Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 1998 / Notices 37865

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE interior levee would be constructed to associated with the proposed action. protect recreation and Wildlife The meeting was held in the city of El Department of the Army, Corps of Management areas from inundation. The Monte, , on March 23, 1995. Engineers bottom of the levee would be at The Army Corps of Engineers will elevation 446.8 feet nearest the toe of conduct a public hearing to receive Availability of the Joint Draft the , and the top of the levee would comments on the Draft EIS/EIR in Environmental Impact Statement/ be at elevation 466.0 feet. The top of the conjunction with the public meeting to Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/ levee would be armored to eliminate the present the Feasibility Report. The EIR) for the Santa Fe and Whittier need for overtopping protection. The public hearing and meeting will take Narrows Water Conservation average annual water yield increase for place at the El Monte Community and Supply Study, Los Angeles this alternative is estimated at 2,400 Center, 3130 Tyler Avenue, El Monte, County, California acre feet (AF). California, on August 12, 1998 from 7:00 AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers The preferred alternative at Whittier PM to 9:00 PM. The location, date, and (Corps), Los Angeles District, DOD. Narrows Dam would use the existing time of the public hearing and meeting 201.6-foot elevation water conservation will also be announced in the local ACTION: Notice of availability. pool for water conservation whenever media, and separate notice will be sent SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of significant amounts of water are to all parties on the project mailing list. Engineers has prepared a joint DEIS/EIR available and not precluded by other Individuals and agencies may present and Feasibility Report with the Los constraints. In addition, a buffer pool oral or written comments relevant to the Angeles County Department of Public and seasonal pool would be established Draft EIS/EIR by attending the public Works (LACDPW) for the Santa Fe and at elevation 209 feet. Protective hearing or by mailing comments to the Dams Water measures for motors at the water Corps prior to August 28, 1998. Conservation and Supply Study, in Los reclamation plant and mitigation for 18 Comments, suggestions, and requests to Angeles County, California. Santa Fe oil wells would be included. be placed on the mailing list for and Whittier Narrows Dams are two of Approximately 951 feet (331 Meters) of announcements should be sent to Ms. the five Federal flood control dams in Durfee Road would need to be raised to Lois Goodman, U.S. Army Corps of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area. elevation 212 feet, which includes three Engineers, CESPL–PD–RL, P.O. Box is located in the feet for overtopping protection, to 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053–2325. northeastern on the maintain traffic flow when water is Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR: San Gabriel River about four miles stored at the maximum seasonal or Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR are below the mouth of San Gabriel Canyon. buffer pool elevation. The average availability for review at the following Bordering communities include annual water yield increase for this locations: Irwindale, Baldwin Park, Duarte, and alternative is estimated at 3,500 AF. Baldwin Park Community Library, 4181 Azusa. is located Anticipated significant environmental Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park, approximately seven miles downstream impacts include loss of alluvial scrub California of Santa Fe Dam and spans both the San habitat at Santa Fe Dam and increased Pico Rivera Community Library, 9001 Gabriel River and the . Flood sedimentation at Whittier Narrows Dam. Mines Avenue, Pico Rivera, California control is the primary purpose for both These impacts would be mitigated. No El Monte Community Library, 3224 dams. A water conservation pool has significant environmental health effects Tyler Avenue, El Monte, California Norwood Public Library, 4550 N Peck been authorized at Whittier Narrows are expected to occur. Road, EL Monte, California Dam at elevation 201.6 feet. No water FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: South El Monte Community Library, conservation pool currently exists at For further information on the Draft 1430 N. Central Avenue, South El Santa Fe Dam. Both dams also include Feasibility Report, please contact Ms. Monte, California extensive recreational facilities and Deborah Lamb, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Attn: Duarte Community Library, 1301 Buena wildlife management or nature study Vista Street, Duarte, California areas. The proposed action considered CESPL–PD–WA, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California, 90053–2325, South Whittier Community Library, in this DEIS/EIR involves the temporary 14433 Leffingwell Road, Whittier, storage of water in the reservoirs at telephone (213) 452–3798. For further information on the Draft EIS/EIR, please California Santa Fe and Whittier Narrows Dams Azusa City Library, 729 N. Dalton after the main flood season has passed contact Ms. Lois Goodman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CESPL–PD–RL, P.O. Avenue, Azusa, California during the flood season when flood Irwindale Public Library, 5050 North Box 532711, Los Angeles, California, forecasting predicts that there would be Irwindale Avenue, Irwindale, 90053–2325, telephone (213) 452–3869. no reasonable expectation of additional California rainfall at the end of a storm. The stored SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army West Covina Public Library, 1601 West water would be released at a slower rate Corps of Engineers has prepared a Draft Covina Parkway, West Covina, to recharge for spreading basins EIS/EIR to assess the environmental California associated with each dam. The proposed effects associated with the proposed Los Angeles Public Library, Central water conservation project would not water conservation and supply at Santa Library, 630 W 5th Street, Los reduce the effectiveness of either dam to Fe and Whittier Narrows Dams. The Angeles, California provide flood protection. public will have the opportunity to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los The preferred alternative at Santa Fe comment on this Draft EIS/EIR before Angeles District, Environmental Dam would establish a buffer pool and any action is taken to implement the Resources Branch, 911 Wilshire seasonal pool at elevation 463.0 feet. proposed plan. Boulevard, 14th Floor, Los Angeles, Historic records indicate that The Army Corps of Engineers California inundation to elevation 463.0 feet is conducted a scoping meeting prior to Los Angeles County Department of frequent enough to provide substantial preparing the in the city of El Monte Public Works, Planning Division, 900 water yields for cost-effective Draft EIS/EIR to aid in determining the South Fremont Avenue, 11th Floor, downstream ground water discharge. An significant environmental issues Alhambra, California 37866 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 1998 / Notices

To obtain a copy of the Draft EIS/EIR, Preferred Alternative, navy has 1990, Public Law 101–510, 10 U.S.C. please contact Ms. Deborah Lamb, U.S. determined that a mixed land use will 2687 note, the 1993 Defense Base Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles meet the local economic redevelopment Closure and Realignment Commission District, Attn: CESPL–PD–WA, P.O. Box goals of providing housing and recommended disestablishment of the 532711, Los Angeles, California, 90053– recreational resources while also Navy Public Works Center, San 2325, telephone (213) 452–3798. Please limiting adverse environmental impacts Francisco Bay, which included DoDHF address written comments on the Draft and ensuring land uses that are Novato. The recommendation was EIS/EIR, to Ms. Lois Goodman, U.S. compatible with adjacent property. This approved by President Clinton and Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles Record Of Decision does not mandate a accepted by the One Hundred Third District, Attn: CESPL–PD–RL, P.O. Box specific mix of land uses. Rather, it Congress in 1993. Navy closed the 532711, Los Angeles, California, 90053– leaves selection of the particular means housing facilities at Novato on 2325, Fax number (213) 452–4204. to achieve the proposed redevelopment September 30, 1996. Dated: July 7, 1998. to the acquiring entity and the local During the Federal screening process for the Novato housing facilities, two Robert L. Davis, zoning authority. Federal agencies, the Department of Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer. Background Veterans Affairs and the United States [FR Doc. 98–18676 Filed 7–13–98; 8:45 am] The Department of Defense Housing Coast Guard, expressed interest in BILLING CODE 3710±KF±M Facility at Novato is located in the property at DoDHF. The Department of southeastern part of the City of Novato Veterans Affairs initially requested an in Marin County, California, about 20 interagency transfer of 54 housing units DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE miles north of the City of San Francisco. at the Main Site but later withdrew its The property covers an area of about Department of the Navy request. The Coast Guard, in its revised 411 acres on two sites that are separated request, sought 282 housing units at the Record of Decision for the Disposal by United States Highway 101. Spanish Housing area of the Main Site, and Reuse of the Department of The 304-acre Main Site is located on and Navy will transfer the 142-acre Defense Housing Facility Novato, the east side of U.S. Highway 101 and property that contains these units to the California contains military family housing, a Coast Guard. The remaining property is Commissary, a Navy Exchange, an surplus to the needs of the Federal SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy Officers Club, community service areas, Government. (Navy), pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of a bowling alley, and recreational fields. Navy published a Notice Of Intent in the National Environmental Policy Act The 107-acre Rafael Village military the Federal Register on October 31, of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4332(2)(C), family housing site is located on the 1995, announcing that Navy would and the regulations of the Council on west side of U.S. Highway 101, about prepare an Environmental Impact Environmental Quality that implement one mile northwest of the Main Site. Statement (EIS) to analyze the impacts NEPA procedures, 40 CFR Parts 1500– The 142-acre Spanish Housing area lies of disposal and reuse of the land, 1508, hereby announces its decision to adjacent to the Main Site and was buildings, and infrastructure at DoDHF dispose of the Department of Defense formerly part of the Main Site. Navy Novato. A public scoping meeting was Housing Facility (DoDHF) at Novato, will transfer this property to the United held at San Marin High School in California. States Coast Guard (Coast Guard). Novato on November 16, 1995, and the Navy intends to dispose of the The Hamilton Reuse Planning scoping process ended on December 1, property in a manner that is consistent Authority developed a reuse plan for 1995. with the Hamilton Army Airfield Reuse DoDHF Novato in October 1995. This On January 31, 1997, Navy distributed Plan dated October 1995, as revised in plan, designated the Hamilton Army a Draft Environmental Impact Statement November 1996 (Revised Reuse Plan). Airfield Reuse Plan, addressed reuse of (DEIS) to Federal, State, and local These plans address reuse of both both DoDHF and the adjacent Army agencies, interested parties, and the DoDHF and the Department of the Airfield. The Hamilton Army Airfield general public. Navy held a public Army’s adjacent Hamilton Army Reuse Plan proposed adaptive reuse of hearing concerning the DEIS on Airfield (HAA). The Hamilton Reuse most of the existing housing and other February 27, 1997, at San Marin High Planning Authority (HRPA), the Local buildings and retention of the existing School. During the forty-five day review Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for the land uses. period after publication of the DEIS, DoDHF property, prepared both the The Reuse Planning Authority revised Federal, State, and local agencies, October 1995 Reuse Plan and the the original HAA Reuse Plan to take community groups and associations, November 1996 Revised Reuse Plan. account of changes in the Coast Guard’s and the general public submitted oral The City of Novato approved the request for an interagency transfer of and written comments concerning the Revised Reuse Plan in February 1996 base closure property at DoDHF. The DEIS. These comments and Navy’s and published it in November 1996. Revised Reuse Plan developed by HRPA responses were incorporated in the The Revised Reuse Plan Alternative, incorporated the Coast Guard’s revised Final Environmental Impact Statement identified in the Final Environmental request. It was approved by the City of and was distributed to the public on Impact Statement (FEIS) as the Preferred Novato in February 1996 and published November 21, 1997, for a thirty-day Alternative, would implement the in November 1996. The Revised Reuse review period that concluded on Revised Reuse Plan. The Preferred Plan, described in the FEIS as the December 22, 1997. navy received five Alternative proposes an adaptive reuse Revised Reuse Plan Alternative, is the letters concerning the FEIS. of certain DoDHF buildings and the Preferred Alternative. The Department retention of existing land uses, i.e., of the Army issued the Record Of Alternatives residential areas, community facilities, Decision for the disposal and reuse of NEPA requires Navy to evaluate a commercial activities, parkland, and Hamilton Army Airfield on February 24, reasonable range of alternatives for the open space. 1997. disposal and reuse of this Federal In deciding to dispose of DoDHF Under the authority of the Defense property. In the NEPA process, Navy Novato in a manner consistent with the Base Closure and Realignment Act of analyzed the environmental impacts of