80 FR 55103 - Intent To Prepare an Integrated Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement To Investigate Hydrologic and Hydraulic Problems Threatening Navigation, Aquatic Ecosystem Habitat, Recreation, Flood Damage Reduction and Existing Infrastructure at the Three Rivers Study Site in Arkansas and Desha Counties in Southeast Arkansas

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 177 (September 14, 2015)

Page Range		55103-55103
FR Document		2015-23032

The study is being conducted under the authority contained in the River and Harbor Act of 1946 (Pub. L. 79-525), as amended, which authorized the development of the Arkansas River and its tributaries for the purposes of navigation, flood control, hydropower, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife. Public Law 91-649 stated that the project would be known as the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation system. Additional authorization is included by the Flood Control Act of 1970, (Pub. L. 91-611), as amended, under Section 216 and under guidance provided in ER 1105-2-100. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the USACE, Little Rock District, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Three Rivers Study. The EIS will evaluate potential impacts (beneficial and adverse) to the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of implementing any of the proposed project alternatives developed during the process.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 177 (Monday, September 14, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 177 (Monday, September 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 55103]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23032]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Integrated Draft Feasibility Report and 
Environmental Impact Statement To Investigate Hydrologic and Hydraulic 
Problems Threatening Navigation, Aquatic Ecosystem Habitat, Recreation, 
Flood Damage Reduction and Existing Infrastructure at the Three Rivers 
Study Site in Arkansas and Desha Counties in Southeast Arkansas

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The study is being conducted under the authority contained in 
the River and Harbor Act of 1946 (Pub. L. 79-525), as amended, which 
authorized the development of the Arkansas River and its tributaries 
for the purposes of navigation, flood control, hydropower, water 
supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife. Public Law 91-649 stated 
that the project would be known as the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River 
navigation system. Additional authorization is included by the Flood 
Control Act of 1970, (Pub. L. 91-611), as amended, under Section 216 
and under guidance provided in ER 1105-2-100. Pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the USACE, Little Rock District, will 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Three 
Rivers Study. The EIS will evaluate potential impacts (beneficial and 
adverse) to the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of 
implementing any of the proposed project alternatives developed during 
the process.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Mr. Craig Hilburn, Biologist, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning and Environmental Division, 
Environmental Branch, Little Rock District, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, 
AR 72203-0867. Comments will be accepted through October 15, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions or comments regarding 
the Three Rivers Draft Feasibility Report or EIS, please contact Mr. 
Craig Hilburn, (501) 324-5735 or email: david.c.hilburn@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. MKARNS: The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System 
consists of a series of 18 locks and dams that provide navigation from 
the Mississippi River to the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
River flow in the Arkansas River is modified primarily by 11 reservoirs 
in Oklahoma.
    2. Study Location: The study is located at the confluence of the 
Mississippi, White, and Arkansas Rivers in Desha and Arkansas Counties, 
in southeast Arkansas. Prominent features include the McClellan-Kerr 
Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) Post Canal and the 160,000-
acre Dale Bumpers National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service). The Arkansas Post Canal connects the Arkansas River to the 
White River for navigation onto the Mississippi River to complete the 
445-mile navigation system. The study area is downstream of Lock No. 1 
of the MKARNS and upstream of the Montgomery Point Lock & Dam and 
includes any adjacent landmasses that are presently being impacted or 
could be potentially impacted by the alternatives.
    3. Study History: Studies in the area have occurred since the mid-
1960's. Structures were placed along the White River and between the 
White and Arkansas River to regulate hydrologic flow between the two 
systems in the 1960's, 1970's and late 1980's.
    4. Scoping/Public Involvement. The Public Scoping process provides 
information about the study to the public, serves as a mechanism to 
solicit agency and public input on alternatives and issues of concern, 
and ensures full and open participation in Scoping and review of the 
Draft EIS. Comments received as a result of this notice and news 
releases will be used to assist the preparers in identifying potential 
impacts to the quality of the human or natural environment. The Corps 
invites other Federal agencies, Native American Tribes, State and local 
agencies and officials, private organizations, and interested 
individuals to participate in the Scoping process by forwarding written 
comments to (see ADDRESSES). Interested parties may also request to be 
included on the mailing list for public distribution of announcements 
and documents.
    5. Issues/Alternatives: The EIS will evaluate effects from a range 
of alternatives developed to address navigation and environmental 
concerns of the area. Anticipated significant issues to be addressed in 
the EIS include impacts on: (1) Navigation, (2) flooding, (3) 
recreation, (4) river hydraulics, (5) fish and wildlife resources and 
habitats, (6) wetlands, (7) timber and forestry management, and (8) 
other impacts identified by the Public, agencies or USACE studies.
    The hydrology of the two rivers is strongly influenced by high 
water in the Mississippi River. Significant hydrologic and hydraulic 
problems currently threaten the Corps' mission areas of Navigation, 
Recreation, Flood Risk Management, as well as aquatic ecosystem habitat 
and existing infrastructure. Possible solutions may include increasing 
detention upstream, raising the height of the containment structure, 
removal of the control structure, or construction of a passive or 
active weir to restore a more natural hydrology between the two rivers. 
The study will evaluate opportunities for ecosystem restoration. 
Proposed improvements resulting from the study could impact (positively 
or negatively) navigation, agriculture, silviculture, hydropower, 
recreation, flood risk management, and fish and wildlife.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement is anticipated to be available for public review in the 
spring of 2017, subject to the receipt of Federal funding.

Courtney W. Paul,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2015-23032 Filed 9-11-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 177 / Monday, September 14, 2015 / Notices 55103

Dated: September 8, 2015. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: resources and habitats, (6) wetlands, (7)
Aaron Siegel, 1. MKARNS: The McClellan-Kerr timber and forestry management, and (8)
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Arkansas River Navigation System other impacts identified by the Public,
Officer, Department of Defense. consists of a series of 18 locks and dams agencies or USACE studies.
[FR Doc. 2015–22966 Filed 9–11–15; 8:45 am] that provide navigation from the The hydrology of the two rivers is
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
Mississippi River to the Port of Catoosa strongly influenced by high water in the
near Tulsa, Oklahoma. River flow in the Mississippi River. Significant
Arkansas River is modified primarily by hydrologic and hydraulic problems
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 11 reservoirs in Oklahoma. currently threaten the Corps’ mission
2. Study Location: The study is areas of Navigation, Recreation, Flood
Department of the Army, Corps of located at the confluence of the Risk Management, as well as aquatic
Engineers Mississippi, White, and Arkansas Rivers ecosystem habitat and existing
in Desha and Arkansas Counties, in infrastructure. Possible solutions may
Intent To Prepare an Integrated Draft southeast Arkansas. Prominent features include increasing detention upstream,
Feasibility Report and Environmental include the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas raising the height of the containment
Impact Statement To Investigate River Navigation System (MKARNS) structure, removal of the control
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Problems Post Canal and the 160,000-acre Dale structure, or construction of a passive or
Threatening Navigation, Aquatic Bumpers National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. active weir to restore a more natural
Ecosystem Habitat, Recreation, Flood Fish and Wildlife Service). The hydrology between the two rivers. The
Damage Reduction and Existing Arkansas Post Canal connects the study will evaluate opportunities for
Infrastructure at the Three Rivers Arkansas River to the White River for ecosystem restoration. Proposed
Study Site in Arkansas and Desha navigation onto the Mississippi River to improvements resulting from the study
Counties in Southeast Arkansas complete the 445-mile navigation could impact (positively or negatively)
system. The study area is downstream of navigation, agriculture, silviculture,
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
Lock No. 1 of the MKARNS and hydropower, recreation, flood risk
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
upstream of the Montgomery Point Lock management, and fish and wildlife.
ACTION: Notice of intent. & Dam and includes any adjacent 6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The
SUMMARY: The study is being conducted landmasses that are presently being Draft Environmental Impact Statement
under the authority contained in the impacted or could be potentially is anticipated to be available for public
River and Harbor Act of 1946 (Pub. L. impacted by the alternatives. review in the spring of 2017, subject to
3. Study History: Studies in the area the receipt of Federal funding.
79–525), as amended, which authorized
have occurred since the mid-1960’s.
the development of the Arkansas River Courtney W. Paul,
Structures were placed along the White
and its tributaries for the purposes of Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
River and between the White and
navigation, flood control, hydropower,
Arkansas River to regulate hydrologic [FR Doc. 2015–23032 Filed 9–11–15; 8:45 am]
water supply, recreation, and fish and
flow between the two systems in the BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
wildlife. Public Law 91–649 stated that
1960’s, 1970’s and late 1980’s.
the project would be known as the 4. Scoping/Public Involvement. The
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Public Scoping process provides DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
navigation system. Additional information about the study to the
authorization is included by the Flood public, serves as a mechanism to solicit Department of the Army, Corps of
Control Act of 1970, (Pub. L. 91–611), as agency and public input on alternatives Engineers
amended, under Section 216 and under and issues of concern, and ensures full
guidance provided in ER 1105–2–100. and open participation in Scoping and National Wetland Plant List
Pursuant to the National Environmental review of the Draft EIS. Comments AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Policy Act (NEPA), the USACE, Little received as a result of this notice and DoD.
Rock District, will prepare a Draft news releases will be used to assist the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ACTION: Notice.
preparers in identifying potential
for the Three Rivers Study. The EIS will impacts to the quality of the human or SUMMARY: The National Wetland Plant
evaluate potential impacts (beneficial natural environment. The Corps invites List (NWPL) is used to delineate
and adverse) to the natural, physical, other Federal agencies, Native American wetlands for purposes of the Clean
and human environment as a result of Tribes, State and local agencies and Water Act and the Wetland
implementing any of the proposed officials, private organizations, and Conservation Provisions of the Food
project alternatives developed during interested individuals to participate in Security Act. Other applications of the
the process. the Scoping process by forwarding list include wetland restoration,
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments written comments to (see ADDRESSES). establishment, and enhancement
to Mr. Craig Hilburn, Biologist, U.S. Interested parties may also request to be projects. To update the NWPL, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Planning and included on the mailing list for public Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), as
Environmental Division, Environmental distribution of announcements and part of an interagency effort with the
Branch, Little Rock District, P.O. Box documents. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
867, Little Rock, AR 72203–0867. 5. Issues/Alternatives: The EIS will (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Comments will be accepted through evaluate effects from a range of Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

October 15, 2015. alternatives developed to address of Agriculture, Natural Resources
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For navigation and environmental concerns Conservation Service (NRCS), is
questions or comments regarding the of the area. Anticipated significant announcing the availability of the draft
Three Rivers Draft Feasibility Report or issues to be addressed in the EIS National Wetland Plant List (NWPL)
EIS, please contact Mr. Craig Hilburn, include impacts on: (1) Navigation, (2) 2015 and its Web address to solicit
(501) 324–5735 or email: flooding, (3) recreation, (4) river public comments. The public will now
david.c.hilburn@usace.army.mil. hydraulics, (5) fish and wildlife be provided the opportunity to

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Document Created: 2018-02-26 10:15:21
Document Modified: 2018-02-26 10:15:21

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		For questions or comments regarding the Three Rivers Draft Feasibility Report or EIS, please contact Mr. Craig Hilburn, (501) 324-5735 or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 55103

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEDepartment of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 177 (September 14, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers