81 FR 762 - Intent To Prepare an Integrated Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Reallocation of Flood Storage to Water Supply at Wright Patman Lake on the Sulphur River in Cass and Bowie, Counties in Northeast Texas

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 4 (January 7, 2016)

The study is being conducted under the authority contained in the 1958 Water Supply Act (Pub. L. 85-500), Section 301, as amended in 43 United States Code (U.S.C.) 390b and by the River and Harbor Flood Control Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-611), as amended, under Section 216 and under guidance provided in ER 1105-2-100. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will prepare an integrated Draft Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that describes the results of investigations and analyses used to make determinations as to whether and/or what amount of flood storage might be reallocated to water supply to meet the needs of Region C and Region D. The Sulphur River Basin Authority (SRBA) is the non-federal sponsor to study the feasibility of reallocation (converting flood storage to water supply or raising the pool level) while protecting the City of Texarkana's water rights of 180,000 acre-feet (AF) per year. SRBA's sponsorship is for the study only. If reallocation is determined feasible and is pursued, the USACE will require a non-federal sponsor or sponsors for reallocation.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 762-763]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00023]


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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 for Proposed Reallocation of Flood 
Storage to Water Supply at Wright Patman Lake on the Sulphur River in 
Cass and Bowie, Counties in Northeast Texas

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 1958 Water Supply Act (Pub. L. 85-500), Section 301, as amended in 
43 United States Code (U.S.C.) 390b and by the River and Harbor Flood 
Control Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-611), as amended, under Section 216 and 
under guidance provided in ER 1105-2-100. The U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE) will prepare an integrated Draft Feasibility Report 
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that describes the 
results of investigations and analyses used to make determinations as 
to whether and/or what amount of flood storage might be reallocated to 
water supply to meet the needs of Region C and Region D. The Sulphur 
River Basin Authority (SRBA) is the non-federal sponsor to study the 
feasibility of reallocation (converting flood storage to water supply 
or raising the pool level) while protecting the City of Texarkana's 
water rights of 180,000 acre-feet (AF) per year. SRBA's sponsorship is 
for the study only. If reallocation is determined feasible and is 
pursued, the USACE will require a non-federal sponsor or sponsors for 
reallocation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the Wright 
Patman Lake Reallocation Project Draft Feasibility Report, please 
contact Mr. Jodie Foster, Planning Lead, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Regional Planning & Environmental Center, Plan Formulation Section, 819 
Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102, (817) 886-1679, or via email at 
[email protected].
    For questions regarding the Wright Patman Lake Reallocation Project 
Draft EIS, please contact Ms. Melinda Fisher, Environmental Lead, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Planning & Environmental Center, NEPA 
& Cultural Resources Section, 1645 S. 101st E. Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74128, 
(918) 669-7502, or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background. Wright Patman Lake is a USACE operated reservoir 
that encompasses approximately 30,000 surface acres of water and has 
the primary purposes of flood control and water conservation for the 
communities downstream of the dam. Wright Patman Lake is also a major 
water supply source for the cities of Texarkana (Texas and Arkansas) 
and the surrounding area. The City of Texarkana is the non-Federal 
sponsor for the existing water supply storage in Wright Patman Lake and 
holds a State of Texas water right for 180,000 acre-feet (AF) per year 
of raw water for diversion to municipal and industrial users. 
International Paper (IP), the largest single water user in the Sulphur 
River Basin and one of the region's major employers, has a long term 
contract with TWU for the provision of 118,000 AF of water for its 
industrial operations.
    Operational changes would be required with a reallocation of flood 
control storage to water supply and would produce effects on upstream 
and downstream flood patterns, recreational opportunities, water 
quality, and fish and wildlife habitat. In determining whether to 
reallocate storage within the reservoir and change operational regimes, 
the USACE must comply with requirements including but not limited to 
the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Clean Water 
Act.
    2. Proposed Action. The USACE is studying the feasibility of 
reallocating some flood control storage capacity in Wright Patman Lake 
for the purpose of water supply. The reallocation is needed to enable 
the SRBA to provide water to local and regional users for municipal and 
industrial uses in response to population growth in Region C which 
includes all or portions of 16 North Central Texas counties and the 
Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
    3. Alternatives Considered. The USACE, working with the SRBA, has 
identified and conducted preliminary analysis on potential pool 
increases at Wright Patman Lake for further consideration during the 
study. These alternatives would consider alternative pool raises above 
the maximum monthly conservation elevation of Wright Patman Lake 
operating under the ultimate rule curve. These elevations considered in 
the preliminary study would be anticipated to have different levels of 
impacts on upstream and downstream flood patterns, recreational 
opportunities, water quality, vegetation and fish and wildlife habitat. 
The USACE's no action alternative would also be considered. Additional 
alternatives, which could include different storage volumes and varying 
operational regimes, could also be developed during the scoping and 
evaluation process.
    4. Scoping/Public Involvement. The USACE invites all affected 
Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Native American tribes, 
and other interested parties to participate in the NEPA process during 
development of the Draft Feasibility Report/Draft EIS. The public 
scoping process will provide information about the reallocation study 
to the public, serve as a mechanism to

[[Page 763]]

solicit agency and public input on alternatives and issues of concern, 
and ensure full and open participation in scoping and review of the 
Draft EIS. A public scoping meeting is being planned and will be 
scheduled in the January-March 2016 timeframe. The specific date and 
location of the meeting will be announced in news releases issued 
through the local news media, as well as on the USACE Fort Worth 
District's Web site under public notices (http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/). The meeting will be conducted in an informal 
setting designed to present information about the reallocation study 
and to answer questions and accept comments from the public. The USACE 
invites other Federal agencies, Native American Tribes, State and local 
agencies and officials, private organizations, and interested 
individuals to attend the scoping meeting and provide comments. Once 
completed, the Draft Feasibility Report/Draft EIS will be circulated 
for public review and comment. The USACE will issue a Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register announcing the release of the 
Draft EIS for public comment as well as the date and time of a 
subsequent public review meeting regarding the Draft EIS through the 
local news media. Information on the Notice of Intent, Draft 
Feasibility Report/Draft EIS, public meeting dates and other important 
information related to the study will be available for review at USACE 
Web sites.

Eric W. Verwers,
Director, Regional Planning and Environmental Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-00023 Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P