[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4232-4234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1825]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Future 404 Permit Actions for the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan and 
Associated Facilities along Portions of the Santa Clara River and its 
Side Drainages, Los Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as implemented by the regulations of the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR 1500-1508, the Corps of 
Engineers announces its intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS)

[[Page 4233]]

to address proposed future 404 permit activities associated with the 
phased development of the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan, and associated 
Water Reclamination Plant, along a portion of the Santa Clara River, 
Los Angeles County, California. To eliminate duplication of paperwork, 
the Corps of Engineers intends on preparing a joint DEIS and Draft 
Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) pursuant to the California 
Environmental Quality Act prepared by the California Department of Fish 
and Game per 40 CFR 1506.2 and 1506.4.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bruce Henderson, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Attention: Regulatory Branch, 2151 Alessandro Drive, 
Suite 255, Ventura, California 93001, phone: (805) 641-1128, e-mail: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Backgound

    The Newhall Ranch Project is located in nothern Los Angeles County 
and encompasses approximately 12,000 acres. The Santa Clara River and 
State Route 126 traverse the northern portion of the Specific Plan 
area. The river extends approximately 5.5 miles east to west across the 
site. In March 1999, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 
approved the Specific Plan which establishes the general plan and 
zoning designations necessary to develop the site with residential, 
commercial, and mixed uses over the next 20 to 30 years. The Newhall 
Ranch Specific Plan also includes a Water Reclamation Plant at the 
western edge of the project area. Individual projects, such as 
residential, commercial, and industrial developments, roadways, and 
other public facilities would be developed over time in accordance with 
the development boundaries and guidelines in the approved Specific 
Plan. Many of these developments would require work in and near the 
Santa Clara River and its side drainages (``waters of the United 
States'').
    The Newhall Ranch Company would develop most of the above 
facilities. However, other entities could construct some of these 
facilities using the approvals or set of approvals issued to The 
Newhall Ranch Company. The proposed 404 permit would also include 
routine maintenance activities to be carried out by Los Angeles County 
Department of Public Works using the 404 permit issued to The Newhall 
Ranch Company. Any party utilizing a 404 permit issued to The Newhall 
Company would be bound by the same conditions in the 404 permit.

2. Proposed Action

    The project proponent and landowner, The Newhall Ranch Company, has 
requested a long-term 404 permit from the Corps of Engineers. The 
project to be addressed in the EIS consists of those facilities 
associated with the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan that would require a 
404 permit including the following:
     Bank protection comprised of buried soil cement or buried 
riprap with native vegetation planted in the overlying soil in areas 
proposed for land development, and grouted riprap and gunite placed 
near bridge abutments;
     Two new bridges constructed across the Santa Clara River 
at Potrero Valley Road and Long Canyon Road;
     Modifications of several side drainages (i.e. San Martinez 
Grande, Chiquito, Potrero, Long, and Middle canyons) for drainage and 
flood control purposes (larger drainages noted above are proposed to be 
modified and reconstructed as open soft-bottom channels with grade 
control structures; buried storm drains are proposed for smaller 
drainages with peak flows of less than 2,000 cfs);
     Two wastewater lines placed across the river at Potrero 
Canyon and upstream of Long Canyon Road;
     Potentially other utility line crossings for water, oil, 
and gas lines;
     Numerous storm drain outlets, most of which are 
anticipated to empty into water quality control facilities prior to 
discharging to the river;
     Several bridges or drainage facilities associated with the 
Magic Mountain Parkway and Valencia Boulevard extensions;
     Bank protection associated with the Water Reclamation 
Plant;
     Various trails and observation platforms for recreational, 
educational, and wildlife viewing purposes; and
     Routine maintenance of the above flood control facilities 
by removal of sediment or vegetation to preserve hydraulic design 
capacity and protect property.

3. Scope of Analysis

    The DEIS will be a project-level document which addresses a number 
of interrelated actions over a specific geographic area that (1) would 
occur as logical parts in the chain of contemplated actions, and (2) 
would be implemented under the same authorizing statutory or regulatory 
authorities. The information in the EIS will be sufficient for the 
Corps to make a decision on the issuance of a long-term 404 permit for 
the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan.
    The document will be a joint Federal and state document. The 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California 
Environmental Quality Act for the same project. The Corps and CDFG will 
work cooperatively to prepare a joint DEIS/DEIR document, and to 
coordinate the public noticing and hearing processes under Federal and 
state laws.
    The impact analysis will follow the directives in 33 CFR 325 which 
requires that it be limited to the impacts of the specific activities 
requiring a 404 permit and only those portions of the project outside 
of ``waters of the United States'' over which the Corps has sufficient 
control and responsibility to warrant Federal review. The Corps will 
extend the geographic scope of the environmental analysis beyond the 
boundaries of ``waters of the United States'' in certain areas to 
address indirect and cumulative impacts of the regulated activities, 
and to address connected actions pursuant to NEPA guidelines (40 CFR 
1508(a)(1)). In these upland areas, the Corps will evaluate impacts to 
the environment and identify feasible and reasonable mitigation 
measures and the appropriate state or local agencies with authority to 
implement these measures if they are outside the authority of the 
Corps. In evaluating impacts to areas and resources outside the Corps' 
jurisdiction, the Corps will consider the information and conclusions 
from the Final Program EIR for the Specific Plan prepared by Los 
Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. However, the Corps will 
exercise its independent expertise and judgement in addressing indirect 
and cumulative impacts to upland areas due to issuance of the proposed 
404 permit.

4. Alternatives

    Various alternatives will be addressed in the EIS that would avoid 
or lessen any significant impacts associated with the proposed 
facilities, and/or that would reduce impacts to the aquatic 
environment, while still meeting the overall project purpose and need. 
The applicant has identified the project purpose and need as providing 
facilities for drainage, flood control, transportation, water and 
wastewater treatment, and utilities, as well as maintenance activities 
necessary to implement the approved Specific Plan. Alternatives to be 
considered include modifications (e.g., size, location, etc.) to the 
proposed facilities, or alternative designs for these facilities. 
Alternatives will focus on alternative methods to

[[Page 4234]]

achieve the required flood control, river crossing, and drainage within 
the context of the Specific Plan. Specific alternatives will be 
developed after public scoping is completed, but will include the 
following types of alternatives:
     Alternative bridge locations or designs including changes 
in the precise alignments of the proposed bridges within specified 
corridors across the river, and the use of alternative bridge pier and 
embankment designs to reduce impacts to riparian resources.
     Alternative bank protection designs including use of 
environmental (biotechnical) or non-traditional bank protection 
methods, such as geotextiles.
     Complete avoidance of encroachment where bank protection 
would not be placed within the banks and channel of the mainstem of the 
Santa Clara River and flood control improvements would not be 
implemented along side drainages.
     Reduced encroachment along the mainstem where the proposed 
encroachment along the mainstem of the Santa Clara River for bank 
protection would be reduced by relocating certain reaches of bank 
protection to upland areas, outside the banks of the Santa Clara River.
     Reduced encroachment along side drainages where the 
proposed number of side drainages converted to storm drains or uniform 
flood control channels would be reduced.

5. Scoping Process

    Federal, State, and local agencies and other interested private 
citizens and organizations are encouraged to send their written 
comments to Mr. Bruce Henderson at the address provided above. This 
scoping comment period will expire 30 days from the date of this 
notice.
    Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS include:
     Hydrology, flooding, and sedimentation--a description of 
the potential impacts of bank protection and bridges; analysis of the 
change in river and tributary hydrology and hydraulics, particularly 
related to flood frequency and location, peak discharge, bank and 
channel bed erosion, water velocity, scouring potential at bridges, and 
alteration of sediment deposition patterns.
     Water quality--potential effects on quality of surface and 
ground water due to construction activities in the watercourses and due 
to urban stormwater runoff associated with adjacent upland development. 
The effect of any discharges of treated wastewater from the proposed 
Water Reclamation Plant on surface and ground water will also be 
addressed.
     Wetlands and riparian vegetation--potential effect on the 
nature and amount of wetland and riparian vegetation within the 
watercourses, and potential changes in successional patterns in the 
watercourses due to altered hydrology and sedimentation patterns.
     Threatened and endangered species--potential adverse 
impacts on listed and other sensitive species including, but not 
limited to, the unarmored three-spine stickleback, arroyo chub, Santa 
Ana sucker, least Bell's vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, and 
arroyo toad due to habitat loss, changes in hydrology, and/or human 
encroachment. A Section 7 endangered species consultation will be 
conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential impacts 
to listed species. Impacts to designated critical habitat for the least 
Bell's vireo will also be addressed in the consultation.
     Fish and wildlife--in general, potential changes in 
populations of the native fauna due to reduction or alteration of the 
wetland and adjacent upland habitats along the Santa Clara River and 
its side drainages.
     Air quality--potential impact of emissions associated with 
the construction of project facilities on local and regional air 
quality, and conformity with the South Coast Air Quality Management 
Plan.
     Cultural Resources--potential impacts on archeological, 
ethnographic, paleontologic, and historic resources.
     Visual Resources--potential changes in the natural and 
man-made visual settings due to new bridges, bank protection, and urban 
development.
     Cumulative impacts--combined impacts of the proposed 
project and other ongoing and future projects affecting the Santa Clara 
River within both Los Angeles and Ventura counties, in relation to the 
Newhall Ranch Specific Plan.
    Coordination will be undertaken with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, California 
Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Coastal 
Commission.

6. Scoping Meetings

    A public scoping meeting to receive input on the scope of the EIS 
will be conducted on February 9, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. at the Valencia High 
School Auditorium, located at 27810 North Dickason Drive, Valencia, 
California. Participation in the scoping meeting by Federal, state, and 
local agencies, and other interested private citizens and organizations 
is encouraged.

7. DEIS Schedule

    A Draft EIS is expected to be issued for public review in summer of 
2000 and a Final EIS to be issued in late 2000.

Gregory D. Showalter
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-1825 Filed 1-25-00; 8:45 am]
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