Notice of Availability
Finding of No Significant Impact
408-SPL-2024-0027
Associated with the Shoemaker Bridge Ramp Demolition Project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Los Angeles District has finalized a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Section 408 project no. 408-SPL-2024-0027 associated with the Shoemaker Bridge Ramp Demolition Project.
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations allow for a Federal agency to adopt another agency’s environmental assessment (40 C.F.R. § 1506.3(c)). USACE Engineer Circular (EC) 1165-2-220 describes policy and procedural guidance for processing requests to alter USACE Civil Work projects pursuant to 33 USC Section 408. EC 1165-2-220 (Appendix D) strongly encourages USACE districts to adopt and/or incorporate by reference any NEPA documentation that may exist for the Federal project. USACE may adopt, in whole or in part, another Federal agency's draft or final EA. The Federal Highway Administration assigned to Caltrans its responsibilities under NEPA and other environmental laws for this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 327. When adopting all or portions of another agency’s EA, USACE is still responsible for developing a FONSI, as applicable, to document NEPA compliance for the Section 408 permission decision. This FONSI documents the USACE decision under NEPA regarding the Section 408 permission request to alter the USACE Civil Works project.
The Port of Long Beach (POLB), through the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD), has requested permission from the USACE pursuant to Section 408 to alter the Los Angeles River, a USACE federally authorized Civil Works project (USACE Project) in the city of Long Beach, California. The proposed alteration to the USACE Project involves demolishing and removing portions of the Shoemaker Bridge ramp at 10th Street servicing the existing Shoemaker Bridge, requiring a temporary construction area of approximately 0.67 acre within the Los Angeles River right of way (ROW) for the purposes of site access, construction equipment staging and laydown, movement of heavy construction equipment, demolition and removal of portions of the 10th Street ramp superstructure, abutment, columns, and lane drop, permanent removal of six (6) structural bents within the Los Angeles River ROW from original ground elevation, without any excavation or ground disturbance within the Los Angeles River ROW, as well as temporary traffic control, and signage (Section 408 Activity). The Section 408 Activity is a component of the Shoemaker Bridge Replacement Project, which would replace the existing Shoemaker Bridge on West Shoreline Drive in Los Angeles County. Caltrans is the federal lead agency for the Shoemaker Bridge Replacement Project.
In accordance with NEPA, Caltrans’ Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Assessment (EA) was released for public review on September 27, 2019 and remained available for review until November 12, 2019. Caltrans issued a FONSI for the Shoemaker Bridge Replacement Project on June 30, 2020. The USACE independently reviewed the EIR/EA and determined the EIR/EA sufficiently identifies and evaluates the environmental impacts related to the Section 408 Activity. Therefore, in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 1506.3(c), USACE’s NEPA regulations at 33 C.F.R. Part 230, and EC 1165-2-220, the USACE adopted Caltrans’ EIR/EA.
Click each link for the Caltrans’ EIR/EA and the USACE’s FONSI:
Caltrans’ 2020 EA: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/27447
USACE’s 2025 FONSI: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/27448
For further information, please contact Priyo Majumdar USACE Los Angeles District by electronic mail at Priyodarshi.Majumdar@usace.army.mil or by telephone at (213) 364-0038.