[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23670-23671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9579]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report for the Encinitas and Solana Beach Shoreline Protection 
Project, San Diego County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to support a 
cost-shared feasibility study with the Cities of Encinitas and Solana 
Beach, CA, for shoreline protection along the coastline of these two 
cities. The purpose of the feasibility study is to evaluate 
alternatives for reducing shoreline erosion. The EIS/EIR will analyze 
potential impacts of the recommended plan and a range of alternatives 
for shoreline protection. Alternatives will include both structural and 
non-structural measures.

ADDRESSES: You may also submit your concerns in writing to the city or 
the Los Angeles District at the address below. Comments, suggestions, 
and requests to be placed on the mailing list for announcements should 
be sent to Larry Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325, or email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Mr. 
Larry Smith, Project Environmental

[[Page 23671]]

Coordinator, (213) 452-3846, or Ms. Susie Ming, Project Manager, (213) 
452-3789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authorization: House Public Works 
Transportation Committee Resolution dated May 13, 1993. The Army Corps 
of Engineers intends to prepare an EIS/EIR to assess the environmental 
effects associated with proposed erosion mitigating measures in the 
study area.
    Study Area: The study area is located along the Pacific Ocean 
coastline in the Cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach, San Diego 
County, CA. Encinitas is approximately 10 miles south of Oceanside 
Harbor, and 17 miles north of Point La Jolla. The City of Encinitas' 
shoreline, about 6 miles long, is bounded by Batiquitos Lagoon to the 
north and on the south by San Elijo Lagoon. The City of Solana Beach is 
bounded by San Elijo Lagoon to the north and on the south by the City 
of Del Mar. The City's shoreline is about 2 miles long for a total of 
about 8 miles of study area shoreline. A major portion of the shoreline 
segment consists of narrow sand and cobble beaches fronting nearshore 
bluffs. A small stretch of beach west of the San Elijo Lagoon is backed 
by Highway 101 (Pacific Coast Highway) and is the only segment of the 
beach not backed by coastal bluffs.
    Problems and Needs: A number of public concerns have been 
identified including:
    1. Bluff erosion threatens property, including state and city owned 
lands, roads, railroads and infrastructure, as well as private 
residences atop the bluffs.
    2. Public safety due to episodic bluff failure.
    3. Closure of Old Highway 101 at Cardiff during storm events.
    4. Bluff toe erosion and curtailed recreation activity resulting 
from eroded beach conditions.
    Proposed Action and Alternatives: The Los Angeles District will 
investigate and evaluate all reasonable alternatives to address the 
problems and needs identified above. In addition to the NO ACTION 
alternative, both structural (breakwaters, artificial reefs, groins, 
revetments, notch fills, and seawalls) and non-structural (best 
management practices, and beach nourishment) measures will be 
investigated.
    Previous Actions: The Los Angeles District originally published a 
Notice of Intent for this project in the Federal Register on September 
20, 2001. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR was published 
in the Federal Register on December 2, 2005. The project was modified 
following receipt of comments on the original Draft EIS/EIR. The 
modified project is the subject of this Notice of Intent.
    Scoping: The scoping process is ongoing and has involved 
preliminary coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies. Two 
public scoping meetings are scheduled. The first on May 2, 2012, from 1 
to 3 p.m. at City Hall, Poinsettia Room, 505 South Vulcan Avenue, 
Encinitas, CA. The second on May 2, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the 
Solana Beach City Hall, City Council Chamber, 635 South Highway 101, 
Solana Beach, CA. The public will have an opportunity to express 
opinions and raise any issues relating to the scope of the Feasibility 
Study and the EIS/EIR. The public as well as Federal, State, and local 
agencies are encouraged to participate by submitting data, information, 
and comments identifying relevant environmental and socioeconomic 
issues to be addressed in the study. Useful information includes other 
environmental studies, published and unpublished data, alternatives 
that could be addressed in the analysis, and potential mitigation 
measures associated with the proposed action. All comments enter into 
the public record. The scoping meetings will also serve as scoping 
meetings for the purposes of compliance with the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
    Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR: The Draft EIS/EIR is scheduled 
to be published and circulated in November 2012, and a public hearing 
to receive comments on the Draft EIS/EIR will be held after it is 
published.

    Dated: April 9, 2012.
Steven B. Sigloch, Jr.,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Acting Commander and Acting District 
Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2012-9579 Filed 4-19-12; 8:45 am]
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