[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63387-63388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25288]



[[Page 63387]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for the Arroyo Seco Ecosystem 
Restoration Study, Los Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) 
in coordination with the non-Federal sponsor, Los Angeles County 
Department of Public Works (LACDPW), intends to prepare an Integrated 
Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report for the Arroyo Seco Environmental Restoration Study. The 
purpose of the study is to evaluate opportunities for the restoration 
of a natural channel, aquatic and riparian habitat as well as 
associated upland habitat creek dynamics, restoration of sustainable 
aquatic habitat, and revitalization of riverine and associated upland 
habitat and constituent species, while maintaining the cultural and 
aesthetic quality of the Arroyo Seco.
    The Arroyo Seco (``dry wash'') heads in the San Gabriel Mountains 
north of downtown Los Angeles and flows south through the cities of 
Pasadena, South Pasadena, and Los Angeles before reaching its 
confluence with the Los Angeles River. The study area is an 
approximately eleven (11) -mile reach of the Arroyo Seco channel in Los 
Angeles County, CA. The flood control channel is maintained by the Los 
Angeles County Department of Public Works. The study area extends from 
the Angeles National Forest border through the unincorporated area of 
Altadena, and cities of La Ca[ntilde]ada-Flintridge, Pasadena, South 
Pasadena, and Los Angeles to approximately 0.5 miles from the 
confluence with the Los Angeles River.

DATES: Provide comments by November 24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to: Deborah Lamb, Ecosystem Planning 
Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 915 
Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017-3401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on dates, 
times and locations for scoping meetings, please contact Deborah Lamb 
(see ADDRESSES), or at (213) 452-3798 or email at: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authority. The proposed study is authorized by Senate Resolution 
approved on June 25, 1969, which reads as follows:

Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the United States 
Senate, that the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, created 
under Section 3 of the River and Harbor Act, approved June 13, 1902, 
be, and is hereby requested to review the report of the Chief of 
Engineers on the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Ballona 
Creek, California, published as House Document Numbered 838, 
Seventy-sixth Congress, and other pertinent reports, with a view to 
determining whether any modifications contained herein are advisable 
at the present time, in the resources in the Los Angeles County 
Drainage Area.

    2. Background Information. The Arroyo Seco watershed has 
historically played a significant role in the ecology of the Los 
Angeles Basin because of its diverse habitat features and as a major 
tributary to the Los Angeles River. The Arroyo Seco once provided a 
corridor for wildlife to pass from the lower watershed to the upper 
watershed in the San Gabriel Mountains. During the last 150 years the 
lower and middle watershed have been extensively developed and 
urbanized. The Arroyo Seco is crossed and bounded by multiple-lane 
freeways including the Arroyo Seco Parkway (historic Route 66). Despite 
urbanization, the watershed still reflects the rich history of the Arts 
and Crafts movement that was an integral part of the Arroyo Seco 
watershed. From the Angeles National Forest at the top of the watershed 
down to the Lummis Home and Heritage Square in the lower Arroyo Seco, 
the natural beauty of the Arroyo Seco was both inspiration and part of 
an international arts movement.
    3. Alternatives. The EIS will address the No Action Alternative and 
an array of alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the project. 
Alternatives may include measures that remove channel invert concrete, 
replace existing channel walls, restore vegetation, create stream 
sinuosity through relocation, creation of fish habitat, and recreation 
features.
    4. Issues To Be Addressed. The Integrated Feasibility Study/Draft 
EIS/EIR will address environmental issues concerning the alternatives 
proposed. Issues will be identified based on public input during the 
scoping process and during the preparation of the Integrated 
Feasibility Study/Draft EIS/EIR. Issues initially identified as 
potentially significant without implementation of mitigation measures 
include, but are not limited to; water quality, air quality, 
socioeconomics and environmental justice, land use, recreation, visual 
and aesthetic resources, traffic and transportation, historical and 
cultural resources, vegetation and wildlife, and special status species 
impacts during project construction.
    5. Public Involvement.
    a. A public scoping meeting will be held on the 29th of October 
2014 at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works located at 
900 S. Fremont Ave., Alhambra, CA 91803 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The 
purpose of the public scoping meeting will be to present information to 
the public regarding the array of alternatives proposed that may be 
evaluated in the draft EIS/EIR, receive public comments, and solicit 
input regarding environmental issues of concern to the public. The 
public scoping meeting place, date, and time will be advertised in 
advance in local newspapers and meeting announcement letters will be 
sent to interested parties. In addition, the Corps will coordinate with 
applicable regulatory and resource agencies including but not limited 
to: the State Historic Preservation Officer, US Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Regional Water Quality Review Board, US Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, 
the City of Pasadena, the City of South Pasadena, City of La Canada-
Flintridge, the City of Altadena, the City of Los Angeles, and other 
local agencies.
    b. Participation of affected Federal, state and local resource 
agencies, Native American groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals is encouraged in the scoping process. Public participation 
will be especially important in defining the scope of analysis in the 
Integrated Feasibility Study/Draft EIS/EIR, identifying significant 
environmental issues and providing useful information from published 
and unpublished data, personal knowledge of relevant issues, and 
recommending mitigation measures associated with the proposed action.
    c. Those interested in providing information or data relevant to 
the environmental or social impacts that should be included or 
considered in the environmental analysis 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.
    d. Questions or comments regarding the Integrated Arroyo Seco

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Environmental Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), including requests to be placed 
on the mailing list, may be submitted by mail to Ms. Deborah Lamb, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-PD-RL, 915 
Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017-3401; or by email to 
[email protected].

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-25288 Filed 10-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-58-P