[Federal Register: May 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 87)]
[Notices]
[Page 25070-25071]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05my04-50]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Cancellation of the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Potential Multipurpose Projects
for Ecosystem Restoration, Flood Damage Reduction, and Recreation
Alternatives Within and Along the Portion of the San Antonio River
Located in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice; cancellation.
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SUMMARY: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby
cancels its notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the potential multipurpose projects for ecosystem
restoration, flood damage reduction, and recreation alternatives within
and along the portion of the San Antonio River located in San Antonio,
Bexar County, TX, as published in the Federal Register on April 25,
2002 (67 FR 20497).
Section 335 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000,
passed by Congress, amended the San Antonio Channel Improvement Project
(SACIP) by authorizing ecosystem restoration and recreation as project
purposes in addition to the previously authorized flood damage
reduction project purpose. An initial assessment based on
implementation guidance for section 335 indicated a Federal interest in
continuing with more detailed studies for these purposes. In accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DEIS was
required to evaluate and compare ecosystem restoration, flood damage
reduction, and recreation alternatives within and along two reaches of
the San Antonio River. The DEIS was also required to assess the impacts
to the quality of the human environment associated with each design
alternative.
Past channelization and clearing of floodways associated with the
SACIP, along with urbanization, have significantly degraded the
terrestrial and aquatic habitat along and within the San Antonio River.
Consequently, ecosystem restoration measures were developed and
evaluated to address the degraded habitats. In addition, recreation
measures were developed and evaluated as complements to proposed
ecosystem restoration measures. The preliminary lack of significant
adverse impacts from proposed project design alternatives and the lack
of public controversy indicated that a DEIS was no longer required
under NEPA. Instead, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will prepare a
Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the potential multipurpose
projects for ecosystem restoration, flood damage reduction, and
recreation alternatives within and along the portion of the San Antonio
River located in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX. Therefore, the
cancellation of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a DEIS is being
filed for publication in the Notice Section of the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eli A. Kangas, CESWF-PER-PF, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, 819
Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300, phone (817) 886-1924, fax
(817) 886-6498.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alternatives for ecosystem restoration,
flood damage reduction, and recreation are being developed and
evaluated based on ongoing fieldwork and data collection and past
studies conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the San Antonio
River Authority, and the City of San Antonio. Ecosystem restoration
alternatives that are being
[[Page 25071]]
evaluated include restoring meanders within the San Antonio River,
restoring, protecting and expanding the riparian corridor, creating
riffle-pool complexes, and constructing wetlands. It is anticipated
that ecosystem restoration alternatives would aid in improving water
quality, optimizing aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and minimizing
erosion and scouring along and within the river. Alternatives for flood
damage reduction measures are being evaluated from both a non-
structural and structural aspect. Non-structural measures that will be
evaluated include acquisition and removal of structures or flood
proofing of structures for protection from potential future flood
damage. Structural measures that are being evaluated include diversion
channels and/or channel modifications of various widths and depths and/
or a combination of these measures. Recreation measures that are being
evaluated include multipurpose trails and passive recreation features,
such as interpretive guidance, media, and picnic areas. Recreation
measures will be developed to a scope and scale compatible with
proposed ecosystem restoration measures without significantly
diminishing ecosystem benefits.
The public will be given the opportunity to review the DEA during
the 30-day public comment period. Prior to the close of the comment
period, any person may make a written request for a public meeting,
setting forth the particular reasons for the request. The District
Engineer will then determine whether the issues raised are substantial
and should be considered in his decision. If a public meeting is
warranted, all known interested parties will be notified of the time,
date, and location of such a meeting in the local news media. Release
of the DEA for public comment is scheduled for June 2004. The exact
release date, once established, will be announced in the local news
media.
Dated: April 21, 2004.
John R. Minahan,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 04-10184 Filed 5-4-04; 8:45 am]
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