81 FR 1177 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Denver Urban Waterways Restoration Study, South Platte River and Tributaries, Denver County, CO

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 6 (January 11, 2016)

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District, intends to prepare a feasibility study with integrated environmental impact statement (EIS) that analyzes and discloses effects associated with actions to provide ecosystem restoration along the South Platte River and flood risk management actions along two South Platte River tributaries (Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1177-1178]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00204]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Denver Urban Waterways Restoration Study, South Platte River and 
Tributaries, Denver County, CO

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental 
Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions 
of NEPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District, 
intends to prepare a feasibility study with integrated environmental 
impact statement (EIS) that analyzes and discloses effects associated 
with actions to provide ecosystem restoration along the South Platte 
River and flood risk management actions along two South Platte River 
tributaries (Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch).

DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the issues and 
alternatives to be considered in the EIS on or before February 19, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written scoping comments, requests to be added to the 
mailing list, or requests for sign language interpretation for the 
hearing impaired or other special assistance needs to Ms. Tiffany 
Vanosdall by telephone: (402) 995-2695, by mail: 1616 Capitol Avenue, 
Omaha, NE 68102-4901, or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about the proposed feasibility study with integrated EIS, 
please contact Mr. Luke Wallace by telephone: (402) 995-2692, by mail: 
1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102-4901, or by email: 
[email protected]. For inquiries from the media, please 
contact the USACE Omaha District Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Tom O'Hara 
by telephone: (402) 995-2416, by mail: 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 
68102-4901, or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USACE is issuing this notice pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.
    Public Meetings: Public scoping meetings for the various study 
reaches will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. MDT at the following 
locations:
     Harvard Gulch: Wednesday, January 13, 2016--Harvard Gulch 
Recreation Center, 550 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80210.
     South Platte River: Wednesday, January 20, 2016--REI, 1416 
Platte Street, Denver, CO 80202.
     Weir Gulch: Tuesday, February 2, 2016--Barnum Recreation 
Center, 360 Hooker Street, Denver, CO 80219.

Background Information

    The Unified City and County of Denver and the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Omaha District (Corps) are conducting a feasibility study 
for ecosystem restoration along the South Platte River and flood risk 
management along two of its tributaries, Weir Gulch and Harvard Gulch, 
in the City and County of Denver. The ecosystem portion of the study 
will optimize federally significant resources including habitat for 
migratory birds, wetlands and riparian habitat, and aquatic resources 
of the South Platte River and its tributaries. The geographic scope of 
the study area includes the South Platte River from 6th Avenue to 58th 
Avenue, Weir Gulch from Sheridan Boulevard east to the confluence with 
the South Platte River, and Harvard Gulch from Colorado Boulevard west 
to the confluence with the South Platte River.
    The purpose of the project along the South Platte River is to 
address loss of riparian, wetland and in-channel habitat associated 
with urban development. There is a need to provide a functioning 
habitat corridor through Denver for migratory birds, as well as wetland 
and aquatic species. The purpose of the project along the Harvard Gulch 
and Weir Gulch tributaries to the South Platte River is to address 
flood risk issues in order to reduce flood and life safety risks along 
each stream. Urban development within the floodplain in both gulches 
consists of approximately 1,180 structures and an associated 9,150 
people at risk of flooding. The report will be a final response to the 
study authority.
    The City and County of Denver covers approximately 153 square miles 
which is only 0.15 percent of the State's area, but is densely 
populated with approximately 12 percent of the State's population; the 
total metropolitan area population (2.4 million) is

[[Page 1178]]

approximately 50 percent of the State's population. Population growth 
has been rapid.
    Denver County lies approximately 10 miles east of the Front Range 
of the Rocky Mountains. This heavily influences the County's weather. 
Denver has a semi-arid climate with all four seasons discernible. 
Average annual precipitation is 16 inches. The natural land cover is 
primarily short-grass prairie and semi-desert.
    For approximately 10 river miles the South Platte River flows north 
through Denver. Its tributaries in Denver include Cherry Creek, smaller 
Bear Creek, and still smaller Weir Gulch, Lakewood Gulch, Sanderson 
Gulch, Harvard Gulch, and West Harvard Gulch.
    The Harvard Gulch watershed is an east bank tributary to the South 
Platte River located in southeast Denver. The 7.43-square mile drainage 
basin is 72.5 percent within the City and County of Denver and 27.5 
percent in Arapahoe County. The major drainage way has a perennial base 
flow and follows a path along Harvard Avenue until reaching Logan 
Street where it is conveyed underground in Wesley Avenue to the outfall 
at the South Platte River.
    The Weir Gulch watershed is a west bank tributary to the South 
Platte River in Denver and has a drainage area of approximately 7.7 
square miles at the confluence with the South Platte River.
    As required by CEQ's implementing regulations, all reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed Federal action that meet the purpose and 
need will be considered in the EIS. These alternatives will include no 
action and a range of reasonable alternatives for improving the South 
Platte ecosystem and reducing flood risk on Harvard and Weir Gulch. 
Appropriate mitigation measures will be incorporated into the proposed 
action and reasonable alternatives. The EIS will analyze and disclose 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed Federal action and 
alternatives together with engineering, operations and maintenance, 
social, and economic considerations. The public is invited and 
encouraged to identify issues and effects they believe should be 
addressed in the EIS and reasonable alternatives for ecosystem 
restoration along the South Platte River and flood risk management 
along Harvard Gulch and Weir Gulch.

Public Disclosure Statement

    The Corps believes it is important to inform the public of the 
environmental review process. To assist the Corps in identifying and 
considering issues related to the proposed Federal action, comments 
made during formal scoping and later on the draft EIS should be as 
specific as possible. Reviewers must structure their participation in 
the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and 
alerts the Corps to the reviewers' position and contentions. It is very 
important that those interested in this proposed Federal action 
participate by the close of the scoping period so that substantive 
comments and objections are made available to the Corps at a time when 
they can meaningfully consider and respond to them.
    If you wish to comment, you can mail or email your comments as 
indicated under the Addresses section. Before including your name, 
address, phone number, email address, or any other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment including your personal identifying information may be made 
available to the public at any time.
    While you can request in your comment for us to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-00204 Filed 1-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P