[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 57 (Friday, March 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15297-15298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5903]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the San Luis Obispo Creek Watershed 
Waterway Management Plan, City and County of San Luis Obispo, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
has been prepared for the San Luis Obispo Creek Watershed Waterway 
Management Plan within the City and County of San Luis Obispo, 
California and is available for review and comment.

DATES: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
we have filed the DEIS with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
for publication of their notice of availability in the Federal 
Register. The EPA notice officially starts the 45-day review period for 
this document. It is the goal of the Corps of Engineers to have the COE 
notice published on the same date as the EPA notice. However, if that 
does not occur, the date of the EPA notice will determine the closing 
date for comments on the DEIS. Comments on the Draft EIS must be 
submitted to the address below under Further Contact Information and 
must be received no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday, 
May 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report can be viewed online at http://www.slocity.org/publicworks/documents.asp (Waterway Management Plan documents). Copies 
of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report 
and appendices are also available for review at the following 
government offices and libraries:
    Government Offices--City Public Works Department, 955 Morro Street, 
San Luis Obispo, California.
    Libraries: San Luis Obispo City/County Library, 995 Palm Street, 
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Henderson, Senior Project 
Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ventura Regulatory Field Office, 
2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite 110, Ventura, California 93001, Telephone: 
805/585-2145, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS was prepared as part of a joint 
document by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the 
City of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control & 
Water Conservation District (Zone 9) (City/Zone 9) pursuant to 
corresponding responsibilities under NEPA and the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, resulting in preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Report).
    The Corps of Engineers and City/Zone 9 prepared the Draft EIS/EIR 
evaluating the potential environmental impacts of the proposed San Luis 
Obispo Creek Watershed Waterway Management Plan (Program). The Program 
is a combination of policies, programs and plans proposed to address 
flooding and flood control along San Luis Obispo Creek and its 
tributaries on a regional or watershed-wide basis. Project planning for 
activities and development within and affecting the stream corridor has 
historically been managed or guided by policies of various agencies 
with little coordinated effort at consistent management techniques. The 
Program is comprised of a Waterway Management Plan (WMP), Stream 
Maintenance and Management Plan (SMMP), and Drainage Design Manual 
(DDM), which represent a consolidated effort to provide a consistent 
management

[[Page 15298]]

program for the waterway and watershed.
    There is a history of flooding along SLO Creek, with its attendant 
problems of erosion, and water quality and ecological issues. However, 
there are relatively few structural flood control features. The City/
Zone 9 identified the need to manage flooding within the SLO Creek 
watershed because urban uses have developed along the creek and its 
tributaries in the natural floodway. The under-city culvert and other 
manmade structures have reduced the capacity of the creek to convey 
floodwaters. The Program's objectives include (1) identification and 
prioritization of the amount and extent of flooding, erosion, water 
quality and ecological issues in the SLO Creek; (2) identification and 
development of programs to address these issues; (3) preparation of 
guidelines for design of future development and reconstructed 
developments in the SLO Creek watershed; (4) preparation of a 
programmatic environmental and permitting review process for 
implementation of Objectives 2 and 3 as applicable; and (5) development 
of an implementation program. It is anticipated this Program will 
result in a means by which the Corps and other pertinent agencies may 
comprehensively assess identified proposed actions within 
jurisdictional waters of the United States that encompass standard 
maintenance and replacement or improvement of existing flood 
structures, or repair of banks, channels, and stream habitats, and 
could include identified stream bank repair projects provided they are 
consistent with the Program. Other capital improvement projects for 
flood management not part of the City/Zone 9 Annual Work Plan would be 
subject to further review by the Corps and the local agency prior to 
implementation.
    Currently, the Corps asserts discretionary authority over bank 
stabilization measures within the SLO Creek and its tributaries. This 
was based on a determination that proposals to channelize or otherwise 
substantially impact the Creek and its tributaries, such as by armoring 
the banks, would result in greater than minimal cumulative impacts. In 
1996, the Corps requested that a comprehensive plan for the watershed 
be developed, the purpose and focus of which to ensure that aquatic 
resource impacts are avoided and minimized to the maximum extent 
practicable. The Corps suggested that the plan include an analysis of 
alternatives that meet the overall project purpose of anticipated flood 
control needs, an assessment of habitat quantity and quality, an 
assessment of habitat fragmentation along the stream corridors, and 
mitigation measures to offset unavoidable adverse impacts.

    Dated: March 10, 2005.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-5903 Filed 3-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-P