[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 48433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23520]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Encinitas/Solana Beach Shoreline Protection and San Elijo Lagoon 
Environmental Restoration Feasibility Study, San Diego County, 
California

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

ACTION: Notice

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to support a cost-shared feasibility study with 
the Cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach, California, for shoreline 
protection and environmental restoration along the coastline of these 
two cities. The purpose of the feasibility study is to evaluate 
alternatives for reducing beach and shoreline erosion and investigate 
opportunities for environmental restoration in the San Elijo lagoon. 
Alternatives will include both structural and non-structural measures, 
and may include beneficial re-use of sand removed from the lagoon by 
placing it on the beach for shoreline protection. The EIS will analyze 
potential impacts of the recommended plan and a range of alternatives 
for lagoon environmental improvements.

ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, 911 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90053, Attn: Environmental 
Support Section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rey Farve, Project Ecologist (213) 
452-3864, or Bruce Williams, Study Manager, (213) 452-3818.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authorization: House Public Works 
Transportation Committee Resolution dated May 13, 1993. The Army Corps 
of Engineers intends to prepare an EIS to assess the environmental 
effects associated with proposed erosion mitigating measures in the 
study area.
    Study Area: The study area is located along the Pacific Ocean 
coastline in the Cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach, San Diego 
County, California. Encinitas is approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) 
south of Oceanside Harbor, and 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Point 
La Jolla. The City's shoreline, about 9.6 kilometers (6 miles) long, is 
bounded by Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and on the south by San Elijo 
Lagoon. Its southern, or downcoast, neighbor is the City of Solana 
Beach. Solana Beach is bounded by San Elijo Lagoon to the north and on 
the south by the City of Del Mar. The City's shoreline is about 3.2 
kilometers (2 miles) long for a total of about 8 miles of study area 
shoreline. A major portion of the shoreline segment consists of narrow 
sand and cobble beaches fronting nearshore bluffs.
    Problems and Needs: A number of public concerns have been 
identified including:
    1. Bluff erosion threatens property, mostly private residences atop 
the bluffs.
    2. Public safety due to episodic bluff failure.
    3. Closure of Old Highway 101 at Cardiff during storm events.
    4. Bluff toe erosion and curtailed recreation activity resulting 
from eroded beach conditions.
    5. Degradation of existing ecosystem at San Elijo Lagoon due to 
frequent closure of the lagoon entrance restricting tidal flushing and 
sedimentation in the lagoon reducing circulation and water area.
    Proposed Action and Alternatives: The Los Angeles District will 
investigate and evaluate all reasonable alternatives to address the 
problems and needs identified above. In addition to the NO ACTION 
alternative, both structural (artificial reefs, toe protection, beach 
restoration and maintenance, bluff retention structures, drainage 
control, etc.) and non-structural (management) measures will be 
investigated. Environmental measures may also include structural and 
non-structural measure to improve tidal hydrology and restore and 
maintain a healthy ecosystem within the lagoon. This may include 
removal of sediment from the lagoon which will be tested for 
suitability for beach placement. If found suitable, this material may 
be placed on the beach for shoreline protection as beneficial re-use.
    If not found suitable, the sediment will be removed to a different 
location, and the lagoon restoration project may then break off from 
the shoreline protection study and become an independent environmental 
restoration study for the remainder of the Feasibility phase.
    Scoping: The scoping process is on-going and has involved 
preliminary coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies. A 
public scoping meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on October 3, at the 
city of Encinitas--City Hall--Poinsettia Room 505 S. Vulcan Avenue, 
Encinitas, California. This information is being published in the local 
news media and a notice is being mailed to all parties on the study 
mailing list. The public will have an opportunity to express opinions 
and raise any issues relating to the scope of the Feasibility Study and 
the Environmental Impact Report. The public as well as Federal, State, 
and local agencies are encouraged to participate by submitting data, 
information, and comments identifying relevant environmental and 
socioeconomic issues to be addressed in the study. Useful information 
includes other environmental studies, published an unpublished data, 
alternatives that could be addressed in the analysis, and potential 
mitigation measures associated with the proposed action. All comments 
enter into the public record. You may also submit your concerns in 
writing to the city or the Los Angeles District at the address above. 
Comments, suggestions, and requests to be placed on the mailing list 
for announcements should be sent to Bruce M. Williams, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 
90053-2325, Attn: CESPL-PD, or e-mail to [email protected].
    Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is scheduled to be 
published and circulated in November, 2003, and a public hearing to 
receive comments on the Draft EIS will be held after it is published.

    Dated: September 7, 2001.
Richard G. Thompson,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 01-23520 Filed 9-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-M