[Federal Register: April 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 17523]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ap07-45]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Report for
the Sun Valley Environmental Restoration Project, Los Angeles County,
CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental impact Report (EIS/EIR)
for the Sun Valley Environmental Restoration Plan. The study area is
located in the City of Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley portion
of Los Angeles County, CA. The study area is comprised of 4.4 square
miles of urban/industrial areas.
The proposed Study will be conducted under the Authority for the
Los Angeles County Drainage area (LACDA), Flood Control Project, Los
Angeles County, CA. Which was initially authorized by Senate
Resolution, approved June 25, 1969, reading in part:
``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 Rivers and Harbors Act, approved June 13,
1902, be, and is hereby requested to review the report to the Chief
of Engineers on the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Ballona
Creek, California, Published a House Document Numbered 838, Seventy-
sixth Congress, and other pertinent reports, with a view to
determining whether any modifications contained therein are
advisable at the present time, in the resources in the Los Angeles
County Drainage Area.''
DATES: Submit comments on or before May 9, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments to Mr. Ronald Lockmann, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Environmental Resources Branch, Army
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-PD-RN, 915 Wilshire
Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ronald Lockmann, Phone (213) 452-
3847; Fax (213) 452-4204 or E-mail: RonaldF.Lockmann@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOI is published to announce the Corps'
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR0 for the proposed environmental restoration
project on a sub basin of the LACDA system and vicinity, City of Los
Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. This plan attempts to reclaim
sustainable native ecosystems on this site. The Tujunga Wash
Reconnaissance Study (of which the Sun Valley Watershed was a part),
dated September 2003, concluded ``although a detailed feasibility-level
study of the complexity of the watershed would be an important first
step, there do exist * * * opportunities for future environmental
restoration studies. Essentially, conceptual alternatives would consist
of a number of potential combinations of restoration sites operating in
conjunction with one another * * * Total land area of alternative sites
combined would be several hundred acres.''
Sites would likely include one or more of the three major gravel
extraction pits within the watershed, including the Sheldon Pit, the
Boulevard Pit, and the Strathern Pit. The primary purpose, working in
conjunction with the Local sponsor, Los Angeles County Department of
Public Works, would be to facilitate ecosystem restoration through re-
establishment of native riparian, upland vegetation, creating
constructed wetlands where feasible. Implementation of the proposed
project would increase habitat quality of several degraded sites, and
provide opportunity for wildlife species use and promote recreational
opportunity. In addition, the proposed project includes water
conservation, construction infiltration basins, and storm drains.
Scoping Process. to initiate preparation of the EIS/EIR, the Corps
will conduct a public scoping meeting. The public meeting would be
conducted during the month of April 2007. Date, time and location of
the public scoping meeting will be announced by means of letter, public
announcements, news release or announced in the local news paper in the
Sun Valley area. This scoping meeting will be held to solicit public
input on significant environmental issues associated with restoring and
expanding the native habitat and provide technical water conservation
and recreational opportunities.
The EIS/EIR will address potential impacts associated with the
proposed action. Resource categories that will be analyzed are: land
use, physical environment, geology, biological, agricultural, air
quality, water quality, groundwater, recreational usage, esthetics,
cultural, transportation/communications, hazardous waste material,
socioeconomic and safety. the public, as well as Federal, State and
local agencies are encouraged to participate in the scoping process by
attending the scoping meeting and/or submitting data, information, and
comments identifying relevant environmental and socioeconomic issues to
be addressed in the environmental analysis.
Individuals and agencies may offer information pertinent or data
relevant to the proposed study and provide comments by mailing the
information within thirty (30) days to Mr. Ronald Lockmann. Requests to
be placed on the mailing list for announcements and the draft EIS also
should be sent to Mr. Lockmann.
Brenda S. Bowen
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-1744 Filed 4-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-M