[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 47458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22916]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement and 
Environmental Impact Report for the Sutter County Feasibility Study, 
Sutter County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken is a feasibility investigation to (1) 
address improvements for the existing flood management systems, (2) 
investigate additional areas of flood protection for Sutter County, and 
(3) integrate ecosystem restoration. The study area is located within 
the boundaries of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project in Sutter 
County and includes the Sacramento, Feather, and Bear Rivers; Natomas 
Cross Canal; Sutter and Tisdale Bypasses; Wadsworth Canal; Yuba City 
and communities of Live Oak, Meridian, Robbins, Pleasant Grove, and 
Nicolaus.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and EIS/EIR should be addressed to Liz Holland at (916) 557-6763 or by 
mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN CESPK-PD-R, 1325 J Street, 
Sacramento, California 95814-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

1. Proposed Action

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Reclamation Board of the 
State of California, and the County of Sutter are conducting a 
feasibility investigation. The study focuses on reducing flood damages 
within the county of Sutter, California. The study area includes the 
Sacramento, Feather, and Bear Rivers; Sutter and Tisdale Bypasses; 
Natomas Cross Canal; and Wadsworth Canal. County population centers 
include Yuba City and the communities of Live Oak, Meridian, Robbins, 
Pleasant Grove, and Nicolaus.

2. Alternatives

    The feasibility report will address an array of alternatives. 
Alternatives analyzed during the feasibility investigation will be a 
combination of one or more flood reduction measures identified during 
the reconnaissance phase; additional measures may be considered. These 
alternative measures include enlarge existing levees, levee 
realignment, ring levees, interceptor-levee/channel, reservoir 
reoperation, floodway protection program, dredging, vegetation 
management, and bypass reoperation/modification. Although an ecosystem 
restoration alternative has not been defined at this time, the 
alternatives currently identified would likely include ecosystem 
restoration components.
    a. No Action. There will be no flood control projects implemented 
for Sutter County.
    b. Enlarge existing levees along the Feather and Sacramento Rivers, 
and the Natomas Cross Canal.
    c. Realign levees along the Feather, Bear, and Sacramento Rivers.
    d. Construct a ring levee to the east of Yuba City.
    e. Construct a channel or levee intercepting flows above Yuba City.
    f. Reoperate Feather and Yuba River upstream reservoirs.
    g. Adopt local flood plain management plan.
    h. Remove sediment from the Sutter Bypass, Feather and Sacramento 
River, and canal systems.
    i. Reoperate State pumps and drain lines.
    j. Improve levees along the Sutter Bypass.
    k. Modify Tisdale Bypass to convey higher flows earlier.

3. Scoping Process

    a. The project study plan provides for a public scoping meeting and 
comment. The Corps has initiated a process of involving concerned 
individuals, and local, State, and Federal agencies.
    b. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS/EIR 
include appropriate levels of flood damage reduction, adverse effects 
on vegetation and wildlife resources, special-status species, 
esthetics, cultural resources, recreation, land use, fisheries, water 
quality, air quality, transportation, socioeconomic, and cumulative 
effects of related projects in the study area.
    c. The Corps will consult with the State Historic preservation 
Officer, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act Report as an appendix to the EIS/EIR.
    d. A 45-day public review period will be provided for individuals 
and agencies to review and comment on the draft EIS/EIR. All interested 
parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current 
address if they wish to be notified of the EIS/EIR circulation.

4. Availability

    The draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be available for public review 
and comment late in calendar year 2002.

    Dated: August 23, 2001.
Colonel Michael J. Conrad, Jr.,
Commanding.
[FR Doc. 01-22916 Filed 9-11-01; 8:45 am]
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