[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38393-38394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19022]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Draft 
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/R) for the Napa River, California, 
Salt Marsh Restoration Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 38394]]

SUMMARY: The San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
together with its local sponsor, the California State Coastal 
Conservancy, and the California Department of Fish and Game, are 
conducting a feasibility study for restoration of salt marshes in areas 
currently occupied by constructed salt ponds west of the Napa River, 
Napa and Solano Counties, California. A reconnaissance study has 
determined that there is a Federal interest in an alternative that 
would restore four of the seven ponds to tidal marsh while reducing 
salinity in the remaining three ponds. This alternative would provide 
substantial ecological benefits, and has the support of the local 
sponsor and the California Department of Fish and Game.
    The Corps of Engineers is the lead agency for this project under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the California State 
Coastal Conservancy is the lead agency under the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The DEIS/R will enable the lead 
agencies to comply with the requirements of NEPA and CEQA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill DeJager at (415) 977-8670, or 
at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, 333 Market 
Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-2197.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Napa River, Salt Marsh Restoration 
Feasibility Study is being conducted under authority of a resolution 
adopted by the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the U.S. 
House of Representatives on September 28, 1994. A reconnaissance study 
of potential marsh restoration alternatives along the lower Napa River 
was completed in 1997. This study determined that there is a Federal 
interest in a marsh restoration project in the study area. A detailed 
(feasibility) study has subsequently been initiated with the California 
State Coastal Conservancy to support further Federal participation in 
the project. The California Department of Fish and Game, while not 
formally a sponsor, owns the salt ponds under study and is 
participating in the study.
    One alternative was developed for the reconnaissance study, based 
upon information available at that time. This alternative would 
initially remove excess salts from all the ponds using controlled 
flushing through new water control structures. After salt 
concentrations in the four less-saline ponds reaches levels close to 
that of San Pablo Bay, the water control structures would be removed 
and establishment and growth of tidal marshes would be allowed to occur 
naturally. The remaining three ponds would be retained as saline pond 
habitat, but with less-saline conditions than at present. Other 
alternatives could include pumping water through the pond complex to 
dilute salts, or using treated sewage effluent to dilute the salts.
    Due to uncertainties regarding the feasibility and environmental 
impacts of these alternatives, the first phase of the feasibility study 
will focus on gathering baseline data, developing restoration 
objectives, and conducting modeling of existing conditions and 
potential alternatives. The second phase of the study will develop and 
analyze specific alternatives for meeting study objectives.
    The Corps of Engineers is requesting public input during the 
preparation of the DEIS/R for this project. All interested Federal, 
State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, private organizations, and 
individuals are invited to participate in the environmental scoping 
process established by Federal regulations.
    A scoping meeting will be held at the Napa County Board of 
Supervisors offices, 1195 Third Street, Room 305, Napa, California on 
July 21, 1998 at 7:30 P.M. The purpose of the meeting will be to 
determine the environmental issues of concern to the public that should 
be addressed by the DEIS/R. A public comment period for the proposal 
will open on July 17, 1998 and will close on August 17, 1998. The 
public will have an additional opportunity to comment on proposed 
alternatives after the DEIS/R is released to the public at a later 
date.
    The DEIS/R will examine environmental issues of public concern 
arising from the scoping process, and project impacts already known to 
the Corps. These impacts will include, but are not limited to: 
wildlife, waterfowl, fisheries, threatened and endangered species, 
wetlands and mudflats, water quality, recreation, navigation and 
dredging, aesthetics, law enforcement, construction impacts, and 
concerns of nearby landowners.
    The DEIS/R will disclose the project's compliance with all 
applicable statutes, rules, and regulations. Included will be 
coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under the 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA), coordination with the FWS and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service under the ESA, and consultation with the State of California 
under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air 
Act.
    The California State Coastal Commission is issuing a separate 
notice regarding compliance with the requirements of CEQA. The 
aforementioned DEIS scoping meeting will also serve as a scoping 
meeting for the purposes of CEQA.
Peter T. Grass,
Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 98-19022 Filed 7-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-19-M