[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45960-45961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17471]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Joint Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement and Environmental Impact Report for Sacramento River East 
Levee and Natomas Cross Canal Levee Modifications as a Feature of the 
American River (Common Features), CA Project

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

ACTION:  Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken is preparation of a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/
EIR) to address potential improvements to the existing flood control 
systems. The American River (Common Features) project is located in 
Sacramento and Sutter Counties. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) is currently completing slurry wall work on approximately 20 
miles of levee along the lower American River. In 1996 and 1999, 
Congress authorized modification of 12 miles of Sacramento River east 
levees and 5 miles of Natomas Cross Canal north and south levees in the 
Natomas basin area. Since that time engineering studies have shown that 
an additional 6 miles of levee improvements along the Sacramento River 
east levee are required for a total of about 18 miles from the mouth of 
the Natomas Cross Canal to Natomas Main Drain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and SEIS/EIR should be addressed to Liz Holland at (916) 557-6763 or by 
mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN CESPK-PD-R, 1325 J Street, 
Sacramento, CA 95814-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    The Corps, in partnership with the State of California, Reclamation 
Board and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency are conducting a 
study on modifying the levees in the Natomas Basin area, which will be 
documented in the SEIS/EIR. The study focuses on ways to improve flood 
protection to portions of the City and County of Sacramento and Sutter 
County lying within the Natomas Basin.

2. Alternatives

    The SEIS/EIR will address an array of flood control improvement 
alternatives. Alternatives analyzed during the investigation will 
include a combination of one or more flood protection measures. These 
measures include levee raising, seepage berms, seepage wells, and 
slurry walls.

3. Scoping Process

    a. The project study plan provides for a series of public scoping 
meetings to present information to the public and to receive comments 
from the public. The Corps has initiated a process to involve concerned 
individuals, and local, State, and Federal agencies.
    b. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the SEIS/EIR 
include: Adverse effects on vegetation and wildlife resources; special-
status species; esthetics; cultural resources; recreation; land use; 
fisheries; water quality; air quality; transportation and 
socioeconomics; and cumulative effects of related projects in the study 
area.
    c. The Corps will consult with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act Report as an appendix to the SEIS/EIR.
    d. A 30-day public review period will be provided for individuals 
and agencies to review and comment on the draft SEIS/EIR. All 
interested parties are

[[Page 45961]]

encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current address if 
they wish to be notified of the SEIS/EIR circulation.

4. Public Scoping Meeting

    A series of public scoping meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on 
the following dates: July 25, 2002, South Natomas Community Center, 
July 30, 2002, Teal Bend Golf Course; and July 31, 2002, Holt of 
California Conference Room.

5. Availability

    The draft SEIS/EIR is scheduled to be available for public review 
and comment in the summer of 2003.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-17471 Filed 7-10-02; 8:45 am]
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