[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 46489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18858]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Plan Draft 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 of Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Report for the Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Plan, Orange County, 
California.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) announce the availability of a draft environmental impact 
statement/report (DEIS/R) for the Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration 
Plan, Orange County, California.

DATES: A 45-day comment period will follow the Environmental Protection 
Agency's notice of availability of the DEIS/R on July 28, 2000. 
Comments must be received no later than Monday, September 11, 2000. A 
Public Hearing to receive comments on the DEIS/R will be held on 
Thursday, August 31, 2000 at 3:30 pm and again at 7 pm in the City of 
Huntington Beach Council Chamber, 2000 Main, Huntington Beach, 
California.

ADDRESSES: Public reading copies of the DEIS/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.

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). 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 wetland habitat restoration plan for an approximately 
1300-acre area known as the Bolsa Chica Lowlands to benefit shorebirds, 
waterfowl, coastal seabirds, marine fishes, and a full spectrum of 
coastal ecosystem biota. The project site is separated from the Pacific 
Ocean by a State beach and highway, within the southwestern-most 
portions of the City of Huntington Beach, Orange County, California. 
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.
    Potentially significant environmental impacts have been identified 
in the areas of land use, hydrology/water quality, air quality, and 
biological resources. Analyzed alternatives include: three different 
inlet locations and no new inlet, storm water runoff around or through 
the wetlands, and phased implementation of tidal restoration features. 
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 or Pam Castens, Corps of 
Engineers, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California 90053-2325. Phone 
(213) 452-3851

    Dated: July 19, 2000.
David G. Paullin,
Acting Manager, California-Nevada Office, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-18858 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P