81 FR 40681 - Public Notice of Intent for Studies and Initial Scoping Meeting for Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks Feasibility Study
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 120 (June 22, 2016)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 120 (June 22, 2016)
| Page Range | 40681-40681 | |
| FR Document | 2016-14694 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)] [Notices] [Page 40681] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-14694] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Public Notice of Intent for Studies and Initial Scoping Meeting for Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks Feasibility Study AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent and public scoping meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice provides a summary of the ongoing feasibility study activities for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates (BRFG) and Colorado River Locks (CRL) Feasibility Study and solicit public input regarding the study. The objective of the feasibility study is to investigate and recommend solutions to improve traffic safety and navigation efficiencies at the confluence of the GIWW with the BRFG and CRL. The GIWW BRFG/CRL Feasibility Study will identify and evaluate possible structural and navigation alternatives to reduce traffic accidents and navigation delays. The non-Federal sponsor for the project is the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). DATES: The Galveston District will hold the Initial Public Scoping Meeting for the Feasibility Phase of the study on July 12, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the West Columbia Civic Center, 516 E. Brazos Ave. (State Highway 35), West Columbia, TX 77486. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Franchelle Craft, (409) 766-3187. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Study Background. In 2000, the Galveston District completed a reconnaissance study to assess the feasibility of modifying the configurations of the BRFG and CRL to reduce traffic accidents and delays. The study resulted in the determination that there was Federal interest in continuing to the feasibility phase of the study. Funding for the feasibility phase of the study was approved in Fiscal Year 2016. Recognizing the hydrologic connectivity of the GIWW system, the decision was made to conduct the assessment of the BRFG and CRL separately and combine the results into one integrated feasibility report. Navigation along the GIWW is constrained at the confluence with the BRFG and the CRL resulting in the following conditions:Inadequate channel and crossing widths for modern vessels; Outdated floodgate construction and width in the floodgate chambers at the Brazos River; Outdated lock construction at the Colorado River leading to mechanical failure; Shutdown of operations during high water periods presenting a significant security concern; Increased hydrology (river flows due to flood events) impacting navigation traffic; Increased operations and maintenance costs to prevent marine buildup on mechanical elements of the structures; Increased sedimentation at the mouth of the rivers; Shoreline erosion. The Feasibility Study will assess the conditions identified above and develop specific measures/alternatives that can be combined or used as standalone actions to address the problems at each location. Study Process. During the feasibility phase, detailed engineering, hydrology, economic analysis, and environmental studies are performed. The goal of the feasibility phase is to find the most cost-effective solution that responds to the problems identified above while protecting the Nation's environment. The final feasibility report documents the study results and findings, the selection process of the recommended alternative, and the costs and benefits of the recommended plan. The feasibility study ends when the report is submitted to Congress for authorization. Study Status. The Feasibility study will reevaluate the proposed alternatives identified in the 2000 Reconnaissance Study to determine the feasibility of undertaking modifications to the Brazos and Colorado river crossings, as well as identify changes to the floodgate and lock structures at each location that are economically and environmentally justified. There is a need to reduce navigation impacts and costly waterborne traffic delays that are a result of aging infrastructure and inadequate channel dimensions for modern vessels. Alternatives to be evaluated in the feasibility phase include: Moving the gates away from the river; Widening the gates; Reconfiguring the guide wall to lessen the angle to the GIWW; Straightening the crossing at the Brazos and Colorado Rivers; Lock modifications (construction of new locks); Removal of floodgates; and/or; Some combination of these and other measures. Meeting. The Galveston District will hold the Initial Public Scoping Meeting for the Feasibility Phase on July 12, 2016 from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the West Columbia Civic Center. The purpose of the meeting will be to inform the community about the proposed navigation modification project, present how the study will be conducted, solicit public input regarding the initial scope of potential issues/ alternatives to be addressed, and identify those issues/alternatives that should be analyzed further, or eliminated, based on their significance and effects on the environment. The information from the public meeting will be used in the development of an Environmental Impact Statement in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. This notice serves as an invitation for the public to attend. The public will be provided an opportunity for questions and comments. We are soliciting comments/concerns on the opportunities to improve navigation along the GIWW at the Brazos and Colorado Rivers, the identification of resources that may occur within the study area, and other social, economic, and environmental concerns. All interested parties are invited to provide input to this study. Please send your comments or questions regarding this notice or mailing list updates to USACE SWG, 2000 Ft. Point Rd., Galveston, TX 77550. Written input can also be submitted and is requested by August 11, 2016. If we can provide further information, contact the project manager, Ms. Franchelle Craft, by phone at (409) 766-3187 or by email at [email protected]. Eric W. Verwers, Director, Regional Planning and Environmental Center. [FR Doc. 2016-14694 Filed 6-21-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2016 / Notices 40681
D. Communications study resulted in the determination that a result of aging infrastructure and
The Defense Health Agency will post there was Federal interest in continuing inadequate channel dimensions for
the TRICARE Prime access to care to the feasibility phase of the study. modern vessels. Alternatives to be
standards on the TRICARE.mil Web site Funding for the feasibility phase of the evaluated in the feasibility phase
and execute a strategic communication study was approved in Fiscal Year 2016. include:
plan to educate beneficiaries enrolled in Recognizing the hydrologic connectivity • Moving the gates away from the
TRICARE Prime about the access to care of the GIWW system, the decision was river;
standards. made to conduct the assessment of the • Widening the gates;
BRFG and CRL separately and combine • Reconfiguring the guide wall to
Dated: June 17, 2016. the results into one integrated feasibility lessen the angle to the GIWW;
Aaron Siegel, report. • Straightening the crossing at the
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Navigation along the GIWW is Brazos and Colorado Rivers;
Officer, Department of Defense. constrained at the confluence with the • Lock modifications (construction of
[FR Doc. 2016–14786 Filed 6–21–16; 8:45 am] BRFG and the CRL resulting in the new locks);
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P following conditions: • Removal of floodgates; and/or;
• Inadequate channel and crossing
• Some combination of these and
widths for modern vessels;
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE • Outdated floodgate construction other measures.
and width in the floodgate chambers at Meeting. The Galveston District will
Department of the Army, Corps of the Brazos River; hold the Initial Public Scoping Meeting
Engineers • Outdated lock construction at the for the Feasibility Phase on July 12,
Colorado River leading to mechanical 2016 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the West
Public Notice of Intent for Studies and failure; Columbia Civic Center. The purpose of
Initial Scoping Meeting for Gulf • Shutdown of operations during the meeting will be to inform the
Intracoastal Waterway Brazos River high water periods presenting a community about the proposed
Floodgates and Colorado River Locks significant security concern; navigation modification project, present
Feasibility Study • Increased hydrology (river flows how the study will be conducted, solicit
due to flood events) impacting public input regarding the initial scope
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
navigation traffic; of potential issues/alternatives to be
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
• Increased operations and addressed, and identify those issues/
ACTION: Notice of intent and public alternatives that should be analyzed
maintenance costs to prevent marine
scoping meeting. further, or eliminated, based on their
buildup on mechanical elements of the
SUMMARY: This notice provides a structures; significance and effects on the
summary of the ongoing feasibility • Increased sedimentation at the environment. The information from the
study activities for the Gulf Intracoastal mouth of the rivers; public meeting will be used in the
Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River • Shoreline erosion. development of an Environmental
Floodgates (BRFG) and Colorado River The Feasibility Study will assess the Impact Statement in compliance with
Locks (CRL) Feasibility Study and conditions identified above and develop the National Environmental Policy Act
solicit public input regarding the study. specific measures/alternatives that can (NEPA) requirements. This notice serves
The objective of the feasibility study is be combined or used as standalone as an invitation for the public to attend.
to investigate and recommend solutions actions to address the problems at each The public will be provided an
to improve traffic safety and navigation location. opportunity for questions and
efficiencies at the confluence of the Study Process. During the feasibility comments.
GIWW with the BRFG and CRL. The phase, detailed engineering, hydrology, We are soliciting comments/concerns
GIWW BRFG/CRL Feasibility Study will economic analysis, and environmental on the opportunities to improve
identify and evaluate possible structural studies are performed. The goal of the navigation along the GIWW at the
and navigation alternatives to reduce feasibility phase is to find the most cost- Brazos and Colorado Rivers, the
traffic accidents and navigation delays. effective solution that responds to the identification of resources that may
The non-Federal sponsor for the project problems identified above while occur within the study area, and other
is the Texas Department of protecting the Nation’s environment. social, economic, and environmental
Transportation (TXDOT). The final feasibility report documents concerns.
the study results and findings, the All interested parties are invited to
DATES: The Galveston District will hold
selection process of the recommended provide input to this study. Please send
the Initial Public Scoping Meeting for alternative, and the costs and benefits of
the Feasibility Phase of the study on your comments or questions regarding
the recommended plan. The feasibility this notice or mailing list updates to
July 12, 2016 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. study ends when the report is submitted USACE SWG, 2000 Ft. Point Rd.,
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at to Congress for authorization. Galveston, TX 77550. Written input can
the West Columbia Civic Center, 516 E. Study Status. The Feasibility study also be submitted and is requested by
Brazos Ave. (State Highway 35), West will reevaluate the proposed August 11, 2016. If we can provide
Columbia, TX 77486. alternatives identified in the 2000 further information, contact the project
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reconnaissance Study to determine the manager, Ms. Franchelle Craft, by phone
Franchelle Craft, (409) 766–3187. feasibility of undertaking modifications
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
at (409) 766–3187 or by email at
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: to the Brazos and Colorado river franchelle.e.craft@usace.army.mil.
Study Background. In 2000, the crossings, as well as identify changes to
Galveston District completed a the floodgate and lock structures at each Eric W. Verwers,
reconnaissance study to assess the location that are economically and Director, Regional Planning and
feasibility of modifying the environmentally justified. There is a Environmental Center.
configurations of the BRFG and CRL to need to reduce navigation impacts and [FR Doc. 2016–14694 Filed 6–21–16; 8:45 am]
reduce traffic accidents and delays. The costly waterborne traffic delays that are BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:02 Jun 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\22JNN1.SGM 22JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_40801/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2016-06-22 01:05:35
Document Modified: 2016-06-22 01:05:35
| 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 and public scoping meeting. | |
| Dates | The Galveston District will hold the Initial Public Scoping Meeting for the Feasibility Phase of the study on July 12, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. | |
| Contact | Franchelle Craft, (409) 766-3187. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 40681 |
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