83 FR 30705 - Intent To Prepare a Draft NEPA Document for the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, and Lock and Dam 1 Disposition Study, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, Minnesota
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 126 (June 29, 2018)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 126 (June 29, 2018)
| Page Range | 30705-30706 | |
| FR Document | 2018-14070 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 30705-30706] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-14070] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft NEPA Document for the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, and Lock and Dam 1 Disposition Study, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, Minnesota AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent to initiate public scoping and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The St. Paul District, Army Corps of Engineers (MVP) is conducting a study regarding the disposition of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, and Lock and Dam 1 located in the Upper Mississippi River, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, Minnesota. The study will include an environmental assessment and consider opportunities regarding deauthorization and disposal of any or all of the three lock and dam sites. The study will evaluate two primary alternatives: (1) No action; and, (2) deauthorization by Congress of the Federal missions at the sites and disposal according to Federal law. Deauthorization would include portions of the Mississippi River 9-foot navigation channel and the lands and structures associated with each lock and dam site. It is anticipated that a draft report of the integrated Disposition Study and Environmental Assessment (EA) will be available for a 30-day public comment period in the Spring of 2019. The St. Paul District of the Army Corps of Engineers is soliciting public comments on the proposed study, potential interest in future ownership if disposal of the properties is warranted, and substantive issues that should be analyzed in the EA. DATES: Scoping Meetings: MVP will hold public scoping meetings at the following times and locations during the scoping period: [ssquf] Monday, July 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401. [ssquf] Tuesday, July 17th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Highland Park Senior High School Auditorium, 1015 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55116. At the scoping meetings, the public is encouraged to submit resource information, and identify topics to be considered in the development of the EA. Written and oral comments will be accepted at each meeting. Comments: MVP will accept comments received or postmarked on or before August 20, 2018. Any comments that we receive after the closing date may not be considered. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods: Email--Written comments should be sent to: [email protected]. Mail/Courier--Written comments should be sent to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District, ATTN: Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1678. Comment Card--Comment cards provided as part of the public meetings will be collected at the end of the meeting or can be mailed to the address in the MAIL/COURIER section above. If submitting comments by email, the following should be included in the subject line or first line of the message: ``USAF, LSAF, L/D 1 Disposition Study Comments''. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To have your name added to a mailing list for notices related to the draft report and EA or additional public meetings, submit an email request to [email protected]. General questions about the study may be directed to Nan Bischoff, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678; telephone (651) 290-5426; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The St. Paul District, Army Corps of Engineers (MVP) operates the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam (USAF), Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam (LSAF), and Lock and Dam No. 1 (L/D 1), located on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. MVP also maintains the navigation channel in proximity to these dams which involves periodic dredging. Section 2010 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014), dated 10 June 2014, directed that USAF be closed within one year of the date of enactment of the Act, but did not deauthorize USAF. Prior to the closure of USAF, the three locks operated as a system to support navigation on the upper reaches of the Mississippi River 9-foot navigation channel. With the lock at USAF now closed to navigation, the demand for both commercial and recreational lockage has decreased due to the navigational disconnect in the Mississippi River at USAF. Deauthorization and disposal of one or more of the three sites may be warranted if the sites are deemed to not be fulfilling their authorized purposes. Deauthorization would also preclude maintenance activities of the navigation channel in proximity to these dams. The current authorized purposes are navigation and recreation. Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970 authorizes the Secretary of the Army to review operations of completed projects, when found advisable due to changed physical, economic, or environmental conditions. Disposition studies are a specific type of Section 216 study with the intent to determine whether a water resources development project operated and maintained by the Corps of Engineers should be deauthorized and the associated real property and Government- owned improvements disposed of. An Initial Appraisal (IA) was conducted by the Corps in 2015 to determine if conditions exist which may warrant further analysis on a completed project as authorized by Section 216. The IA recommended investigation under this authority regarding the future use or disposition of USAF, LSAF, and L/D 1. The purpose of the Disposition Study is to determine what federal interest exists to retain USAF, LSAF, and/or L/D 1 for its authorized purpose(s) based on an evaluation and comparison of the benefits, costs, and impacts (positive and negative) of continued operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, compared to the deauthorization and disposal of the associated real properties. The Disposition Study ends when the final report is transmitted to the Corps of Engineers' Headquarters Office for review and processing of recommendations. Deauthorization would require Congressional Approval. [[Page 30706]] In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), an Environmental Assessment (EA) for this study is anticipated and will be prepared by MVP. The study will broadly evaluate two primary alternatives: (1) The no action; and, (2) deauthorization by Congress of the Federal navigation-related missions at the sites and disposal of the properties according to Federal law. Deauthorization would include portions of the Mississippi River 9-foot navigation channel associated with each lock and dam site. MVP is soliciting public comments on the scope of the EA and significant issues that should be addressed. MVP will also accept comments related to potential new ownership and management measures. Two public scoping meetings are planned as discussed in the DATES section above. The primary purpose of these meetings is to provide a general understanding of the background of the proposed action and to solicit suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the EA. Written and oral comments will be accepted at the meetings. Comments can also be submitted by the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. Once the draft EA is complete and made available for review, there will be additional opportunity for public comment. Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public scoping meetings should contact the person listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to process requests, please make contact no later than one week before the public meeting. Written comments, including email comments, should be sent to MVP at the address given in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. Comments should be specific and pertain only to the issues relating to the action and the anticipated EA. MVP will include all comments in the project record. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--will be publicly available. While you can ask in your comment to have your personal identifying information withheld from public review, MVP cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be available for public review to the extent consistent with applicable law. Dated: June 13, 2018. Terry J. Birkenstock, Deputy Chief, Regional Planning and Environment Division North. [FR Doc. 2018-14070 Filed 6-28-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices 30705
Affected Public: Individuals or DATES: Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Households; Business or other for-profit. Scoping Meetings: MVP will hold MVP also maintains the navigation
Annual Burden Hours: 7,333. public scoping meetings at the following channel in proximity to these dams
Number of Respondents: 44,000. times and locations during the scoping which involves periodic dredging.
Responses per Respondent: 1. period: Section 2010 of the Water Resources
Annual Responses: 44,000. D Monday, July 16th from 6:00 p.m. to Reform and Development Act of 2014
Average Burden per Response: 10 8:00 p.m. at the Mill City Museum, 704 (WRRDA 2014), dated 10 June 2014,
minutes. South Second Street, Minneapolis, directed that USAF be closed within
Frequency: On Occasion. Minnesota 55401. one year of the date of enactment of the
Dated: June 26, 2018. D Tuesday, July 17th from 6:00 p.m. Act, but did not deauthorize USAF.
Aaron T. Siegel, to 8:00 p.m. at the Highland Park Senior Prior to the closure of USAF, the three
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison High School Auditorium, 1015 Snelling locks operated as a system to support
Officer, Department of Defense. Avenue South, St. Paul, Minnesota, navigation on the upper reaches of the
[FR Doc. 2018–14076 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am]
55116. Mississippi River 9-foot navigation
At the scoping meetings, the public is channel. With the lock at USAF now
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
encouraged to submit resource closed to navigation, the demand for
information, and identify topics to be both commercial and recreational
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE considered in the development of the lockage has decreased due to the
EA. Written and oral comments will be navigational disconnect in the
Department of the Army, Corps of accepted at each meeting. Mississippi River at USAF.
Engineers Comments: MVP will accept Deauthorization and disposal of one or
comments received or postmarked on or more of the three sites may be warranted
Intent To Prepare a Draft NEPA before August 20, 2018. Any comments if the sites are deemed to not be
Document for the Upper St. Anthony that we receive after the closing date fulfilling their authorized purposes.
Falls Lock and Dam, Lower St. may not be considered. Deauthorization would also preclude
Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, and Lock ADDRESSES: Comments may be maintenance activities of the navigation
and Dam 1 Disposition Study, submitted by one of the following channel in proximity to these dams. The
Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, methods: current authorized purposes are
Minnesota Email—Written comments should be navigation and recreation.
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sent to: MplsLocksDisposition@ Section 216 of the Flood Control Act
DoD. usace.army.mil. of 1970 authorizes the Secretary of the
Mail/Courier—Written comments Army to review operations of completed
ACTION: Notice of intent to initiate should be sent to: District Engineer, U.S.
public scoping and prepare an projects, when found advisable due to
Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul changed physical, economic, or
Environmental Assessment (EA). District, ATTN: Regional Planning and environmental conditions. Disposition
SUMMARY: The St. Paul District, Army Environment Division North, 180 Fifth studies are a specific type of Section 216
Corps of Engineers (MVP) is conducting Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, study with the intent to determine
a study regarding the disposition of the Minnesota 55101–1678. whether a water resources development
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, Comment Card—Comment cards project operated and maintained by the
Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, provided as part of the public meetings Corps of Engineers should be
and Lock and Dam 1 located in the will be collected at the end of the deauthorized and the associated real
Upper Mississippi River, Hennepin and meeting or can be mailed to the address property and Government-owned
Ramsey Counties, Minnesota. The study in the MAIL/COURIER section above. improvements disposed of. An Initial
will include an environmental If submitting comments by email, the Appraisal (IA) was conducted by the
assessment and consider opportunities following should be included in the Corps in 2015 to determine if conditions
regarding deauthorization and disposal subject line or first line of the message: exist which may warrant further
of any or all of the three lock and dam ‘‘USAF, LSAF, L/D 1 Disposition Study analysis on a completed project as
sites. The study will evaluate two Comments’’. authorized by Section 216. The IA
primary alternatives: (1) No action; and, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To recommended investigation under this
(2) deauthorization by Congress of the have your name added to a mailing list authority regarding the future use or
Federal missions at the sites and for notices related to the draft report and disposition of USAF, LSAF, and L/D 1.
disposal according to Federal law. EA or additional public meetings, The purpose of the Disposition Study
Deauthorization would include portions submit an email request to is to determine what federal interest
of the Mississippi River 9-foot MplsLocksDisposition@usace.army.mil. exists to retain USAF, LSAF, and/or
navigation channel and the lands and General questions about the study may L/D 1 for its authorized purpose(s)
structures associated with each lock and be directed to Nan Bischoff, Project based on an evaluation and comparison
dam site. It is anticipated that a draft Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, of the benefits, costs, and impacts
report of the integrated Disposition St. Paul District, 180 Fifth Street East, (positive and negative) of continued
Study and Environmental Assessment Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101–1678; operation, maintenance, repair,
(EA) will be available for a 30-day telephone (651) 290–5426; email: replacement, and rehabilitation,
public comment period in the Spring of Nanette.m.bischoff@usace.army.mil. compared to the deauthorization and
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
2019. The St. Paul District of the Army SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The St. disposal of the associated real
Corps of Engineers is soliciting public Paul District, Army Corps of Engineers properties. The Disposition Study ends
comments on the proposed study, (MVP) operates the Upper St. Anthony when the final report is transmitted to
potential interest in future ownership if Falls Lock and Dam (USAF), Lower St. the Corps of Engineers’ Headquarters
disposal of the properties is warranted, Anthony Falls Lock and Dam (LSAF), Office for review and processing of
and substantive issues that should be and Lock and Dam No. 1 (L/D 1), recommendations. Deauthorization
analyzed in the EA. located on the Mississippi River in would require Congressional Approval.
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![30706 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices
In accordance with the National available for public review to the extent constructed. The Corps has reviewed
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 consistent with applicable law. the draft and Final EIR/EIS/EIS to
(NEPA), an Environmental Assessment Dated: June 13, 2018. ensure that all NEPA requirements have
(EA) for this study is anticipated and Terry J. Birkenstock, been met.
will be prepared by MVP. The study DATES: Written comments regarding the
Deputy Chief, Regional Planning and
will broadly evaluate two primary Environment Division North. scope of the Corps adoption of the
alternatives: (1) The no action; and, (2) BOR’s FEIR/FEIS/FEIS, preparation of
[FR Doc. 2018–14070 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am]
deauthorization by Congress of the the Corps ROD, and reimbursement to
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
Federal navigation-related missions at CTC should be received by the Corps on
the sites and disposal of the properties or before July 30, 2018.
according to Federal law. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ADDRESSES: Send written comments and
Deauthorization would include portions suggestions to Mr. Mario Parker,
of the Mississippi River 9-foot Department of the Army, Corps of Biological Sciences Study Manager, U.S.
navigation channel associated with each Engineers Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento
lock and dam site. MVP is soliciting District, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA
public comments on the scope of the EA Notice of Intent To Adopt U.S. Bureau 95814, or email him at mario.g.parker@
and significant issues that should be of Reclamation’s December 2015 Final usace.army.mil, or telephone (916) 557–
addressed. MVP will also accept Environmental Impact Report/ 6701, or fax (916) 557–7856.
comments related to potential new Environmental Impact Statement/ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ownership and management measures. Environmental Impact Statement, 1. Proposed Action. The Corps in
Two public scoping meetings are Prepare Corps Record of Decision, and cooperation with the non-Federal
planned as discussed in the DATES Reimburse the Sponsor for the Upper sponsor, the CTC, proposes to adopt the
section above. The primary purpose of Truckee River and Marsh Restoration BOR’s December 2015 FEIR/FEIS/FEIS,
these meetings is to provide a general Project, City of South Lake Tahoe, El prepare its own ROD, and reimburse
understanding of the background of the Dorado County, CA CTC on the final design and
proposed action and to solicit construction of the restoration features
suggestions and information on the AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. at the Upper Truckee River and Marsh
scope of issues to consider in the EA. Restoration Project in South Lake
Written and oral comments will be ACTION: Notice of intent.
Tahoe, in Eldorado County, CA.
accepted at the meetings. Comments can Reimbursement for the construction of
also be submitted by the methods listed SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps), Sacramento District, the ecosystem restoration project is
in the ADDRESSES section. Once the draft authorized by the Tahoe 108 program
EA is complete and made available for intends to adopt the Bureau of
Reclamation’s (BOR) December 2015 authority, which is Section 108 of the
review, there will be additional Energy and Water Development
opportunity for public comment. Final Environment Impact Report
(FEIR)/Final Environmental Impact Appropriations Act, 2005 (Division C of
Persons needing reasonable
Statement (FEIS)/Final Environmental the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
accommodations in order to attend and
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Upper Pub. L. 108–447). The relevant authority
participate in the public scoping
Truckee River and Marsh Restoration from the 2005 Consolidated
meetings should contact the person
Project and prepare its own Record of Appropriations Act excerpted is stated
listed under the FOR FURTHER
Decision (ROD) after the public review below:
INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as
period for this Notice of Intent ends. Sec. 108. Lake Tahoe Basin
possible. In order to allow sufficient Restoration, Nevada and California. (a)
time to process requests, please make The Corps will use its Tahoe Section
108 program authorization for Definition.—In this section, the term
contact no later than one week before ‘‘Lake Tahoe Basin’’ means the entire
the public meeting. participation in the restoration activities
by reimbursing the California Tahoe watershed drainage of Lake Tahoe
Written comments, including email including that portion of the Truckee
comments, should be sent to MVP at the Conservancy (CTC), the local sponsor,
for final design, construction, and other River 1,000 feet downstream from the
address given in the ADDRESSES section United States Bureau of Reclamation
of this Notice. Comments should be applicable activities falling under the
authorization. During final design and dam in Tahoe City, California.
specific and pertain only to the issues (b) Establishment of Program.—The
relating to the action and the anticipated construction, the Corps will serve as the
Secretary [of the Army] may establish a
EA. MVP will include all comments in lead Federal agency for compliance with
program for providing environmental
the project record. the National Environmental Policy Act
assistance to non-Federal interests in
Before including your address, phone (NEPA), and CTC will serve as the lead
Lake Tahoe Basin.
number, email address, or other agency for compliance with the (c) Form of Assistance.—Assistance
personal identifying information in your California Environmental Quality Act under this section may be in the form
comment, you should be aware that (CEQA) during the final design and of planning, design, and construction
your entire comment—including your construction activities if designs need to assistance for water-related
personal identifying information—will be modified or the river moves from its environmental infrastructure and
be publicly available. While you can ask current alignment prior to design and resource protection and development
in your comment to have your personal construction. In the December 2015 projects in Lake Tahoe Basin, which
Final EIR/EIS/EIS, the analysis for this
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
identifying information withheld from could include the following:
public review, MVP cannot guarantee ecosystem restoration project evaluated (1) Urban stormwater conveyance,
that we will be able to do so. five alternatives to restore aquatic and treatment and related facilities;
All submissions from organizations or riparian values and functions on the (2) watershed planning, science and
businesses and from individuals Upper Truckee River’s marsh area near research;
identifying themselves as its terminus at Lake Tahoe, South Lake (3) environmental restoration; and
representatives or officials of Tahoe in El Dorado County, CA with (4) surface water resource protection
organizations or businesses will be selection of a preferred alternative to be and development.
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Document Created: 2018-06-29 01:13:25
Document Modified: 2018-06-29 01:13:25
| 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 to initiate public scoping and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA). | |
| Dates | Scoping Meetings: MVP will hold public scoping meetings at the following times and locations during the scoping period: | |
| Contact | To have your name added to a mailing list for notices related to the draft report and EA or additional public meetings, submit an email request to [email protected] General questions about the study may be directed to Nan Bischoff, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678; telephone (651) 290-5426; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 30705 |
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