[Federal Register: October 15, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 199)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52396-52397]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15oc01-32]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Army Corps of Engineers

 
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact 
Statement and Environmental Impact Report for Berryessa Creek, Santa 
Clara County, CA

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 52397]]

SUMMARY: The action being taken is a General Reevaluation Report to (1) 
address potential improvements for the existing flood management 
systems, (2) investigate additional areas of flood damage reduction for 
Berryessa Creek, (3) evaluate methods to reduce sediment deposition in 
the downstream region, (4) improve recreation, and (5) integrate 
ecosystem restoration. The Berryessa Creek watershed is located in 
Santa Clara County, California, south of San Francisco Bay. Berryessa 
Creek is a tributary to Coyote Creek, which flows into the southern end 
of San Francisco Bay. The watershed is about 22 square miles in area 
and drains portions of the Diablo Range on the east side of the Santa 
Clara Valley. This study focuses on approximately 4.5 miles of 
Berryessa Creek.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and EIS/EIR should be addressed to Liz Holland at (916) 557-6763 or by 
mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN CESPK-PD-R, 1325 J Street, 
Sacramento, California 95814-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Santa Clara Valley Water 
District are conducting a study on Berryessa Creek, which will result 
in a General Reevaluation Report. The study will focus on ways to 
improve flood damage reduction, reduce sediment load, restore the 
ecosystem, and add recreation opportunities. County population centers 
include the cities of Milpitas and San Jose.

2. Alternatives

    The General Reevaluation Report will address an array of 
alternatives. Alternatives analyzed during the reevaluation 
investigation will be a combination of one or more flood damage 
reduction and ecosystem restoration measures. These measures include 
levee work, floodwalls, off-line flood and sediment storage basins, 
vegetation plantings along the creek, and culvert improvements and 
replacements.

3. Scoping Process

    a. The project study plan provides for a public scoping meeting to 
present information to the public and to receive information from the 
public. The Corps has initiated a process to involve concerned 
individuals, and local, State, and Federal agencies.
    b. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS/EIR 
include appropriate levels of flood damage reduction; adverse effects 
on vegetation and wildlife resources, special-status species, 
esthetics, cultural resources, recreation, land use, fisheries, water 
quality, air quality, transportation, and socioeconomics, and 
cumulative effects of related projects in the study area.
    c. The Corps will consult with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act Report as an appendix to the EIS/EIR.
    d. A 45-day public review period will be provided for individuals 
and agencies to review and comment on the draft EIS/EIR. All interested 
parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current 
address if they wish to be notified of the EIS/EIR circulation.

4. Availability

    The draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be available for public review 
and comment late in calendar year 2004.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-25772 Filed 10-12-01; 8:45 am]
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