Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices 94351

http://www.georgecountylakesEIS.com is the lead agency for this project under many places throughout the watershed. at least 15 days prior to the meeting. NEPA. The SFCJPA is the lead agency Flooding on Comments are encouraged from the for this project under the affects the cities of Menlo Park and East public as well as Federal, state, and Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Palo Alto in San Mateo County, and the local agencies and officials, Indian will be preparing a separate city of Palo Alto in Santa Clara County. tribes, and other interested parties so Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Flooding from San Francisquito Creek that the scope of the EIS may be DATES: Written comments from all has been a common occurrence. The properly identified. interested parties are encouraged and most recent flood event occurred in 7. Coordination: The proposed action must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. December 2012, and the flood of record is being coordinated with a number of on February 17, 2017. occurred in February 1998, when the Federal and State agencies, including ADDRESSES: Written comments and Creek overtopped its banks in several the U.S. Environmental Protection requests for information should be sent areas, affecting approximately 1,700 Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to Eric Jolliffe, U.S. Army Corps of residential and commercial structures Mississippi Department of Engineers, San Francisco District, 1455 and causing more than $26.6 million in Environmental Quality, and Mississippi Market St., 17th floor, San Francisco, property damages. After these floods, Department of Marine Resources. These CA 94103, [email protected]. the SFCJPA was formed to pursue flood control and restoration opportunities in agencies were requested by the USACE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. the area. to be cooperating agencies for the EIS Eric Jolliffe, (415) 503–6869. per Council on Environmental Quality The current USACE Feasibility Study SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The San regulations at 40 CFR 1501.6. is a continuation of the authority passed Francisquito Creek watershed Collaboration with other agencies, on May 22, 2002 by the Committee on encompasses an area of approximately including state resource protection Transportation and Infrastructure of the 45 square miles, extending from the agencies, is anticipated during the EIS House of Representatives, ridge of the to process. which is in accordance with Section 4 8. Availability of the Draft EIS: The in California. The of the Flood Control Act of 1941. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will majority of the watershed lies in the resolution reads as follows: advertise the availability of a Draft Santa Cruz Mountains and Bay Foothills ‘‘Resolved by the Committee on Environmental Impact Statement when northwest of Palo Alto; the remaining Transportation and Infrastructure of the it becomes available for the public 7.5 square miles lie on the San United States House of Representatives, review. Francisquito alluvial fan near San That, the Secretary of the Army, in Francisco Bay. accordance with Section 4 of the Flood Brenda S. Bowen, The San Francisquito Creek Control Act of 1941, is hereby requested Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. watershed contains mainstem San to conduct a study of the Guadalupe [FR Doc. 2016–30988 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am] Francisquito Creek and the main River and Tributaries, California, to BILLING CODE 3720–58–P tributary streams of West Union Creek, determine whether flood damage Corte Madera Creek, Bear Creek and Los reduction, environmental restoration Trancos Creek. Los Trancos Creek and and protection, storm water retention, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE lower San Francisquito Creek form the water conservation and supply, boundary between San Mateo and Santa recreation and other allied purposes are Department of the Army, Corps of Clara counties. The reaches are divided advisable in the interest of the San Engineers up as follows: Reach 1 extends from San Francisquito Creek Watershed, Francisco Bay to the upstream face of Intent To Prepare an Integrated including San Francisquito Creek, Santa Highway 101; Reach 2 extends from Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact Clara and San Mateo Counties, Highway 101 to El Camino Real; Reach Statement for the San Francisquito California.’’ 3 continues from El Camino Real to 2. Proposed Action. The integrated Creek Flood Risk Management Study, Sand Hill Road; and Reach 4 continues FS/EIS will consider the environmental San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, from Sand Hill Road to the ridge of the impact of potential flood risk CA Santa Cruz Mountains. This FS/EIS will management projects with the end goal AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. investigate flood risk management of reducing flood damage in the San Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. solutions related to breakout flow in Francisquito Creek Watershed. ACTION: Notice of intent. Reach 2 only. The entire watershed will 3. Project Alternatives. The integrated be considered when developing FS/EIS will include four alternatives. SUMMARY: The Department of the Army solutions to address flooding in Reach 2. a. No Action: Alternative 1 is the No and the San Francisquito Creek Joint The non-Federal sponsor for the Action Plan. With the No Action Plan Powers Authority (SFCJPA) hereby give Feasibility phase of the study is the (which is the ‘‘Future Without-Project notice of intent to prepare an integrated SFCJPA. The SFCJPA is comprised of Condition’’), it is assumed that no long- Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact the following member agencies: the City term actions would be taken to reduce Statement (FS/EIS) for the San of Palo Alto; the City of Menlo Park; the flood damage along San Francisquito Francisquito Creek Flood Risk City of East Palo Alto; the Santa Clara Creek; flood control improvements Management Project in San Mateo and Valley Water District; and the San would consist of emergency fixes to Santa Clara Counties, CA to consider Mateo County Flood Control District. damage areas, consistent with available opportunities to reduce fluvial flooding, 1. Background. The carrying capacity funding. to reduce the risk to public safety due of San Francisquito Creek is affected by b. Alternative 2 includes replacing to flooding consistent with protecting the presence of development, bridges and widening channel the Nation’s environment, in accordance vegetation, sedimentation, land constriction points to provide additional with national environmental statutes, subsidence, levee settlement, erosion, channel capacity in Reach 2 between applicable executive orders, and other and culverts and bridges in the project Highway 101 and El Camino Real. Federal planning requirements. The area. Erosion has caused the Under this alternative, bridges and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) undermining of roads and structures in channel constrictions or ‘‘bottlenecks’’

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that cause creek flows to back up and Council on Environmental Quality 1. Authority. The study is authorized rise would be widened to increase regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508). under Section 216 of the 1970 Rivers channel conveyance and thus reduce and Harbor Act, Public Law 91–611, water surface elevation. Included in this John C. Morrow, 91st Congress, H.R. 19877, dated 31 widening is a proposed project element Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers December 1970. to align the channel with a CalTrans District Engineer. 2. Proposed Action. The study will project to increase flow capacity at [FR Doc. 2016–30985 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am] evaluate a range of alternatives for Highway 101 and adjacent frontage BILLING CODE 3720–58–P deepening and widening the MSC from roads. Impacts from these activities will offshore in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) be evaluated in the FS/EIS. through the Point Comfort turning c. Alternative 3 includes constructing DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE basin. Modifications to the existing 26- floodwalls along the channel. This mile long navigation channel are needed Department of the Army; Corps of Alternative would consider the addition to reduce transportation costs and Engineers of floodwalls in Reach 2 as a stand- increase operational efficiencies of alone measure and in combination with Intent To Prepare a Draft maritime commerce movement through the bridge replacement and channel Environmental Impact Statement for the channel. The existing MSC is widening in Alternative 2. the Matagorda Ship Channel, TX, comprised of an entrance channel about d. Alternative 4 would consider the Feasibility Study 4 miles long from the Gulf through a addition of a bypass culvert as a stand- man-made cut across Matagorda alone measure and in combination with AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Peninsula. The bayside channel is about the bridge replacement and channel Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 22 miles long across Matagorda and widening in Alternative 2. This ACTION: Notice of Intent. Lavaca Bays to Point Comfort with a alternative may include floodwalls, turning basin at Point Comfort. Offshore though at a reduced scale compared to SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of and through the Matagorda Peninsula, Alternative 3. This alternative includes Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a the channel has a 300-foot bottom width a new bypass inlet located a few Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and and is maintained at a depth of 40 feet hundred feet upstream from University Environmental Impact Statement (DIFR– mean lower low water (MLLW). Avenue that would divert high flows to EIS) to assess the social, economic and Generally, in Matagorda and Lavaca a culvert beneath Woodland Avenue or environmental effects of widening and Bays, the channel has a 200-foot wide a street in Palo Alto. A box culvert deepening the Matagorda Ship Channel bottom width and is authorized to a would follow a roadway in the (MSC) in Calhoun and Matagorda project depth of 38 feet MLLW. In downstream direction for approximately counties, Texas. The DIFR–EIS will addition to No Action, specific 1.0 to 1.5 miles to an outlet structure evaluate potential impacts of a range of alternatives to be evaluated are expected where high flows would be returned to alternatives, including the No Action to include nonstructural measures, the creek. alternative, structural and non- structural alternatives to modify the 4. Environmental Considerations. In structural alternatives which address bayside channels of the MSC at depths all cases, environmental considerations proposed navigation improvements in ranging from –38 feet to –50 feet MLLW will include riparian habitat, aquatic the study area. The DIFR–EIS will also and at widths ranging from 200 feet to habitat, sediment budget, fish passage, present an assessment of impacts 400 feet, and alternatives to modify and recreation, public access, aesthetics, associated with the placement of extend the Entrance Channel to depths cultural resources, and environmental dredged material, including potential ranging from –40 feet to –55 fee MLLW justice as well as other potential new upland, confined placement areas, and at widths ranging from 300 feet to environmental issues of concern. beneficial use of dredged material sites, 600 feet. The DIFR–EIS will also 5. Scoping Process. The USACE and and at Ocean Dredged Material Disposal evaluate the impacts and potential SFCJPA are seeking input from Sites (ODMDS). The U.S. Environmental benefits of a dredged material interested federal, state, and local Protection Agency, as the lead Federal management plan (DMMP) for the agencies, Native American agency for designation of an ODMDS material that would generated by representatives, and other interested under Section 102 of the Marine construction and operation of the private organizations and parties Protection, Research and Sanctuaries modified channel. through provision of this notice and Act of 1972, will utilize this assessment 3. Scoping. A scoping meeting will be holding of a scoping meeting. The and public comments on the DIFR–EIS held on January 24, 2017 at the Bauer purpose of this meeting is to solicit to evaluate the potential designation of Civic Center, 2300 Highway 35 North, input regarding the environmental a new ODMDS. The non-Federal Port Lavaca, TX 77979, from 5:30 to 7:30 issues of concern and the alternatives sponsor for the study is the Calhoun p.m. USACE requests public scoping that should be discussed in the Port Authority. comments to: (a) Identify the affected integrated FS/EIS. The public scoping DATES: Comments on the scope of the public and agency concerns; (b) identify meeting will be held on January 18, DIFR–EIS will be accepted through the scope of significant issues to be 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Laurel School February 13, 2017. addressed in the DIFR–EIS; (c) identify Upper Campus, 275 Elliott Drive in the critical problems, needs, and ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be Menlo Park, CA. sent to: [email protected] significant resources that should be 6. Availability of integrated FS/EIS. or to USACE, Galveston District, (Attn: considered in the DIFR–EIS; and (d) The public will have an additional RPEC Coastal Section), P.O. Box 1229, identify reasonable measures and opportunity in the NEPA process to Galveston, TX 77553–1229. alternatives that should be considered comment on the proposed alternatives in the DIFR–EIS. Scoping comments are FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: after the draft integrated FS/EIS is requested to be postmarked by February released to the public in 2017. It is being Galveston District Public Affairs Office 13, 2017. issued pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of at 409–766–3004 or swgpao@ 4. Coordination. Further coordination the National Environmental Policy Act usace.army.mil. with environmental agencies will be (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: conducted under the National

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