83 FR 54771 - Otay River Estuary Restoration Project, South San Diego Bay Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California; Record of Decision
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 211 (October 31, 2018)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 211 (October 31, 2018)
| Page Range | 54771-54772 | |
| FR Document | 2018-23823 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 54771-54772] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-23823] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R8-R-2018-N122; FF08RSDC00-190-F1611MD-FXRS12610800000] Otay River Estuary Restoration Project, South San Diego Bay Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California; Record of Decision AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; record of decision. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge--Otay River Estuary Restoration Project final environmental impact statement (EIS). The ROD explains that, of the three alternatives examined in the final EIS, the chosen alternative is the environmentally preferred alternative. ADDRESSES: Document Availability: The ROD is available at:Internet: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/San_Diego_Bay/what_we_do/Resource_Management/Otay_Restoration.html. In Person: o San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters, 1080 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910; telephone: 619-476-9150, extension 103. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Collins, Refuge Manager, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge at 619-575-2704, extension 302 (telephone) or brian_collins@fws.gov (email); or Andy Yuen, Project Leader, 619-476-9150, extension 100 (telephone), or andy_yuen@fws.gov (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background In 2006, we completed the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and final EIS/ROD to guide the management of the San Diego Bay NWR over a 15-year period (71 FR 64552, November 2, 2006). The wildlife and habitat management goal of the selected management alternative in the CCP for the South San Diego Bay Unit is to ``Protect, manage, enhance, and restore . . . coastal wetlands . . . to benefit the native fish, wildlife, and plant species supported within the South San Diego Bay Unit.'' One of the strategies identified to meet this goal is to restore native habitats in the Otay River floodplain and the salt ponds. On September 29, 2010, the San Diego NWR Complex and Poseidon Resources (Channelside) LP (Poseidon) entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish a partnership to facilitate the restoration of property within the San Diego Bay NWR, consistent with the CCP and Poseidon's restoration requirements from the California Coastal Commission (Commission) in an approved coastal development permit (CDP No. E-06-013) related to the construction and operation of a desalination plant in Carlsbad, California. We published a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the Otay River Estuary Restoration Project on November 14, 2011 (76 FR 70480), followed by a second NOI on January 8, 2013 (78 FR 1246), when the project was expanded to include the restoration of Pond 15. We published a notice of availability (NOA) of the draft EIS for the project on October 21, 2016 (81 FR 72817), and an NOA of the final EIS on May 18, 2018 (83 FR 23289). Project The project site is located at the south end of San Diego Bay, San Diego County, California, within the South San Diego Bay Unit of the San Diego Bay NWR. Restoration activities will occur at two separate locations within the Refuge: The 34-acre Otay River Floodplain Site, located to the west of Interstate 5 between Main Street to the north and Palm Avenue to the south in the City of San Diego, and the 91-acre Pond 15 Site, an active solar salt pond, located in the northeastern portion of the Refuge to the northwest of the intersection of Bay Boulevard and Palomar Street in the City of Chula Vista. [[Page 54772]] Alternatives We analyzed three alternatives in the final EIS, including the no action alternative and two action alternatives, for restoring the two areas on the San Diego Bay NWR that comprise the restoration project. In addition to a no-action alternative, the action alternatives include an intertidal alternative and a subtidal alternative. Alternative B: Intertidal Alternative (Selected Alternative) The Intertidal Alternative (Alternative B) proposes to lower the elevation and re-contour the Otay River Floodplain Site to create approximately 30 acres of tidally influenced habitat consisting of approximately 5 acres of intertidal mudflat and 25 acres of intertidal salt marsh habitat, 1 acre of transitional habitat and high tide refugia, and 4 acres of upland habitat. Approximately 320,000 cubic yards of soil would be excavated from the Otay River Floodplain Site to achieve elevations suitable for sustaining intertidal wetlands. The majority of the excavated material, approximately 260,000 cubic yards, would be transported to Pond 15 to be beneficially used as fill within the Pond 15 Site, as well as to reinforce existing levees around the pond. Pond 15 would be filled and contoured to achieve elevations required to support approximately 10 acres of subtidal habitat, 18 acres of intertidal mudflat, 57 acres of intertidal salt marsh habitat, 1.6 acres of transitional habitat and high tide refugia, and 4 acres of upland habitat. The combination of the wetlands created at the Otay River Floodplain Site and Pond 15 Site under this alternative would be consistent with the intent of the CCP and would provide sufficient mitigation credit to meet Poseidon's Coastal Development Permit requirements. Alternative C: Subtidal Alternative The Subtidal Alternative (Alternative C), which would include a subtidal channel within the Otay River Floodplain Site, would result in the restoration of approximately 4.5 acres of subtidal habitat, 6.5 acres of intertidal mudflat, 18 acres of intertidal salt marsh habitat, and 4 acres of upland habitat. Within the Pond 15 Site, tidally influenced habitat would be similar to that proposed under Alternative B, with approximately 10 acres of subtidal habitat, 16 acres of intertidal mudflat, 59 acres of intertidal salt marsh, 2 acres of high- tide refugia, and 4 acres of upland habitat. Implementation of this alternative would involve the excavation of approximately 370,000 cubic yards of material from the Otay River Site, of which approximately 310,000 cubic yards of this material would be transported to the Pond 15 Site for beneficial use in creating tidal elevations that would support the desired intertidal habitats and improving levees to separate Pond 15 from the remaining active solar salt operation. The combination of the wetlands created at the Otay River Floodplain Site and Pond 15 Site under this alternative would also provide sufficient mitigation credit to meet the Commission's permit requirements. Selected Alternative The ROD identifies the intertidal alternative (Alternative B) as the selected alternative. This alternative was also identified as the environmentally preferred alternative in the final EIS. The basis for the decision, descriptions of the alternatives considered, an overview of the measures to be implemented to avoid and minimize environmental effects, and a summary of the public involvement process are provided in the ROD. Authority We publish this notice under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior's implementing regulations in title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR part 46). Jody Holzworth, Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2018-23823 Filed 10-30-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 211 / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 / Notices 54771
Verdes and was a compromise of applicant for the incidental take of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Alternative A and B. The preserve size covered species. We will make our final
under Alternative C is slightly larger permit decision no sooner than 60 days Background
than that under the Proposed Action after the public comment period closes. In 2006, we completed the San Diego
(Alternative D), but the total amount of Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
Authority
coastal sage scrub habitat under Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Alternative C is slightly lower than that We provide this notice under section (CCP) and final EIS/ROD to guide the
in the Proposed Action (Alternative D). 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) management of the San Diego Bay NWR
The Proposed Action (Alternative D) and its implementing regulations (50 over a 15-year period (71 FR 64552,
is the same as Alternative C, with the CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA (42 November 2, 2006). The wildlife and
following exceptions: (1) A 27.0-acre U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its habitat management goal of the selected
parcel in the Upper Filiorum property implementing regulations (40 CFR management alternative in the CCP for
has been removed from the preserve and 1506.6). the South San Diego Bay Unit is to
is now identified as a covered project,
Scott Sobiech, ‘‘Protect, manage, enhance, and restore
including the associated dedication of
Acting Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and . . . coastal wetlands . . . to benefit the
30 acres of functional and connected
Wildlife Office, Carlsbad, California. native fish, wildlife, and plant species
habitat; (2) 40.0 acres of a former
[FR Doc. 2018–23762 Filed 10–30–18; 8:45 am] supported within the South San Diego
archery range property have been
Bay Unit.’’ One of the strategies
removed from the preserve due to BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
identified to meet this goal is to restore
landslide and legal constraints; and (3)
native habitats in the Otay River
61.5 acres of Malaga Canyon have been
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR floodplain and the salt ponds.
purchased by the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes and have been incorporated into On September 29, 2010, the San Diego
Fish and Wildlife Service NWR Complex and Poseidon Resources
the preserve. The preserve in
Alternative D totals 1,402.4 acres. [FWS–R8–R–2018–N122; FF08RSDC00– (Channelside) LP (Poseidon) entered
190–F1611MD–FXRS12610800000] into a memorandum of understanding to
Request for Comments establish a partnership to facilitate the
Consistent with section 10(c) of the Otay River Estuary Restoration restoration of property within the San
ESA, we invite your submission of Project, South San Diego Bay Unit of Diego Bay NWR, consistent with the
written comments, data, or arguments the San Diego Bay National Wildlife CCP and Poseidon’s restoration
with respect to the City of Rancho Palos Refuge, California; Record of Decision requirements from the California Coastal
Verdes’ permit application, the City of AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Commission (Commission) in an
RPV NCCP/HCP, and proposed Interior. approved coastal development permit
permitting decision. (CDP No. E–06–013) related to the
ACTION: Notice of availability; record of
construction and operation of a
Public Availability of Comments decision.
desalination plant in Carlsbad,
Written comments we receive become California.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
part of the public record associated with
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the We published a notice of intent (NOI)
this action. Before including your
availability of the record of decision to prepare an EIS for the Otay River
address, phone number, email address,
(ROD) for the San Diego Bay National Estuary Restoration Project on
or other personal identifying
Wildlife Refuge—Otay River Estuary November 14, 2011 (76 FR 70480),
information in your comment, you
Restoration Project final environmental followed by a second NOI on January 8,
should be aware that your entire
impact statement (EIS). The ROD 2013 (78 FR 1246), when the project was
comment—including your personal
explains that, of the three alternatives expanded to include the restoration of
identifying information—may be made
examined in the final EIS, the chosen Pond 15. We published a notice of
publicly available at any time. While
alternative is the environmentally availability (NOA) of the draft EIS for
you may request in your comment that
preferred alternative. the project on October 21, 2016 (81 FR
we withhold your personal identifying
ADDRESSES: Document Availability: The 72817), and an NOA of the final EIS on
information from public review, we
ROD is available at: May 18, 2018 (83 FR 23289).
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so. All submissions from • Internet: https://www.fws.gov/ Project
organizations or businesses, and from refuge/San_Diego_Bay/what_we_do/
individuals identifying themselves as Resource_Management/Otay_ The project site is located at the south
representatives or officials of Restoration.html. end of San Diego Bay, San Diego
organizations or businesses, will be • In Person: County, California, within the South
made available for public disclosure in o San Diego National Wildlife Refuge San Diego Bay Unit of the San Diego
their entirety. Complex Headquarters, 1080 Bay NWR. Restoration activities will
Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, occur at two separate locations within
Next Steps CA 91910; telephone: 619–476–9150, the Refuge: The 34-acre Otay River
Issuance of an incidental take permit extension 103. Floodplain Site, located to the west of
is a Federal proposed action subject to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interstate 5 between Main Street to the
compliance with NEPA. We will Brian Collins, Refuge Manager, San north and Palm Avenue to the south in
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
evaluate the application, associated Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge at the City of San Diego, and the 91-acre
documents, and any public comments 619–575–2704, extension 302 Pond 15 Site, an active solar salt pond,
we receive to determine whether the (telephone) or brian_collins@fws.gov located in the northeastern portion of
application meets the requirements of (email); or Andy Yuen, Project Leader, the Refuge to the northwest of the
section 10(a) of the ESA. If we 619–476–9150, extension 100 intersection of Bay Boulevard and
determine that those requirements are (telephone), or andy_yuen@fws.gov Palomar Street in the City of Chula
met, we will issue a permit to the (email). Vista.
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![54772 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 211 / Wednesday, October 31, 2018 / Notices
Alternatives Implementation of this alternative DATES: Interested persons are invited to
We analyzed three alternatives in the would involve the excavation of submit comments on or before
final EIS, including the no action approximately 370,000 cubic yards of December 31, 2018.
alternative and two action alternatives, material from the Otay River Site, of ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the
for restoring the two areas on the San which approximately 310,000 cubic information collection request (ICR) by
Diego Bay NWR that comprise the yards of this material would be mail to the U.S. Geological Survey,
restoration project. In addition to a no- transported to the Pond 15 Site for Information Collections Clearance
action alternative, the action beneficial use in creating tidal Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS
alternatives include an intertidal elevations that would support the 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by email to
alternative and a subtidal alternative. desired intertidal habitats and gs-info_collections@usgs.gov. Please
improving levees to separate Pond 15 reference OMB Control Number 1028–
Alternative B: Intertidal Alternative from the remaining active solar salt 0103 in the subject line of your
(Selected Alternative) operation. comments.
The Intertidal Alternative (Alternative The combination of the wetlands FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
B) proposes to lower the elevation and created at the Otay River Floodplain request additional information about
re-contour the Otay River Floodplain Site and Pond 15 Site under this this ICR, contact Jake F. Weltzin by
Site to create approximately 30 acres of alternative would also provide sufficient email at jweltzin@usgs.gov, or by
tidally influenced habitat consisting of mitigation credit to meet the telephone at 520–626–3821.
approximately 5 acres of intertidal Commission’s permit requirements.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
mudflat and 25 acres of intertidal salt Selected Alternative U.S. Geological Survey, in accordance
marsh habitat, 1 acre of transitional The ROD identifies the intertidal with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
habitat and high tide refugia, and 4 alternative (Alternative B) as the 1995, provide the general public and
acres of upland habitat. selected alternative. This alternative other Federal agencies with an
Approximately 320,000 cubic yards of was also identified as the opportunity to comment on proposed,
soil would be excavated from the Otay environmentally preferred alternative in revised, and continuing collections of
River Floodplain Site to achieve the final EIS. The basis for the decision, information. This helps us assess the
elevations suitable for sustaining descriptions of the alternatives impact of our information collection
intertidal wetlands. The majority of the considered, an overview of the measures requirements and minimize the public’s
excavated material, approximately to be implemented to avoid and reporting burden. It also helps the
260,000 cubic yards, would be minimize environmental effects, and a public understand our information
transported to Pond 15 to be beneficially summary of the public involvement collection requirements and provide the
used as fill within the Pond 15 Site, as process are provided in the ROD. requested data in the desired format.
well as to reinforce existing levees We are soliciting comments on the
around the pond. Pond 15 would be Authority proposed ICR that is described below.
filled and contoured to achieve We publish this notice under the We are especially interested in public
elevations required to support authority of the National Environmental comment addressing the following
approximately 10 acres of subtidal Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to
habitat, 18 acres of intertidal mudflat, the Department of the Interior’s the proper functions of the USGS; (2)
57 acres of intertidal salt marsh habitat, implementing regulations in title 43 of will this information be processed and
1.6 acres of transitional habitat and high the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR used in a timely manner; (3) is the
tide refugia, and 4 acres of upland part 46). estimate of burden accurate; (4) how
habitat. might the USGS enhance the quality,
The combination of the wetlands Jody Holzworth, utility, and clarity of the information to
created at the Otay River Floodplain Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. be collected; and (5) how might the
Site and Pond 15 Site under this [FR Doc. 2018–23823 Filed 10–30–18; 8:45 am] USGS minimize the burden of this
alternative would be consistent with the BILLING CODE 4333–15–P collection on the respondents, including
intent of the CCP and would provide through the use of information
sufficient mitigation credit to meet technology.
Poseidon’s Coastal Development Permit DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Comments that you submit in
requirements. response to this notice are a matter of
Geological Survey public record. We will include or
Alternative C: Subtidal Alternative
[GX14BA02EEW0200; OMB Control Number summarize each comment in our request
The Subtidal Alternative (Alternative 1028–0103] to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
C), which would include a subtidal including your address, phone number,
channel within the Otay River Agency Information Collection email address, or other personal
Floodplain Site, would result in the Activities; USA National Phenology identifying information in your
restoration of approximately 4.5 acres of Network—The Nature’s Notebook Plant comment, you should be aware that
subtidal habitat, 6.5 acres of intertidal and Animal Observing Program your entire comment—including your
mudflat, 18 acres of intertidal salt marsh AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, personal identifying information—may
habitat, and 4 acres of upland habitat. Interior. be made publicly available at any time.
Within the Pond 15 Site, tidally While you may ask us in your comment
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
influenced habitat would be similar to request for comment. to withhold your personal identifying
that proposed under Alternative B, with information from public review, we
approximately 10 acres of subtidal SUMMARY: In accordance with the cannot guarantee that we will be able to
habitat, 16 acres of intertidal mudflat, Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the do so.
59 acres of intertidal salt marsh, 2 acres U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is Abstract: The USA–NPN is a program
of high-tide refugia, and 4 acres of proposing to renew an information sponsored by the USGS that uses
upland habitat. collection (IC). standardized forms for tracking plant
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Document Created: 2018-10-31 00:33:59
Document Modified: 2018-10-31 00:33:59
| 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; record of decision. | |
| Contact | Brian Collins, Refuge Manager, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge at 619-575-2704, extension 302 (telephone) or [email protected] (email); or Andy Yuen, Project Leader, 619-476-9150, extension 100 (telephone), or [email protected] (email). | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 54771 |
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