[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 67 (Thursday, April 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 16188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8107]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for the Aliso Creek, Orange 
County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of the study is to evaluate an approximately 7-
mile reach of the Aliso Creek and 1,000 feet of the Wood Canyon 
tributary to Aliso Creek located in Orange County in the Cities of 
Laguna Beach, Laguna Nigel, and Aliso Viejo, CA and unincorporated 
Orange County. Much of the 7-mile reach is located within the Aliso and 
Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, which is owned and managed by Orange 
County. The focus of the project will be on watershed improvements to 
restore the creek's dynamic function and habitat for endangered species 
by developing alternatives for ecosystem restoration for impacted 
reaches of the creek. The restoration project will focus on 
revitalization of the riparian vegetation community; establishment of 
an environmental corridor to benefit wildlife and sensitive species; 
creek stabilization, and addressing flood risk management. The 7-mile 
reach of Aliso Creek is located entirely within Orange County, CA.

DATES: Provide comments by May 10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Deborah Lamb at U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-PD-RL, P.O. Box 532711, Los 
Angeles, CA 90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Lamb, Regional Planning 
Section at (213) 452-3798; fax (213) 452-4204 or e-mail at 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authorization. The proposed study is authorized by House 
Document No. 838, 76th Congress 3rd Session, dated May 1954, which 
reads as follows:

    ``Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the House of 
Representatives, United States, that the Board of Engineers for 
Rivers and Harbors is hereby requested to review the reports on (a) 
San Gabriel River and Tributaries, published as House Document No. 
838, 76th Congress, 3rd Session; and (b) Santa Ana River and 
Tributaries, published as House Document No. 135, 81st Congress, 1st 
Session; and (c) the project authorized by the Flood Control Act of 
1936 for the protection of the metropolitan area in Orange County, 
with a view toward determining the advisability of modification of 
the authorized projects in the interest of flood control and related 
purposes.''

    2. Background. Aliso Creek. While much of the Aliso Creek project 
area is within an Orange County wilderness park and within the Natural 
Communities Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) 
Nature Reserve of Orange County (NROC), the creek is in a highly 
urbanized area with a high population concentration. As such, Aliso 
Creek has numerous water resource issues related to both human actions 
and natural processes which have raised concerns about the long-term 
survival of the watershed ecosystem. Fundamental problems that have 
been identified include channel instability, degraded water quality, 
loss of fish and wildlife habitat, and flood damage. Since 1997, there 
has been a multi-jurisdictional effort to address problems within the 
Aliso Creek watershed. The Aliso Creek Watershed Management Feasibility 
Study, sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Orange County, 
and municipalities and water districts within the Aliso Creek watershed 
boundary, was completed in July 1999. A wide range of technical studies 
have since been completed. Re-establishment of a healthy and 
sustainable watershed environment would serve to improve the 
environmental and economic conditions of the creek, including improving 
water quality, native habitat, and reducing flood damage.
    Alternatives to be considered are those that will further reduce 
degradation of the creek and the riparian ecosystem, improve ground and 
surface water quality, and reduce adverse water quality impacts from 
runoff.
    3. Scoping Process. a. A scoping meeting is scheduled for 7, May 
2009, 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Mission Viejo City Council Chamber, 200 Civic 
Center Mission Viejo, CA 92691, (949) 470-3000.
    For additional information on dates, times and locations please 
contact Deborah Lamb (see ADDRESSES), or at (213) 452-3798 or e-mail 
at: [email protected].
    Potential impacts associated with the proposed action will be 
evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed include: Physical 
environment, geology, biological resources, air quality, water quality, 
recreational usage, aesthetics, cultural resources, transportation, 
noise, hazardous waste, socioeconomics, safety, and sustainability.
    b. Participation of affected Federal, state and local resource 
agencies, Native American groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals is encouraged in the scoping process. Public participation 
will be especially important in defining the scope of analysis in the 
Draft EIS/EIR, identifying significant environmental issues and impact 
analysis of the Draft EIS/EIR and providing useful information such as 
published and unpublished data, personal knowledge of relevant issues 
and recommending mitigation measures associated with the proposed 
action.
    c. Those interested in providing information or data relevant to 
the environmental or social impacts that should be included or 
considered in the environmental analysis can furnish this information 
by writing to the points of contact indicated above or by attending the 
public scoping meeting. A mailing list will also be established so 
pertinent data may be distributed to interested parties.

    Dated: March 27, 2009.
Thomas H. Magness,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. E9-8107 Filed 4-8-09; 8:45 am]
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