[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11007-11008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4291]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Adopt a Final Environmental Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, has 
reviewed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared by 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA), dated January 21, 2000, for State Route 125 South, between Otay 
Mesa and Spring Valley in San Diego, San Diego County, California. The 
Army Corps of Engineers intends to adopt all or a portion of the FEIS 
for purposes of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA).

DATES: Written comments must be received by March 23, 2001. This notice 
solicits comments on the Army Corps of Engineers intent to adopt the 
FEIS only.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CESPL-CO-R, San Diego 
Regulatory Field Office, 16885 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 300A, San 
Diego, California 92127. Comments may also be submitted, via electronic 
mail, to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Terry Dean, San Diego Regulatory 
Field Office, at (858) 674-5386.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project is to construct a 
controlled access tollway from Otay Mesa Road to State Route 54 with 
interchanges at Route 54, future Mount Miguel Road, East ``H'' Street, 
Telegraph Canyon Road, Olympic Parkway, and Otay Mesa Road. From 
Olympic Parkway to SR-54, four lanes would be initially constructed, 
with grading for the ultimate configuration to accommodate eight mixed 
flow lanes (plus a truck climbing lane where needed), a wide median for 
possibly two future high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes or a transit 
facility. The ultimate typical roadbed would be approximately 194 feet 
in width. From Otay Mesa Road to Olympic Parkway, four lanes (plus a 
truck climbing lane where needed) would be initially constructed, with 
grading for the ultimate configuration to accommodate two additional 
mixed flow lanes, and a wide median for possibly two future HOV lanes 
or transit facilities. The ultimate typical roadbed would be 
approximately 170 feet in width. The project would be 11.2 miles in 
length and the total right-of-way would encompass approximately 760 
acres. Impacts to aquatic resources would encompass an area of 
approximately 8.16 acres of wetlands (of which 0.24 acre is comprised 
of 34 vernal pools) and 2.15 acres of non-wetland waters of the United 
States (U.S.).
    On April 19, 2000, the Caltrans submitted an application for a 
Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act 
(CWA) to discharge fill material into 10.34 acres of waters of the 
U.S., including jurisdictional wetlands, to construct a controlled 
access tollway from Otay Mesa Road to State Route 54 with interchanges 
at Route 54, future Mount Miguel Road, East ``H'' Street, Telegraph 
Canyon Road, Olympic Parkway, and Otay Mesa Road. Impacts to aquatic 
resources would encompass approximately 8.16 acres of jurisdictional 
wetlands (of which 0.24 acre is comprised of 34 vernal pools which are 
within the NEPA Scope of Analysis) and 2.15 acres of non-wetland waters 
of the U.S. Specifically, the main stem of the roadway would impact 
7.21 acres of waters of the U.S., including 5.65 acres of wetlands and 
1.56 acres of non-wetland waters of the U.S.; the East ``H'' Street 
interchange would impact 2.15 acres of wetlands; the Telegraph Canyon 
Road interchange would impact 0.39 acre of wetlands; and the Olympic 
Parkway interchange would impact 0.59 acre of non-wetland waters of the 
U.S.
    Prior to the development of the Draft EIS (DEIS), several scoping 
meetings were held by the FHWA/California Department of Transportation 
(Caltrans) to identify local issues and areas of concern. On June 21, 
1996, the DEIS was filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA). The DEIS was circulated for public review from July 12 to 
September 3, 1996. During the public review period, the FHWA/Caltrans 
held a public hearing on August 15, 1996. A Supplemental DEIS was 
signed on March 29, 1999, and circulated for public review from April 
9, 1999, until May 24, 1999. The purpose of the Supplemental DEIS was 
to address potential impacts on the Federally-listed Endangered Species 
(the Quino checkerspot butterfly) and to notify the public of several 
minor design and alignment changes to avoid or minimize Corps 
jurisdictional impacts and conform to existing topography. A public 
hearing was held by Caltrans/FHWA on May 12, 1999, relative to the 
Supplemental DEIS. The FEIS was signed by the FHWA on January 21, 2000, 
and circulated for public review from February 8, 2000, to March 20, 
2000. On June 9, 2000, the FHWA signed the Record of Decision.
    The Army Corps of Engineers' Regulatory Program at 33 CFR 320-330 
requires compliance with the NEPA, the EPA's 404(b)(1) Guidelines, and 
a public interest evaluation. Accordingly, for purposes of the Army 
Corps of Engineers' compliance with the NEPA and to prevent duplication 
of effort, the Army Corps of Engineers intends to adopt all or a 
portion of the FEIS. However, we have determined further analysis is 
necessary to document compliance with our public interest requirements 
and the 404(b)(1)

[[Page 11008]]

Guidelines. We will be distributing a notice to the public of the 
receipt of an application by the Caltrans and solicit comments on the 
proposed project. An Environmental Assessment will be prepared to 
address the additional analysis and comments received in response to 
the Public Notice.
    Comments concerning the Caltrans' proposed project must be provided 
in response to the Los Angeles District Public Notice of the project 
application, which we anticipate, will be circulated on February 16, 
2001. This Public Notice can be obtained by submitting a written 
request to Mr. Terry Dean at the above listed address or by accessing 
our Internet web page at http://www.spl.usace.army.mil.

    Dated: February 14, 2001.
John P. Carroll,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 01-4291 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
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