SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The NRCS Missouri State Office, in coordination with the North Inter-River Drainage District, Reorganized Butler County Drainage District 7, and the Ring Levee District, and consistent with the requirements of 7 CFR 1b.7, is issuing this notice to advise Federal, State, and local government agencies and the public that NRCS will continue the planning process to determine whether an EIS is needed for the Black River Watershed Project. This notice rescinds the NOI to prepare an EIS (90 FR 38946), published on August 13, 2025. The project area is located along the Black River in southeast Missouri, extending from the city of Poplar Bluff south to the Missouri-Arkansas state line.

During the watershed planning process, NRCS determined that the NOI (90 FR 38946) was issued prematurely, before identifying all reasonable alternatives and assessing whether an EIS was needed. If the planning process indicates that an EIS is appropriate, NRCS will publish a new NOI. The watershed planning process is continuing and will comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Any public comment received from the original NOI and scoping period will be considered during Watershed Plan development. Watershed planning is authorized by the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Pub. L. 83-566), as amended, and the Flood Control Act of 1944 (Pub. L. 78-534).

91 FR 55512