80 FR 66926 - Delta Research Station, Sacramento, CA; Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement, and Announcement of Public Meetings
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 210 (October 30, 2015)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 210 (October 30, 2015)
| Page Range | 66926-66927 | |
| FR Document | 2015-27683 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 66926-66927] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-27683] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R8-FAC-2015-N163]; [FRFR48370810680-XXX-FF08F00000] Delta Research Station, Sacramento, CA; Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement, and Announcement of Public Meetings AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Delta Research Station Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for public review and comment. The Draft EIR/EIS evaluates impacts regarding construction and operation of the Delta Research Station (DRS) in the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta), California. The planned DRS would consist of two facilities, a proposed Estuarine Research Station (ERS) and Fish Technology Center (FTC). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the lead Federal agency responsible for coordinating the environmental analysis for the proposed action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is the lead State agency responsible for coordinating the environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). DATES: Comments on the Draft EIR/EIS must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on December 14, 2015. Two public meetings will be held to receive comments on the Draft EIR/EIS. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates and times. The public meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for reasonable accommodations (e.g., auxiliary aids or sign language interpretation) should be directed to Michael Stevenson of Horizon Water & Environment at (510) 986-1852, at least 5 working days prior to the applicable meeting date. ADDRESSES: To view or download the Draft EIR/EIS, or for a list of locations to view hard-bound copies, go to www.deltaresearchstation.com. You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: 1. By email: Submit comments to comments@deltaresearchstation.com. 2. By hard-copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail or by hand-delivery, to USFWS, Attn: Barbara Beggs, 650 Capitol Mall Suite 8-300, Sacramento, CA 95814. For how to view comments on the EIS from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or for information on EPA's role in the EIS process, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Beggs, USFWS, at 916-930-5603. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue the process for developing a DRS, which we began by publishing a notice of intent for scoping in the Federal Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73332). In addition to this notice of the draft EIR/EIS, EPA is publishing a notice announcing the draft EIS, as required under section 309 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The publication of EPA's notice is the official start of the minimum requirement for a 45-day public comment period for an EIS (see EPA's Role in the EIS Process under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). Background The proposed DRS would consolidate ongoing Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) research and monitoring activities throughout the Bay- Delta and provide facilities for study and production of endangered Delta fishes. Currently, the IEP has approximately 145 State and Federal employees who conduct research throughout the Bay-Delta. The IEP collaboratively monitors, researches, models, and synthesizes critical information for adaptive management water project operations, planning, and regulatory purposes relative to the aquatic ecosystem in the Bay-Delta. USFWS and DWR plan to construct the DRS in a centrally located area within the Bay-Delta, and the facilities are expected to enhance interagency coordination and collaboration. Purpose The purpose of the DRS is to enhance interagency coordination and collaboration by developing a shared research facility. Currently, Federal and State agency staff working on similar Bay-Delta issues are distributed among different locations that are often remote from the Bay-Delta. Construction and operation of the DRS would reduce travel times and costs and improve research and monitoring activity efficiency. The ERS would consolidate existing IEP programs currently located throughout the Delta, and the FTC would house a new program to develop and apply captive fish propagation technologies in support of population restoration. The specific objectives of each component of the DRS are as follows: [ssquf] ERS-- --Establish a research station in a central location within the Bay- Delta to facilitate conducting monitoring and research; and --Co-locate the research station with a facility capable of studying fish in captivity (i.e., the FTC); and --Provide facilities to conduct monitoring and research on the Bay- Delta's aquatic resources. [ssquf] FTC-- --Develop captive propagation technologies for the Bay-Delta's rare fish species; --Test and refine the captive propagation techniques; --Locate the facility where suitable water quality and quantity are available, and ability to discharge waste water is available, given the facility's various functions and operations; and --Co-locate the FTC with a facility conducting conservation research on [[Page 66927]] Bay-Delta rare fish species (i.e., the ERS). Project Area Two alternative locations are evaluated in the Draft EIR/EIS: The Rio Vista Army Reserve Center (RVARC) site in the City of Rio Vista and a site located at 845 Ryde Avenue in the City of Stockton (Ryde Avenue site). Project Overview The Draft EIR/EIS analyzes three action alternatives, as well as the No Project Alternative. The No Project Alternative would be a continuation of existing conditions. For the action alternatives, certain components would be the same for all alternatives. For the ERS, these include provision of office space; boat storage facilities, including a marina; a boat/equipment wash facility; laboratory facilities; shop space; and a storage building. For the FTC, common components include three buildings with aquaculture and research components for the study of individual fish species; an office and administrative building; a shop and vehicle storage building; a surface water intake and groundwater wells, a surface water treatment facility, and an effluent treatment system. As required by NEPA, the Draft EIR/EIS identifies direct, indirect, and cumulative effects, and possible mitigation for those effects, on biological resources, land use, air quality, water resources, socioeconomics, environmental justice, cultural resources, and other environmental resources that could occur with implementation of each alternative. A summary of each alternative is provided below. No Project Alternative: Under this alternative, no DRS facilities would be built and existing IEP activities would continue at their current locations. Some of the existing IEP activities that would continue to operate from various offices are fish population estimates, net surveys, and estuarine and marine fish abundance and distribution surveys. No FTC would be built. Alternative 2: This alternative would be located at the RVARC site on the southern edge of Rio Vista. Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative of DWR and USFWS, and would include all of the components described above for the action alternatives. Under Alternative 2, development of ERS and FTC facilities would be consolidated in the predominantly undeveloped portions of the site, and the marina would be established in the Sacramento River at the southeastern end of the site. The development footprint would be approximately 14 acres. Several existing buildings at the RVARC would be demolished. Alternative 3: Alternative 3 would include all of the components described above, and would also be located at the RVARC site. The development footprint under Alternative 3 would be approximately 18 acres. Alternative 3 would demolish or repurpose some existing buildings situated adjacent to the Sacramento River. The marina and other ERS facilities would be constructed within the northern and northeastern portions of the site. In contrast with Alternative 2, the marina would be excavated in an upland portion of the site. Alternative 4: Alternative 4 would be located at 845 Ryde Avenue in Stockton. This alternative would include all of the components described above. No existing buildings are located at the Ryde Avenue site, so no buildings would be demolished or repurposed. Similar to Alternative 3, the marina would be excavated in an upland portion of the site. NEPA Compliance We are conducting environmental review in accordance with the requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.), other applicable regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations. The Draft EIR/EIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources, water quality, and other environmental resources. Measures to minimize adverse environmental effects are identified and discussed in the Draft EIR/EIS. EPA's Role in the EIS Process The EPA is charged under section 309 of the Clean Air Act to review all Federal agencies' EISs and to comment on the adequacy and the acceptability of the environmental impacts of proposed actions in the EISs. EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the Federal Register. The EIS database provides information about EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal Register. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/eisdata.html. You may search for EPA comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search. Public Meeting Information Two public meetings will be held to provide an overview of the project and allow public comment and discussion. Meeting dates, times, and locations will be announced in local media and at www.deltaresearchstation.com. Public Comments This notice is provided pursuant to NEPA. Submitting timely comments to the email and hard-copy addresses identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice will also constitute effective filing of the CEQA comments on the EIR portion of the Draft EIR/EIS. USFWS is publishing this notice to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on this document. All comments received will become part of the public record for this action. Comments on the Draft EIR/EIS should be submitted to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. Comments submitted to the above address will be reviewed and considered by all of the lead agencies. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Next Steps The lead agencies will compile and review all public comments on the Draft EIR/EIS submitted to them prior to preparation of a Final EIR/EIS. Alexandra Pitts, Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2015-27683 Filed 10-29-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![66926 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices
Landholding Agency: Navy the lead Federal agency responsible for Background
Property Number: 77201540003 coordinating the environmental analysis
Status: Underutilized The proposed DRS would consolidate
for the proposed action under the ongoing Interagency Ecological Program
Directions: FAC#483; FAC#482; FAC#482A; National Environmental Policy Act
FAC#479; FAC#390; FAC#455; FAC#399A; (IEP) research and monitoring activities
FAC#5160; 10.56 acres; 9.10 acres.
(NEPA). The California Department of throughout the Bay-Delta and provide
Comments: public access denied and no Water Resources (DWR) is the lead State facilities for study and production of
alternative method to gain access without agency responsible for coordinating the endangered Delta fishes. Currently, the
compromising national security. environmental analysis under the IEP has approximately 145 State and
Reasons: Secured Area California Environmental Quality Act Federal employees who conduct
Mississippi (CEQA). research throughout the Bay-Delta. The
2 Buildings DATES: Comments on the Draft EIR/EIS IEP collaboratively monitors, researches,
Stennis Space Center must be received or postmarked by 5 models, and synthesizes critical
Hancock County MS 39529 p.m. Pacific Time on December 14, information for adaptive management
Landholding Agency: NASA water project operations, planning, and
2015. Two public meetings will be held
Property Number: 71201540002 regulatory purposes relative to the
Status: Unutilized to receive comments on the Draft EIR/
Directions: Building 4312 & 8304 EIS. See the SUPPLEMENTARY aquatic ecosystem in the Bay-Delta.
Comments: public access denied and no INFORMATION section for meeting dates USFWS and DWR plan to construct the
alternative method to gain access without and times. The public meetings are DRS in a centrally located area within
compromising national security. physically accessible to people with the Bay-Delta, and the facilities are
Reasons: Secured Area disabilities. Requests for reasonable expected to enhance interagency
Ohio accommodations (e.g., auxiliary aids or coordination and collaboration.
sign language interpretation) should be Purpose
Radio Building & Tower
23560 Jenkins Dam Road directed to Michael Stevenson of
Horizon Water & Environment at (510) The purpose of the DRS is to enhance
Glouster OH 45732
986–1852, at least 5 working days prior interagency coordination and
Landholding Agency: COE
Property Number: 31201540001 to the applicable meeting date. collaboration by developing a shared
Status: Unutilized research facility. Currently, Federal and
ADDRESSES: To view or download the
Directions: TJE–01–X01 State agency staff working on similar
Comments: public access denied and no
Draft EIR/EIS, or for a list of locations Bay-Delta issues are distributed among
alternative method to gain access without to view hard-bound copies, go to different locations that are often remote
compromising national security. www.deltaresearchstation.com. from the Bay-Delta. Construction and
Reasons: Secured Area You may submit written comments by operation of the DRS would reduce
[FR Doc. 2015–27365 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am] one of the following methods: travel times and costs and improve
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
1. By email: Submit comments to research and monitoring activity
comments@deltaresearchstation.com. efficiency. The ERS would consolidate
2. By hard-copy: Submit comments by existing IEP programs currently located
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. mail or by hand-delivery, to throughout the Delta, and the FTC
USFWS, Attn: Barbara Beggs, 650 would house a new program to develop
Fish and Wildlife Service Capitol Mall Suite 8–300, Sacramento, and apply captive fish propagation
CA 95814. technologies in support of population
[FWS–R8–FAC–2015–N163]; For how to view comments on the EIS restoration.
[FRFR48370810680–XXX–FF08F00000] The specific objectives of each
from the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), or for information on component of the DRS are as follows:
Delta Research Station, Sacramento,
CA; Draft Environmental Impact EPA’s role in the EIS process, see EPA’s D ERS—
Report/Environmental Impact Role in the EIS Process under —Establish a research station in a
Statement, and Announcement of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. central location within the Bay-Delta
Public Meetings FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: to facilitate conducting monitoring
Barbara Beggs, USFWS, at 916–930– and research; and
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 5603. —Co-locate the research station with a
Interior. facility capable of studying fish in
ACTION: Notice of availability; request SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: captivity (i.e., the FTC); and
for comments. Introduction —Provide facilities to conduct
monitoring and research on the Bay-
SUMMARY: This notice announces the With this notice, we continue the Delta’s aquatic resources.
availability of the Delta Research Station process for developing a DRS, which we D FTC—
Draft Environmental Impact Report/ began by publishing a notice of intent —Develop captive propagation
Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/ for scoping in the Federal Register on technologies for the Bay-Delta’s rare
EIS) for public review and comment. December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73332). In fish species;
The Draft EIR/EIS evaluates impacts addition to this notice of the draft EIR/ —Test and refine the captive
regarding construction and operation of EIS, EPA is publishing a notice propagation techniques;
the Delta Research Station (DRS) in the announcing the draft EIS, as required —Locate the facility where suitable
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San under section 309 of the Clean Air Act water quality and quantity are
Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta), (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The publication available, and ability to discharge
California. The planned DRS would of EPA’s notice is the official start of the waste water is available, given the
consist of two facilities, a proposed minimum requirement for a 45-day facility’s various functions and
Estuarine Research Station (ERS) and public comment period for an EIS (see operations; and
Fish Technology Center (FTC). The U.S. EPA’s Role in the EIS Process under —Co-locate the FTC with a facility
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). conducting conservation research on
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices 66927
Bay-Delta rare fish species (i.e., the development footprint would be themselves, at https://
ERS). approximately 14 acres. Several existing cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/
buildings at the RVARC would be action/eis/search.
Project Area
demolished.
Two alternative locations are Alternative 3: Alternative 3 would Public Meeting Information
evaluated in the Draft EIR/EIS: The Rio include all of the components described
Vista Army Reserve Center (RVARC) site Two public meetings will be held to
above, and would also be located at the
in the City of Rio Vista and a site RVARC site. The development footprint provide an overview of the project and
located at 845 Ryde Avenue in the City under Alternative 3 would be allow public comment and discussion.
of Stockton (Ryde Avenue site). approximately 18 acres. Alternative 3 Meeting dates, times, and locations will
would demolish or repurpose some be announced in local media and at
Project Overview www.deltaresearchstation.com.
existing buildings situated adjacent to
The Draft EIR/EIS analyzes three the Sacramento River. The marina and
action alternatives, as well as the No Public Comments
other ERS facilities would be
Project Alternative. constructed within the northern and This notice is provided pursuant to
The No Project Alternative would be northeastern portions of the site. In NEPA. Submitting timely comments to
a continuation of existing conditions. contrast with Alternative 2, the marina the email and hard-copy addresses
For the action alternatives, certain would be excavated in an upland
components would be the same for all identified in the ADDRESSES section of
portion of the site. this notice will also constitute effective
alternatives. For the ERS, these include Alternative 4: Alternative 4 would be
provision of office space; boat storage filing of the CEQA comments on the EIR
located at 845 Ryde Avenue in Stockton. portion of the Draft EIR/EIS. USFWS is
facilities, including a marina; a boat/ This alternative would include all of the
equipment wash facility; laboratory publishing this notice to allow other
components described above. No agencies and the public an opportunity
facilities; shop space; and a storage existing buildings are located at the
building. For the FTC, common to review and comment on this
Ryde Avenue site, so no buildings
components include three buildings document. All comments received will
would be demolished or repurposed.
with aquaculture and research Similar to Alternative 3, the marina become part of the public record for this
components for the study of individual would be excavated in an upland action. Comments on the Draft EIR/EIS
fish species; an office and portion of the site. should be submitted to the address
administrative building; a shop and listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
vehicle storage building; a surface water NEPA Compliance document. Comments submitted to the
intake and groundwater wells, a surface We are conducting environmental above address will be reviewed and
water treatment facility, and an effluent review in accordance with the considered by all of the lead agencies.
treatment system. requirements of NEPA, as amended (42
As required by NEPA, the Draft EIR/ U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing Public Availability of Comments
EIS identifies direct, indirect, and regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.), Before including your address, phone
cumulative effects, and possible other applicable regulations, and our number, email address, or other
mitigation for those effects, on procedures for compliance with those
biological resources, land use, air personal identifying information in your
regulations. The Draft EIR/EIS discusses comment, you should be aware that
quality, water resources, the direct, indirect, and cumulative
socioeconomics, environmental justice, your entire comment—including your
impacts of the alternatives on biological
cultural resources, and other personal identifying information—may
resources, cultural resources, water
environmental resources that could quality, and other environmental be made publicly available at any time.
occur with implementation of each resources. Measures to minimize While you may ask us in your comment
alternative. A summary of each adverse environmental effects are to withhold your personal identifying
alternative is provided below. identified and discussed in the Draft information from public review, we
No Project Alternative: Under this EIR/EIS. cannot guarantee that we will be able to
alternative, no DRS facilities would be do so.
built and existing IEP activities would EPA’s Role in the EIS Process
continue at their current locations. Next Steps
The EPA is charged under section 309
Some of the existing IEP activities that of the Clean Air Act to review all The lead agencies will compile and
would continue to operate from various Federal agencies’ EISs and to comment review all public comments on the Draft
offices are fish population estimates, net on the adequacy and the acceptability of EIR/EIS submitted to them prior to
surveys, and estuarine and marine fish the environmental impacts of proposed preparation of a Final EIR/EIS.
abundance and distribution surveys. No actions in the EISs.
FTC would be built. EPA also serves as the repository (EIS Alexandra Pitts,
Alternative 2: This alternative would database) for EISs prepared by Federal Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
be located at the RVARC site on the agencies and provides notice of their Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
southern edge of Rio Vista. Alternative availability in the Federal Register. The [FR Doc. 2015–27683 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am]
2 is the preferred alternative of DWR EIS database provides information about BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
and USFWS, and would include all of EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as
the components described above for the well as EPA’s comments concerning the
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
action alternatives. Under Alternative 2, EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which
development of ERS and FTC facilities publishes a notice of availability on
would be consolidated in the Fridays in the Federal Register.
predominantly undeveloped portions of For more information, see http://
the site, and the marina would be www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/
established in the Sacramento River at eisdata.html. You may search for EPA
the southeastern end of the site. The comments on EISs, along with EISs
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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:29:52
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:29:52
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments on the Draft EIR/EIS must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on December 14, 2015. Two public meetings will be held to receive comments on the Draft EIR/EIS. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates and times. The public meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for reasonable accommodations (e.g., auxiliary aids or sign language interpretation) should be directed to Michael Stevenson of Horizon Water & Environment at (510) 986-1852, at least 5 working days prior to the applicable meeting date. | |
| Contact | Barbara Beggs, USFWS, at 916-930-5603. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 66926 |
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