HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIR 93-02; Green Valley; Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (20)REPLY TO ATTENTION OF:
Office of the Chief Regulatory Branch
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
LO8 ANGELES DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA SOO53-2325 P.O. Box 2711
City of Carlsbad Attn: Christer Westman
2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92009
Dear Mr. Westman:
It has come to our attention that you propose the Green Valley Master Plan, development which proposes to impact 1.6 acres of coastal sage scrub, 4.6 acres of riparian habitat, and
1.0 acres of salt marsh habitat, located in the City of Carlsbad, San Diego County, California. This activity may require an Army Corps of Engineers permit. The following comments are provided for your guidance in this matter.
A Corps of Engineers permit, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into I'waters of the United States" including adjacent wetlands. Examples of activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material include the placing of bank protection, temporary or permanent stock-piling of excavated material, grading roads, any grading (including vegetative clearing operations) involving filling low areas or leveling the land, and construction of weirs, diversions, approach fills or other structures involving the placement of fill material.
For the purposes of the Corps1 permit evaluation process, the information submitted to the Corps should include:
1) An alternatives analysis satisfying the 404 (b) (I) Guidelines. Such an analysis will enable the Corps to identify the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative in light of the overall project purpose.
2) A review of all public interest factors relevant to the proposal including the cumulative effects thereof.
The proposed Green Valley Master Plan appears to impact 5.6 acres of waters of the United States. The alternatives analysis in the information submitted to the Corps should first examine alternatives which avoid impacts to waters of the U.S. If avoidance is shown to be impracticable in terms of cost, logistics, or existing technology in light of overall project
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purpose, then alternatives which minimize impacts should be
considered. Compensatory mitigation may not be used to reduce
environmental impacts in the evaluation of the least practicable
alternative, but may be required for unavoidable adverse impacts
which remain after all appropriate and practicable minimization
has been incorporated.
Enclosed you will find a permit application form and a
If you have any pamphlet that describes our regulatory program.
questions, please contact Elizabeth White of my staff at (619)
455-9422. Please refer to this letter in your reply.
Sincerely,
Michele F. Waltz
Chief, South Coast Section
Enclosures