[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 62 (Friday, April 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 16807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6486]



[[Page 16807]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Report/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the American 
River Watershed, California, Folsom Bridge Project, Sacramento County, 
CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA), the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Sacramento District, and City of 
Folsom (City) are preparing a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement/Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/SEIR) to 
support a project for the construction of a permanent bridge spanning 
the American River near Folsom Dam, California. The permanent bridge is 
part of the American River Watershed Project and was authorized by 
Congress in the energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2004 
(Pub. L. 108-137). The basic study authority for the American River 
Watershed study was provided under the Flood Control Act of 1962.

DATES: A public meeting will be held on April 27, 2005, at the Folsom 
Community Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this study 
to Ms. Jane Rinck, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 
Attn: Planning Division (CESPK-PD-R), 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 
95814. Requests to be placed on the mailing list should also be sent to 
this address. The public meeting address is Folsom Community Center, 52 
Natoma Street, Folsom, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jane Rinck, email at 
[email protected], telephone (916) 557-6715, or fax (916) 
557-7856.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Public Involvement: The Folsom Bridge Project is being 
coordinated between Federal., State, and local governments; local stake 
holders; special interest groups; and other interested individuals and 
organizations. Scoping meetings have been held to discuss the 
alternatives and effects to be evaluated in the SEIS/SEIR. The process 
provides an opportunity for the public to identify significant 
resources in the project area, as well as other issues of concern. To 
facilitate the process, the Corps and the City held three initial 
scoping meetings. The first meeting was held on March 9, 2004, in El 
Dorado Hills. The second meeting was held on March 10, 2004, in Granite 
Bay, and the third meeting was held on March 11, 2004, in Folsom. An 
additional public meeting will be held at the Folsom Community Center 
(see DATES and ADDRESSES). All comments received will be considered in 
the preparation of the draft SEIS/SEIR.
    The Corps will announce availability of the draft supplemental 
document in the Federal Register and other media, and will provide the 
public, organizations, and agencies with an opportunity to submit 
comments, which will be addressed in the final SEIS/SEIR. A 45-day 
public review period will be provided for individuals and agencies to 
review and comment on the draft SEIS/SEIR. All interested parties are 
encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current address if 
they wish to be notified of the draft SEIS/SEIR circulation.
    2. Project Information: The American River Watershed Project 
provides a plan for flood protection along the main stem of the 
American River by modifying levees to increase conveyance capacity, as 
well as an ecosystem restoration plan at selected sites along the Lower 
American River. The American River Watershed Project also increases 
flood control storage at Folsom Reservoir by raising the dam. The 
project area for the permanent bridge is located within the city limits 
of Folsom, California, in Sacramento County.
    As described in the final Supplemental Plan Formulation Report/EIS/
EIR for the American River Watershed, California, Long-Term Study, 
February 2002, the Corps initially proposed the construction of a 
2,400-foot-long temporary bridge downstream of the dam. The temporary 
bridge would have been provided a detour route across the American 
River during project-related construction when the Folsom Dam Road 
would be closed. After completion of the flood protection project, 
traffic would have been returned to the Folsom Dam Road. At the 
discretion of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau), the temporary 
bridge would have been dismantled or left in service to facilitate dam 
maintenance. However, this temporary bridge was replaced by a permanent 
bridge per Congressional direction in 2004.
    3. Proposed Action: The proposed action is limited to construction 
of a permanent bridge and associated roadway across the American River 
in the vicinity of Folsom Dam.
    4. Alternatives: The Corps will be evaluating various alignment 
alternatives for the bridge crossing and associated roadway. During 
evaluation of the preliminary alternatives, some parts of the 
alternatives may be modified or changed; some alternatives may be 
eliminated; and additional alternatives may be added. All alternatives 
would intersect Folsom Dam Road on the east, cross the areas between 
the dam and the Folsom State Prison, rise over the American River via 
the new bridge, and intersect with Folsom-Auburn Road on the west. Some 
potential alternatives include (1) No Action, (2) Alignment A--North 
Alignment through Bureau Facilities; (3) Alignment B--Alignment Between 
Bureau Facilities and Apartments Just South of Alignment A, (4) 
Alignment C--South Alignment Between the Apartments and Inwood Avenue 
South of Bureau Facilities.

    Dated: March 23, 2005.
Ronald N. Light,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-6486 Filed 3-31-05; 8:45 am]
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