82 FR 49600 - Environmental Impact Statement Withdrawal and Availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Souris River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study, Ward County, North Dakota

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 206 (October 26, 2017)

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), on September 18, 2016, the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) initiated the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to identify and analyze potential impacts associated with flood risk management measures evaluated within a Federal feasibility study for the Souris River Basin within the continental United States. Currently, the Corps has identified a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) that includes a high-flow diversion and a 1200-ft long levee. However, preliminary analysis of the TSP indicate no significant impacts are expected, therefore the Corps is terminating the EIS process and is withdrawing the Notice of Intent published in the Thursday, September 18, 2016 issue of the Federal Register. In its place, a draft integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (FR/EA) will be available for a 30-day public comment period beginning October 30, 2017.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49600-49601]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23318]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Environmental Impact Statement Withdrawal and Availability of an 
Environmental Assessment for the Souris River Basin Flood Risk 
Management Feasibility Study, Ward County, North Dakota

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

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of an environmental impact statement; 
notice of availability of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), on September 18, 2016, the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers (Corps) initiated the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
process to identify and analyze potential impacts associated with flood 
risk management measures evaluated within a Federal feasibility study 
for the Souris River Basin within the continental United States. 
Currently, the Corps has identified a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) 
that includes a high-flow diversion and a 1200-ft long levee. However, 
preliminary analysis of the TSP indicate no significant impacts are 
expected, therefore the Corps is terminating the EIS process and is 
withdrawing the Notice of Intent published in the Thursday, September 
18, 2016 issue of the Federal Register. In its place, a draft 
integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (FR/EA) will 
be available for a 30-day public comment period beginning October 30, 
2017.

DATES: Comments on the draft FR/EA may be submitted starting October 
30, 2017 through November 30, 2017. If comments are provided by mail, 
they must be received at the address below no later than November 30, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: The draft FR/EA can be viewed online starting October 30, 
2017 at http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Public-Notices/.
    Comments may be submitted on the draft FR/EA using any of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Attn: David F. Potter, Regional Planning and 
Environment Division North, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 180 Fifth 
Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678.
     Email: [email protected].
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Corps of Engineers St. Paul 
District. Comment letters should include the commenter's physical 
mailing address and the project title in the subject line. Please 
ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment 
period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked 
``late,'' and may only be considered if time permits. Please note that 
comments may be part of the public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this action can be 
addressed to Mr. David F. Potter, Regional Planning & Environment 
Division North, by phone: (651) 290-5713, by fax: (651) 290-5805, by 
email: [email protected], or by mail: Regional Planning and 
Environment Division North, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 180 Fifth 
Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Souris River Basin Flood Risk Management 
Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study) is being developed by the Corps 
in partnership with the Souris River Joint Water Resources Board 
(SRJB). The purpose of this study is to collect and evaluate pertinent 
engineering, economic, social, and environmental information in order 
to assess the potential for a federal flood risk management project 
within the basin. The study objective is to define a feasible and 
implementable project to reduce flood risk which is relatively high 
within the basin. Due to the potentially significant environmental 
effects associated with the project, the Corps issued a Notice of 
Intent to Prepare an EIS (76 FR 336) on September 18, 2016.
    The Feasibility Study is complementary to the SRJB's local plan, 
the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan (MREFPP). Because of its 
influence on an existing federal flood project, this non-federal effort 
has requested permission from the Corps of Engineers to pursue actions 
under 33 U.S.C. 408 (frequently referred to as Section 408). A separate 
Notice of Intent was published (FR Doc. 2015-17670 Filed July 16, 2015) 
for an EIS associated with the Corps of Engineers' decision on the 
Section 408 request. Additional details on the local, non-federal flood 
MREFPP can be found at mouseriverplan.com. During this Feasibility 
Study, many of the initial flood risk management measures were screened 
out from further consideration. Major features of the TSP include a 
high-flow diversion and a 1200-ft long levee. Preliminary analysis 
indicate that the environmental effects of the TSP are less than 
significant. For this reason, an EIS is no longer being pursued in 
favor

[[Page 49601]]

of an EA in accordance with Corps regulations at 33 CFR part 230, 
Appendix C(2).
    We are advising the public that a draft integrated FR/EA for the 
Feasibility Study has been prepared and is available for public review 
and comment. The FR/EA considers the effects of, and alternatives to, 
the TSP.

    Dated: October 12, 2017.
Terry J. Birkenstock,
Deputy Chief, Regional Planning and Environment Division North.
[FR Doc. 2017-23318 Filed 10-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P