[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 54453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22386]



[[Page 54453]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Proposed Report of the Chief of Engineers and 
the Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact 
Report Within the City of San Clemente Extending 3,412 ft (1,040 m) 
From Linda Lane to T Street

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Proposed Report of the 
Chief of Engineers and the Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/R) which analyzes the potential 
environmental effects associated with the proposed action and 
alternatives for providing shoreline protection to approximately 3,412 
feet ([ft], 1,040 meters [m]) of the San Clemente shoreline from 
coastal storms. Maintaining the beach is needed to prevent the beach 
erosion that results from winter storms and to prevent damage to 
adjacent commuter and national defense rail line that runs along the 
beach through the City. In addition, the loss of sand at the beach 
would have an impact on City beachfront structures and beach 
recreation, which contributes to the local economy, and would reduce 
the ecological functioning of the sand beach/littoral zone.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea E. Walker, CECW-PC-3H21, 
Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 441 G Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Without-Project Conditions and Damages. Prior to urban 
development in the 1990s, the beaches within the study area remained 
relatively stable because of a balanced sediment supply delivered from 
the San Juan Creek to the Oceanside littoral cell. However, documented 
historical beach widths above the Mean Sea Level (MSL) line between T 
Street and Mariposa Point were as narrow as 82 ft (25 m) in the winter 
months during this time period. As a consequence, storm damages 
occurred in the past (e.g. 1964, 1983, 1988 and 1993), as the 
protective buffer beach width was narrow, particularly in the winter 
season.
    Since the 1990s, the project area has experienced chronic, mild, 
long-term erosion. Shoreline retreat is a result of the decrease of 
fluvial sand supply resulting from the concreting of creeks and rivers, 
upstream dams, and urban development. Continued future shoreline 
retreat is expected to result in storm waves breaking directly upon the 
railroad ballast, which significantly threatens the operation of the 
rail corridor. Continued future shoreline retreat also will subject 
public facilities to storm wave-induced damages. These facilities, 
maintained by the City of San Clemente, include the Marine Safety 
Building, public restroom facilities located on the beach, and 
lifeguard stations. If no action is taken, public properties and 
structures are expected to be susceptible to damages caused by erosion 
(including land loss and undermining of structures), inundation 
(structures), and wave attack (structures, railroad).
    2. Railroad Damages. The Los Angeles to San Diego (LOSSAN) railroad 
line, separating the active coastline from the coastal bluff and 
adjacent backshore development, has experienced railway traffic service 
delays as a result of the narrowing shorelines. These delays occur when 
storm wave run-up exceeds the elevation of the Southern California 
Regional Railroad Authority (SCRRA) protective revetments or the crest 
of the railroad ballast in the without-revetment segments. Two service 
disruption incidents of approximately 24 hours occurred in the 1960s 
and 1970's at Mariposa Point (north of the Pier) and at a location 
south of the Pier, respectively. In response, the SCRRA and Orange 
County Transportation Authority have constructed un-engineered riprap 
revetment in areas where the railroad ballast and tracks are vulnerable 
to storm wave-induced damages. Over the past ten years, storm wave 
attack in the study area has restricted train services periodically and 
during the 1998 El Nino, the protective revetment structure sustained 
severe damage that significantly slowed train speeds. The railroad line 
is used to service various national defense facilities between Los 
Angeles and San Diego.
    3. Coastal Storm Damages. Public beach facilities located have 
experienced damages from storms, as the existing beach has historically 
acted as a buffer against storm wave attack but has been narrowed. 
These facilities include the Marine Safety Building, public restroom 
facilities located on the back beach, lifeguard stations, parking 
areas, and paving near the Pier. The 1983 El Nino storm season resulted 
in an estimated damage of $3,277,000 to public beach facilities in the 
study area. If no action is taken, the City of San Clemente's 
properties and structures will be susceptible to future damages caused 
by erosion (including loss of land and of properties), inundation, and 
wave attack. The majority of the National Economic Development (NED) 
damages/costs are related to LOSSAN railroad protection/construction 
and O&M costs. On an annual basis, the LOSSAN costs are $1,280,000 and 
the annualized value of all damage is $1,424,000.
    4. Internet. The FEIS is also available for review on the following 
Web sites: Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District Internet site: 
http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/cms/index.php. City of San Clemente's Web 
site is: http://san-clemente.org/sc/News.aspx?PageID=1.
    5. The Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued no sooner than 30 
days after publication of the notice of availability in the Federal 
Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-22386 Filed 8-31-11; 8:45 am]
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