[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 67 (Monday, April 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 17523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1744]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Report for 
the Sun Valley Environmental Restoration Project, Los Angeles County, 
CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental impact Report (EIS/EIR) 
for the Sun Valley Environmental Restoration Plan. The study area is 
located in the City of Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley portion 
of Los Angeles County, CA. The study area is comprised of 4.4 square 
miles of urban/industrial areas.
    The proposed Study will be conducted under the Authority for the 
Los Angeles County Drainage area (LACDA), Flood Control Project, Los 
Angeles County, CA. Which was initially authorized by Senate 
Resolution, approved June 25, 1969, reading in part:

    ``Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the United States 
Senate, that the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, created 
under Section 3 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, approved June 13, 
1902, be, and is hereby requested to review the report to the Chief 
of Engineers on the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Ballona 
Creek, California, Published a House Document Numbered 838, Seventy-
sixth Congress, and other pertinent reports, with a view to 
determining whether any modifications contained therein are 
advisable at the present time, in the resources in the Los Angeles 
County Drainage Area.''


DATES: Submit comments on or before May 9, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to Mr. Ronald Lockmann, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Environmental Resources Branch, Army 
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-PD-RN, 915 Wilshire 
Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ronald Lockmann, Phone (213) 452-
3847; Fax (213) 452-4204 or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOI is published to announce the Corps' 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report (EIS/EIR0 for the proposed environmental restoration 
project on a sub basin of the LACDA system and vicinity, City of Los 
Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. This plan attempts to reclaim 
sustainable native ecosystems on this site. The Tujunga Wash 
Reconnaissance Study (of which the Sun Valley Watershed was a part), 
dated September 2003, concluded ``although a detailed feasibility-level 
study of the complexity of the watershed would be an important first 
step, there do exist * * * opportunities for future environmental 
restoration studies. Essentially, conceptual alternatives would consist 
of a number of potential combinations of restoration sites operating in 
conjunction with one another * * * Total land area of alternative sites 
combined would be several hundred acres.''
    Sites would likely include one or more of the three major gravel 
extraction pits within the watershed, including the Sheldon Pit, the 
Boulevard Pit, and the Strathern Pit. The primary purpose, working in 
conjunction with the Local sponsor, Los Angeles County Department of 
Public Works, would be to facilitate ecosystem restoration through re-
establishment of native riparian, upland vegetation, creating 
constructed wetlands where feasible. Implementation of the proposed 
project would increase habitat quality of several degraded sites, and 
provide opportunity for wildlife species use and promote recreational 
opportunity. In addition, the proposed project includes water 
conservation, construction infiltration basins, and storm drains.
    Scoping Process. to initiate preparation of the EIS/EIR, the Corps 
will conduct a public scoping meeting. The public meeting would be 
conducted during the month of April 2007. Date, time and location of 
the public scoping meeting will be announced by means of letter, public 
announcements, news release or announced in the local news paper in the 
Sun Valley area. This scoping meeting will be held to solicit public 
input on significant environmental issues associated with restoring and 
expanding the native habitat and provide technical water conservation 
and recreational opportunities.
    The EIS/EIR will address potential impacts associated with the 
proposed action. Resource categories that will be analyzed are: land 
use, physical environment, geology, biological, agricultural, air 
quality, water quality, groundwater, recreational usage, esthetics, 
cultural, transportation/communications, hazardous waste material, 
socioeconomic and safety. the public, as well as Federal, State and 
local agencies are encouraged to participate in the scoping process by 
attending the scoping meeting and/or submitting data, information, and 
comments identifying relevant environmental and socioeconomic issues to 
be addressed in the environmental analysis.
    Individuals and agencies may offer information pertinent or data 
relevant to the proposed study and provide comments by mailing the 
information within thirty (30) days to Mr. Ronald Lockmann. Requests to 
be placed on the mailing list for announcements and the draft EIS also 
should be sent to Mr. Lockmann.

Brenda S. Bowen
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-1744 Filed 4-6-07; 8:45 am]
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