81 FR 12481 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the San Diego County Shoreline Feasibility Study, Oceanside, San Diego County, CA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 46 (March 9, 2016)

The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to support the San Diego County Shoreline Feasibility Study, Oceanside, San Diego County California. The Study Area extends approximately 15 miles along the coast, from about 9 miles north of the Oceanside Harbor north breakwater to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon north jetty, within the cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad in northwest San Diego County. The project environment includes predominantly beach, coastal strand, and/ or marine inter-tidal/littoral/pelagic zones. The predominant problem that threatens the shoreline is continual beach erosion averaging over 6 feet per year in some areas, despite the considerable amount of beach fill deposited on an annual basis. Causes for this erosion has been attributed to sediment impoundment due to harbor construction, dam construction, storm damage, and river sand mining. The loss of beach width and increased exposure of property has resulted in increased coastal damage, safety issues, and loss of recreation opportunities. This feasibility study will focus on addressing the problems and needs caused by beach erosion. The DEIS will analyze the potential impacts (beneficial and adverse) on the environment for the range of alternatives, including the recommended plan. The Los Angeles District and the City of Oceanside will cooperate in conducting this Feasibility Study. The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to support a feasibility study with the city of Oceanside, California, for shoreline protection. The purpose of the feasibility study is to mitigate for impacts from construction of the Camp Pendleton Harbor and reduce coastal storm damages in the city of Oceanside. The EIS will analyze potential impacts of the recommended plan and a range of alternatives. Alternatives will include both structural and non-structural measures.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12481-12482]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05171]



[[Page 12481]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the San 
Diego County Shoreline Feasibility Study, Oceanside, San Diego County, 
CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to 
support the San Diego County Shoreline Feasibility Study, Oceanside, 
San Diego County California. The Study Area extends approximately 15 
miles along the coast, from about 9 miles north of the Oceanside Harbor 
north breakwater to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon north jetty, within the 
cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad in northwest San Diego County. The 
project environment includes predominantly beach, coastal strand, and/
or marine inter-tidal/littoral/pelagic zones.
    The predominant problem that threatens the shoreline is continual 
beach erosion averaging over 6 feet per year in some areas, despite the 
considerable amount of beach fill deposited on an annual basis. Causes 
for this erosion has been attributed to sediment impoundment due to 
harbor construction, dam construction, storm damage, and river sand 
mining.
    The loss of beach width and increased exposure of property has 
resulted in increased coastal damage, safety issues, and loss of 
recreation opportunities. This feasibility study will focus on 
addressing the problems and needs caused by beach erosion. The DEIS 
will analyze the potential impacts (beneficial and adverse) on the 
environment for the range of alternatives, including the recommended 
plan.
    The Los Angeles District and the City of Oceanside will cooperate 
in conducting this Feasibility Study.
    The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to support a feasibility study with the city of 
Oceanside, California, for shoreline protection. The purpose of the 
feasibility study is to mitigate for impacts from construction of the 
Camp Pendleton Harbor and reduce coastal storm damages in the city of 
Oceanside. The EIS will analyze potential impacts of the recommended 
plan and a range of alternatives. Alternatives will include both 
structural and non-structural measures.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your concerns in writing to the Los Angeles 
District at the address below. Comments, suggestions, and requests to 
be placed on the mailing list for announcements should be sent to 
Lawrence Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 915 
Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 930, Los Angeles, CA 90017-3401, or email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Mr. 
Larry Smith, Project Environmental Coordinator, (213) 452-3846.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authorization: This Feasibility Study was 
authorized by the House Public Works and Transportation Committee 
Resolution adopted April 30,1992 which states: ``Resolved by the 
Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the United States House 
of Representatives, that in accordance with Section 110 of the River 
and Harbor Act of 1962, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the 
Chief of Engineers, is requested to investigate the feasibility of 
providing shore protection improvements along the shores of the City of 
Oceanside, San Diego County, California, in the interest of shoreline 
protection and storm damage reduction and other related purposes.''
    Specific language was included in the Water Resources Development 
Act of 2000 (WRDA 2000) directing the Corps of Engineers to undertake a 
study of how to mitigate erosion and other impacts caused by the 
construction of Camp Pendleton Harbor, and restore beaches to pre-
construction conditions at full Federal expense. The authority states, 
``Not later than 32 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall conduct a study, at Federal expense, of plans (1) to 
mitigate for the erosion and other impacts resulting from the 
construction of Camp Pendleton Harbor, Oceanside, California, as a 
wartime measure; and (2) to restore beach conditions along the affected 
public and private shores to the conditions that existed before the 
construction of Camp Pendleton Harbor.'' This authority was amended in 
WRDA 2007 to extend the study to 44 months.
    Study Area: The study area extends approximately 15 miles along the 
coast, from about 9 miles north of the Oceanside Harbor North 
Breakwater to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon North Jetty, within the cities 
of Oceanside and Carlsbad in northwest San Diego County.
    Problems and Needs: During the 1880's Oceanside Beach was 
approximately 90 meters wide. This shoreline width was further advanced 
in the floods of 1889, 1891, and 1916 bringing large volumes of 
sediment from the San Luis Rey and Santa Margarita Rivers. The City 
used the widened beach as a resource, and in 1927 a recreational pier, 
beachfront, strand, parking lots and houses were constructed in front 
of the seacliff. During this period a dam was also constructed on the 
San Luis Rey River to control flooding. At the start of the U.S. 
involvement in World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps designed and 
contracted construction of a small boat basin in a narrow lagoon 
between the Santa Margarita and San Luis Rey Rivers to support an 
amphibious training base. This included four jetties, which were later 
extended. Another dam was constructed on the Santa Margarita River to 
control flooding in 1949.
    The presence of the coastal structures, such as jetties and 
breakwaters, has resulted in the disruption of sediment transport, 
creating a variety of localized shoreline effects. Sediment tends to 
accumulate at the beach north of the harbor, within the harbor 
entrance, and south of the harbor south jetty. However, erosion tends 
to occur south of the harbor. Damages reported by residents consist 
mainly of inundation damages and damages to revetment. These damages 
occur when storm wave conditions coincide with high tidal elevations, 
storm surges, or increased ENSO (El Ni[ntilde]o Southern Oscillation) 
water levels which cause elevated sea surfaces and higher wave run-up 
elevations. The majority of damages in Oceanside occurred during storms 
in 1977-1978, 1982-83, 1988, 1993-1994, and 1997-1998. In addition to 
high waves and water surface elevations, damage is enabled by shoreline 
erosion and beach retreat exposing structures to wave attack. Oceanside 
has historically experienced a narrow beach, but has recently undergone 
accelerated erosion. A large volume of material has been placed back on 
the beach during construction and maintenance dredging, but a deficit 
in sand for the beach still exists. The average rate of recession near 
Oceanside Beach from 1940-1999 is approximately 3.5 ft./yr. Studies 
have shown that problems are caused by a combination of measures in the 
nearby rivers (including flood control measures and sand mining), which 
reduces sediment nourishment, along with the construction of the 
harbor, which limits longshore sediment transport. In 1974, the USACE 
issued a position paper on

[[Page 12482]]

beach erosion that tentatively indicated that the harbor was the 
primary cause of erosion. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was 
originally published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2002. The Los 
Angeles District has elected to republish and to hold a new public 
Scoping Meeting to allow members of the public to provide input into 
the scoping of the proposed EIS and the alternatives formulation 
process.
    Proposed Action and Alternatives: The Feasibility Study will focus 
on the problems and needs caused by beach erosion. In general, 
alternative plans will focus on reducing the beach erosion and 
improving sand accumulation through either construction or management 
project features such as groins, reefs, and/or beach nourishment.
    The primary undesirable impacts of concern from any of the 
alternatives will likely be related to temporary turbidity and 
displacement of sand dwelling organisms and their predators. These will 
be addressed in the study as part of the plan formulation of the 
Feasibility Study, and potential impacts will be analyzed in the DEIS.
    Previous Actions: Annual maintenance dredging of the entrance into 
Oceanside Harbor with placement on area beaches south of the San Luis 
Rey River.
    Scoping: Participation of all interested Federal, State, and County 
agencies; groups with environmental interests; and any interested 
individuals is encouraged. Public involvement will be most beneficial 
and worthwhile in identifying the scope of pertinent, significant 
environmental issues to be addressed; identifying and eliminating from 
detailed study issues that are not significant; offering useful 
information such as published or unpublished data; providing direct 
personal experience or knowledge which informs decision making; and 
recommending suitable mitigation measures to offset potential impacts 
from the proposed action or alternatives.
    Two public scoping meetings will be held in the City of Oceanside 
on March 17, 2016 at 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. The public scoping meeting will 
be held at Council Chambers at City Hall; 300 North Coast Highway; 
Oceanside, CA 92054. The purpose of the scoping meeting will be to 
gather information from the general public or interested organizations 
about issues and concerns that they would like to see addressed in the 
DEIS. Comments may be delivered in writing or verbally at the meeting 
or sent in writing to the Los Angeles District at the address given 
above. All comments enter into the public record. Comments should be 
submitted no later than May 1, 2016.
    Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is scheduled to be 
published and circulated in late 2016, and a public hearing to receive 
comments on the Draft EIS will be held after it is published.

    Dated: February 24, 2016.
Kirk E. Gibbs,
Colonel, U.S. Army, Commander and District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2016-05171 Filed 3-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P