[Federal Register: November 7, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 216)]
[Notices]
[Page 67826]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07no02-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineer
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Big Sunflower River Maintenance Feasibility Report
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: Authorized channel improvements in the Big Sunflower River
Basin began in the 1940s and were completed in the 1960s. The work
consisted of channel improvements on a number of streams including the
Big Sunflower and Little Sunflower Rivers and Bogue Phalia; channel
improvements consisted primarily of clearing and snagging, with some
channel enlargement and channel cleanout. The Big Sunflower River Basin
has experienced extensive flooding to agricultural land and urban areas
in recent years. Results of surveys taken and engineering data
collected indicated the lower reaches of the project streams had
experienced loss of designed capacity due to vegetation growth and
sediment accumulation, thereby requiring major maintenance. Corrective
maintenance actions will require extensive channel cleanout, channel
clearing, and snagging within the Big Sunflower channel system.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) should be
directed to: Mr. Marvin Cannon, Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers,
4155 Clay Street, CEMVK-PP-PQ, Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435 or telephone
(601) 631-5437.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This project is authorized by the Flood
Control Act (FCA) of December 22, 1944 (House Document [HD] 516-78-2),
as amended by FCAs of July 24, 1946, and May 17, 1950, October 23, 1962
(HD-358-89-2), and October 27, 1965 (HD-308-88-2).
1. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), Flood Control,
Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, was
completed in December 1975, covering the original flood control project
on Big Sunflower River. A Final Supplemental No. 2 to the FEIS, Flood
Control, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, Mississippi,
Big Sunflower River Maintenance Project was completed in July 1996, for
maintenance of the original flood control project on the Big Sunflower
River. A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in February
2002 to supplement the information contained in Supplement No. 2 to the
FEIS, Flood Control, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin,
Mississippi, Big Sunflower River Maintenance Project. The Draft EA was
circulated for agency and public review and comment. To ensure the
environmental sustainability of this project, the District Engineer has
decided to prepare a DSEIS No. 3 to the FEIS, Flood Control,
Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, Big River
Maintenance Project.
2. The proposed action involves evaluating several non-structural
and structural alternatives of channel cleanout of sediment and debris
from the channel bottoms and channel clearing and snagging to restore
the project channels to authorized design capacities.
3. A public scoping meeting will be held in December 2002 in
Rolling Fork, MS. Significant issues identified during this scoping
process will be analyzed in depth in the DSEIS. The following agencies
are invited to cooperate: The U.S. Coast Guard; Natural Resources
Conservation Service; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality; and Mississippi Department of
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Federally recognized Indian Tribes will
also be invited to cooperate. These agencies and tribes will be asked
to participate in the review of study data and the DSEIS.
4. Upon completion, the DSEIS will be distributed for agency and
public review and comment. Additionally, a public meeting will be held
to present results of the DSEIS evaluations and the recommended plan.
5. The DSEIS is estimated to be completed in November 2003.
Frederick L. Clapp, Jr.,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 02-28358 Filed 11-6-02; 8:45 am]