Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Arroyo Pasajero Investigation, California

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

for the Arroyo Pasajero Investigation, California

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken is a feasibility investigation to

identify and assess potential measures to provide additional flood

protection for the study area including the cities of Coalinga and

Huron, Lemoore Naval Air Station, surrounding agricultural land, and

the California Aqueduct, and to prevent sediment and water contaminated

with asbestos from entering the aqueduct. The feasibility investigation

area includes the Arroyo Pasajero basin in southwest Fresno County.

Measures to be investigated include enlarging the retention basin west

of the aqueduct, constructing an overchute structure, upstream

reservoirs, conducting local levee and channel work, and implementing

an asbestos hazard abatement treatment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this DEIS should

be addressed to Mr. Robert Koenigs, Planning Division, Corps of

Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California, 95814-2922, telephone

(916) 557-6712.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

The Corps of Engineers, and a non-Federal sponsor (California State

Department of Water Resources) are conducting a feasibility

investigation to identify and assess alternative measures for providing

additional flood protection to the cities of Coalinga and Huron, to

Lemoore Naval Air Station, to the California Aqueduct, and to

agricultural lands, and for preventing sediment and water contaminated

with asbestos from entering the aqueduct. In 1958 and 1969 major

flooding occurred in the area causing over $5 million in property loss.

Alternatives

The feasibility report and EIS will address the full range of

alternatives discussed in the 1992 reconnaissance report on the basin

including evaluation of plans to:

(1) Enlarge the retention basin west of the California Aqueduct.

(2) Provide an overchute structure over the aqueduct or an aqueduct

canal siphon and provide a retention basin on the east side of the

aqueduct.

(3) Construct a channel from the aqueduct and/or the retention

basin to a natural channel at the valley trough. Also included will be

an evaluation of upstream reservoirs, local levees and channel work,

the potential for groundwater injection, potential water treatment

methods to permit Arroyo Pasajero runoff into the aqueduct, special

asbestos hazard abatement treatment for construction, operation and

maintenance requirements for any constructed facilities, and

environmental mitigation and restoration. The No-Action alternative

will also be explored during the study.

Scoping Process

a. A notice of initiation for the Arroyo Pasajero Investigation

will be sent to public agencies, organizations, and individuals in the

study area. This notice will invite those parties to participate in the

scoping process for this investigation. This will include an

opportunity for the public to identify the significant flood control

problems, potential solutions, and resources within the study area

which may be affected by a project. Responses to the notice, will be

used in determining the scope of the feasibility report and

accompanying environmental impact statement.

b. Significant topics that will be discussed in the DEIS include

the hydrology of the basin; planning objectives; alternatives analysis;

impacts on fish and wildlife resources, endangered species, vegetation,

water quality, air quality, esthetics, cultural resources, and

cumulative impacts of related projects in the study area. The potential

for contamination of air and water resources by naturally occurring

asbestos will also be addressed.

c. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide a Fish and

Wildlife Coordination Act Report to accompany the DEIS.

d. A 45-day review period will be allowed for all interested

agencies and individuals to review and comment on the DEIS. A public

hearing will be held during the comment period. All interested persons

are encouraged to respond to this notice and to provide scoping

comments and a current address if they wish to be contacted about the

DEIS.

Public Meeting

A public scoping meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 29,

1994 at 7 p.m. in the Coalinga area to initiate coordination with local

governmental representatives, elected officials, State and Federal

agencies, special interest groups, and the general public.

Availability

The DEIS is scheduled to be available for public review and comment

in mid 1997.

Gregory D. Showalter,

Alternative Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-4784 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]

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