[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38779-38780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15965]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Mather Specific Plan Project, Sacramento County, CA, 
Corps Permit Application Number SPK-2002-561

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Sacramento District has prepared 
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to analyze the potential 
direct, indirect and cumulative effects of implementing the No Action 
alternative and three large-scale, mixed-use development alternatives 
in the approximately 5,749-acre Mather Specific Plan area, Sacramento 
County, California (note that approximately 2,554 acres of the Plan 
area contains existing development, primarily Mather Airport, a 
Commerce Center, a residential subdivision, lake and golf course).
    The purpose of the DEIS is to provide decision-makers and the 
public with information pertaining to the Applicant's Preferred 
Alternative and alternatives, and to disclose environmental impacts and 
identify mitigation measures to reduce impacts. The DEIS documents the 
existing

[[Page 38780]]

condition of resources in the Specific Plan area, concentrating on 
those areas proposed for development, and analyzes the potential 
impacts to resources as a result of implementing the alternatives. The 
alternatives considered in detail are: (A) Applicant's Preferred 
Alternative; (B) 2006 Conceptual Land Use Plan Alternative; (C) 
Multiple Preserves Alternative; and (D) No Action/No USACE Permit 
Alternative.

DATES:  All written comments must be postmarked on or before August 13, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing to: Kathleen Dadey, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Regulatory Division; 
1325 J Street, Room 1350, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922, or via email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kathleen Dadey at 916-557-5250, or 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sacremento County Office of Economic 
Development and Marketing (applicant) is seeking authorization from 
USACE for the placement of dredged or fill material into waters of the 
United States pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to develop 
portions of the Mather Specific Plan area. The overall project purpose 
is a large scale, mixed use development to promote economic and wetland 
conservation opportunities within the Mather Specific Plan area. All of 
the build alternatives include the following land uses: airport 
commercial, commercial development, parks and recreation, aggregate 
extraction, university village/residential, regional sports park and 
infrastructure, including roadways.
    Alternative A, the Applicant's Preferred Alternative, includes 
approximately 1,910 acres of development a 1,272-acre Preserve and a 
13-acre riparian buffer area. The applicant proposes to fill a total of 
40.25 acres of waters of the U.S., including seasonal wetlands, vernal 
pools and swales, channels and drainage ditches. The preserved areas 
would provide protection for wetlands (including vernal pools) and 
endangered species, including vernal pool fairy shrimp, vernal pool 
tadpole shrimp, and legenere. The Preserve would also protect federally 
listed critical habitat.
    Alternative B is based on a land use plan for the Mather Specific 
Plan area that was conceptually endorsed by the Sacramento County Board 
of Supervisors in February 2006. Alternative B includes a 1,064-acre 
Preserve and 27 acre riparian buffer area which would provide 
protection for wetlands and endangered species. This alternative 
anticipates development of approximately 2,011 acres. Alternative B 
also includes four ``avoidance areas'' totaling 93 acres within the 
parks and recreation and university village/residential areas. Impacts 
to waters of the U.S. associated with Alternative B would 39.64 acres.
    Alternative C proposes land uses identical to Alternative A with 
the addition of three smaller Preserves within the commercial 
development and university village/residential areas, with a total of 
33.65 acres of fill into waters of the U.S. Alternative C would develop 
approximately 1,836 acreas and includes 1,346 acres of Preserve and 13 
acres of riparian buffer area. Preserve areas would provide protection 
for wetlands and endangered species.
    Alternative D, No Action/No USACE permit, avoids the placement of 
dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including 
wetlands. A reduced amount of future development could occur without 
Department of the Army authorization, including infill development at 
Mather Airport and aggregate extraction in the southwestern corner of 
the project site. Because this alternative does not anticipate 
substantial economic development and related revenue to fund active 
management of a Preserve, however, the level of protection and 
management of wetland resources, listed species and their habitat is 
unknown.
    Comments on the DEIS must be submitted to USACE by August 13, 2012. 
The public and affected Federal, State and local agencies, Native 
American Tribes, and other organizations and parties are invited to 
comment. An electronic copoy of the DEIS may be found on the USACE Web 
site at: http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Overview/EnvironmentalImpactStatements.aspx. A hard copy of the DEIS is 
available for review at the USACE office during normal business hours. 
To schedule a time to view the hard copy, please contact Kathleen 
Dadey.
    The USACE will conduct a public meeting for the DEIS on July 25, 
2012 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Main Conference Room A at 10590 
Armstrong Avenue, Mather, California 95655. Interested parties can 
provide oral and written comments at this meeting.
    In addition to this Federal Register notice, USACE will issue 
public notices advising interested parties of the availability of the 
DEIS. Interested parties may register for USACE public notices at: 
http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/RegulatoryPublicNotices.aspx.

    Dated: June 20, 2012.
Braden G. LeMaster,
Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Deputy District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2012-15965 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P