81 FR 94349 - Public Scoping Meeting and Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Pascagoula River Drought Resiliency Project, George County and Jackson County, Mississippi
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)
| Page Range | 94349-94351 | |
| FR Document | 2016-30988 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 94349-94351] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-30988] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Scoping Meeting and Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Pascagoula River Drought Resiliency Project, George County and Jackson County, Mississippi AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District (USACE) has received an application (File Number SAM-2014-00653-MBM) for a Department of Army Permit from the Pat Harrison Waterway District and George County Board of Supervisors to construct two water supply lakes: A 1,715-acre upper lake on Little Cedar Creek and a 1,153-acre lower lake on Big Cedar Creek, in George and Jackson Counties, Mississippi. The applicant believes that the proposed water supply lakes are needed to supply water to the Pascagoula River during future extreme droughts resulting from the effects of climate change and to maintain flow regimes necessary to meet critical environmental, ecological, and economic needs. The applicant estimates that the proposed project would impact approximately 1,201.7 acres of wetlands, 41.6 miles of stream channels, and 24.8 acres of open water. Based on the potential impacts, both individually and cumulatively, the USACE intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act to render a final decision on the permit application. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to inform the public, agencies, and organizations of the time and location of the public scoping meeting and invite public participation in the [[Page 94350]] Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. DATES: The scoping period will commence with the publication of this notice. This scoping period for providing comments on relevant issues and factors that should be considered for study in the EIS will end on February 6, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by mail to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Regulatory Division, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628. You may submit written comments by email to [email protected] or submit online at http://www.georgecountylakesEIS.com. Documents pertinent to the proposed project may be examined at the Web site located at http://www.georgecountylakesEIS.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael B. Moxey, Special Projects Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at (251) 694-3771. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE Mobile District intends to prepare an EIS on the proposed Pascagoula River Drought Resiliency Project. The Pat Harrison Waterway District and the George County Board of Supervisors propose this project and are co-applicants for the Department of the Army Permit (Application Number SAM-2014-00653-MBM). The primary Federal involvement associated with the proposed action is the discharge of dredge or fill material into waters of the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands and streams pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344). 1. Background: The applicant proposes to construct two water supply lakes located in south George County and north Jackson County, Mississippi as a drought resiliency project. The proposed upper dam is located on Little Cedar Creek, and the proposed lower dam is located on Big Cedar Creek; both tributaries to the Pascagoula River. The applicant's stated purpose for the two water storage lakes is to provide secondary water sources to sustain the Pascagoula River at a target minimum flow of 917 cubic feet per second (CFS) as measured at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gage station 02479000 on the Pascagoula River at Merrill, Mississippi during extreme prolonged drought conditions through 2060. The applicant believes that the effects of climate change will increase drought severity, frequency and duration in the future. Severe prolonged droughts occurred in 1936 and in 2000. In 2007 the Pascagoula River fell below 917 CFS in mid- November, while in 2011 the Pascagoula River approached 917 CFS in mid- June and fell below 917 CFS for a brief time in early September. Water from the Okatibbee Reservoir, located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, has been used to augment stream flows during low flow events prior to 2000. The applicant proposes to release water from the two connected lakes when insufficient flow occurs, to sustain the target 917 cubic feet per second (CFS) minimum flows in the Pascagoula River during prolonged severe droughts. The applicant would also strive to sustain recreational uses on both lakes to the greatest extent possible. 2. Scoping and Public Involvement Process: The purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process is to identify relevant issues and factors that will affect the scope of the environmental analysis and alternatives in the EIS. All previous comments received by from Federal and state agencies, professional environmental organizations, and the public are being evaluated in this scoping procedure. Based on comments already received in response to the September 4, 2015 public notice, some areas of potential significant impact that may need to be studied in detail during the EIS process could include, but are not limited to the following: (a) Proposed water storage and availability; (b) Stream hydrologic and hydraulic regimes; (c) Secondary and cumulative Impacts; (d) Alternatives to the proposed action; (e) Threatened and Endangered Species; (f) Fish, wildlife, and critical habitats; (g) Cultural resources/historic properties; (h) Water quality; (i) Impacts to wetlands and streams; (j) Mitigation. 3. Purpose and Need: The applicant's stated purpose for the two connected lakes is to provide sufficient surface water storage to (1) restore the sub-surface water table levels and to (2) allow the stored water to be released as needed during extreme prolonged droughts to maintain the Pascagoula River flow above the established minimum of 917 CFS as measured at the USGS gage station 02479000 located on the Pascagoula River at Merrill, Mississippi through 2060, in light of projected more frequent, severe and longer droughts in the basin due to the effects of climate change. The applicant stated that maintaining the minimum 7Q10 flow (the lowest 7-day average flow that occurs on average once every 10 years) of 917 CFS is necessary for the river to meet critical environmental, ecological, and economic needs. In addition to its primary drought resiliency purpose, the Pat Harrison Waterway District proposes to operate and maintain the lakes for public recreational use. 4. Alternatives: An evaluation of alternatives to the applicant's preferred alternative initially being considered includes a No Action alternative, alternatives that would avoid, minimize and compensate for impacts to the aquatic environment, alternatives utilizing other best management practices, and other reasonable alternatives developed through the project scoping process that may also meet the identified purpose and need. Reasonable alternatives could include, but are not limited to, alternate site locations for the lake, alternate site layouts that may have less impact on the environment, alternate sources of water to supplement flow in the Pascagoula River, or alternate practices to mitigate low flow events in the Pascagoula River. The scoping and evaluation phase of the EIS process will help in the determination of reasonable alternatives to be studied in details for the project. 5. Additional Resources to be Evaluated: Resource areas to be evaluated that have been identified to date include the following: Potential direct effects to waters of the United States including aquatic species, environmental justice, socioeconomic environment, recreation and recreational resources, aesthetics, public health and safety, navigation, erosion and accretion, cumulative impacts, public benefit and needs of the people along with potential effects on the human environment. 6. Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held on January 24, 2017, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the George County Senior Citizens Building, 7102 Highway 198 East, Lucedale, MS 39452. The scoping meeting will begin with an informal open house from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to allow review of project information presented as board displays and other materials. At 6:30 p.m., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will provide an informal presentation on the proposed project, and discuss the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The USACE is soliciting comments from all interested parties on issues and factors that should be considered for the scope and content of the EIS. The USACE will announce the public scoping meeting through local news media and the Web page at [[Page 94351]] http://www.georgecountylakesEIS.com at least 15 days prior to the meeting. Comments are encouraged from the public as well as Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties so that the scope of the EIS may be properly identified. 7. Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with a number of Federal and State agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. These agencies were requested by the USACE to be cooperating agencies for the EIS per Council on Environmental Quality regulations at 40 CFR 1501.6. Collaboration with other agencies, including state resource protection agencies, is anticipated during the EIS process. 8. Availability of the Draft EIS: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will advertise the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement when it becomes available for the public review. Brenda S. Bowen, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2016-30988 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices 94349
for the purpose of representing the cabinets, with access restricted to verify, or state) under penalty of perjury
Department of Defense, or any officer, authorized USUHS employees who have that the foregoing is true and correct.
employee or member of the Department a demonstrated need-to-know.’’ Executed on (date). (Signature).’ ’’
in pending or potential litigation to * * * * * CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
which the record is pertinent.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: Delete entry and replace with ‘‘The
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
Delete entry and replace with Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION rules for accessing records, contesting
ROUTINE USE:
‘‘Individuals seeking to determine
whether information about themselves contents and appealing initial agency
A record from a system of records determinations are contained in OSD
is contained in this system should
maintained by a DoD Component may Administrative Instruction 81; 32 CFR
be disclosed as a routine use to the address written inquiries to the Chief,
Workforce Relations Division, Civilian part 311; or may be obtained from the
National Archives and Records system manager.’’
Administration for the purpose of Human Resources Directorate,
Uniformed Services University of the * * * * *
records management inspections [FR Doc. 2016–30990 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]
conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge
2904 and 2906. Road, Bethesda, MD 20814–4712. BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
Signed, written requests should
DISCLOSURE TO THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION contain the full name, address and the
BOARD ROUTINE USE: signature of the subject individual, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
A record from a system of records along with the name and number of this
Department of the Army, U.S. Army
maintained by a DoD Component may system of records notice. Corps of Engineers
be disclosed as a routine use to the In addition, the requester must
Merit Systems Protection Board, provide a notarized statement or an Public Scoping Meeting and Intent To
including the Office of the Special unsworn declaration made in Prepare an Environmental Impact
Counsel for the purpose of litigation, accordance with 28 U.S.C. 1746, in the Statement for Proposed Pascagoula
including administrative proceedings, following format: River Drought Resiliency Project,
appeals, special studies of the civil If executed outside the United States: George County and Jackson County,
service and other merit systems, review ‘I declare (or certify, verify, or state) Mississippi
of OPM or component rules and under penalty of perjury under the laws
regulations, investigation of alleged or of the United States of America that the AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
possible prohibited personnel practices; foregoing is true and correct. Executed Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
including administrative proceedings on (date). (Signature).’ ACTION: Notice of intent.
involving any individual subject of a If executed within the United States,
its territories, possessions, or SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
DoD investigation, and such other Engineers, Mobile District (USACE) has
functions, promulgated in 5 U.S.C. 1205 commonwealths: ‘I declare (or certify,
verify, or state) under penalty of perjury received an application (File Number
and 1206, or as may be authorized by SAM–2014–00653–MBM) for a
law. that the foregoing is true and correct.
Department of Army Permit from the Pat
Executed on (date). (Signature).’ ’’
DATA BREACH REMEDIATION PURPOSES ROUTINE Harrison Waterway District and George
USE: RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES: County Board of Supervisors to
A record from a system of records Delete entry and replace with construct two water supply lakes: A
maintained by a Component may be ‘‘Individuals seeking access to 1,715-acre upper lake on Little Cedar
disclosed to appropriate agencies, information about themselves contained Creek and a 1,153-acre lower lake on Big
entities, and persons when (1) The in this system should address written Cedar Creek, in George and Jackson
Component suspects or has confirmed inquiries to the Office of the Secretary Counties, Mississippi. The applicant
that the security or confidentiality of the of Defense/Joint Staff, Freedom of believes that the proposed water supply
information in the system of records has Information Act Requester Service lakes are needed to supply water to the
been compromised; (2) the Component Center, Office of Freedom of Pascagoula River during future extreme
has determined that as a result of the Information, 1155 Defense Pentagon, droughts resulting from the effects of
suspected or confirmed compromise Washington, DC 20301–1155. climate change and to maintain flow
there is a risk of harm to economic or Signed, written requests should regimes necessary to meet critical
property interests, identity theft or contain the full name, address and the environmental, ecological, and
fraud, or harm to the security or signature of the subject individual, economic needs. The applicant
integrity of this system or other systems along with the name and number of this estimates that the proposed project
or programs (whether maintained by the system of records notice. would impact approximately 1,201.7
Component or another agency or entity) In addition, the requester must acres of wetlands, 41.6 miles of stream
that rely upon the compromised provide a notarized statement or an channels, and 24.8 acres of open water.
information; and (3) the disclosure unsworn declaration made in Based on the potential impacts, both
made to such agencies, entities, and accordance with 28 U.S.C. 1746, in the individually and cumulatively, the
persons is reasonably necessary to assist following format: USACE intends to prepare an
in connection with the Components If executed outside the United States: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
‘I declare (or certify, verify, or state) in compliance with the National
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
efforts to respond to the suspected or
confirmed compromise and prevent, under penalty of perjury under the laws Environmental Policy Act to render a
minimize, or remedy such harm.’’ of the United States of America that the final decision on the permit application.
* * * * * foregoing is true and correct. Executed The purpose of this Notice of Intent is
on (date). (Signature).’ to inform the public, agencies, and
SAFEGUARDS: If executed within the United States, organizations of the time and location of
Delete entry and replace with its territories, possessions, or the public scoping meeting and invite
‘‘Records are maintained in locked file commonwealths: ‘I declare (or certify, public participation in the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices 94351
http://www.georgecountylakesEIS.com is the lead agency for this project under many places throughout the watershed.
at least 15 days prior to the meeting. NEPA. The SFCJPA is the lead agency Flooding on San Francisquito Creek
Comments are encouraged from the for this project under the California affects the cities of Menlo Park and East
public as well as Federal, state, and Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Palo Alto in San Mateo County, and the
local agencies and officials, Indian will be preparing a separate city of Palo Alto in Santa Clara County.
tribes, and other interested parties so Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Flooding from San Francisquito Creek
that the scope of the EIS may be DATES: Written comments from all has been a common occurrence. The
properly identified. interested parties are encouraged and most recent flood event occurred in
7. Coordination: The proposed action must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. December 2012, and the flood of record
is being coordinated with a number of on February 17, 2017. occurred in February 1998, when the
Federal and State agencies, including ADDRESSES: Written comments and
Creek overtopped its banks in several
the U.S. Environmental Protection requests for information should be sent areas, affecting approximately 1,700
Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to Eric Jolliffe, U.S. Army Corps of residential and commercial structures
Mississippi Department of Engineers, San Francisco District, 1455 and causing more than $26.6 million in
Environmental Quality, and Mississippi Market St., 17th floor, San Francisco, property damages. After these floods,
Department of Marine Resources. These CA 94103, eric.f.jolliffe@usace.army.mil. the SFCJPA was formed to pursue flood
agencies were requested by the USACE control and restoration opportunities in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
to be cooperating agencies for the EIS the area.
Eric Jolliffe, (415) 503–6869. The current USACE Feasibility Study
per Council on Environmental Quality
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The San is a continuation of the authority passed
regulations at 40 CFR 1501.6.
Francisquito Creek watershed on May 22, 2002 by the Committee on
Collaboration with other agencies,
encompasses an area of approximately Transportation and Infrastructure of the
including state resource protection
45 square miles, extending from the United States House of Representatives,
agencies, is anticipated during the EIS
ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains to which is in accordance with Section 4
process.
8. Availability of the Draft EIS: The San Francisco Bay in California. The of the Flood Control Act of 1941. The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will majority of the watershed lies in the resolution reads as follows:
advertise the availability of a Draft Santa Cruz Mountains and Bay Foothills ‘‘Resolved by the Committee on
Environmental Impact Statement when northwest of Palo Alto; the remaining Transportation and Infrastructure of the
it becomes available for the public 7.5 square miles lie on the San United States House of Representatives,
review. Francisquito alluvial fan near San That, the Secretary of the Army, in
Francisco Bay. accordance with Section 4 of the Flood
Brenda S. Bowen, The San Francisquito Creek Control Act of 1941, is hereby requested
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. watershed contains mainstem San to conduct a study of the Guadalupe
[FR Doc. 2016–30988 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am] Francisquito Creek and the main River and Tributaries, California, to
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P tributary streams of West Union Creek, determine whether flood damage
Corte Madera Creek, Bear Creek and Los reduction, environmental restoration
Trancos Creek. Los Trancos Creek and and protection, storm water retention,
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE lower San Francisquito Creek form the water conservation and supply,
boundary between San Mateo and Santa recreation and other allied purposes are
Department of the Army, Corps of Clara counties. The reaches are divided advisable in the interest of the San
Engineers up as follows: Reach 1 extends from San Francisquito Creek Watershed,
Francisco Bay to the upstream face of including San Francisquito Creek, Santa
Intent To Prepare an Integrated Highway 101; Reach 2 extends from
Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact Clara and San Mateo Counties,
Highway 101 to El Camino Real; Reach California.’’
Statement for the San Francisquito 3 continues from El Camino Real to 2. Proposed Action. The integrated
Creek Flood Risk Management Study, Sand Hill Road; and Reach 4 continues FS/EIS will consider the environmental
San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, from Sand Hill Road to the ridge of the impact of potential flood risk
CA Santa Cruz Mountains. This FS/EIS will management projects with the end goal
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. investigate flood risk management of reducing flood damage in the San
Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. solutions related to breakout flow in Francisquito Creek Watershed.
ACTION: Notice of intent. Reach 2 only. The entire watershed will 3. Project Alternatives. The integrated
be considered when developing FS/EIS will include four alternatives.
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army solutions to address flooding in Reach 2. a. No Action: Alternative 1 is the No
and the San Francisquito Creek Joint The non-Federal sponsor for the Action Plan. With the No Action Plan
Powers Authority (SFCJPA) hereby give Feasibility phase of the study is the (which is the ‘‘Future Without-Project
notice of intent to prepare an integrated SFCJPA. The SFCJPA is comprised of Condition’’), it is assumed that no long-
Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact the following member agencies: the City term actions would be taken to reduce
Statement (FS/EIS) for the San of Palo Alto; the City of Menlo Park; the flood damage along San Francisquito
Francisquito Creek Flood Risk City of East Palo Alto; the Santa Clara Creek; flood control improvements
Management Project in San Mateo and Valley Water District; and the San would consist of emergency fixes to
Santa Clara Counties, CA to consider Mateo County Flood Control District. damage areas, consistent with available
opportunities to reduce fluvial flooding, 1. Background. The carrying capacity funding.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
to reduce the risk to public safety due of San Francisquito Creek is affected by b. Alternative 2 includes replacing
to flooding consistent with protecting the presence of development, bridges and widening channel
the Nation’s environment, in accordance vegetation, sedimentation, land constriction points to provide additional
with national environmental statutes, subsidence, levee settlement, erosion, channel capacity in Reach 2 between
applicable executive orders, and other and culverts and bridges in the project Highway 101 and El Camino Real.
Federal planning requirements. The area. Erosion has caused the Under this alternative, bridges and
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) undermining of roads and structures in channel constrictions or ‘‘bottlenecks’’
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Document Created: 2016-12-23 12:29:55
Document Modified: 2016-12-23 12:29:55
| 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. | |
| Dates | The scoping period will commence with the publication of this notice. This scoping period for providing comments on relevant issues and factors that should be considered for study in the EIS will end on February 6, 2017. | |
| Contact | Mr. Michael B. Moxey, Special Projects Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at (251) 694-3771. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 94349 |
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