80 FR 42486 - Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan From Burlington, North Dakota Through Minot, North Dakota
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 137 (July 17, 2015)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 137 (July 17, 2015)
| Page Range | 42486-42486 | |
| FR Document | 2015-17670 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)] [Notices] [Page 42486] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-17670] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan From Burlington, North Dakota Through Minot, North Dakota AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District (USACE) announces the intent to prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan (MREFPP) from Burlington, North Dakota, to a point downstream of Minot, North Dakota. The purpose of the document is to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the MREFPP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action and programmatic EIS may be directed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, ATTN: Mr. Terry J. Birkenstock, Deputy Chief, Regional Planning & Environment Division North, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678; telephone: (651) 290-5264; email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Mouse River (alternatively known as the Souris River) is approximately 435 miles long. The river begins in the southeastern portion of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, flows south and east through north central North Dakota, and then turns north before returning to Canada in southwest Manitoba. Most of the annual flow on the Mouse River is attributed to snow melt and spring rains. In June 2011, heavy rains in the upstream portions of the watershed exceeded the storage capacity of upstream reservoirs already full from the April snowmelt. Flows in excess of 26,900 cubic feet per second (cfs) overwhelmed the existing Federal flood risk management projects (designed to pass 5,000 cfs from Burlington to Minot) and emergency flood fighting efforts, causing over $690 million in damages to more than 4,700 structures. The MREFPP Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) was developed for the North Dakota State Water Commission in February 2012. Implementation of the MREFPP is expected to extend over 20 years and involves the construction of more than 30 segments. Features of the MREFPP include 17.5 miles of new levees, 1.4 miles of channel realignment, 2 high-flow bypasses, 2.8 miles of new floodwalls, 6 bridge modifications, and 126 acres of overbank excavation. Additional details on the MREFPP PER can be found at mouseriverplan.com. Proposed Action The Souris River Joint Water Resources Board (SRJB) has proposed to move forward with the design and construction of the first three segments of the MREFPP, which includes approximately 2 miles of levees and 1,500 feet of floodwall. These segments would not, by themselves, provide independent utility for flood risk management. Features in the Burlington through Minot reach of the MREFPP are interdependent in the proposal for flood risk management and provide independent flood risk management benefits. Therefore, all effects associated with features in the Burlington through Minot reach of the MREFPP will be included in the scope of analysis evaluated through the programmatic EIS. Federal Involvement Construction of the MREFPP will require alteration of existing Federal flood risk management projects. Such alterations may be approved by the Secretary of the Army under the authority of 33 U.S.C. 408 (Section 408). Although the Federal government will not be constructing the alterations, approval of the alterations is a Federal action and therefore requires compliance with the NEPA and other applicable environmental laws including, but not limited to, the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Additionally, as part of the MREFPP, discharges of fill material have been proposed in waters of the United States, requiring a permit from USACE under 33 U.S.C. 1344 (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act). Issuance of a Section 404 permit is considered a Federal action, triggering NEPA, NHPA, and ESA obligations. Coordination with other Federal agencies will take place throughout the scoping process. USACE will act as the lead Federal agency for environmental compliance with the NEPA. Scoping Significant resources and issues have been and will continue to be identified through public meetings and coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies. A number of public meetings have been held to discuss the project, including meetings hosted by USACE on April 8, 2015, in Burlington and April 9, 2015 in Minot. An additional public scoping meeting will be held on August 19, 2015, at the Minot Municipal Auditorium, Room 201, 420 3rd Ave SW. in Minot, North Dakota. An open house will run from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. central standard time and will be followed by presentations and public comment. Preparation of the EIS is expected to take several months. It is anticipated that the programmatic EIS for the MREFPP will be available for public review in the summer/fall of 2016. Dated: July 2, 2015. Daniel C. Koprowski, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander. [FR Doc. 2015-17670 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![42486 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Notices
the public who have requested to make in the upstream portions of the requiring a permit from USACE under
a verbal comment and whose comments watershed exceeded the storage capacity 33 U.S.C. 1344 (Section 404 of the Clean
have been deemed relevant under the of upstream reservoirs already full from Water Act). Issuance of a Section 404
process described above, will be allotted the April snowmelt. Flows in excess of permit is considered a Federal action,
no more than three (3) minutes during 26,900 cubic feet per second (cfs) triggering NEPA, NHPA, and ESA
this period, and will be invited to speak overwhelmed the existing Federal flood obligations. Coordination with other
in the order in which their requests risk management projects (designed to Federal agencies will take place
were received by the DFO and ADFO. pass 5,000 cfs from Burlington to Minot) throughout the scoping process. USACE
and emergency flood fighting efforts, will act as the lead Federal agency for
Brenda S. Bowen,
causing over $690 million in damages to environmental compliance with the
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer .
more than 4,700 structures. NEPA.
[FR Doc. 2015–17538 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am] The MREFPP Preliminary Engineering
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P Report (PER) was developed for the Scoping
North Dakota State Water Commission Significant resources and issues have
in February 2012. Implementation of the been and will continue to be identified
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MREFPP is expected to extend over 20 through public meetings and
years and involves the construction of coordination with Federal, State, and
Department of the Army, Corps of
more than 30 segments. Features of the local agencies. A number of public
Engineers
MREFPP include 17.5 miles of new meetings have been held to discuss the
Intent To Prepare a Programmatic levees, 1.4 miles of channel project, including meetings hosted by
Environmental Impact Statement for realignment, 2 high-flow bypasses, 2.8 USACE on April 8, 2015, in Burlington
the Mouse River Enhanced Flood miles of new floodwalls, 6 bridge and April 9, 2015 in Minot. An
Protection Plan From Burlington, North modifications, and 126 acres of additional public scoping meeting will
Dakota Through Minot, North Dakota overbank excavation. Additional details be held on August 19, 2015, at the
on the MREFPP PER can be found at Minot Municipal Auditorium, Room
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, mouseriverplan.com. 201, 420 3rd Ave SW. in Minot, North
DoD. Dakota. An open house will run from 6
Proposed Action
ACTION: Notice of intent. p.m. until 7 p.m. central standard time
The Souris River Joint Water and will be followed by presentations
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Resources Board (SRJB) has proposed to
National Environmental Policy Act and public comment.
move forward with the design and Preparation of the EIS is expected to
(NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of construction of the first three segments take several months. It is anticipated
Engineers, St. Paul District (USACE) of the MREFPP, which includes that the programmatic EIS for the
announces the intent to prepare a approximately 2 miles of levees and MREFPP will be available for public
programmatic Environmental Impact 1,500 feet of floodwall. These segments review in the summer/fall of 2016.
Statement (EIS) for the Mouse River would not, by themselves, provide
Enhanced Flood Protection Plan independent utility for flood risk Dated: July 2, 2015.
(MREFPP) from Burlington, North management. Features in the Burlington Daniel C. Koprowski,
Dakota, to a point downstream of Minot, through Minot reach of the MREFPP are Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District
North Dakota. The purpose of the interdependent in the proposal for flood Commander.
document is to evaluate the risk management and provide [FR Doc. 2015–17670 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am]
environmental impacts associated with independent flood risk management BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
the MREFPP. benefits. Therefore, all effects associated
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: with features in the Burlington through
Questions about the proposed action Minot reach of the MREFPP will be DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
and programmatic EIS may be directed included in the scope of analysis
to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. evaluated through the programmatic Department of the Navy
Paul District, ATTN: Mr. Terry J. EIS. Notice of Intent To Conduct
Birkenstock, Deputy Chief, Regional
Federal Involvement Restoration Planning and To Prepare a
Planning & Environment Division
Construction of the MREFPP will Draft Damage Assessment Restoration
North, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700,
require alteration of existing Federal Plan Environmental Assessment for
St. Paul, MN 55101–1678; telephone:
flood risk management projects. Such the Omega 707 Air Tanker Crash of
(651) 290–5264; email
alterations may be approved by the May 18, 2011 at Mugu Lagoon, Naval
terry.birkenstock@usace.army.mil.
Secretary of the Army under the Base Ventura County Point Mugu, CA
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
authority of 33 U.S.C. 408 (Section 408). AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
Background Although the Federal government will ACTION: Notice.
The Mouse River (alternatively known not be constructing the alterations,
as the Souris River) is approximately approval of the alterations is a Federal SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 1006 of
435 miles long. The river begins in the action and therefore requires the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33
southeastern portion of the Canadian compliance with the NEPA and other U.S.C. 2701 et seq., and Section
province of Saskatchewan, flows south applicable environmental laws (102)(2)(c) of the National
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
and east through north central North including, but not limited to, the Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
Dakota, and then turns north before National Historical Preservation Act of the regulations implemented by the
returning to Canada in southwest 1966 (NHPA) and the Endangered Council on Environmental Quality (40
Manitoba. Species Act of 1973 (ESA). CFR parts 1500–1508), the Department
Most of the annual flow on the Mouse Additionally, as part of the MREFPP, of the Navy (DoN), acting through
River is attributed to snow melt and discharges of fill material have been Commander Navy Region Southwest
spring rains. In June 2011, heavy rains proposed in waters of the United States, (CNRSW), and in coordination with the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:59 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_42623/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:21:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:21:49
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent. | |
| Contact | Questions about the proposed action and programmatic EIS may be directed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, ATTN: Mr. Terry J. Birkenstock, Deputy Chief, Regional Planning & Environment Division North, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678; telephone: (651) 290-5264; email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 42486 |
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