Notice of Early Scoping for the San Francisco Waterfront Flood Resiliency Study National Environmental Policy Act Compliance
| Published date | 20 August 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 51419 |
| Record Number | 2020-18226 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Army, Army Corps Of Engineers Department,Defense Department |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 162 (Thursday, August 20, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 162 (Thursday, August 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51419-51420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18226]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers
Notice of Early Scoping for the San Francisco Waterfront Flood
Resiliency Study National Environmental Policy Act Compliance
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Defense
(DOD).
ACTION: Notice of Early Scoping.
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SUMMARY: The San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), intends to prepare a feasibility study integrated with an
environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS)
to evaluate coastal storm and flood risk management alternatives along
7.5 miles of the San Francisco Waterfront, from Aquatic Park to Herons
Head Park, in the City of San Francisco, San Francisco County,
California. The Port of San Francisco is the non-federal partner for
the study. USACE will conduct early scoping to solicit public
participation and input to inform the environmental analyses and to
assist with determining the appropriate level of NEPA documentation
required for the study.
DATES: USACE requests that written comments regarding the scope of the
environmental analysis and alternatives that should be considered as
part of the study and NEPA analysis should be received by October 21,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments or requests to be added to the
mailing list can be sent by email: [email protected], or by mail:
Ms. Anne Baker, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco,
California 94102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anne Baker via email or mail at
(see ADDRESSES). Study information will also be posted periodically on
the internet at: https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-and-Programs/Projects-A-Z/San-Francisco-Waterfront-Storm-Damage-Reduction/
For inquiries from the media, please contact the USACE San
Francisco District Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Brandon Beach by email:
[email protected]my.mil or by telephone: (415) 503-6958.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE), intends to prepare a feasibility study integrated
with an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement
(EIS) to evaluate coastal storm and flood risk management alternatives
along 7.5 miles of the San Francisco Waterfront, from Aquatic Park to
Herons Head Park, in the City of San Francisco, San Francisco County,
California. The Port of San Francisco is the non-federal partner for
the study. USACE will conduct early scoping to solicit public
participation and input to inform the environmental analyses and to
assist with determining the appropriate level of NEPA documentation
required for the study.
USACE has not yet determined that an EIS will be necessary for the
study, but will conduct the appropriate scoping and public outreach
required for the preparation of an EIS, since it is the more stringent
process. If at any time during the NEPA analysis USACE determines that
there may be the potential for significant, unmitigable effects, then
an EIS will be prepared. A formal Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
EIS would be filed in the Federal Register to initiate the EIS process.
Should an EIS be necessary, written comments submitted during this
early scoping period will be considered in development of the EIS.
Written public comments in response to a Notice of Intent (NOI) to
prepare an EIS would also be accepted and considered. USACE will
substitute the public meetings associated with this Notice of Early
Scoping for the scoping meetings that would normally occur after the
publication of a NOI to prepare an EIS. Additional scoping meetings
would therefore not be held, if an NOI to prepare an EIS is released.
Written comments, including those on the scope of alternatives and
impacts, will still be considered through any formal scoping period
initiated by an NOI to prepare an EIS. The district would also seek to
ensure that key resources agencies have had an informed opportunity to
weigh in on subject proposals.
Please note that the San Francisco Planning Department (Planning
Department) is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead
agency for the study. The Planning Department is conducting CEQA review
under a separate process, which is not part of this early scoping
effort under NEPA.
1. Study Authorization. The San Francisco Waterfront Flood
Resiliency Study was originally authorized under Section 110 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1950, Public Law 515, 64 Stat. 163. The
project was subsequently authorized under Section 142 of the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1976, Public Law 94-587, 90 Stat.
2917, 2930, as amended by Section 705 of WRDA of 1986, Public Law 99-
662, 100 Stat. 4082, 4158. Authority for the NEPA early scoping process
is provided by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations
(Forty Most Asked Questions Concerning CEQ's National Environmental
Policy Act Regulation, 46 FR 18026, 18030 (March 23, 1981) as amended
1986, see Question 13).
2. Study Location. The proposed study area being considered is
approximately 7.5 miles, from Aquatic Park to Herons Head Park, in the
City of San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. This area of
the waterfront is highly urbanized, supporting commercial, residential,
recreation, tourism, and open space land uses. The area contains a
complex mix of piers, structures, and seawall--many of which are
considered historic. A study area map can be found online at: https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-and-Programs/Projects-A-Z/San-Francisco-Waterfront-Storm-Damage-Reduction/.
[[Page 51420]]
3. NEPA Purpose and Need. The purpose of the study is to determine
strategies to manage the risk of impacts from future flooding in the
project area, including public health and safety. Coastal storm risk
management measures would seek to reduce effects to important building,
utility, and transportation infrastructure and resources, as well as
social and economic resources, including recreation facilities. During
certain conditions such as storms, king tides, or El Ni[ntilde]o
events, water from the San Francisco Bay periodically overtops sections
of the seawall along the San Francisco Embarcadero waterfront,
resulting in flooding of low-lying areas. Sea level rise is expected to
increase risk of flooding in the future. Flooding could result in
limited or no access to the Embarcadero, Ferry Building and terminals,
and portions of downtown San Francisco. Potential flooding of these
areas could adversely impact building infrastructure, including
historic buildings; transportation and transportation infrastructure,
including the BART, Muni, and the Embarcadero roadway; recreation and
tourism; government resources; local businesses and economy; and public
health and safety. Therefore, with the existing and increasing risk as
sea levels continue to rise there is a need to manage the risk of
flooding in the study area.
4. Alternatives. Alternative formulation is in the early stages.
USACE and the Port of San Francisco are developing preliminary
alternatives that combine a broad suite of flood risk management
structural, non-structural, and natural and nature-based measures in
addition to a No Action Alternative. Structural measures include
options such as construction of new levees and floodwalls, or
improvements to the existing seawall to address coastal flooding along
the waterfront. Nonstructural measures include options such as raising
critical infrastructure, floodproofing structures, recommending land
use or zoning restrictions, or enhancing flood warning systems. Natural
and nature-based features include measures like horizontal levees,
ecological seawalls or ``ecotones'' that reduce flood risk while
improving the environment. USACE and the Port of San Francisco will
coordinate with interested stakeholders to further describe and refine
the alternatives and/or develop additional alternatives throughout the
study process. As alternative formulation progresses, more information
will be available on the project website: https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-and-Programs/Projects-A-Z/San-Francisco-Waterfront-Storm-Damage-Reduction/.
5. Scoping Process.
a. Two virtual public scoping meetings will be held to present an
overview of the San Francisco Waterfront Flood Resiliency Study, the
USACE alternative formulation process, and the NEPA process.
Additionally, these meetings will afford all interested parties an
opportunity to comment on the scope of analysis and potential
alternatives. The first virtual scoping meeting will be held on
September 16, 2020, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The second virtual scoping
meeting will be held on September 17, 2020, from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Information on accessing the virtual public meetings can be found at:
https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-and-Programs/Projects-A-Z/San-Francisco-Waterfront-Storm-Damage-Reduction/.
b. USACE will be soliciting public comments throughout the 60-day
scoping period (See Dates and Addresses above).
6. Availability. A minimum 30-day public review period will be
provided for individuals, interested parties, and agencies to review
and comment on the Draft NEPA document. All interested parties are
encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current address if
they wish to be notified of the Draft NEPA Document's public
circulation. The Draft NEPA Document is scheduled to be available for
public review and comment in spring 2022.
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: USACE believes it is important to inform
the public of the environmental review process. To assist the USACE in
identifying and considering issues related to the study, comments made
during formal scoping and later on the draft NEPA document should be as
specific as possible. Reviewers should structure their participation in
the environmental review of the proposal so that it alerts USACE to the
reviewers' position and concerns. It is very important that those
interested in this study participate by the close of the scoping period
so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the
USACE at a time when we can meaningfully consider them for alternative
development and incorporate them into the study, as appropriate.
Paul E. Owen,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2020-18226 Filed 8-19-20; 8:45 am]
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