[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29082-29083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14380]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Rio Salado Environmental Restoration Project, Salt River, 
Cities of Tempe and Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an EIS to support 
the environmental restoration of stretches of the Salt River in the 
Cities of Tempe and Phoenix. The purpose of the proposal is to restore 
the Salt River to enhance the existing environment, restore and create 
wetland and riparian areas in both Indian Bend Wash and the Salt River, 
and create habitat for endangered species. The areas considered for 
analysis in the City of Tempe, consist of the lower portion of Indian 
Bend Wash and the Salt River immediately upstream of Tempe Town Lake. 
In the City of Phoenix, the proposed project area is the stretch of the 
Salt River from the Interstate 10 bridge downstream to 19th Avenue. The 
proposed project alternatives would include other stretches of the Salt 
River, as well as no action alternative. Other alternatives to be 
addressed in the EIS will include various sources of water for wetland 
restoration. The EIS will analyze potential impacts on the environment 
of a range of alternatives, including the recommended plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Kelly Ryan, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
3636 N. Central Ave, Suite 760, Phoenix, Arizona, 85012-1936 at (602) 
640-2003.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army Corps of Engineers intends to 
prepare an EIS to assess the environmental effects associated with the 
environmental restoration of portions of the Salt River in the Cities 
of Tempe and Phoenix. The public will have the opportunity to comment 
on this analysis before any action is taken to implement the proposed 
action.

Scoping

    a. The Army Corps of Engineers will conduct two scoping meetings, 
one in the City of Tempe and one in the City of Phoenix, prior to 
preparing the Environmental Impact Statement to aid in determining the 
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 environmental and 
socioeconomic issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis. 
Useful information includes other environmental studies, published and 
unpublished data, alternatives that should be addressed in the 
analysis, and potential mitigation measures associated with the 
proposed action.
    b. The locations, dates and times of both the public scoping 
meetings will be announced in the local news media. Separate 
notification of the meetings will also be sent to all parties on the 
project mailing list.
    c. Individuals and agencies may offer information or data relevant 
to the proposed project and the associated environmental or 
socioeconomic effects by attending the public scoping meeting. Comments 
on the proposed project, and requests to be placed on the mailing list 
for announcements and for the Draft EIS, should be sent to Mr. Alex 
Watt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Attn: CESPL-
PD-RQ, 911 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1435, Los Angeles CA 90017-3401.

Availability of the Draft EIS

    The Draft EIS is expected to be published and circulated for public 
review in January 1998. A public hearing to receive comments on the

[[Page 29083]]

Draft EIS will be held after it is published.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-14380 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
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