[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40880-40881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16219]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Improvements to the USIBWC Tijuana River Flood Control 
Project in San Diego County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), and USIBWC procedures for implementing NEPA. The USIBWC 
anticipates the need to improve maintenance practices or functionality 
of the Tijuana River Flood Control Project (Tijuana River FCP) located 
in southern San Diego County, California. Measures under consideration 
include changes in vegetation management within the floodway, water 
quality improvements, and support to local or regional initiatives for 
multipurpose use of the project for wildlife habitat development and 
other environmental improvements. Identified measures were incorporated 
into a Multipurpose Project Management (MPM) Alternative for long-term 
improvement of the Tijuana River FCP.
    A Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) was prepared 
to evaluate potential consequences of changes associated with the MPM 
Alternative relative to the continuation of current operation and 
maintenance (O&M) activities (No Action Alternative). The USIBWC will 
apply this programmatic evaluation as a guideline for the environmental 
impacts assessment of future individual projects considered possible at 
a conceptual level, but not currently anticipated for implementation. 
Following the programmatic evaluation of potential impacts, the MPM 
Alternative was adopted as the preferred option for long-term 
improvements to the Tijuana River FCP. In implementing this 
alternative, the USIBWC will continue to improve functionality of the 
Tijuana River FCP to meet its mandate for flood control while 
supporting regional initiatives for improvement of water quality and 
environmental conditions.

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 USIBWC operates and maintains the 
Tijuana River FCP located in southern San Diego County, California. The 
flood control project, constructed in 1978, provides flood protection 
in urban, suburban, and agricultural areas in the United States. It 
consists of a two-levee system that runs along a modified stream 
channel 2.3 miles long, extending from the international border to the 
start of the natural Tijuana River channel. The floodway between the 
levees encompasses approximately 400 acres. The Tijuana River FCP is 
located upstream of natural resources conservation areas managed by the 
County of San Diego, State of California, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service. These conservation areas are of great regional value as they 
contain a diversified plant and animal species assemblage that includes 
many protected animal and plant species.
    The USIBWC anticipates a need for improvements in O&M practices of 
the Tijuana River FCP. Potential changes would include measures to 
support local and/or regional initiatives to improve environmental 
conditions and/or water quality, incorporated into the MPM Alternative. 
Most improvements are conceptual-level measures considered feasible but 
not currently envisioned for implementation. Known or anticipated 
improvements are typically associated with utilization of the flood 
control project in support of local or regional initiatives for 
multipurpose use of the Tijuana River FCP for wildlife habitat 
development and other improvements in environmental conditions.
    A PEIS was prepared to assess potential consequences of 
implementing new maintenance practices and

[[Page 40881]]

improvements that would allow USIBWC to meet its mandate for flood 
protection while minimizing potential impacts and taking advantage of 
environmental improvement opportunities. Potential consequences of the 
MPM Alternative were evaluated relative to the No Action Alternative, 
which is continuation of current O&M activities. A Draft PEIS was 
released for a 45-day public review period on August 10, 2007. Comments 
on the Draft PEIS were received from four federal agencies, four 
California State agencies, the County of San Diego, the City of 
Imperial Beach, and two individual reviewers. Oral comments were also 
received from three presenters during a public hearing held in the City 
of Imperial Beach, California on August 30, 2007. The Notice of 
Availability of the Final PEIS was published in the Federal Register on 
May 14, 2008.
    Finding: Because of its potential to improve biological resources 
and environmental conditions, the MPM Alternative was identified as the 
preferred option for long-term improvement to the Tijuana River FCP. In 
implementing the MPM Alternative, the USIBWC will continue to improve 
functionality and maintenance of the Tijuana River FCP to meet its 
mandate for flood control while supporting regional initiatives for 
improvement of environmental conditions, including improved water 
quality and wildlife habitat development, both within the floodway and 
downstream from the Tijuana River FCP.
    Availability: Copies of the Record of Decision may be obtained by 
request at the above address. Electronic copies may also be obtained 
from the USIBWC Home Page at: http://www.ibwc.gov.

    Dated: July 10, 2008.
Susan Daniel,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8-16219 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-P