[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48447-48449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15898]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility Report and 
Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco Waterfront Coastal 
Flood Study, San Francisco County, California

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Integrated Feasibility 
Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco 
Waterfront Coastal Flood Study, San Francisco County, California.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE), Tulsa District, announces its intent to prepare a Draft 
Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (IFR-
EIS) for the San Francisco Waterfront Coastal Flood Study. The study 
will investigate the feasibility of managing tidal and fluvial flooding 
and sea level rise along 7.5 miles of the San Francisco Waterfront, 
from Aquatic Park to Herons Head Park, in the City of San Francisco, 
San Francisco County, California. This notice announces USACE's intent 
to determine the scope of the issues to be addressed and identify the 
significant issues related to a proposed action.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by August 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments related to the development of the Draft 
IFR-EIS may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, ATTN: 
RPEC--SFWS, 2488 E 81st Street, Tulsa, OK 74137.
     For more information visit the project website at: https://sfport.com/wrp/usace.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments regarding the 
proposed Draft IFR-EIS may be directed to Ms. Melinda Fisher at 918-
669-7423 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authority. The San Francisco Waterfront Coastal Flood Study (the 
Study) was originally authorized under section 110 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act of 1950, Public Law (Pub. L.) 515, 64 stat. 163. The 
project was subsequently authorized under Section 142 of the Water 
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1976, Pub. L. 94-587, 90 stat. 
2917, 2930, as amended by Section 705 of WRDA of 1986, Pub. L. 99-662, 
100 stat. 4082, 4158 and section 203 of WRDA 2020.
    2. Background. The USACE and the Port of San Francisco (Port) have 
partnered to study flood risk along 7.5 miles of San Francisco's 
bayside shoreline including areas between Aquatic Park and Heron's Head 
Park. The Study is one of several coordinated waterfront resiliency 
efforts being undertaken by the Port in partnership with other federal, 
state, and local agencies to plan and reduce the risk of anticipated 
seismic activity, flooding, coastal storm damages, and sea level rise 
along the waterfront.
    The Study began in 2018 under the USACE San Francisco District, 
South Pacific Division and was transferred to the Tulsa District out of 
the Southwestern Division in 2021. The Study follows the USACE 
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risk Informed, and Timely (SMART) 
planning process which targets a feasibility study to be completed 
within three years, but due to several complexities, including 
consideration of seismic conditions and the diversity of the geographic 
regions and stakeholders, the Study has been approved to complete the 
process in seven years.
    3. Purpose and Need. The purpose of the Study is to investigate the 
feasibility of managing tidal and fluvial flooding and sea level rise 
along 7.5 miles of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. The project area is 
at risk of flooding from bay water during coastal storms, extreme 
tides, and future sea level rise. Flooding along the waterfront could 
cause extensive damage to public infrastructure and private property, 
loss of life and deterioration of public health and safety, degradation 
of the natural environment, and adverse changes to the social and 
economic character of the waterfront community. The risk is

[[Page 48448]]

expected to increase over time as sea levels rise in the bay.
    4. Proposed Action and Alternatives Being Considered. Adapting the 
waterfront will require changes on a large scale that balance multiple 
factors and priorities. The Study Team has formulated an array of 
alternatives that would reduce the risk of flooding along the 
waterfront by considering the three USACE sea level rise curve 
scenarios (low, intermediate, and high), alignment of the line of 
defense relative to the existing shoreline, and adaptability of the 
design to address higher sea levels if certain thresholds are triggered 
after construction. A total of seven alternatives have been formulated 
for this study including:
     Alternative A--No Action: Takes no action to reduce flood 
risks through this project. This alternative serves as the baseline 
condition.
     Alternative B--Nonstructural: Proposes nonstructural 
measures such as relocation, raise in place, floodproofing, and zoning 
in areas identified with frequent flooding.
     Alternative C--Defend Low Rate of Rise: Uses a combination 
of structural (e.g., t-walls, sheet pile walls, berms, curb 
extensions), nonstructural (e.g., deployable flood barriers, 
floodproofing), and natural and nature-based features (NNBF) (e.g., 
ecological armoring) to address flooding in ``low spots'' along the 
shoreline. This alternative does not include any future year actions or 
adaptability once construction is complete.
     Alternative D--Hybrid, Lower Rate of Rise: Similar to 
Alternative C except measures are adaptable for future construction 
assuming the rate of rise accelerates to a higher rate of sea level 
change. Ecotone levees, ecological armoring, and wetland preservation 
and restoration are additional NNBF included in this design.
     Alternative E--Defend, Higher Rate of Rise: Uses a 
combination of structural (e.g., wharf raises and rehabilitation, 
seawalls, sheet pile walls, and berms), nonstructural (e.g., building 
and bridge raises, floodproofing) and NNBF (e.g., living seawalls/
vertical shoreline, embankment shorelines, ecotone levees, and 
naturalized shorelines) to defend at the existing shoreline and prevent 
overtopping at the higher rate of sea level change with recommendations 
for adaptation in future years.
     Alternative F--Working with Water, Higher Rate of Rise: 
Similar to Alternative E, except there is managed retreat inland along 
the southern waterfront and tide gates at the mouths of Islais and 
Mission creeks. The NNBF include ecotone levees, ecological armoring, 
naturalized shorelines, coarse beaches, and wetland preservation and 
restoration. Additional retreat and adaptations are proposed as the 
rate of sea level rise increases. This alternative proposes the most 
bayward alignment.
     Alternative G--Living with Water, Higher Rate of Rise: 
Similar to Alternative F, except this alternative concedes the largest 
area for managed retreat and incorporates more nonstructural measures 
(e.g., relocation and zoning) and significantly more areas of wetland 
restoration. It does not include water control structures (i.e., tide 
gates). This alternative proposes the most inland alignment and does 
not require bay fill.
    5. Brief Summary of Expected Impacts. Expected impacts include 
short- and long-term impacts to existing aquatic habitats, fish and 
wildlife including federally protected species and their habitat, water 
quality, air quality, aesthetic quality, noise, transportation 
corridors, recreation features, historic resources, and socioeconomic 
resources. Impacts anticipated to require compensatory mitigation 
include aquatic habitats, water quality, and air quality, while many of 
the impacts to other resources will be minimized or avoided through 
project design. Long-term benefits are anticipated to each of the 
socioeconomic resources such as life safety, critical infrastructure, 
utilities, historic resources, historically disadvantaged communities, 
recreation, and the local economy through the management of coastal 
flooding and sea level rise. Long-term increases in aquatic habitats 
may also be realized with implementation of the NNBF.
    The USACE San Francisco District and Port issued a Notice of Early 
Scoping in the Federal Register August 20, 2020. At that time, it was 
unclear if significant effects would be realized and the need for an 
EIS was not formally announced. Since then, it was determined that 
significant resource impacts are anticipated and an EIS is warranted. 
During early scoping, several significant environmental and social 
issues were raised including but not limited to minimizing bay fill; 
effects of high rates of sea level rise on any alternative considered; 
disruptions to businesses, transportation corridors and walk paths; 
environmental justice impacts on historically disadvantaged 
communities; impacts to water quality, contaminated sites, historic 
resources; and the potential cost and time to implement any of the 
strategies. In general, there was wide support for use of nature-based 
measures in lieu of gray infrastructure, preserving and increasing 
public access to the waterfront, and incorporating adaptation 
components to address uncertainties in sea level rise.
    6. Anticipated Permits, Consultations, or Coordination. The 
proposed action is being coordinated with federal, state, regional, and 
local agencies. In accordance with relevant environmental laws and 
regulations, the USACE will consult with the following agencies: US 
Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service under 
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and Endangered Species Act; 
National Marine Fisheries Service under the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; the 
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board under Section 
401 of the Clean Water Act; the Bay Conservation and Development 
Commission under the Coastal Zone Management Act; the Bay Area Air 
Quality Management District under the Clean Air Act; the California 
State Historic Preservation Office and the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation under the National Historic and Preservation Act; and 
tribes under tribal coordination policies and executive orders. Other 
Federal and state agencies have been invited to participate throughout 
the study process as Coordinating or Participating Agencies.
    For compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
the USACE will serve as the lead Federal agency in the preparation of 
the Draft IFR-EIS. For the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), 
the City of San Francisco Planning Department (Planning Department) is 
the lead agency for the Study. The Planning Department is conducting 
CEQA review under a separate process and will not be integrated with 
this NEPA effort.
    7. Public Participation. USACE invites all affected federal, state, 
and local agencies, affected Native American Tribes, other interested 
parties, and the public to participate in the NEPA process during 
development of the Draft IFR-EIS.
    Early scoping began in 2020, however due to the scale of 
anticipated effects, the USACE is inviting additional comments on the 
potential alternatives, issues of concern and any analyses relevant to 
the proposed action with this notice and formally announces the intent 
to prepare an EIS. For more information visit the project website at 
https://sfport.com/wrp/usace.
    The scoping comment period begins with publication of this notice 
and ends on August 28, 2023. All comments

[[Page 48449]]

received during early scoping and the scoping period are being used to 
identify significant resources and effects that should be considered in 
the preparation of the Draft IFR-EIS. Comments received after the 
comment period closes will be considered prior to the Draft IFR-EIS 
public review period, to the extent possible. For those that cannot be 
addressed prior to the public review period, the comments will be 
included within the public review period and addressed at that time.
    While no public scoping meetings are scheduled during this scoping 
period, virtual public scoping meetings were held on September 16 and 
17, 2020 coinciding with the Notice of Early Scoping issued in the 
Federal Register August 2020. The Port has also held numerous public 
engagement sessions including a robust outreach effort in the Fall of 
2022 with a total of sixteen virtual and in-person public engagement 
events to further describe the purpose of the Study and strategies 
being considered, as well as to seek feedback on areas of concern and 
the plan formulation process.
    8. Availability of Draft IFR-EIS. The USACE currently estimates 
that the Draft IFR-EIS will be available for public review and comment 
in the Fall of 2023. At that time, the USACE will provide a 60-day 
public review period for individuals and agencies to review and 
comment. The USACE will notify all interested agencies, organizations, 
and individuals of the availability of the draft document at that time. 
All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and 
provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the Draft EIS 
circulation.

Wesley E. Coleman, Jr.
Programs Director, Southwestern Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-15898 Filed 7-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P