[Federal Register: January 13, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 9)]
[Notices]
[Page 2193-2194]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ja06-39]
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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 Westminster Watershed
Study, Orange County, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Westminster
watershed ecosystem and look for multipurpose recommendations for how
to more effectively manage its natural resources. There is a need for
both flood control improvements as well as ecosystem habitat
restoration. The study area is located in western Orange County, CA,
approximately 25 miles southeast of the City of Los Angeles. The
Westminster watershed lies on a flat coastal plain, is approximately 90
square miles in area, and is almost entirely urbanized with residential
and commercial development. There are two main channel systems that
collect runoff from portions of urbanized areas in the cities of
Anaheim, Stanton, Cypress, Orange, Santa Ana, Garden Grove,
Westminster, Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Huntington
Beach.
The East Garden Grove-Wintersburg Channel (EGGW), with its
principal tributary, the Ocean View Channel (OV), drains into Bolsa
Bay. Two retarding basins (Haster and West Street) exist at the
upstream reach of the EGGW
[[Page 2194]]
channel. Bolsa Bay includes the Bolsa Chica Lowlands and Ecological
Reserve, and is a major environmental resource in southern California.
The Bay has been designated as an area of national significance, and is
host to a wide assemblage of resident and migratory waterfowl and
marine species including over 30 Federal and/or State listed sensitive
species that utilize the wetlands during all or part of their annual
cycle.
The Bolsa Chica Flood Control Channel (BCFC), with its principal
tributaries, the Anaheim-Barber City Channel and Westminster Channel,
drains to Huntington Harbour. The BCFC Channel drains the western
portion of the study area, with a significant portion of property
adjacent to the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station of the U.S. Navy and
1.5 miles runs through and adjacent to the Los Alamitos Armed Forces
Training Base. Aside from the military facilities, this portion of the
watershed is almost entirely urbanized. Agriculture is still practiced
under leases granted by the Navy on portions of their property. The
BCFC Channel outlets into Huntington Harbour, but unlike EGGW, does not
outlet into Bolsa Bay. The sole ocean outlet for both Bolsa Bay and
Huntington Harbour is to the north at Anaheim Bay and the Seal Beach
National Wildlife Refuge. Tidal influence in the lowermost portion of
the BCFC and East Garden Grove-Wintersburg Channels extended
approximately 2 miles inland.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Ms. Lydia Lopez-Cruz at U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-PD-RN, c/o Lydia-Cruz, P.O.
Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lydia Lopez-Cruz, Environmental
Coordinator, at 213-452-3855 or e-mail at
lydia.lopez-cruz@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Authorization. The proposed study is
authorized in response to a House Resolution dated May 8, 1964, which
reads as follows:
``Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the House of
Representatives, United States, that the Board of Engineers for
Rivers and Harbors is hereby requested to review the reports on (a)
San Gabriel River and Tributaries, published as House Document No.
838, 76th Congress, 3d Session; (b) Santa Ana River and Tributaries,
published as House Document No. 135, 81st Congress, 1st Session; and
(c) the project authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936 for the
protection of the metropolitan area in Orange County, with a view to
determining the advisability of modification of the authorized
projects in the interest of flood control and related purposes.''
2. Background. Before development, the watershed was largely
comprised of grasses and trees, such as oaks, cottonwoods and sycamore.
Early development was primarily agricultural with some residential. As
of the early 1990s, 85 percent of the Westminster watershed was
urbanized. Land use consists primarily of residential, commercial,
military, light industrial, schools and parks, and transportation
facilities. It is expected that in the next 50 years full development
of the remaining agricultural and vacant land will occur. This future
potential development is not expected to significantly affect the
current flood conditions.
3. Scoping Process. A scoping meeting is scheduled for January 25,
2006, 6:30-8 p.m., at Garden Grove Civic Center, Community Meeting
Center, Constitution Room, 11300 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92840.
Additional public meetings will be scheduled throughout the study. For
specific dates, times and locations please contact Mary Anne
Skorpanich, Orange County, at 714-834-5311 or e-mail at
the proposed action will be evaluated. Resource categories that will be
analyzed are: physical environment, geology, biological resources, air
quality, water quality, recreational usage, aesthetics, cultural
resources, transportation, noise, hazardous waste, socioeconomics and
safety.
b. Participation of affected Federal, State and local resource
agencies, Native American groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals is encouraged in the scoping process. Time and location of
the Public Scoping meeting will also be announced by means of a letter,
public announcements and news releases. Public participation will be
especially important in defining the scope of analysis in the EIS/EIR,
identifying significant environmental issues and impact analysis in the
EIS/EIR and providing useful information such as published and
unpublished data, personal knowledge of relevant issues and
recommending mitigative 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.
Dated: January 5, 2006.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 06-317 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
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