Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for Proposed Activities at Playa Vista, Los Angeles County, CA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/

Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for Proposed

Activities at Playa Vista, Los Angeles County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering an

application for Section 404 and Section 10 permits to (1) conduct

dredge and fill activities to implement restoration of the Ballona Salt

Marsh and (2) construct a marina or other saltwater boating facility

and an adjacent mixed use (residential/commercial/visitor serving)

community (marina).

The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of

materials within waters of the United States, including wetlands and

potential significant impacts on the human environment. Therefore, in

accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps

is requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

prior to consideration of any permit action. The Corps may ultimately

make a determination to permit or deny either or both items (1) and (2)

above, or permit or deny modified versions of items (1) and (2) above.

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the

City of Los Angeles will serve as Lead Agency for the preparation of an

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development

approvals within its jurisdiction. The County of Los Angeles will serve

as a Responsible Agency under CEQA and will use the EIR for

consideration of project approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps

and the City have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to

optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is

intended to be sufficient in scope to address both the Federal and the

state and local requirements and environmental issues concerning the

proposed activities and permit approvals.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Engineer District, Los Angeles, Regulatory Branch,

ATTN: File Number 95-0212-CSC, P.O. Box 2711, Los Angeles, California

90012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phone message or questions will be

handled at 213-485-8009.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Project Site

The proposed project is located near Marina del Rey. The salt marsh

restoration activities are planned for a portion of the project area

known as Area B which is located within the City of Los Angeles. The

marina development is planned for an adjacent portion of the project

known as Area A within an unincorporated portion of the County of Los

Angeles. The area proposed for salt marsh restoration is located in the

remnant portions of the once extensive Ballona Salt Marsh. The proposed

marina site is located within an area containing extensive fill

resulting from previous Marina del Rey and flood control construction

projects.

Proposed Action

The project applicant, Maguire Thomas Partners (MTP), proposes to

restore a 190 acre salt marsh system within a substantially undeveloped

area containing approximately 154 acres of existing degraded wetlands.

Establishment of this proposed salt marsh system will include three

actions: (1) Enhancement of the western portion of existing wetlands by

reestablishing tidal flows to a mid-tidal regime; (2) restoration of

the eastern portion of the wetlands by reestablishing tidal flow to a

full tidal regime and (3) creation of new wetlands from existing

uplands. The proposed project includes the construction of culverts

providing access to tidal flows within the Ballona Channel. The

proposed project also involves the widening of Culvert Boulevard to

meet regional transportation demand.

It is further proposed that a water oriented mixed use community be

constructed in Area A on 138.6 acres of substantially undeveloped

property separated from the salt marsh restoration project by the

Ballona Channel. This development would include a 48 acre marina, 2,576

residential units, 450 hotel rooms, 125,000 square feet of office

space, [[Page 20976]] 75,000 square feet of community serving uses and

75,000 square feet of visitor serving retail uses. The proposed marina

would accommodate up to 700 boat ships with access to Santa Monica Bay

via a new entrance channel to the main channel of Marina del Rey. This

Channel would be approximately 200 feet wide and excavated to a depth

of -16 feet MSL. This proposed development would result in the dredge

and/or fill of 9.8 acres of degraded wetlands, 4.8 acres of which would

be within the footprint of the proposed marina.

Issues

There are several potential environmental issues that will be

addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified during

the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially

significant include:

1. Geological issues including subsidence, seismic concerns and

landform alternation.

2. Impacts to surface and groundwater hydrology and water quality.

3. Potential impacts to terrestrial, aquatic and marine biological

resources.

4. Impacts to prehistoric and historic cultural resources.

5. Impacts to air quality.

6. Traffic and transportation related impacts.

7. Potential noise impacts.

8. Land use impacts.

9. Impacts to public utilities and services.

10. Socioeconomic impacts including population, housing and

infrastructure costs and benefits.

11. Impact to aesthetic resources.

12. Potential impacts on public health and safety.

13. Cumulative impacts.

Alternatives

Several alternatives are being considered for restoration of the

Ballona Salt Marsh as well as alternatives to the marina proposal.

These alternatives will be further formulated and developed during the

scoping process. In addition to the No Action Alternative (no

restoration), two other alternatives for salt marsh restoration have

been identified. These are a full tidal restoration for the entire

restoration area and a muted tidal restoration for the entire

restoration area. In addition, the EIS/EIR will consider alternatives

to the Ballona Channel as a source of salt water for the restoration.

The EIS/EIR will also consider alternatives to the proposed widening of

Culver Boulevard.

A range of alternatives to the marina proposal will be considered

in the EIS/EIR. These alternatives will include other saltwater boating

facility alternatives with or without a marina feature as well as other

wetland alternatives and the No Act Alternative.

Scoping Process

A public meeting will be held to receive public comment and assess

public concern regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the

Draft EIS/EIR. Participation in the public meeting by federal, state

and local agencies and other interested organizations and persons is

encouraged.

The Corps of Engineers will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and Fish and

Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State Office of Historic

Preservation under the National Historic Preservation Act.

Additionally, the EIS/EIR will assess the consistency of the proposed

Action with the Coastal Zone Management Act, as well as executive

orders on wetlands and floodplain protection.

The public scoping meeting for the Draft EIS/EIR will be held at

the Airport Marina Hotel, 8601 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles,

California on June 7, 1995. Two sessions, one beginning at 2:00 p.m.

and the other starting at 7:00 p.m. are scheduled. Written comments

will be received until June 21, 1995.

Availability of the Draft EIS

The Draft EIS is expected to be published and circulated in April

of 1996, and a Public Hearing will be held after its publication.

Juanita H. Maberry,

Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 95-10489 Filed 4-27-95; 8:45 am]

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