[Federal Register: February 27, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 39)]
[Page 9304-9305]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27fe04-40]
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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 for the Santa Ana River Interceptor
Protection/Relocation Project, Reach 9, Orange County, Riverside County
and San Bernardino County, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The project area, Reach 9 of the Santa Ana River, includes the
approximate 12 kilometer (7.4 mile) section of the River immediately
downstream of Prado Dam ending at Weir Canyon Road in the City of
Anaheim. The portion of the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) sewage
line that extends through this area is in potential jeopardy due to
planned increases in flows from the Prado Dam. This segment will either
need to be relocated out of the floodplain, or protected in place. Four
general alternatives are being considered: (1) Relocate the pipeline to
the North; (2) Relocate the pipeline to the South; (3) Protect the
pipeline in place; or (4) No action. A combination of alternatives may
also be considered.
ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles
District, Ecosystem Planning Section, CESPL-PD-RN, P.O. Box 532711, Los
Angeles, CA 90053-2325.
DATES: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2004 at 7
p.m. at the Yorba Linda Community Center, 4501 Casa Loma Ave., Yorba
Linda, CA 92886.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. Killeen, Environmental Studies
Manager, (213) 452-3861.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization. The study of potential flood control measures for
the Santa Ana River Interceptor Relocation/Protection Project is a part
of the Santa Ana River Mainstream Project which was initially
authorized by Pub. L. 738, 74th Congress, June 22, 1936. Authorization
of the recommended plan for the Santa Ana River Mainstream Project was
the Water Resources Development Act of 1986.
2. Background. The Santa Ana River flows for more than 60 miles
through San Bernardino and Riverside Counties which are undergoing
extreme urbanization and continues into already heavily urbanized
Orange County. The Prado Dam which was designed to protect Orange
County does not currently provide sufficient flood protection because
of the continual development in the upstream watershed, reduction of
the basin storage capacity due to sediment deposition, and other
factors. Ongoing improvements and modifications by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (Corps) to Prado Dam will result in a potential three-fold
increase in outflow. The SARI project was constructed as a joint effort
of the Orange County Sanitation District and the Santa Ana Watershed
Project Authority (SAWPA) in 1973. The Reach 9 segment of the SARI Line
(the subject portion of the Santa Ana River), originally deeply buried,
is now threatened with structural damage because of exposure of the
pipe caused by erosion. The ongoing erosion will be greatly exacerbated
by the Prado Dam improvement Project. If the pipe is damaged, the
untreated wastewater would be introduced into the Santa Ana River and
ultimately onto the beaches and into the coastal waters. Downstream
Treatment Plants No. 1 and No. 2 could possibly be damaged by sand and
debris that would likely be introduced into the broken pipe.
3. Proposed Action. Protect in place or relocate the SARI line
outside of the floodplain prior to completion of the Corps' Santa Ana
River (Prado Dam) flood control project to prevent damages that would
likely occur as a result of scouring by the water releases from Prado
Dam.
4. Alternatives.
a. Alternative 1, No Action/No Project: without the project, the
SARI Line (the subject portion in Reach 9 of the Santa Ana River),
originally deeply buried, will be threatened with structural damage
because of exposure of the pipe caused by erosion.
b. Alternative 2, Protect in Place: Keep the existing SARI Line in
use. Protect the existing line by the addition of grade stabilizers to
control bed erosion and additional improvements to protect existing
manholes. Project will include additional features as required to
mitigate habitat and other environmental impacts. Maintenance would be
via access roads in the flood plain which were constructed in 2001. The
access roads will also need occasional maintenance.
c. Alternative 3, Relocation North of the River: Replace the
existing SARI Line between Weir Canyon Road and the Orange/Riverside
County Lines with a pipeline on the north side of the River outside of
the floodplain. Maintenance of the new portion of the SARI Line will be
by way of the bike path beside La Palma Avenue and Yorba Linda and new
Anaheim streets. The segment of pipeline within Riverside County would
be protected in place.
d. Alternative 4, Relocation to Edge of South Floodplain-One Yorba
Linda Crossing: Replace the existing SARI Line between the control gate
structure east of the SAVI Ranch Development and the Riverside County
Line with a new pipeline on the south side of the River. Build a new
system to connect Yorba Linda flows to the SARI Line via a pipeline in
the bike path beside La Palma Avenue and a siphon under the River near
SAVI Ranch to the new SARI Line near the existing control gate
structure. Maintenance of the relocated portion of the SARI Line will
be by way of the bike path beside Highway 91 and Anaheim Streets. The
segment of pipeline within Riverside County would be protected in
place.
5. Scoping Process.
a. Potential impacts associated with the proposed action will be
evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed are: land use,
physical environment, geology, biological resources, agricultural
resources, air quality, ground water, recreational usage, aesthetics,
cultural resources, transportation/communications, 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
Environmental Impact Statement/Environment Impact Report (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.
Those interested in providing information or data relevant to the
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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.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-4382 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]