[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95176-95177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31266]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2016-N213; FF08RSDC00-178-F1611MD-FXRS12610800000]


Otay River Estuary Restoration Project, South San Diego Bay Unit 
of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California; Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of the public comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in 
coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a cooperating 
agency, announce the reopening of the public review and comment period 
for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Otay 
River Estuary Restoration Project at the South San Diego Bay Unit of 
the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge in San Diego County, 
California.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by December 30, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Document Availability: You may obtain documents in the 
following places:
     Internet: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/San_Diego_Bay/what_we_do/Resource_Management/Otay_Restoration.html.
     In Person:
    [cir] San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters, 
1080 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910; telephone: 619-476-
9150, extension 103.
    [cir] Chula Vista Public Library, Civic Center Branch, 365 F 
Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910; telephone: 619-691-5069.
    [cir] San Diego County Library, Imperial Beach Branch Library, 847 
Encina Avenue (temporary location), Imperial Beach, CA 91932; 
telephone: 619-424-6981.
    [cir] Chula Vista Public Library, South Chula Vista Branch, 389 
Orange Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911; telephone: 619-585-5755.
    For how to view comments on the draft EIS from the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), or for information on EPA's role in the EIS 
process, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.
    Submitting Comments: You may submit written comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Otay Estuary EIS'' in 
the subject line of the message.
     Fax: Attn: Brian Collins, 619-476-9149.
     U.S. Mail: Brian Collins, USFWS, San Diego NWR Complex, 
P.O. Box 2358, Chula Vista, CA 91912.
     In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments at the San 
Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters between 9 a.m. and 
4 p.m.; please call 619-476-9150, extension 103, for directions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Collins, Refuge Manager, San 
Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, by telephone at 619-575-2704, 
extension 302, or via email at [email protected]; or Andy Yuen, 
Project Leader, by telephone at 619-476-9150, extension 100, or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    On October 21, 2016, we published a Federal Register notice (81 FR 
72817) announcing the availability of the draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the proposed Otay River Estuary Restoration Project 
for public review and comment in accordance with National Environmental 
Policy Act (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We originally opened the 
comment period from October 21, 2016, through December 5, 2016. We now 
are reopening the public comment period until December 30, 2016. For 
more information on the draft EIS and a description of the project, 
please see the October 2016 notice.

EPA's Role in the EIS Process

    The EPA is charged under section 309 of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7401 et 
seq.) to review all Federal agencies' environmental impact statements 
(EISs)

[[Page 95177]]

and to comment on the adequacy and the acceptability of the 
environmental impacts of proposed actions in the EISs.
    EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared 
by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the 
Federal Register. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Database 
provides information about EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as well 
as EPA's comments concerning the EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, 
which publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal 
Register. You may search for EPA comments on the EIS, along with the 
EIS itself, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search. The DEIS is also available at the locations under ADDRESSES.

NEPA Compliance

    We are conducting environmental review in accordance with the 
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable 
regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations. 
The DEIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the 
alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources, water 
quality, and other environmental resources. Measures to minimize 
adverse environmental effects are identified and discussed in the DEIS.

Public Involvement

    You may submit written comments anytime during the comment period 
(see ADDRESSES).

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-31266 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P