[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5655-5656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2214]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Plan Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Report

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Report for the San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration Plan, San Diego County, 
California.

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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 draft 
environmental impact statement/report (DEIS/R) for the San Dieguito 
Lagoon Restoration Plan, San Diego County, California.

DATES: A 45-day comment period will follow the Environmental Protection 
Agency's notice of availability of the DEIS/R on February 4, 2000. 
Comments

[[Page 5656]]

must be received no later than Monday, March 20, 2000. A Public Hearing 
to receive comments on the DEIS/R will be held on Monday, February 28, 
2000 at 7:00 PM in the City of Del Mar City Hall Annex, 235 11th St., 
Del Mar, California.

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

Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Ave. West, Carlsbad, California 
92008
San Dieguito River Park, 18372 Sycamore Creek Rd., Escondido, 
California 92025
Del Mar Library, 1309 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, California
Carmel Valley Library, 3919 Townsgate Drive, San Diego, California
Solana Beach Branch Library, 981 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite F, Solana 
Beach, California

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This DEIS/R has been prepared and is being 
circulated in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act 
(CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This project 
involves the proposal to implement a comprehensive habitat restoration 
plan with a public access component for an approximately 400-acre area 
known as the San Dieguito Lagoon. The project site is in the western 
San Dieguito River Valley under the influence of the Pacific Ocean, 
within the northwestern-most portions of the City of San Diego and the 
City of Del Mar in San Diego County, CA.
    A major component of this planning effort is a tidal restoration 
proposal to 1) restore the aquatic functions of the lagoon through 
permanent inlet maintenance and expansion of the lagoon's tidal prism 
and 2) create subtidal and intertidal habitats on both the east and 
west sides of Interstate 5, which bisects the project site. It is 
anticipated that tidal restoration would be accomplished primarily by 
Southern California Edison and partners (SCE), 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) Units 2 and 3. Upland habitat restoration, 
non-tidal wetland restoration, endangered species habitat improvements, 
and public trails and interpretive facilities would be provided by the 
San Dieguito River Park in cooperation with other agencies and 
organizations including the Fish and Wildlife Service, Coastal 
Conservancy, Cities of Del Mar and San Diego, and others. The draft 
EIS/R analyzes six project alternatives including the Mixed Habitat, 
Maximum Tidal Basin, Maximum Intertidal, Hybrid, Reduced Berm, and No 
Action Alternatives. Potentially significant environmental impacts have 
been identified in the areas of land use, landform alteration/visual 
quality, hydrology/water quality, traffic circulation, noise, air 
quality, geology and soils, public utilities, biological resources, and 
natural resources. The project includes measures to mitigate some 
potential impacts, while other mitigation will be made conditions of 
subsequent permits.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Fancher, Coastal Program 
Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Ave. West, Carlsbad, 
California 92008, phone (760) 431-9440.

    Dated: January 24, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California-Nevada Office, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2214 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P