[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62112-62113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25351]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
San Juan Creek and Tributaries Flood Risk Management Study, Orange 
County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
will prepare an EIS to support the San Juan Creek, South Orange County, 
Feasibility Study. The purpose of this feasibility study is to evaluate 
flood risk management alternative measures along the lower portions of 
San Juan, Trabuco, and Oso Creeks. The San Juan Creek Watershed 
encompasses approximately 176 square miles of southern Orange County 
and western Riverside County in southern California. The Orange County 
Public Works Department is the local sponsor for this study.
    The study area extends along approximately 10.5 miles of San Juan 
Creek from the Pacific Ocean to the southern end of Ronald W. Casper's 
Wilderness Park, at the confluence of Bell Canyon Creek; Trabuco Creek 
from its confluence with San Juan Creek north approximately 9.5 miles 
to its confluence with Tijeras Creek; and Oso Creek from its confluence 
with Trabuco Creek northwest approximately 4.5 miles to just north of 
Oso Parkway. The communities of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, 
Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera 
Ranch, and Las Flores are located within the study boundary.

[[Page 62113]]


DATES: A scoping meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the San Juan Capistrano 
Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, CA 
92675.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Gail Campos, the Environmental 
Coordinator at: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
CESPL-PD-RL, c/o Gail Campos, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-
2325. Phone and e-mail contacts are: Ms. Gail Campos at 213-452-3874 
and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authorization. The proposed study is authorized by a resolution 
of the Committee on Public Works; House of Representatives dated May 8, 
1964, 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, 3d Session; (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 to 
determining the advisability of modification of the authorized 
projects in the interest of flood control and related purposes.''

    2. Background. San Juan Creek is approximately 27 miles long, from 
the Cleveland National Forest in the Santa Ana Mountains to the Pacific 
Ocean at Doheny State Beach near Dana Point Harbor. The riverine 
corridor ranges from channelized segments with highly impacted 
environments with little vegetation, to segments in which there has 
been little change from the natural ecosystem.
    Trabuco Creek originates in the Santa Ana Mountains and flows for 
about 25 miles before the confluence with San Juan Creek. The lower 
several miles of Trabuco Creek have been channelized for flood risk 
management and erosion control within the City of San Juan Capistrano. 
The remainder of the Trabuco Creek channel remains in a relatively 
natural condition.
    Oso Creek originates in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains 
and flows for a distance of 13.5 miles before the confluence with 
Trabuco Creek. The lower 4.5 miles of Oso Creek include armored channel 
reaches, culverts, grade controls and drop structures, bridge crossings 
and detention basins.
    In response to the study authority, an interim watershed 
feasibility study was prepared in August 2002. This study will 
incorporate the prior data related to applicable problems, 
opportunities and evaluations for the downstream portions of the 
watershed.
    3. Objectives. The planning objectives for this study are:
     To reduce the risk of flood damages in lower portions of 
the watershed along San Juan, Oso and Trabuco Creeks.
     To address stream bank erosion and channel instability in 
the lower portions of San Juan, Trabuco and Oso Creeks.
     To maintain habitat values in the study area to the extent 
practicable.
    An iterative plan formulation and evaluation process will be 
documented in consideration of a range of potential flood risk 
management and channel stabilization alternatives.
    4. Scoping Process. Participation by affected federal, state and 
local resource agencies, Native American groups and concerned interest 
groups/individuals are encouraged to participate in the scoping 
process. Public participation is critical in defining the scope of 
analysis in the EIS, identifying significant environmental issues in 
the EIS, providing useful information such as published and unpublished 
data, personal knowledge of relevant issues and recommending mitigation 
measures to offset potential impacts from proposed actions. 
Additionally, the time and location of the public scoping meeting will 
be advertised in letters, public announcements and news releases.
    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 and safety.
    Those interested in providing information or data relevant to the 
study 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.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-25351 Filed 10-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P