[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27845-27846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10686]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Notice of Availability of the Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, Improvements to the USIBWC 
Tijuana River Flood Control Project

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission (USIBWC).

ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the United States Section, 
International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has prepared a 
Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) for 
future improvements to the Tijuana River Flood Control Project in 
southern San Diego County. The Draft PEIS, prepared in cooperation with 
the Los Angeles District, United States Army Corps of Engineers, 
analyzes potential effects of the No Action Alternative and a Multi-

[[Page 27846]]

purpose Project Management Alternative.
    Because improvement measures under consideration are at a 
conceptual level of development, the USIBWC has taken a broad 
programmatic look at the environmental implications of their 
implementation. The USIBWC will apply the programmatic evaluation as an 
overall guidance for environmental evaluations of future individual 
improvement projects developed for implementation. Once any given 
project is identified for implementation, site-specific environmental 
documentation will be developed based on project specifications and 
PEIS findings.

DATES: The Final PEIS will be available to agencies, organizations and 
the general public on May 14, 2008. A copy of the Final PEIS will also 
be posted in the USIBWC Web site at http://www.ibwc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Borunda, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 
North Mesa Street, C-100, El Paso, Texas 79902 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final PEIS analyzes potential effects of 
the No Action Alternative and a Multi-purpose Project Management (MPM) 
Alternative for potential environmental improvements to the Tijuana 
River FCP. Potential improvements incorporated into the MPM Alternative 
took into consideration measures for modified management of the 
floodway, and environmental measures supporting initiatives by federal 
agencies, local governments, and other organizations conducted, 
largely, under cooperative agreements. The No Action and MPM 
alternatives were evaluated in terms of their potential effects on 
water, biological, cultural and socioeconomic resources, land use, and 
environmental health issues.
    Based on the impact analysis, the USIBWC selected the MPM 
Alternative as the preferred option for improvements to Tijuana River 
FCP. The MPM Alternative incorporates measures for habitat development 
and water quality, and is consistent with the core project mission of 
flood control. Public participation in the PEIS development included a 
45-day review period of the Draft PEIS, and a Public Hearing held in 
the City of Imperial Beach, California on August 30, 2007. Copies of 
the Final PEIS have been filed with USEPA in accordance with 40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508 and USIBWC procedures. A Record of Decision on the PEIS 
alternative selection is anticipated 30 days following the Final PEIS 
publication date.

    Dated: May 7, 2008.
Susan E. Daniel,
Legal Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8-10686 Filed 5-13-08; 8:45 am]
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