[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15305-15307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06011]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Angeles National Forest, California, Littlerock Reservoir 
Sediment Removal Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) and the Palmdale 
Water District (District) will prepare a joint Environmental Impact 
Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for sediment 
removal and construction of a grade control structure at Littlerock 
Reservoir, in Los Angeles County, California. The District has 
submitted an application to the Forest Service for a special use 
authorization for the project. The Forest Service is the lead Federal 
agency for the preparation of this EIS/EIR in compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the District is the lead 
State of California agency for the preparation of the EIS/EIR in 
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
    The Littlerock Dam and Reservoir are located on Littlerock Creek, 
on National Forest System (NFS) lands managed by the Angeles National 
Forest. The project is approximately 10 miles southwest of the city of 
Palmdale, California. The Dam and Reservoir are operated and maintained 
by the District, pursuant to a Forest Service special use permit. The 
facilities serve both flood control and municipal water storage 
purposes. The Reservoir also provides recreational opportunities for 
boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and off-highway vehicle riding.
    The proposed action would construct a grade control structure 
midway between the dam and the southern end of the Reservoir; remove 
sediment from the Reservoir to restore original capacity; and maintain 
capacity by conducting annual sediment removal through the life of the 
authorization, until 2037.
    The Forest Service and the District invite written comments on the 
scope of this proposed project. In addition, the lead agencies give 
notice of this analysis so that interested and affected individuals are 
aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis are requested by 
April 15, 2014. One public information and scoping meeting will be held 
at the Palmdale Water District, March 25, 2014, 7:00 p.m., 2029 East 
Avenue Q, Palmdale, CA 93550, (661) 947-4111. The Draft EIS/EIR is 
expected in September 2014 and the Final EIS/EIR is expected March 
2015.

ADDRESSES: To submit comments on the scope of the project or potential 
environmental impacts, or to request a copy of the Draft or Final EIS/
EIR, or to be added to the project mailing list, please write to the 
Forest Service/Palmdale Water District c/o Aspen Environmental Group, 
5020 Chesebro Road, Suite 200, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. Email 
communications should be sent to [email protected], and should include 
name and return address. Information about the project and the 
environmental review process will be posted on the Internet at: http://www.palmdalewater.org/LSR.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information related to 
the proposed project on NFS lands, contact Lorraine Gerchas, Project 
Manager, Forest Service, Angeles National Forest at 701 North Santa 
Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006; [email protected], 626-574-5281. For 
additional information related to the project on non-NFS lands, contact 
Mr. Matt Knudson, Assistant General Manager, Palmdale Water District, 
2029 East Avenue Q, Palmdale, CA 93550, [email protected], 
(661) 456-1018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of the project is to restore the Reservoir to 1992 
water storage and flood control capacity, and maintain that capacity 
through annual sediment removal. The purpose of the grade control 
structure is to allow for sediment removal and maintenance of reservoir 
capacity, while preserving habitat for the arroyo toad (Anaxyrus 
californicus). The Forest Service also has a need to respond to the 
District's application for a special use authorization.

Proposed Action

    The first component of the proposed project is construction of a 
grade control structure, to maintain the elevation of the reservoir bed 
by limiting upstream erosion. The grade control structure would be 
buried, with the top flush with, or slightly below, the existing 
reservoir bed. This mostly subterranean soil cement structure would 
span approximately 260 feet of channel (bank to bank) just downstream 
of Rocky Point. The maximum depth of the structure would be 
approximately 80 feet underground. The subterranean portion would 
extend downstream approximately 200 feet (in a downward stair-step 
design). Only the upper lip of the structure would be visible when the 
Reservoir level is lowered.
    Upon completion of the grade control structure, the District would 
remove approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards (CY) of sediment to restore 
the 1992 capacity of the Reservoir. This initial removal of sediment 
would occur over approximately 10-15 years, between September and 
January each year. The final component is to remove annual 
accumulations of approximately 54,000 CY of sediment to maintain the 
capacity. Temporary annual closure of the Reservoir to public access 
would occur after Labor Day until seasonal water refill suspends 
removal efforts (estimated between mid-November and January). 
Excavation would occur just upstream of Littlerock Dam and extend 
approximately 3,700 feet upstream. The District's contractor would load 
sediment on a truck and transport it offsite to District-owned 
properties or locations accepting sediment for placement and spreading. 
These properties would be located within, or in close proximity to, the 
city of Palmdale. The District would seek reuse of the sediment on an 
annual basis prior to permanent disposal.
    Annual restoration efforts would begin immediately following 
completion of sediment removal activities and would be completed prior 
to opening the Reservoir to public access. Disturbed areas outside the 
excavated portion of the Reservoir bed would be returned to pre-
construction conditions or better. Native, locally collected plant 
material would be planted in areas where native vegetation was 
disturbed. At the completion of annual sediment removal activities, the 
District's contractor would remove all debris and repair project caused 
damage to existing parking areas, access roads, and travel paths.

[[Page 15306]]

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service and the District have identified the following 
potential alternative to the proposed action:
    No Action Alternative: Project activities would not occur and 
sediment would continue to accumulate upstream of Littlerock Dam. 
Reservoir capacity would be reduced by approximately 44 acre-feet 
annually. In the long term, Littlerock Reservoir would fill with 
sediment, eliminating its flood control and water storage capacity.
    Alternative 1: Long-Term Closure of the Reservoir: The Reservoir 
would be closed to the public for 3-4 years while sediment is removed 
to achieve 1992 capacity. Capacity for water storage and flood control 
would be achieved more quickly, but would result in a longer term 
public closure. Once Reservoir capacity has been restored, maintenance 
activities, construction of the grade control structure, and short-
term, seasonal closures would be the same as the Proposed Action.
    Alternative 2: Slurry Excavation: Slurry and water return pipelines 
(each approximately 6-10 miles long) between the Reservoir and disposal 
quarries would be constructed to transport sediment off-site. Sediment 
would be disposed at exhausted quarry pits within Palmdale along Avenue 
T, approximately 6-miles northeast of the Reservoir. Sediment stockpile 
and processing, and water collection and pumping facilities would be 
required at the quarry site(s). The feasibility of long-term agreements 
with quarry operators and storage capacities of the quarries is unknown 
at this time. Maintenance of reservoir capacity and construction of the 
grade control structure would be the same as the Proposed Action.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Service Responsible Official for the preparation of the 
EIS/EIR is Thomas A. Contreras, Forest Supervisor, Angeles National 
Forest, 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether to permit the proposed 
activities on NFS lands, or an alternative to the proposed project. If 
approved, the Forest Supervisor will also decide what mitigation 
measures and monitoring will be required. The Forest Supervisor has 
authority to approve only the portions of the project on NFS lands.

Preliminary Issues

    The EIS/EIR will present analyze the environmental impacts of the 
proposed project and the alternatives, and will identify mitigation 
measures to lessen environmental impacts. The EIS/EIR will focus on 
issues for which potentially significant impacts are identified, 
including: air quality; biological resources; cultural resources; 
geology and soils; hazardous materials; land use and public recreation; 
traffic; and water resources.

Permits or Licenses Required

    The Forest Supervisor, Angeles National Forest, would issue a 
Special Use Authorization for the proposed action or an alternative. 
Additional permits that may be required include: a Permit to Operate 
issued by the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District, a 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Construction 
Permit issued by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, a 
Section 404 Permit and Section 401 Certification (per the Clean Water 
Act) issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Section 2081 
Incidental Take Permit issued by the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife, and a Streambed Alteration Agreement (Section 1602 and 1605 
permits of the California Fish and Game Code) issued by the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife. Local traffic control and encroachment 
permits may be required from the Los Angeles County Department of 
Public Works or the California Department of Transportation.

Comment Requested

    This notice initiates the scoping process which guides the 
development of the EIS/EIR. The Forest Service and the District are 
seeking public and agency comment on the proposed project to identify 
major issues to be analyzed in depth and assistance in identifying 
potential alternatives to be evaluated.
    The proposed project implements the 2006 Angeles National Forest 
Land Management Plan, and is subject to project level, pre-decisional 
administrative review pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. 
Comments received on this notice or in subsequent environmental 
reviews, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be 
considered as part of the public record on this proposed project, and 
will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous 
comments will not have standing to object to the subsequent decision. 
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the 
agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the 
FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited 
circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service 
will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding the 
request for confidentiality. Where the request is denied, the agency 
will return the submission and notify the requester that the comments 
may be resubmitted, without names and addresses, within a specified 
number of days.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A Draft EIS/EIR will be prepared for comment. The 
comment period on the draft EIS/EIR will be 45 days from the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in 
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
the Draft EIS/EIR must structure their participation in the 
environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and 
alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont 
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, 
environmental objections that could be raised at the Draft EIS/EIR 
stage but that are not raised until after completion of the Final EIS/
EIR may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 
803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. 
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these 
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this 
proposed action participate by the close of the 45-day EIS/EIR comment 
period so that substantive comments and objections are made available 
to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them 
and respond to them in the Final EIS/EIRS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying issues and concerns on 
the proposed action, comments should be as specific as possible. 
Comments may also address the adequacy of the Draft EIS/EIR or the 
merits of the alternatives discussed in the statement. Reviewers may 
wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 1503.3) in 
addressing these points.


[[Page 15307]]


    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 22.

    Dated: March 12, 2014.
Thomas A. Contreras,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-06011 Filed 3-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P