided the restoration satisfies the conditions of the 
California Coastal Commission (CCC) permit for the construction and 
operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The 
Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), National Marine 
Fisheries Service, CCC, California Department of Fish and Game, and 
several local agencies have participated in the development of a 
conceptual proposal for restoring wetland and aquatic functions at San 
Dieguito Lagoon that would, among other things, satisfy the CCC permit 
condition for SONGS. Although this proposal will be assessed in the 
EIS/EIR review process as one of an appropriate range of restoration 
alternatives, the agencies have not yet determined whether this 
conceptual proposal is the preferred approach for restoring the optimal 
mix of wetland and aquatic functions at San Dieguito Lagoon.
    The project goal is to preserve, improve, and create a variety of 
habitats within the project site to increase and maintain fish and 
wildlife and ensure the protection of endangered species. Project 
objectives state that the wetland project design should ensure adequate 
tidal and fluvial flushing and circulation to support a diversity of 
biological resources while maintaining the appearance of a natural 
wetland ecosystem. Proposals for upland restoration should complement 
the adjoining coastal wetland areas and provide habitats that have 
historically occurred in the area. Proposed public access and use areas 
should be sited in a manner that would not interfere with the naturally 
functioning ecosystem or the open space character of the western San 
Dieguito River Valley.
    The proposed project would consist of the following elements: (1) 
Tidal inlet maintenance to maintain the regular tidal exchange in 
perpetuity through excavation of approximately 5 acres of the river 
channel and periodic maintenance dredging to -3 to -3.5 National 
Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD); (2) excavate tidal and upland areas to 
create approximately 120 acres of subtital and intertidal habitat; (3) 
create approximately 10 acres of seasonal salt marsh; set aside 
approximately 19 acres within the

[[Page 30016]]

project area for the creation of nesting habitat for the California 
least tern; (5) construct levees within the river's effective flow area 
in order to maintain the existing sediment flows within the river and 
to the beach; (6) identify appropriate sites for dredge disposal; (7) 
restore native habitat to non-tidal areas surrounding the wetland 
restoration project; and (8) create public access trails and 
opportunities for interpretation.

Alternatives

    Over the past several years various informal meetings have been 
held involving local, state, and federal agencies, as well as members 
of the public, to discuss various alternatives for achieving the 
overall project goal of restoring the coastal wetlands at the San 
Dieguioto Lagoon. As a result of that effort, a number of alternatives 
have been developed which include ``No Action,'' Reduced Levee, Mixed 
Habitat, Maximum Tidal Basin, and Maximum Salt Marsh. The Mixed Habitat 
Alternative is the SCE proposed alternative. As a result of the scoping 
process, it is possible that these preliminary project alternatives 
will be further refined and/or additional alternatives considered. Once 
identified, the final alternatives will be carried forward into 
detailed analysis pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 432 et seq.) and the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended (Public Resources 
Code, Section 21000-21177).

Scoping Process

    The Service and the JPA are preparing a joint Environmental Impact 
Statement/Report (EIS/R) to address potential impacts associated with 
implementing their respective discretionary actions for the proposed 
project. The Service is the Lead Federal Agency for compliance with 
NEPA for the Federal aspects of the project, and the JPA is the Lead 
State Agency for compliance with CEQA for the non-Federal aspects of 
the project. The Draft EIS/R (DEIS/R) document will incorporate public 
concerns in the analysis of impacts associated with the Proposed Action 
and associated project alternatives. The DEIS/R will be sent out for a 
minimum 45-day public review period, during which time both written and 
verbal comments will be solicited on the adequacy of the document. The 
Final EIS/R (FEIS/R) will address the comments received on the DEIS/R 
during public review, and will be furnished to all who commented on the 
DEIS/R, and made available to anyone that requests a copy during a 
minimum 30-day period following publication of the FEIS/R. The final 
step involves, for the Federal EIS, preparing a Record of Decision 
(ROD) and, for the State EIR, certifying the EIR and adopting a 
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan. The ROD is a concise summary 
of the decisions made by the Service (in cooperation with the Corps) 
from among the alternatives presented in the FEIS/R. A certified EIR 
indicates that the environmental document has been completed in 
compliance with CEQA, that the decision-making body of the lead agency 
reviewed and considered the FEIR prior to approving the project; and 
that the FEIR reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and 
analysis.
    A public scoping meeting to solicit public comment on the proposed 
action and alternatives will be held on Monday, June 15, 1998 at 7:00 
pm, in the Solana Beach City Council Chambers, 635 South Highway 101, 
Solana Beach, California.

    Dated: May 28, 1998.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-14661 Filed 6-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M