[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 213 (Friday, November 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55644-55645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27630]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Va 
Shly'ay Akimel Salt River Restoration Project, Maricopa County, AZ

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to support the proposed study for the Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the City of Mesa. The Va Shly'ay 
Akimel study area is located in the upper Sonoran Desert in the Salt 
River watershed. It includes portions of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa 
Indian Community and the City of Mesa, and includes upland ares around 
the vicinity of the Salt River between the Pima Freeway (US 101) and 
Granite Reef Dam. The study area will be refined during the course of 
the study to include appropriate areas of consideration in accordance 
with the general study objectives.
    The proposed project involves restoration of riparian habitat along 
the Salt River in Maricopa County, also increased recreational 
opportunities consistent with ecosystem restoration.

ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: Stephen 
Dibble, CESPL-PD-RN, Los Angeles District, Ecosystem Planning Section, 
P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stephen Dibble, Environmental 
Manager, at (213) 452-3849. He can also be reached by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Study Authority: This study would be conducted under two 
separate authorities provided by Congress. The first and most recent 
authority is provided by House Resolution 2425 (HR 2425), dated May 17, 
1994. The second

[[Page 55645]]

authority is given in Public Law 761, Seventy-fifth Congress, known as 
Section 6 of the Flood Control Act of 1938.
    2. Proposed Action: Provide for restoration of riparian habitat, 
increase recreation facilities, and flood protection. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a Draft EIS to assess the 
environmental effects associated with the proposed VA Shly'ay Akimel 
project. The Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate impacts of 
viable alternatives along with a No Action Alternative. Resources 
categories that will be analyzed in the EIS are: land use, physical 
environment, geology, biological, agricultural, air quality, water 
quality, groundwater, recreational usage, aesthetics, cultural 
resources, transportation/communications, hazardous waste, 
socioeconomic and safety. The public will have the opportunity to 
comment on this analysis before any action is taken to implement the 
proposed action.
    3. Scoping Process: The Corps will conduct a scoping meeting prior 
to preparing the Environmental Impact Statement to aid in determining 
the significant environmental issues associated with the proposed 
action. The public, as well as Federal, State, and local agencies are 
encouraged to participate in the scoping process by submitting data, 
information, and comments identifying relevant environmental and 
socioeconomic issues to be addressed in the environmental analysis. 
Useful information includes other environmental studies, published and 
unpublished data, alternatives that should be addressed in the 
analysis, and potential mitigation measures associated with the 
proposed action.
    A public scoping meeting will be held in conjunction with the local 
sponsor to discuss the project scope and invite public participation in 
developing alternatives for the project. Individuals and agencies may 
offer information or data relevant to the environmental or 
socioeconomic impacts by attending the public scoping meeting, or by 
mailing the information to the above address.
    4. Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held in 
November 2001. The location, date, and time of the public scoping 
meeting will be announced by means of letter, public announcements and 
news releases.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-27630 Filed 11-1-01; 8:45 am]
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