[Federal Register: October 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 61794-61795]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc03-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for the Lake Washington Ship Canal Ecosystem Restoration
Project, King County, WA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), Seattle District, as lead Federal agency, will prepare a
programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) evaluating
alternative fish and wildlife habitat and water quality restoration
approaches for the Lake Washington Basin, King County, Washington. This
environmental impact statement will be a combined Federal NEPA and
Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) document. The lead
agency for SEPA will be the King County Water and Land Resources
Division. Five restoration approaches will be evaluated in the PEIS:
(1) No action; (2) Habitat restoration that would benefit multiple
species; (3) A program that principally benefits fish species listed as
``threatened'' under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); (4) Restoration
that focuses on geographic areas; and (5) Restoration that focuses on
specific life history stages. If approved, implementation of the
program would begin in 2006. Potential issues of concern for the PEIS
include impacts to fish and their habitat, water quality, wetlands,
riparian habitat, flood control, land use, and public safety.
DATES: Submit comments to the address below by December 1, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Mr. Jeffrey F. Dillon, Environmental Resources Section, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 3755, Seattle, Washington 98124-3755.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the scoping
process or preparation of the PEIS may be directed to: Jeffrey F.
Dillon (206) 764-6174.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. The Corps of Engineers and the King County
Water and Land Resources Division propose to evaluate alternative
habitat restoration programs for the Lake Washington Basin in King and
Snohomish Counties, Washington. For preparation of this PEIS, the
Corps, Seattle District is the lead Federal agency under NEPA (42 USC
4321 et seq.) and the Council on Environmental Quality implementing
guidelines (40 CFR 1500-1508). The King County Water and Land Resources
Division is the lead state agency under the Washington SEPA (Chapter
43.21C RCW) and the SEPA guidelines (Chapter 197-10 WAC).
The Corps is authorized to implement habitat restoration programs
under Section 209 of Public Law 87-874 (Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters
Study) of the 1962 Flood Control Act, the Water Resources Development
Act of 1990, and Corps ecosystem restoration guidance (Engineering
Circular [EC] 1105-2-210). Corps of Engineers activities in ecosystem
restoration will concentrate on bio-engineering solutions to water and
related land resource problems.
The proposed action would restore aquatic ecosystem habitat and
processes by reconnecting isolated habitat elements, increasing channel
diversity, establishing areas of estuarine habitat, increasing
floodplain habitat and connectivity, restoring small tributaries,
increasing the amount of large woody debris in the river, replenishing
river sediments, and improving the water temperature regime. If the
proposed action were approved, initial construction would begin in
2006.
[[Page 61795]]
2. Restoration Approaches: Three programmatic restoration
approaches will be considered and evaluated in the environmental impact
statement. The first approach is the No Action alternative and would
include various agencies and groups continuing to implement small-scale
restoration projects but within a less coordianted framework than under
the other proposed alternatives. Continued implementation of
restoration projects might include reconnecting isolated habitat
elements, localized bank revegetation, and some placement of large
woody debris. The second approach is an ecosystem processes approach to
habitat restoration within a comprehensive framework. Under this
approach, benefits to many fish and wildlife species will be targeted.
The third approach is restoration of ESA-listed fish species. Recently,
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and bull trout (Savelinus
confluentus) have been listed under ESA. This approach would evaluate
restoration actions that would focus benefits on these species.
3. Scoping and Public Involvement: Public involvement will be
sought during scoping and throughout the study in accordance with NEPA
and SEPA procedures. Public meetings will be held during public review
of the draft PEIS. A public scoping process will be initiated to
clarify issues of major concern, identify studies that might be needed
to analyze and evaluate impacts, and obtain public input on the range
and acceptability of approaches and further definition of alternatives.
This notice of intent formally commences the joint scoping process
under NEPA and SEPA. As part of the scoping process, all affected
Federal, state, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and other
interested private organizations, including environmental interest
groups, are invited to comment on the scope of hte PEIS. Comments are
requested concerning project alternatives, mitigation measures,
probable significant environmental impacts, and permits or other
approvals that may be required. To date, the following impact areas
have been identified and will be analyzed in depth in the PEIS: (1)
Fish and their habitat, (2) water quality, (3) wetlands, (4) riparian
habitat, (5) wildlife, (6) land use, and (7) public safety. The
environmental review process will be comprehensive and will integrate
and satisfy the requirements of NEPA (Federal) and SEPA (Washington
State), and other relevant Federal, state, and local environmental
laws. Written comments may will be accepted within 30 days of
publication of this notice in the Federal Register (see DATES).
4. Other Environmental Review, Coordination, and Permit
Requirements: Other environmental review, coordination, and permit
requirements include preparation of a section 404(b)(1) evaluation by
the Corps and consultation among the Corps, State of Washington, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration both per section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
Coordination will also be initiated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to meet the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act.
5. Availability of the Draft PEIS: The draft PEIS is scheduled for
release during the spring of 2004 and the Final PEIS is scheduled for
release during the fall of 2004.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-27358 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]