[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20497-20498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10160]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Potential Multipurpose Projects for Ecosystem Restoration, Flood Damage 
Reduction, and Recreation Alternatives Within and Along the Portion of 
the San Antonio River Located in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Section 335 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 
2000, passed by Congress, amended the San Antonio Channel Improvement 
Project (SACIP) by authorizing ecosystem restoration and recreation as 
project purposes in addition to the previously authorized flood damage 
reduction project purpose. An initial assessment based on 
implementation guidance for Section 335 indicates a Federal interest in 
continuing with more detailed studies for these purposes. In accordance 
with the National

[[Page 20498]]

Environmental Policy Act, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
will be prepared to evaluate and compare ecosystem restoration, flood 
damage reduction, and recreation alternatives within and along two 
reaches of the San Antonio River. The DEIS will also assess the impacts 
to the quality of the human environment associated with each 
alternative. The northern reach study area will be bound by Hildebrand 
Avenue and Josephine Street, and the southern reach study area will be 
bound by South Alamo Street and a point approximately 0.7 miles south 
of Interstate 410 near Mission Espada. Past channelization and clearing 
of floodways associated with the SACIP, along with urbanization, has 
significantly degraded the terrestrial and aquatic habitat along and 
within the San Antonio River. Consequently, ecosystem restoration 
measures will be developed and evaluated to address the degraded 
habitats. In addition, recreation measures will be developed and 
evaluated as complements to proposed ecosystem restoration measures. 
Opportunities for ecosystem restoration and recreation opportunities 
will be evaluated primarily in the southern reach. Although preliminary 
findings indicate that flood damage reduction opportunities would exist 
to a greater extent in the northern reach compared to the southern 
reach, both reaches will be evaluated for flood damage reduction 
opportunities and consistency with past improvements. Flood damage 
reduction measures will address flooding problems in and around the 
river, specifically the River Road Community, Brackenridge Park and 
Golf Course, and businesses along Avenue B and Broadway Avenue.

DATES: Public meeting May 15, 2002 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

ADDRESSES: Meeting location is Blessed Sacrament Academy Gymnasium, 
1135 Mission Road, San Antonio, TX 78210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions pertaining to the proposed 
action and DEIS can be answered by: Mr. Thomas R. Vogt, CESWF-PM-C, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, Fort 
Worth, TX 76102-0300, telephone (817) 886-1378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is being pursued as part of the 
SACIP authorized under Section 203 of the Flood Control Act (FCA) of 
1954, as amended. The SACIP was originally authorized under the 
authority of Section 203 of the FCA of 1954 as part of a comprehensive 
plan for flood protection on the Guadalupe and San Antonio Rivers. All 
components of the authorized project, with the exception of the reach 
from Hildebrand Avenue to Josephine Street, have been constructed. 
Project authorization was further modified by Section 335 of WRDA 2000, 
which authorized ecosystem restoration and recreation as project 
purposes in addition to the previously authorized flood damage 
reduction project purpose.
    Alternatives for ecosystem restoration, flood damage reduction, and 
recreation will be developed and evaluated based on ongoing fieldwork 
and data collection and past studies conducted by the Corps of 
Engineers, the San Antonio River Authority, the City of San Antonio. 
Ecosystem restoration alternatives that will be evaluated include 
restoring meanders within the San Antonio River, restoring, protecting 
and expanding the riparian corridor, creating riffle-pool complexes, 
and constructing wetlands. It is anticipated that ecosystem restoration 
measures would aid in improving water quality, optimizing aquatic and 
terrestrial habitat, and minimizing erosion and scouring along and 
within the river. Alternatives for flood damage reduction measures will 
be evaluated from both a non-structural and structural aspect. Non-
structural measures that will be evaluated include acquisition and 
removal of structures or flood proofing of structures for protection 
from potential future flood damage. Structural measures that will be 
evaluated in the northern reach include diversion channels and/or 
channel modifications of various widths and depths and/or a combination 
of these measures. Recreation measures that will be evaluated for the 
enjoyment of residents and visitors alike include multipurpose trails 
and passive recreation features, such as interpretive guidance and 
media and picnic areas. Recreation measures will be developed to a 
scope and scale compatible with proposed ecosystem restoration measures 
without significantly diminishing ecosystem benefits.
    The public will be invited to participate in the scoping process, 
invited to attend public meetings, and given the opportunity to review 
the DEIS. The location and time of the first public meeting will be on 
Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at the address above, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
Subsequent public meetings, if deemed necessary, will be announced in 
the local news media. Release of the DEIS for public comment is 
scheduled for Fall 2003. The exact release date, once established, will 
be announced in the local news media.
    Future coordination with other agencies and public scoping will be 
conducted to ensure full and open participation and aid in the 
development of the DEIS. All affected Federal, state, and local 
agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and parties are hereby invited to participate. Future 
coordination will also be conducted with the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation (ACHP). The USFWS will furnish information on threatened 
and endangered species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. 
In addition, the USFWS will also be requested to provide support with 
planning aid and to provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
Report. The State Historic Preservation Office, designated as the State 
level administer of the national historic preservation program, will be 
consulted with as required by Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act. The ACHP will oversee the Section 106 review process 
and serve as a mediator should any conflicts or controversies arise.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-10160 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
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