83 FR 54920 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for Westminster, East Garden Grove, California Flood Risk Management Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 212 (November 1, 2018)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with Orange County Public Works, Orange County, CA announces the availability of a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (Draft IFR) including Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Westminster, East Garden Grove, California Flood Risk Management Study for review and comment. The Draft IFR presents alternatives to address flood risk to the residents of the communities in the Westminster watershed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the flood risk within the Westminster watershed that is primarily attributable to drainage channels overwhelmed with having to collect and convey more surface runoff downstream towards eventual discharge into the Pacific Ocean than what they were designed for. USACE evaluated and analyzed various flood control measures and formulated alternatives specifically for the Westminster watershed. USACE also evaluated the potential impacts of the alternatives and ways to minimize such impacts. A Notice of Intent to prepare the Draft EIS was published on January 13, 2006. A public scoping meeting was conducted on January 25, 2006 in the City of Garden Grove, CA.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54920-54921]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23880]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Environmental Impact Report 
(DEIS/DEIR) for Westminster, East Garden Grove, California Flood Risk 
Management Study

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with 
Orange County Public Works, Orange County, CA announces the 
availability of a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (Draft IFR) 
including Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the Westminster, East Garden Grove, California Flood Risk 
Management Study for review and comment. The Draft IFR presents 
alternatives to address flood risk to the residents of the communities 
in the Westminster watershed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate 
the flood risk within the Westminster watershed that is primarily 
attributable to drainage channels overwhelmed with having to collect 
and convey more surface runoff downstream towards eventual discharge 
into the Pacific Ocean than what they were designed for. USACE 
evaluated and analyzed various flood control measures and formulated 
alternatives specifically for the Westminster watershed. USACE also 
evaluated the potential impacts of the alternatives and ways to 
minimize such impacts. A Notice of Intent to prepare the Draft EIS was 
published on January 13, 2006. A public scoping meeting was conducted 
on January 25, 2006 in the City of Garden Grove, CA.

DATES: The Draft IFR is available for a 45-day public review period, 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), from Friday, 
October 19, 2018, through Monday, December 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted through the project email address 
at [email protected], by letter and at public 
meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on how 
to submit public comments, public meeting dates, and public meeting 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about Westminster, East Garden Grove, please contact Michael 
Padilla, Program Manager, by mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Chicago District, 231 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 
60604, by phone: 312-846-5427; or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Background. The study is being conducted in accordance with the 
study resolution adopted by the Committee on Public Works, House of 
Representatives Committee on Public Works on May 8, 1964 (Flood Control 
Act of 1938). The goal of the Westminster, East Garden Grove Study is 
to identify sustainable flood risk management solutions within the 
Westminster watershed to reduce flooding caused by overtopping of the 
C05/C06 and C02/C04 channel systems. USACE conducted the Westminster 
Study in consultation with other Federal agencies, Native American 
tribes, state agencies, local governments, and non-governmental 
organizations.
    2. The Draft IFR. The Draft IFR includes an analysis of four 
alternatives, including the No Action Alternative, to determine which 
plan or plans would merit further consideration for federal 
participation. The documentation also includes an analysis of the 
impacts of each alternative on existing resources within the 
Westminster watershed. The alternatives were developed to a level of 
detail sufficient to identify a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP), as 
well as a Locally Preferred Plan (LPP). The TSP is the

[[Page 54921]]

Minimum Channel Modifications Alternative, which reduces flood risk by 
lining the existing drainage channels with concrete, thus increasing 
conveyance efficiency. The LPP is the Maximum Channel Modifications 
Alternative, which reduces flood risk by altering the geometry of 
existing drainage channels to increase conveyance efficiency and 
storage capacity. Both of these plans include additional downstream 
measures to address the impacts of increased flood flow conveyance 
resulting from the channel modifications. The downstream measures 
include increasing the span of Warner Avenue Bridge, replacing the tide 
gates on C05, and constructing a floodwall along the Pacific Coast 
Highway at Outer Bolsa Bay. Compatible nonstructural measures were also 
included in the TSP and LPP to lessen the life safety risk associated 
with flooding in the project area. Each plan will require mitigation to 
address the loss of habitat.
    3. Public Participation. USACE will accept comments related to the 
Draft IFR until December 3, 2018. Comments may be submitted in the 
following ways:
     Project Email Address: Send comment and any attachments to 
[email protected].
     Mail: Send comments to Orange County Public Works, ATTN: 
Justin Golliher, 300 North Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703. Comments 
must be postmarked by December 3, 2018.
     Public Meetings: Public meetings are scheduled for 
November 7 and November 8, 2018. The public review meeting on November 
7, 2018, is from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the City of Westminster City 
Hall. The address is 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, CA 92683. 
The public review meeting on November 8, 2018, is from 6:30 p.m. to 
9:00 p.m. at the Meadowlark Golf Course. The address is 16782 Graham 
Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92649. The public meetings will allow 
participants the opportunity to comment on the Draft IFR. A 
stenographer will document oral comments at the public meetings.
    Public meetings will begin with a brief presentation regarding the 
study and the formulated alternatives followed by an oral comment 
period. During each meeting, USACE personnel will also collect written 
comments on comment cards. Additional information about public meetings 
including dates, times and locations will be posted on the Westminster 
project website at https://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works-Projects/Westminster-East-Garden-Grove/.
    4. Authority. This action is being conducted in accordance with the 
study resolution adopted by the Committee on Public Works, House of 
Representatives Committee on Public Works on May 8, 1964 (Flood Control 
Act of 1938), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended.

    Dated: 25 October 2018.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief, Planning Branch, CELRC-PMD-PB.
[FR Doc. 2018-23880 Filed 10-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-59-P