[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47796-47797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19548]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Draft Joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the San Clemente Shoreline Feasibility 
Study in San Clemente, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Los Angeles 
District, and the City of San Clemente are issuing this notice to 
announce the availability for public review and comment of a Draft 
Joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft 
EIS/EIR) for the San Clemente Shoreline Feasibility Study. The purpose 
of the San Clemente Shoreline Feasibility Study (Project) is to provide 
shore protection through nourishment of the beach at the Pier. 
Developing and maintaining the beach is needed to prevent the severe 
beach erosion that results from winter storms and to prevent damage to 
adjacent beachfront structures, including the heavily used rail line 
that runs along the beach through the City. The City of San Clemente is 
located along the coast of southern California about 60 miles (100 
kilometers) south of Los Angeles at the southern end of Orange County 
near the border of San Diego County. The study area is encompassed 
within the City of San Clemente and extends approximately 3,412 ft 
(1,040 m) from Linda Lane to T Street. The Proposed Project consists of 
dredging material from offshore Oceanside, then hauling and placing it 
at San Clemente Beach. The proposed Project is a 50 foot (15 m) 
resultant beach width. Beach fill would be 3,412 ft (1,040 m) long with 
a +17 ft (+5.2 m) crest elevation. The dredge volume is estimated to be 
approximately 251,130 cubic yards (192,000 m3). Construction is 
anticipated to begin in 2012.

DATES: The Draft EIS/EIR will be available for public review for 45 
calendar days from August 9, 2010, through September 23, 2010. Submit 
comments on or before September 23, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas W. Keeney, Project 
Ecologist, Planning Division, Environmental Resources Branch, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, 
CA 90053-2325, at (213) 452-3875 or at [email protected]. 
Written comments are to be provided to Mr. Keeney.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issues that were found not to be significant 
for the proposed Project included land use and policy. Issues that were 
found to be less than significant without the need for mitigation 
measures were geology and topography, noise, transportation, 
aesthetics, and public health and safety. The construction and long-
term maintenance of the proposed Project

[[Page 47797]]

would not have a significant effect on these elements, and the analyses 
of these issues are detailed in the environmental consequences section. 
The Project site is not listed as a toxic site.
    Although significant impacts to biological resources (i.e., 
surfgrass) and recreation (i.e., surfing) are not likely to occur due 
to the footprint and temporary nature of the Project, mitigation 
measures will be implemented if monitoring demonstrates impacts are 
significant. If a substantial amount of surfgrass were lost, impacts 
may not be mitigable to not significant. If adverse impacts to 
surfgrass beyond those anticipated for the species to recover are 
observed from the monitoring, subsequent nourishment activities will be 
modified to avoid or minimize these impacts as part of adaptive 
management. If adverse impacts still are observed after all reasonable 
attempts to avoid or minimize impacts have been exhausted, additional 
renourishment would not occur until impacted surfgrass has recovered or 
a mitigation measure is accepted. A consistently successful method to 
transplant surfgrass has not yet been devised, although recent 
experiments may provide new options. Creation of shallow habitat 
mitigation reefs may ultimately replace the lost surfgrass if surfgrass 
eventually colonizes the reefs; however, such colonization is 
uncertain. Likewise, if surfing is demonstrated to be significantly 
impacted, mitigation measures will be implemented; however, creation of 
an artificial surfing reef has not yet been successful off the coast of 
California.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, and City of 
San Clemente are soliciting comments on the adequacy and completeness 
of this Draft Joint EIS/EIR. You may comment on the draft environmental 
document by providing written comments to Mr. Thomas W. Keeney prior to 
the close of the public comment on September 23, 2010, at 5 p.m. Please 
limit comments to environmental issues, such as traffic, biology, 
noise, etc. A public meeting will be held at the Community Development 
Office, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673 on August 19, 2010, 
at 7 p.m.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-19548 Filed 8-6-10; 8:45 am]
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