[Federal Register: September 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 176)]
[Notices]
[Page 53598-53599]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11se03-60]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
Carpinteria Shoreline, a Feasibility Study in the City of Carpinteria,
Santa Barbara County, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will address
environmental impacts from measures being investigated to include
beachfill and shoreline stabilization structures to provide storm
damage and shoreline protection along the Carpinteria Shoreline in the
City of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County, CA. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the City of Carpinteria, California, will cooperate in
conducting this feasibility study. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
the lead Federal agency for this study.
The Carpinteria Shoreline feasibility study will be conducted over
the next several years following a planning process that will include
public involvement during each of the study phases. The investigation
will address the shoreline needs associated with erosion of shoreline,
coastal storm flooding damages to public and private properties, and
the preservation and enhancement of recreational opportunities. The
Study may result in a report recommending that Congress authorize a
project for implementation by the Corps of Engineers or that measures
could be implemented by
[[Page 53599]]
another agency to address the problems and needs of the study area.
While final alternatives have not been determined at this study
initiation phase, the earlier Reconnaissance phase of the study and
Section 905B Report identified several preliminary measures that could
address the problems and needs within the study area. The 905B report
concluded that there is the potential for significant storm damages
from wave impacts to existing development and facilities along the
1,500 feet reach stretching from Ash Avenue up to Linden Avenue in the
City of Carpinteria. A range of conceptual alternatives were identified
as having potential for having a Federal interest to address the
problems and needs of the study area: (1) Beach Nourishment with
periodic renourishment; (2) Artificial Reef Submerged Breakwater; and
(3) Seawall. The feasibility study will investigate measures to address
the problems and needs and an array of alternatives will be developed
and be analyzed for inclusion in the Feasibility Report and EIS.
DATES: A public meeting will be held on 23 September 2003 at 6:30 p.m.,
at the City Council Chamber, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA
93013, to discuss the feasibility Study and to obtain input to the
scoping of the EIS. Comments concerning the Feasibility Study and
Scoping for the EIS may be made at the public meeting or be mailed to
the following address by October 27, 2003.
ADDRESSES: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles
District, ATTN: CESPL-PD-RP, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90052-
2325.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kirk C. Brus, Environmental
Coordinator, telephone (213) 452-3876, or Mr. Alex Bantique, Study
Manager, telephone (213)-452-3837. The cooperating entity, City of
Carpinteria, requests inquiries to Mr. Matthew Roberts, telephone (805)
684-5405, ext. 449 for any additional information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization
Section 208 of the Flood Control Act of 1965 (Pub. L. 89-298)
authorized feasibility studies for Carpinteria Shoreline. The 89th
Congress of the United States passed what became Public Law 298.
Congressional Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill H.R. 21-
22 (1995) provided funds to initiate the reconnaissance study for
Carpinteria Shoreline.
2. Background
The Carpinteria Shoreline is part of the Carpinteria City Beach,
bound by the Pacific Ocean to the west, lies within the City of
Carpinteria, and is an integral part of the southern coastal area of
California in Santa Barbara County. The sandy beach is typically
narrow, and backed by public and private developments. The Carpinteria
Salt Marsh is located north of the Carpinteria Shoreline on the ocean
side of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) 1, and is fed by the Franklin
and Santa Monica Creeks. The coastal plain in the study area continues
has limited groundwater resources, partly due to saltwater intrusion
coming from the Pacific Ocean.
The Feasibility Studies to be evaluated by this Draft EIS will
analyze: (1) Beach Nourishment concepts for the Carpinteria Shoreline
using sand including vegetated sand dunes, and periodic beach
nourishment operation and maintenance (O&M) operations to prevent
erosion and reduce coastal storm damages to the shoreline; (2)
Artificial Reef Submerged Breakwater (ARSB) opportunities located in
the ocean parallel to the Carpinteria Shoreline to avoid erosion, and
decrease wave and coastal storm flooding damages to public and private
properties; and (3) Reinforced Concrete Seawall designs as part of the
Carpinteria Shoreline to lessen off shore wave impact and storm damages
to public facilities and private residences; (4) Plans for maintaining
and enhancing existing recreational facilities for the Carpinteria
Shoreline to maintain public access and advert a decline in its
recreational value. Prehistoric and historic cultural resources are not
known to exist along this stretch of the Carpinteria Shoreline.
3. Proposed Action
No plan of action has yet been identified.
4. Alternatives
Alternatives will be developed as part of the planning process.
These would likely include:
a--No Action: No nourishment, improvement or reinforcement of
shoreline.
b--Proposed Alternative Plans: Conceptual feasible alternatives to
prevent erosion and coastal storm damage within the Carpinteria
Shoreline are the following: (1a) Beach Nourishment with two year
renourishment period; (1b) Beach Nourishment with five year
renourishment; (2a) Artificial Reef Submerged Breakwater (ARSB) with
one segment; (2b) ARSB with three segments; and (3) Seawalls.
5. Scoping Process
Participation of all interested Federal, State, and County resource
agencies, as well as Native American peoples, groups with environmental
interests, and all interested individuals is encouraged. Public
involvement will be most beneficial and worthwhile in identifying
pertinent environmental issues, offering useful information such as
published or unpublished data, direct personal experience or knowledge
which inform decision making, assistance in defining the scope of plans
which ought to be considered, and recommending suitable mitigation
measures warranted by such plans. Those wishing to contribute
information, ideas, alternatives for actions, and so forth can furnish
these contributions in writing to the points of contacts indicated
above, or by attending public scoping opportunities. The scoping period
will conclude 45 days after publication of this NOI.
When plans have been devised and alternatives formulated to embody
those plans, potential impacts will be evaluated in the DEIS. These
assessments will emphasize at least thirteen categories of resources:
land use, physical environment, hydrology, biological, esthetics, air
quality, noise, transportation, socioeconomic, safety recreation,
cultural resources, and hazardous material.
Dated: September 4, 2003.
Richard G. Thompson,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-23173 Filed 9-10-03; 8:45 am]