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)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 206 (October 26, 2017)
| Page Range | 49600-49601 | |
| FR Document | 2017-23318 |
[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
![49600 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2017 / Notices
Type of Request: Emergency. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE commenter’s physical mailing address
Number of Respondents: 300. and the project title in the subject line.
Department of the Army, Corps of Please ensure that your comments are
Responses per Respondent: 1. Engineers submitted within the specified comment
Annual Responses: 300. period. Comments received after the
Environmental Impact Statement closing date will be marked ‘‘late,’’ and
Average Burden Per Response: 60 Withdrawal and Availability of an
minutes. may only be considered if time permits.
Environmental Assessment for the Please note that comments may be part
Annual Burden Hours: 300. Souris River Basin Flood Risk of the public record.
Needs and Uses: The information Management Feasibility Study, Ward FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
collection requirement is being County, North Dakota Questions regarding this action can be
submitted as an emergency. The AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, addressed to Mr. David F. Potter,
information collection requirement is DoD. Regional Planning & Environment
necessary to obtain information in ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of an Division North, by phone: (651) 290–
support of Executive Order 13806: environmental impact statement; notice 5713, by fax: (651) 290–5805, by email:
Assessing and Strengthening the United of availability of an environmental david.f.potter@usace.army.mil, or by
States Manufacturing and Defense assessment. mail: Regional Planning and
Industrial Base and Supply Chain Environment Division North, U.S. Army
Resiliency. The questionnaire is used to SUMMARY: In accordance with the Corps of Engineers, 180 Fifth Street
identify, assess, and make National Environmental Policy Act East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101–
recommendations in support of a more (NEPA), on September 18, 2016, the St. 1678.
robust industrial base. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Engineers (Corps) initiated the Souris River Basin Flood Risk
Affected Public: Businesses or other Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Management Feasibility Study
for-profit. process to identify and analyze potential (Feasibility Study) is being developed
Frequency: One Time. impacts associated with flood risk by the Corps in partnership with the
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. management measures evaluated within Souris River Joint Water Resources
a Federal feasibility study for the Souris Board (SRJB). The purpose of this study
OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet River Basin within the continental is to collect and evaluate pertinent
Seehra. United States. Currently, the Corps has engineering, economic, social, and
You may also submit comments and identified a Tentatively Selected Plan environmental information in order to
recommendations, identified by Docket (TSP) that includes a high-flow assess the potential for a federal flood
ID number and title, by the following diversion and a 1200-ft long levee. risk management project within the
method: However, preliminary analysis of the basin. The study objective is to define
TSP indicate no significant impacts are a feasible and implementable project to
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
expected, therefore the Corps is reduce flood risk which is relatively
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
terminating the EIS process and is high within the basin. Due to the
instructions for submitting comments. withdrawing the Notice of Intent potentially significant environmental
Instructions: All submissions received published in the Thursday, September effects associated with the project, the
must include the agency name, Docket 18, 2016 issue of the Federal Register. Corps issued a Notice of Intent to
ID number and title for this Federal In its place, a draft integrated Feasibility Prepare an EIS (76 FR 336) on
Register document. The general policy Report and Environmental Assessment September 18, 2016.
for comments and other submissions (FR/EA) will be available for a 30-day The Feasibility Study is
from members of the public is to make public comment period beginning complementary to the SRJB’s local plan,
these submissions available for public October 30, 2017. the Mouse River Enhanced Flood
viewing on the Internet at http:// DATES: Comments on the draft FR/EA Protection Plan (MREFPP). Because of
www.regulations.gov as they are may be submitted starting October 30, its influence on an existing federal flood
received without change, including any 2017 through November 30, 2017. If project, this non-federal effort has
personal identifiers or contact comments are provided by mail, they requested permission from the Corps of
information. must be received at the address below Engineers to pursue actions under 33
no later than November 30, 2017. U.S.C. 408 (frequently referred to as
DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Frederick
ADDRESSES: The draft FR/EA can be Section 408). A separate Notice of Intent
Licari. was published (FR Doc. 2015–17670
viewed online starting October 30, 2017
Written requests for copies of the at http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/ Filed July 16, 2015) for an EIS
information collection proposal should Home/Public-Notices/. associated with the Corps of Engineers’
be sent to Mr. Licari at WHS/ESD Comments may be submitted on the decision on the Section 408 request.
Directives Division, 4800 Mark Center draft FR/EA using any of the following Additional details on the local, non-
Drive, East Tower, Suite 03F09, methods: federal flood MREFPP can be found at
Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. • Mail: Attn: David F. Potter, mouseriverplan.com. During this
Regional Planning and Environment Feasibility Study, many of the initial
Dated: October 20, 2017.
Division North, U.S. Army Corps of flood risk management measures were
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Aaron Siegel, screened out from further consideration.
Engineers, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison 700, St. Paul, MN 55101–1678. Major features of the TSP include a
Officer, Department of Defense. • Email: david.f.potter@ high-flow diversion and a 1200-ft long
[FR Doc. 2017–23262 Filed 10–25–17; 8:45 am] usace.army.mil. levee. Preliminary analysis indicate that
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P Instructions: Direct your comments to the environmental effects of the TSP are
Corps of Engineers St. Paul District. less than significant. For this reason, an
Comment letters should include the EIS is no longer being pursued in favor
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2017 / Notices 49601
of an EA in accordance with Corps • Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EIS/EIR for the Pajaro River Flood Risk
regulations at 33 CFR part 230, San Francisco District, ATTN: CESPN– Management Study. Since publication
Appendix C(2). ET–PB-Pajaro River, 1455 Market Street, of the NOI, USACE and Monterey and
We are advising the public that a draft San Francisco, CA 94103–1398. Santa Cruz Counties have worked with
integrated FR/EA for the Feasibility • Email: CESPN-ET-PB@ stakeholders to identify and incorporate
Study has been prepared and is usace.army.mil. measures to avoid, minimize, and
available for public review and • Comment letters should include the compensate for adverse environmental
comment. The FR/EA considers the commenter’s physical mailing address effects. As a result, the environmental
effects of, and alternatives to, the TSP. and include ‘‘Pajaro River’’ in the review conducted as part of this study
subject line.
Dated: October 12, 2017. has initially concluded that, with
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Terry J. Birkenstock, mitigation, the proposed alternatives
Christopher Eng, U.S. Army Corps of would not result in any significant
Deputy Chief, Regional Planning and
Engineers, San Francisco District, 1455
Environment Division North. environmental effects. Therefore, an EA
Market Street, San Francisco, CA
[FR Doc. 2017–23318 Filed 10–25–17; 8:45 am] has been prepared instead of an EIS.
94103–1398. Telephone: (415) 503–
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P Also, USACE now requires water
6868. Email: CESPN-ET-PB@
usace.army.mil. resources planning and NEPA
documents to be integrated into a single
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: document, in this case, an integrated
1. Proposed Action. USACE and the GRR/EA. The California Environmental
Department of the Army, Corps of non-Federal study partners, Monterey
Quality Act (CEQA) document for the
Engineers and Santa Cruz Counties, propose to
study is being prepared separately by
reduce flood risk to the City of
Notice of Availability of a Draft Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties as
Watsonville and the town of Pajaro by
Integrated General Reevaluation implementing a combination of the CEQA lead agencies.
Report and Environmental Assessment structural measures along the lower c. USACE is consulting with the State
and Draft Finding of No Significant Pajaro River, Salsipuedes Creek, and Historic Preservation Officer and with
Impact for the Proposed Lower Pajaro Corralitos Creek. These measures Native American Tribes to comply with
River Flood Risk Management Project, include: Improving existing levees; the National Historic Preservation Act,
Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, CA constructing new levees, including and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. setback levees; and constructing new Service and National Marine Fisheries
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. floodwalls. The draft GRR/EA presents Service to comply with the Endangered
the draft findings of the General Species Act. USACE is also coordinating
ACTION: Notice of availability. Reevaluation Study and identifies and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of describes the benefits, costs, and to comply with the Fish and Wildlife
Engineers (USACE), San Francisco environmental effects of alternatives Coordination Act.
District, announces the availability for plans to reduce flood risk to the city of
Watsonville, town of Pajaro, and 4. Availability of the Draft EA. The
review and comment of the draft draft GRR/EA and draft FONSI are
integrated General Reevaluation Report surrounding area. Based on the
evaluation, USACE has identified a available for public review and
and Environmental Assessment (GRR/ comment 30 days beginning October 31,
EA) and the draft Finding of No Federal interest in at least one
alternative plan, the Tentatively 2017 and ending November 30, 2017.
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
proposed Pajaro River Flood Risk Selected Plan (TSP), to reduce the risk 5. A public meeting to discuss the
Management Project, Monterey and of flooding while minimizing adverse status of the study, present the draft
Santa Cruz Counties, CA., USACE environmental effects. The TSP is the results of the GRR/EA, and receive
Procedures for Implementing [the National Economic Development Plan questions and comments will be held on
National Environmental Policy Act] (NED). The environmental review November 8, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to
NEPA, notice of the availability of this conducted as part of this study has 8:00 p.m. at the Watsonville Civic Plaza
draft GRR/EA and draft FONSI for initially concluded that, with Community Room, 275 Main Street, 4th
review and comment is being provided mitigation, the proposed alternatives Floor, Watsonville, California 95076–
to agencies, organizations, and the would not result in any significant 5133.
interested public. environmental effects. This review and
its findings are documented in the draft Dated: October 18, 2017.
DATES: Comments on the draft GRR/EA GRR/EA. Travis J. Rayfield,
and draft FONSI may be submitted 2. Alternatives. Ten project Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District
starting October 31, 2017, through alternatives, including the no action Commander.
November 30, 2017. If comments are alternative, have been evaluated in [FR Doc. 2017–23276 Filed 10–25–17; 8:45 am]
provided by mail, they must be received detail in the draft GRR/EA in
at the address below no later than BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
accordance with NEPA (33 CFR part 230
November 30, 2017. (USACE NEPA Regulations) and 33 CFR
ADDRESSES: The draft GRR/EA can be part 325, Appendix B (NEPA
viewed online starting October 31, 2017, Implementation Procedures for USACE
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
at: http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/ Regulatory Projects).
Missions/Projects-and-Programs/ 3. Changes Since Publication of the
Projects-by-Category/Projects-for-Flood- Notice of Intent (NOI). An NOI was
Risk-Management/Pajaro-River- published in the Federal Register on
Watsonville/. Comments may be June 8, 2001, (66 FR 30894) to advise
submitted on the draft GRR/EA using the interested public and agencies that
any of the following methods: USACE planned to prepare a combined
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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:14:43
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:14:43
| 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 withdrawal of an environmental impact statement; notice of availability of an environmental assessment. | |
| Dates | Comments on the draft FR/EA may be submitted starting October 30, 2017 through November 30, 2017. If comments are provided by mail, | |
| Contact | Questions regarding this action can be | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 49600 |
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