[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 60 (Thursday, March 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14920-14921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7523]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed University of California at Merced and Associated 
Infrastructure Projects, Corps Permit Application Numbers 199900203 and 
200100570

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The University of California and County of Merced propose to 
construct a major university campus and associated infrastructure in 
Merced County, California. The project as proposed would impact over 92 
acres of waters of the United States, including vernal pools and other 
associated wetlands.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by Ms. Nancy Haley, (916) 557-7772, 
[email protected], 1325 J Street, Room 1480, Sacramento, CA 
95814-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicants have applied for Department 
of the Army permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to 
construct a tenth University of California campus to support 25,000 
full-time equivalent students and associated infrastructure. The 
proposed campus would be 2,000 acres in size, and comprised of a Main 
Campus (910 acres), Merced Irrigation District canals and easements (70 
acres), a Campus Land Reserve (340 acres), and a Campus Natural Reserve 
(750 acres).
    The Main Campus would consist of an academic core, student support 
services, student and faculty housing, campus support, on-campus 
research facilities, athletic and recreation facilities, and parking. 
The Campus Land Reserve is proposed for future growth of the University 
facility. The Campus Natural Reserve would be preserved and managed to 
maintain and enhance its natural environmental functions and values. 
Over 86 acres of waters of the United States would be directly impacted 
by this project. Additional indirect impacts to waters would likely 
occur; however those impacts have not yet been quantified.
    Construction of the first phase of the UC Merced Campus is proposed 
to begin in 2002, on about 110 acres of the existing Merced Hills Golf 
Course located at the southern end of the proposed Main Campus. The 
applicant has stated that construction of the first phase will not 
involve any placement of dredged or fill material into any waters of 
the United States, including wetlands.
    The proposed project is located east of Lake Road, and Yosemite 
Lake, approximately two miles northeast of the City of Merced, Merced 
County, California.
    Alternatives to be examined for the campus include: Bellevue Ranch 
site, Castle Airport site, City of Merced in-fill sites, and various 
configurations on, and/or adjacent to, the proposed project site.

[[Page 14921]]

    The Infrastructure project would include construction of a major 
north-south arterial north of Yosemite Road, portions of two additional 
minor arterial roadways and collector streets, and utility lines (storm 
drainage, sewer, potable water, fire and irrigation water, 
telecommunications, electric and gas) within the rights-of-way secured 
for those roadways. A storm water collection system would be 
constructed parallel to the major arterial roadway.
    Although this infrastructure is needed for the campus, it is 
proposed to be located and configured in such a manner as to allow the 
development of a campus community adjacent to the campus.
    The infrastructure would directly impact over 6 acres of waters of 
the United States. Indirect impacts have not yet been quantified. This 
project is located north of Yosemite Road, and parallel to Lake Road, 
northeast of the City of Merced, Merced County, California.
    No alternatives to the infrastructure have been identified to date. 
However, the proposed infrastructure, alternatives to its proposed 
size, design and location will be considered in the Section 404(b)(1) 
analysis that will be prepared for this application.
    The Corps' public involvement program includes several 
opportunities to provide oral and written comments. Affected Federal, 
state, local agencies, Indian tribes and other interested private 
organizations and parties are invited to participate. Significant 
issues to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS include, loss of waters of 
the United States, including vernal pools and other wetlands; cultural 
resources; threatened and endangered species; surface water and 
groundwater; water quality; socio-economic effects; aesthetics. The 
DEIS for both the Infrastructure and the UC Merced projects will be 
combined into one document to facilitate public review and analysis.
    The Corps has initiated formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act for 
eight, Federally threatened and endangered species and one species 
proposed for listing that may be affected by this project. In addition, 
the Corps will be consulting with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
regarding potential impacts to sites listed, or eligible for listing, 
on the National Register of Historic Places.
    Two scoping meetings will be held on April 18, 2002, at the Merced 
Civic Center. The first meeting will be held from 3:00p.m. to 5:00p.m., 
with the second from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.
    The estimated date when the DEIS will be made available to the 
public is Fall 2002.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-7523 Filed 3-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-EH-P