[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25070-25071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10184]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Cancellation of the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the 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; cancellation.

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SUMMARY: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby 
cancels its notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the 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, as published in the Federal Register on April 25, 
2002 (67 FR 20497).
    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 indicated a Federal interest in 
continuing with more detailed studies for these purposes. In accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DEIS was 
required to evaluate and compare ecosystem restoration, flood damage 
reduction, and recreation alternatives within and along two reaches of 
the San Antonio River. The DEIS was also required to assess the impacts 
to the quality of the human environment associated with each design 
alternative.
    Past channelization and clearing of floodways associated with the 
SACIP, along with urbanization, have significantly degraded the 
terrestrial and aquatic habitat along and within the San Antonio River. 
Consequently, ecosystem restoration measures were developed and 
evaluated to address the degraded habitats. In addition, recreation 
measures were developed and evaluated as complements to proposed 
ecosystem restoration measures. The preliminary lack of significant 
adverse impacts from proposed project design alternatives and the lack 
of public controversy indicated that a DEIS was no longer required 
under NEPA. Instead, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will prepare a 
Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the 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. Therefore, the 
cancellation of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a DEIS is being 
filed for publication in the Notice Section of the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eli A. Kangas, CESWF-PER-PF, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, 819 
Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300, phone (817) 886-1924, fax 
(817) 886-6498.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alternatives for ecosystem restoration, 
flood damage reduction, and recreation are being developed and 
evaluated based on ongoing fieldwork and data collection and past 
studies conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the San Antonio 
River Authority, and the City of San Antonio. Ecosystem restoration 
alternatives that are being

[[Page 25071]]

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 alternatives 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 are being 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 are being evaluated include diversion 
channels and/or channel modifications of various widths and depths and/
or a combination of these measures. Recreation measures that are being 
evaluated include multipurpose trails and passive recreation features, 
such as interpretive guidance, 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 given the opportunity to review the DEA during 
the 30-day public comment period. Prior to the close of the comment 
period, any person may make a written request for a public meeting, 
setting forth the particular reasons for the request. The District 
Engineer will then determine whether the issues raised are substantial 
and should be considered in his decision. If a public meeting is 
warranted, all known interested parties will be notified of the time, 
date, and location of such a meeting in the local news media. Release 
of the DEA for public comment is scheduled for June 2004. The exact 
release date, once established, will be announced in the local news 
media.

    Dated: April 21, 2004.
John R. Minahan,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 04-10184 Filed 5-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-20-M