[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38076-38077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13683]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
San Diego Shoreline Feasibility Study, Oceanside, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 
DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District of the USACE will prepare a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to support the San Diego 
Shoreline Feasibility Study, Oceanside, California. The Study Area 
includes the shoreline between Oceanside Harbor and the Agua Hedionda 
Lagoon within the cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad in northwest San 
Diego County. The study area shoreline is approximately seven miles in 
length. The project environment includes predominantly beach, coastal 
strand and/or marine inter-tidal/littoral/pelagic zones.
    The predominant problem that threatens the shoreline is continual 
beach erosion averaging 1.1 meters per year, despite the considerable 
amount of beach fill deposited, (totaling approx. 2.3 million cubic 
meters), on a periodic basis. Causes for this erosion has been 
attributed to upcoast harbor construction, dam construction, storm 
damage, and river sand mining.
    The loss of beach width and increased exposure of property has 
resulted in increased coastal damage, safety issues, and loss of 
recreation opportunities. This feasibility study will focus on 
addressing the problems and needs cause by beach erosion. The DEIS will 
analyze the potential impacts (beneficial and adverse) on the 
environment for the range of alternatives, including the recommended 
plan.
    The Los Angeles District and the City of Oceanside will cooperate 
in conducting this Feasibility Study.

ADDRESSES: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, ATTN: CESPL-PD-RN (L. Young), PO Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 
90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lisa Young, Environmental 
Coordinator, telephone (213) 452-3852, or Mr. Tony Risko, Chief, 
Coastal Studies, Group, telephone (213) 452-3833.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authorization

    This Feasibility Study was authorized by the House Public Works and 
Transportation Committee Resolution adopted April 30, 1992 which 
states: ``Resolved by the Committee on Public Works and Transportation 
of the Unites States House of Representatives, that in accordance with 
Section 110 of the River and Harbor Act of 1962, the Secretary of the 
Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, is requested to 
investigate the feasibility of providing shore protection improvements 
along the shores of the City of Oceanside, San Diego County, 
California, in the interest of shoreline protection and storm damage 
reduction and other related purposes.''

2. Background

    During the 1880's Oceanside Beach was approximately 90 meters wide. 
This shoreline width was further advanced in the floods of 1889, 1891, 
and 1916 bringing large volumes of sediment from the San Luis Rey and 
Santa Margarita Rivers. The City used the widened beach as a resource, 
and in 1927 a recreational pier, beachfront, strand, parking lots and 
houses were constructed in front of the seacliff. During this period a 
dam was also constructed on the San Luis Rey River to control flooding. 
At the start of the U.S. involvement in World War II, the

[[Page 38077]]

U.S. Marine Corps designed and contracted construction of a small boat 
basin in a narrow lagoon between the Santa Margarita and San Luis Rey 
Rivers to support an amphibious training base. This included four 
jetties, which were later extended. Another dam was constructed on the 
Santa Margarita River to control flooding in 1949.
    The presence of the coastal structures, such as jetties and 
breakwaters, has resulted in the disruption of sediment transport, 
creating a variety of localized shoreline effects. Sediment tends to 
accumulate at the beach north of the harbor, within the harbor 
entrance, and south of the harbor south jetty. However, erosion tends 
to occur downcoast of the labor. Damages reported by residents consist 
mainly of inundation damages and damages to revetment. These damages 
occur when storm wave conditions coincident with high tidal elevations 
or storm surge causes an elevated sea surface and higher wave run-up 
elevation. The majority of damages in Oceanside occurred during storms 
in 1977-1978, 1982-83, 1988, 1993-1994, and 1997-1998. In addition to 
high waves and water surface elevations, damage is intensified by 
shoreline erosion and beach retreat. Oceanside has historically 
experienced a narrow beach, but has recently undergone accelerated 
erosion. A large volume of material has been placed back on the beach 
during construction and maintenance dredging, but a deficit in sand for 
the beach still exists. The average recession of Oceanside Beach from 
1940-1999 is approximately 60 meters or 1.1 m/yr. In 1974, the USACE 
issued a position paper on beach erosion that tentatively indicated 
that the harbor was the primary cause of erosion.

3. Alternatives

    The Feasibility Study will focus on the problems and needs caused 
by beach erosion. In general, alternative plans will focus on reducing 
the beach erosion and improving sand accumulation through either 
construction or management project features such as groins, reefs, and/
or dredge and disposal. Other features may include coordinated 
environmental enhancement of the lagoons or river mouths in the project 
area.
    The primary undesirable impacts of concern from any of the 
alternatives will likely be related to temporary turbidity and 
displacement of sand dwelling organisms and their predators. These will 
be addressed in the study as part of the plan formulation of the 
Feasibility Study, and potential impacts will be analyzed in the DEIS.

4. Scoping Process

    Participation of all interested Federal, State, and County 
agencies, groups with environmental interests, and any interested 
individuals is encouraged. Public involvement will be most beneficial 
and worthwhile in identifying the scope of pertinent, significant 
environmental issues to be addressed; identifying and eliminating from 
detailed study issues that are not significant; offering useful 
information such as published or unpublished data; providing direct 
personal experience or knowledge which informs decision making; and 
recommending suitable mitigation measures to offset potential impacts 
from the proposed action or alternatives.

5. Public Scoping Meeting

    The specific date, location, and time of the public scoping meeting 
will be announced in the local news media at least two weeks prior to 
the meeting. A separate notice of this meeting will be sent to all 
parties on the study mailing list. The purpose of the scoping meeting 
will be to gather information from the general public or interested 
organizations about issues and concerns that they would like to see 
addressed in the DEIS. Comments may be delivered in writing or verbally 
at the meeting or sent in writing to the Los Angeles District at the 
address given above.

    Dated: May 20, 2002.
Richard G. Thompson,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 02-13683 Filed 5-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-M