[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 21174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10216]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Bolsa Chica Lowland Restoration Project Final Environmental 
Impact Statement/Report

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, and the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announces the availability of a final 
environmental impact statement/report (FEIS/R) for the Bolsa Chica 
Lowland Restoration Project, Orange County, California.

DATES: A 30-day review period will follow the Environmental Protection 
Agency's notice of availability of the FEIS/R on April 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Public reading copies of the FEIS/R will be available for 
review at:

Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert, Huntington Beach, 
California
Garden Grove County Regional Library, 11200 Stanford, Garden Grove, 
California
Fountain Valley Branch Library, 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley, 
California
Seal Beach Branch Library, 707 Electric Ave., Seal Beach, California
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Ave. West, Carlsbad, California
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 711 Wilshire Blvd., 14th 
floor, Los Angeles, California

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Fancher, Coastal Program 
Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Ave. West, Carlsbad, 
California 92008. Phone (760) 431-9440 or Pam Castens, Corps of 
Engineers, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California 90053-2325. Phone 
(213) 452-3851.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This FEIS/R has been prepared and is being 
circulated in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act 
(CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Fish and 
Wildlife Service and the Corps of Engineers are NEPA co-lead agencies, 
cooperating with six other State and Federal agencies on implementation 
of the proposed plan. This project involves the proposal to implement a 
comprehensive habitat restoration plan with a public access component 
for an approximately 1,300-acre area known as the Bolsa Chica Lowlands. 
The project site is in the western Orange County, California, next to 
the City of Huntington Beach, Pacific Coast Highway and Bolsa Chica 
State Beach.
    Major components of this planning effort are: (1) Restoration of 
full tidal influence through new inlet and bridge construction and 
expansion of the wetland's tidal prism by dredging, (2) creation and 
enhancement of aquatic habitats and intertidal wetlands, (3) creation 
of nesting and feeding areas for threatened and endangered birds, (4) 
preservation of nontidal wetlands, and (5) phased removal of oil 
extraction facilities from the wetlands area. It is anticipated that 
tidal restoration would be accomplished primarily by the Fish and 
Wildlife Service and partners. The Final EIS/R analyzes six project 
alternatives including other inlet locations and flood channel 
alignments. The lead agencies indicate a preference for the downcoast 
or southerly inlet location and no flood channel realignment.

    Dated: April 17, 2001.
Steve Thompson,
Acting Manager, California-Nevada Office, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10216 Filed 4-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P