81 FR 78794 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environment Impact Statement and Conduct a Public Scoping Meeting for the Proposed Thousand Palms Flood Control Project Within the Thousand Palms Area of Coachella Valley, Riverside County, California (Corps File No. SPL-2014-00238-RJV)
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 217 (November 9, 2016)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 217 (November 9, 2016)
| Page Range | 78794-78795 | |
| FR Document | 2016-27063 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 9, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 78794-78795] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-27063] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environment Impact Statement and Conduct a Public Scoping Meeting for the Proposed Thousand Palms Flood Control Project Within the Thousand Palms Area of Coachella Valley, Riverside County, California (Corps File No. SPL-2014-00238- RJV) AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to initiate a 45-day scoping process for preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Coachella Valley Water District's (CVWD) proposed Thousand Palms Flood Control Project. DATES: Submit comments concerning this notice on or before December 19, 2016. A public scoping meeting will be held on December 6, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. (PST). ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting location is: Thousand Palms Community Center, 31-189 Roberts Road, Thousand Palms, CA 92276. Mail written comments concerning this notice to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Carlsbad Field Office, ATIN: SPL-2014-00238-RJV, 5900 La Place Court, Suite 100, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Comment letters should include the commenter's physical mailing address, the project title and the Corps file number in the subject line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Lynch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Carlsbad Field Office, ATTN: SPL-2014-00238-RJV, 5900 La Place Court, Suite 100, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 602-4850, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to any permit action. The Corps may ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the proposed project or a modified version of the proposed project. The primary Federal concerns are the discharge of fill material into waters of the United States. Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1344. 1. Project Description. CVWD is proposing to construct a flood control project that is linear in nature, consists of four reaches, and is generally located on the northern and eastern margins of the community of Thousand Palms. Components of the project include levees, channels, culverts, and a sediment basin. The levees and channels would be comprised of compacted native soil with a layer of soil cement to protect the structures from erosion. Reach 1 is comprised of a 2.4 mile long levee with varying height from 5 to 14 feet, a minimum 12-foot access (patrol) road on the top of the levee, as well as an unpaved embankment access road on the downstream (west side) of the levee for operations and maintenance (O&M) purposes. Reach 2 is comprised of a 0.33 mile long levee with a height of approximately 5 feet, a minimum 12-foot access (patrol) road on the top of the levee, as well as an unpaved embankment access road on the downstream (west side) of the levee for O&M purposes and would be positioned in the mid-alluvial fan area just northeast of an existing electrical substation, to protect the substation and adjacent development. Reach 3 is comprised of a 1.23 mile long levee, an access road, and a 1.01 mile channel. The levee height would vary from 5 to 14 feet and would initiate approximately 2,000 feet southwest of the downstream end of Reach 2, roughly 1,000 feet south of Ramon Road. The channel would divert flows from Levee 3 towards the existing stormwater conveyance system at the Classic Club Golf Course. Reach 4 is comprised of an approximately two-mile long channel that would divert stormwater flows from the southeast end of the Classic Club Golf Course and continue south then east, adjacent to the re-aligned Avenue 38, and would terminate at Washington Street with construction of a conveyance system to direct stormwater flows into existing stormwater conveyance facilities in the Del Webb/Sun City development. 2. Issues. Potentially significant impacts associated with the proposed project may include: Aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality emissions, biological resource impacts, noise, traffic and transportation, and [[Page 78795]] cumulative impacts from past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects. 3. Alternatives. The Draft EIS will include a co-equal analysis of several alternatives. Project alternatives will be further developed during this scoping process. Additional alternatives that may be developed during scoping will also be considered in the Draft EIS. 4. Scoping. The Corps and CVWD will jointly conduct a public scoping meeting to receive public comment regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the Draft EIS. Participation by Federal, state, and local agencies and other interested organizations and persons is encouraged. 5. The Draft EIS is expected to be available for public review and comment 6 to 12 months after the scoping meeting, and a public meeting may be held after its publication. Dated: October 25, 2016. David Castanon, Chief, Regulatory Division. [FR Doc. 2016-27063 Filed 11-8-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![78794 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 9, 2016 / Notices
Type of Request: Reinstatement. Directives Division, 4800 Mark Center Impact Statement (EIS) prior to any
Number of Respondents: 1,670. Drive, East Tower, Suite 03F09, permit action. The Corps may ultimately
Responses per Respondent: 56. Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. make a determination to permit or deny
Annual Responses: 93,520. Dated: November 3, 2016. the proposed project or a modified
Average Burden per Response: 30 version of the proposed project. The
Aaron Siegel,
minutes. primary Federal concerns are the
Annual Burden Hours: 46,760. Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
discharge of fill material into waters of
Needs and Uses: The information Officer, Department of Defense.
the United States.
collection requirement is necessary to [FR Doc. 2016–27009 Filed 11–8–16; 8:45 am] Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1344.
comply with section 861 of Public Law BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 1. Project Description. CVWD is
110–181 and DoD Instruction 3020.41, proposing to construct a flood control
‘‘Operational Contract Support’’ and project that is linear in nature, consists
other appropriate policy, Memoranda of DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE of four reaches, and is generally located
Understanding, and regulations. The on the northern and eastern margins of
Department of the Army, Corps of
Department of Defense, the Department the community of Thousand Palms.
Engineers
of State (DoS), and the United States Components of the project include
Agency for International Development Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft levees, channels, culverts, and a
(USAID) require that Government Environment Impact Statement and sediment basin. The levees and
contract companies enter their Conduct a Public Scoping Meeting for channels would be comprised of
employee’s data into the Synchronized the Proposed Thousand Palms Flood compacted native soil with a layer of
Predeployment and Operational Tracker Control Project Within the Thousand soil cement to protect the structures
(SPOT) System before contractors are Palms Area of Coachella Valley, from erosion. Reach 1 is comprised of a
deployed outside of the United States. Riverside County, California (Corps 2.4 mile long levee with varying height
SPOT is also used during Homeland File No. SPL–2014–00238–RJV) from 5 to 14 feet, a minimum 12-foot
Defense and Defense Support of Civil access (patrol) road on the top of the
Authority Operations in the United AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. levee, as well as an unpaved
States. Any persons who choose not to Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. embankment access road on the
have data collected will not be entitled ACTION: Notice of intent. downstream (west side) of the levee for
to employment opportunities which operations and maintenance (O&M)
require this data to be collected. SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is purposes. Reach 2 is comprised of a 0.33
Affected Public: Business or other for- to initiate a 45-day scoping process for mile long levee with a height of
profit. preparation of a Draft Environmental approximately 5 feet, a minimum 12-
Frequency: On occasion. Impact Statement (DEIS) for the foot access (patrol) road on the top of
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Coachella Valley Water District’s the levee, as well as an unpaved
OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet (CVWD) proposed Thousand Palms embankment access road on the
Seehra. Flood Control Project. downstream (west side) of the levee for
Comments and recommendations on DATES: Submit comments concerning O&M purposes and would be positioned
the proposed information collection this notice on or before December 19, in the mid-alluvial fan area just
should be emailed to Ms. Jasmeet 2016. A public scoping meeting will be northeast of an existing electrical
Seehra, DoD Desk Officer, at Oira_ held on December 6, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. substation, to protect the substation and
submission@omb.eop.gov. Please (PST). adjacent development. Reach 3 is
identify the proposed information ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting
comprised of a 1.23 mile long levee, an
collection by DoD Desk Officer and the location is: Thousand Palms access road, and a 1.01 mile channel.
Docket ID number and title of the Community Center, 31–189 Roberts The levee height would vary from 5 to
information collection. Road, Thousand Palms, CA 92276. 14 feet and would initiate
You may also submit comments and Mail written comments concerning approximately 2,000 feet southwest of
recommendations, identified by Docket this notice to: U.S. Army Corps of the downstream end of Reach 2, roughly
ID number and title, by the following 1,000 feet south of Ramon Road. The
Engineers, Los Angeles District,
method: channel would divert flows from Levee
Regulatory Division, Carlsbad Field
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 3 towards the existing stormwater
Office, ATIN: SPL–2014–00238–RJV,
www.regulations.gov. Follow the conveyance system at the Classic Club
5900 La Place Court, Suite 100,
instructions for submitting comments. Golf Course. Reach 4 is comprised of an
Carlsbad, CA 92008. Comment letters
Instructions: All submissions received approximately two-mile long channel
should include the commenter’s
must include the agency name, Docket that would divert stormwater flows from
physical mailing address, the project
ID number and title for this Federal the southeast end of the Classic Club
title and the Corps file number in the
Register document. The general policy Golf Course and continue south then
subject line.
for comments and other submissions east, adjacent to the re-aligned Avenue
from members of the public is to make FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 38, and would terminate at Washington
these submissions available for public Michelle Lynch, U.S. Army Corps of Street with construction of a
viewing on the Internet at http:// Engineers, Los Angeles District, conveyance system to direct stormwater
www.regulations.gov as they are Regulatory Division, Carlsbad Field flows into existing stormwater
Office, ATTN: SPL–2014–00238–RJV,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
received without change, including any conveyance facilities in the Del Webb/
personal identifiers or contact 5900 La Place Court, Suite 100, Sun City development.
information. Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 602–4850, 2. Issues. Potentially significant
DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Frederick michelle.r.lynch@usace.army.mil. impacts associated with the proposed
Licari. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In project may include: Aesthetics/visual
Written requests for copies of the accordance with the National impacts, air quality emissions,
information collection proposal should Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the biological resource impacts, noise,
be sent to Mr. Licari at WHS/ESD Corps is preparing an Environmental traffic and transportation, and
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 9, 2016 / Notices 78795
cumulative impacts from past, present DATES: Responses must be received no particularly if construction of a dam or
and reasonably foreseeable future later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, diversion is required. Construction of
projects. December 16, 2016. barriers in a natural waterway can affect
3. Alternatives. The Draft EIS will ADDRESSES: Responses to this RFI must fish migration, channel geomorphology,
include a co-equal analysis of several be submitted electronically to sediment transport, habitat connectivity,
alternatives. Project alternatives will be HydroNextFOA@ee.doe.gov as Microsoft water quality, and flow regimes. The
further developed during this scoping Word (.docx) attachments to an email, unique nature of new stream-reach
process. Additional alternatives that and no more than 6 pages in length, 12 development can also add cost, time,
may be developed during scoping will point font, 1 inch margins. It is and uncertainty to the development
also be considered in the Draft EIS. recommended that attachments with file process. These factors have hindered the
4. Scoping. The Corps and CVWD will sizes exceeding 25 MB be compressed development of this resource in recent
jointly conduct a public scoping (i.e., zipped) to ensure message delivery. decades.
meeting to receive public comment Please include in the subject line To realize sustainable and responsible
regarding the appropriate scope and ‘‘Comments for RFI’’. Only electronic hydropower development and to protect
preparation of the Draft EIS. responses will be accepted. the integrity of existing streams, the
Participation by Federal, state, and local Program is seeking information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
agencies and other interested regarding transformative and/or
Questions may be directed to: Rajesh
organizations and persons is innovative hydropower technologies
Dham, Water Power Technologies
encouraged. that reduce or eliminate environmental
Office, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
5. The Draft EIS is expected to be concerns and are financially viable.
Independence Avenue SW.,
available for public review and Washington, DC 20585, Phone: (202) II. Purpose
comment 6 to 12 months after the 287–6675, Email: The purpose of this RFI is to solicit
scoping meeting, and a public meeting Rajesh.Dham@ee.doe.gov. feedback from industry, academia,
may be held after its publication.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: research laboratories, government
Dated: October 25, 2016. agencies, and other stakeholders on
David Castanon, Table of Contents
issues related to development of
Chief, Regulatory Division. I. Background hydropower in new stream-reaches.
[FR Doc. 2016–27063 Filed 11–8–16; 8:45 am] II. Purpose EERE is specifically interested in
III. Request for Information Categories and information on the costs/benefits and
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
Questions environmental effects associated with
IV. Guidance for Submitting Documents
such development, and possible
I. Background solutions to address the related
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY challenges. EERE is also seeking input
Through its HydroNEXT initiative, on the focus and structure of a potential
Office of Energy Efficiency and WPTO’s Hydropower Program (the funding opportunity to support research
Renewable Energy Program) invests in the development of and development of advanced and/or
innovative technologies that lower cost, non-traditional transformative
Challenges and Opportunities for
improve performance, and promote hydropower technologies and project
Sustainable Development of
environmental stewardship of designs capable of avoiding or
Hydropower in Undeveloped Stream
hydropower development across three minimizing environmental and social
Reaches of the United States; Request
resource classes: effects of new cost-competitive
for Information
• Existing non-powered dams (NPD) hydropower development in
AGENCY: Water Power Technologies • Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) undeveloped stream-reaches of the
Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and • New stream-reach development (NSD) United States. This is solely a request
Renewable Energy, Department of Under a Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 for information and not a Funding
Energy (DOE). Funding Opportunity Announcement Opportunity Announcement (FOA);
ACTION: Request for information (RFI). (FOA) DE–FOA–0001455 titled, EERE is not accepting applications.
‘‘Innovative Technologies to Advance
SUMMARY: The Water Power III. Request for Information Categories
Non-Powered Dam and Pumped Storage
Technologies Office (WPTO), within the and Questions
Hydropower Development,’’ the
Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing Program made federal funding available A. Category 1: New Stream-Reach
this request for information (RFI) to to research and develop innovative Development (NSD) Challenges and
invite input from the public regarding solutions for NPD and PSH Opportunities
challenges and opportunities associated development. In FY 2017, the Program To accelerate the deployment of
with hydropower development in seeks to overcome challenges associated sustainable and responsible hydropower
undeveloped stream-reaches. Through with furthering the development of in new stream-reaches while protecting
this RFI, the WPTO is also seeking input hydropower in new stream-reaches. their social and environmental value,
on the focus and structure of a potential Development of hydropower in new EERE is seeking input on the main
funding opportunity to support research stream-reaches refers to new projects in challenges and potential opportunities
and development of advanced and/or stream segments and waterways that do for developing this resource.
non-traditional transformative not currently have hydroelectric
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Specifically, we welcome feedback on
hydropower technologies and project facilities. New stream-reach the following questions:
designs capable of avoiding or development projects are subject to (1) How can advances in technology
minimizing environmental and social more scrutiny than projects for other more readily address environmental
effects of new cost-competitive hydropower resources (i.e. NPDs, challenges associated with hydropower
hydropower development in refurbishments) because such development in undeveloped streams?
undeveloped stream-reaches of the development can have more extensive (2) What are the technical challenges
United States. environmental and social effects, associated with new stream-reach
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Document Created: 2016-11-09 01:39:23
Document Modified: 2016-11-09 01:39:23
| 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 intent. | |
| Dates | Submit comments concerning this notice on or before December 19, 2016. A public scoping meeting will be held on December 6, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. (PST). | |
| Contact | Michelle Lynch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Carlsbad Field Office, ATTN: SPL-2014-00238-RJV, 5900 La Place Court, Suite 100, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 602-4850, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 78794 |
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