[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9304-9305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4382]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the Santa Ana River Interceptor 
Protection/Relocation Project, Reach 9, Orange County, Riverside County 
and San Bernardino County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The project area, Reach 9 of the Santa Ana River, includes the 
approximate 12 kilometer (7.4 mile) section of the River immediately 
downstream of Prado Dam ending at Weir Canyon Road in the City of 
Anaheim. The portion of the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) sewage 
line that extends through this area is in potential jeopardy due to 
planned increases in flows from the Prado Dam. This segment will either 
need to be relocated out of the floodplain, or protected in place. Four 
general alternatives are being considered: (1) Relocate the pipeline to 
the North; (2) Relocate the pipeline to the South; (3) Protect the 
pipeline in place; or (4) No action. A combination of alternatives may 
also be considered.

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

DATES: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2004 at 7 
p.m. at the Yorba Linda Community Center, 4501 Casa Loma Ave., Yorba 
Linda, CA 92886.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. Killeen, Environmental Studies 
Manager, (213) 452-3861.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authorization. The study of potential flood control measures for 
the Santa Ana River Interceptor Relocation/Protection Project is a part 
of the Santa Ana River Mainstream Project which was initially 
authorized by Pub. L. 738, 74th Congress, June 22, 1936. Authorization 
of the recommended plan for the Santa Ana River Mainstream Project was 
the Water Resources Development Act of 1986.
    2. Background. The Santa Ana River flows for more than 60 miles 
through San Bernardino and Riverside Counties which are undergoing 
extreme urbanization and continues into already heavily urbanized 
Orange County. The Prado Dam which was designed to protect Orange 
County does not currently provide sufficient flood protection because 
of the continual development in the upstream watershed, reduction of 
the basin storage capacity due to sediment deposition, and other 
factors. Ongoing improvements and modifications by the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers (Corps) to Prado Dam will result in a potential three-fold 
increase in outflow. The SARI project was constructed as a joint effort 
of the Orange County Sanitation District and the Santa Ana Watershed 
Project Authority (SAWPA) in 1973. The Reach 9 segment of the SARI Line 
(the subject portion of the Santa Ana River), originally deeply buried, 
is now threatened with structural damage because of exposure of the 
pipe caused by erosion. The ongoing erosion will be greatly exacerbated 
by the Prado Dam improvement Project. If the pipe is damaged, the 
untreated wastewater would be introduced into the Santa Ana River and 
ultimately onto the beaches and into the coastal waters. Downstream 
Treatment Plants No. 1 and No. 2 could possibly be damaged by sand and 
debris that would likely be introduced into the broken pipe.
    3. Proposed Action. Protect in place or relocate the SARI line 
outside of the floodplain prior to completion of the Corps' Santa Ana 
River (Prado Dam) flood control project to prevent damages that would 
likely occur as a result of scouring by the water releases from Prado 
Dam.
    4. Alternatives.
    a. Alternative 1, No Action/No Project: without the project, the 
SARI Line (the subject portion in Reach 9 of the Santa Ana River), 
originally deeply buried, will be threatened with structural damage 
because of exposure of the pipe caused by erosion.
    b. Alternative 2, Protect in Place: Keep the existing SARI Line in 
use. Protect the existing line by the addition of grade stabilizers to 
control bed erosion and additional improvements to protect existing 
manholes. Project will include additional features as required to 
mitigate habitat and other environmental impacts. Maintenance would be 
via access roads in the flood plain which were constructed in 2001. The 
access roads will also need occasional maintenance.
    c. Alternative 3, Relocation North of the River: Replace the 
existing SARI Line between Weir Canyon Road and the Orange/Riverside 
County Lines with a pipeline on the north side of the River outside of 
the floodplain. Maintenance of the new portion of the SARI Line will be 
by way of the bike path beside La Palma Avenue and Yorba Linda and new 
Anaheim streets. The segment of pipeline within Riverside County would 
be protected in place.
    d. Alternative 4, Relocation to Edge of South Floodplain-One Yorba 
Linda Crossing: Replace the existing SARI Line between the control gate 
structure east of the SAVI Ranch Development and the Riverside County 
Line with a new pipeline on the south side of the River. Build a new 
system to connect Yorba Linda flows to the SARI Line via a pipeline in 
the bike path beside La Palma Avenue and a siphon under the River near 
SAVI Ranch to the new SARI Line near the existing control gate 
structure. Maintenance of the relocated portion of the SARI Line will 
be by way of the bike path beside Highway 91 and Anaheim Streets. The 
segment of pipeline within Riverside County would be protected in 
place.
    5. Scoping Process.
    a. Potential impacts associated with the proposed action will be 
evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed are: land use, 
physical environment, geology, biological resources, agricultural 
resources, air quality, ground water, recreational usage, aesthetics, 
cultural resources, transportation/communications, hazardous waste, 
socioeconomics and safety.
    b. Participation of affected Federal, State and local resource 
agencies, native American groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals is encouraged in the scoping process. Time and location of 
the Public Scoping meeting will also be announced by means of a letter, 
public announcements and news releases. Public participation will be 
especially important in defining the scope of analysis in the 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environment Impact Report (EIS/EIR), 
identifying significant environmental issues and impact analysis in the 
EIS/EIR and providing useful information such as published and 
unpublished data, personal knowledge of relevant issues and 
recommending mitigative measures associated with the proposed action. 
Those interested in providing information or data relevant to the

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environmental or social impacts that should be included or considered 
in the environmental analysis can furnish this information by writing 
to the points of contact indicated above or by attending the public 
scoping meeting. A mailing list will also be established so pertinent 
data may be distributed to interested parties.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-4382 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]
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