84 FR 10477 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Willow Creek Watershed, Glacier County, Montana, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation

The NRCS Montana State Office gives notice that an EIS is being prepared for the Willow Creek Watershed Project in the proximity of Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This notice announces our intent to prepare an EIS, provide information on the nature of the proposed action and possible alternatives, invite public participation in the EIS process, and identify cooperating agency contacts. The EIS process will evaluate alternatives recommended for detailed study because of previous planning-level studies completed by NRCS and additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10477-10478]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05322]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2019-0001]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Willow Creek Watershed, Glacier County, Montana, on the Blackfeet 
Indian Reservation

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The NRCS Montana State Office gives notice that an EIS is 
being prepared for the Willow Creek Watershed Project in the proximity 
of Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This notice 
announces our intent to prepare an EIS, provide information on the 
nature of the proposed action and possible alternatives, invite public 
participation in the EIS process, and identify cooperating agency 
contacts. The EIS process will evaluate alternatives recommended for 
detailed study because of previous planning-level studies completed by 
NRCS and additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April 22, 2019. 
Comments received after this date will be considered to the extent 
possible.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this NOI. In your 
comments, include the volume, date, and page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS-2019-0001. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail, Hand Delivery, Fax, or Courier: Amy Darlinton P.E., 
Northern Engineering & Consulting, Inc., 200 N 34th Street, Billings, 
MT 59101, email: [email protected], fax: (406) 206-5248 or 
telephone: (406) 206-5248.
    All written comments will be publicly available on 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Watson, State Conservationist, 
NRCS, 10 E Babcock, Suite 443, Bozeman, MT 59715, telephone (406) 587-
6811 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRCS Montana State Office gives notice 
that an EIS is being prepared for the Willow Creek Watershed Project in 
the proximity of Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. 
The EIS process will evaluate alternatives recommended for detailed 
study because of previous planning-level studies completed by NRCS and 
additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping. Preparing an 
EIS, providing information on the nature of the proposed action and 
possible alternatives, inviting public participation in the EIS 
process, and identifying cooperating agency contacts is being done as 
required by section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR 
part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 
regulations that implement NEPA in 7 CFR part 650. The initial agency 
scoping of this federally assisted action indicates that the project 
may cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the 
environment. Tom Watson, State Conservationist, has determined that the 
preparation and review of an EIS is needed for this project.
    The objective of the EIS is to formulate and evaluate alternatives 
to prevent or reduce Willow Creek floodwater damage through Browning, 
Montana. A draft EIS will be prepared and circulated for review by 
agencies and the public. NRCS invites participation and consultation of 
agencies and individuals that have special expertise, legal 
jurisdiction, or interest in the preparation of the draft environmental 
impact statement.
    Written comments on the scope of the draft EIS, including the 
project's need and purpose, the alternatives to be considered, types of 
issues that should be addressed, associated research that should be 
considered, and the methodologies to be used in impact evaluations 
should be sent to Northern Engineering & Consulting, Inc. (NECI), (see 
ADDRESSES section above for contact information).
    Two scoping meetings were held to present the project and develop 
the scope of the draft EIS on Wednesday, January 24, 2019, at 629 All 
Chiefs Road, Browning Montana Blackfeet Tribal Council Chambers, 
Browning, Montana 59417. Comments received, including the names and 
addresses of

[[Page 10478]]

those who comment, are part of the public record.
    Scoping meeting presentation materials are available on the 
Northern Engineering & Consulting, Inc., website at http://www.neciusa.com/.
    Representatives of Blackfeet Tribal governments and Federal, State, 
regional and local agencies that may have an interest in any aspect of 
the project were invited to be cooperating agencies.

Background

    Historically, when a Willow Creek Flood Control Project Plan-EIS 
was completed for Browning in 1975, it was signed by NRCS and the 
following project sponsors: City of Browning, Blackfeet Tribal Council, 
and Glacier County Conservation District.
    Over the last 43 years, residential and municipal developments have 
encroached on Flat Iron Creek and the planned footprint of the upper 
floodwater diversion. As a result, the Plan-EIS (1975) is no longer 
feasible. The following documents are available for review from Amy 
Darlinton (see ADDRESSES section above for contact information):
     Original analyses of engineering alternatives,
     80% design of selected alternative,
     Preliminary and final watershed project plans, and
     EIS.

Federal Assistance Programs

    The title and number of the Federal assistance programs, as found 
in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this NOFA 
applies is:
    10.904 Watershed Protection and Flood.

Tom Watson,
Montana State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-05322 Filed 3-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-16-P