[Federal Register: July 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 42695]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy04-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare One Environmental Impact Statement for the
Combined Phase I and Phase II Elements of the Arkansas River Navigation
Study, AR and OK
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Little Rock District will prepare
one Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Arkansas River
Navigation Study. The Arkansas River Navigation Study was originally a
two-phase project. Phase I concentrated on river flow management
aspects while Phase II focused on deepening and widening the Arkansas
River navigation channel. The USACE has decided to combine the two
phases into one proposed project to be evaluated in one EIS based on
consideration of NEPA requirements and comments received from the
public.
The combined EIS will generally focus on three aspects of
maintaining and improving commercial navigation on the MKARNS: (1)
River flow management, (2) channel deepening, and (3) on-going channel
maintenance disposal. The purpose of the EIS will be to present all
viable alternatives and assess the impacts associated with each
alternative. The USACE is conducting this study under direction of the
U.S. Congress. The study area includes the Arkansas river Basin in
Arkansas and Oklahoma. Proposed improvements resulting from the study
could impact (positively or negatively) agriculture, hydropower,
recreation, flood control, and fish and wildlife along the MKARNS. The
EIS will evaluate potential impacts (positive and negative) to the
natural, physical, and human environment as a result of implementing
any of the proposed project alternatives that may be developed during
the EIS process.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments by August 16, 2004 to Mr. Johnny
McLean, Environmental Section, Planning Branch, P.O. Box 867, Little
Rock, AR 72203-0867.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments concerning the
proposed action should be addressed to: Mr. Johnny McLean, Telephone
501-324-5028, e-mail: Johnny.L.McLean@usace.army.mil. All comments
received during the Phase I and Phase II scoping periods are still on
record and will be considered for the combined EIS. There is no need to
re-submit duplicate comments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. MKARNS: The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System
consists of a series of 18 locks and dams (17 existing and 1 currently
under construction) and provides navigation from the Mississippi River
to the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, OK. River flow in the Arkansas River
is modified primarily by 11 reservoirs in Oklahoma. The reservoirs are:
Keystone, Oologah, Pensacola, Hudson, Fort Gibson, Tenkiller Ferry,
Eufaula, Kaw, Hulah, Copan, and Wister. These lakes provide flood
control, water supply, hydropower, fish & wildlife, water quality,
recreation, and other benefits.
2. Study History: The Arkansas River Navigation Study is being
undertaken by USACE, Little Rock and Tulsa Districts under the
direction of the U.S. Congress. The study includes major hydraulics
investigations, economics analyses, alternatives development and
related analyses in addition to the EIS.
3. Comments: Interested parties are requested to express their
views concerning the proposed activity. The public is encouraged to
provide written comments in addition to or in lieu of, oral comments at
scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly
describe specific environmental topics or issues, which the commentator
believes the document should address. Oral and written comments receive
equal consideration. Comments received as a result of this notice and
the news releases will be used to assist the Districts in identifying
potential impacts to the quality of the human or natural environment.
Affected local, state, or Federal agencies, affected Indian Tribes, and
other interested private organizations and parties may participate in
the scoping process by forwarding written comments to the above noted
address. Interested parties may also request to be included on the
mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and
documents.
4. Alternatives/Issues: The EIS will evaluate the effects modifying
flow regimes, channel deepening, channel maintenance and other
identified concerns. Anticipated significant issues to be addressed in
the EIS include impacts on: (1) Navigation, (2) flooding, (3)
hydropower production, (4) recreation and recreation facilities, (5)
river hydraulics, (6) fish and wildlife resources and habitats, and (7)
other impacts identified by the Public, agencies or USACE studies.
5. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is anticipated to
be available for public review in the winter of 2004 subject to the
receipt of federal funding.
6. Authority: The River and Harbor Act of 1946 authorized the
development of the Arkansas River and its tributaries for the purposes
of navigation, flood control, hydropower, water supply, recreation, and
fish and wildlife. Public Law 91-649 stated that the project would be
known as the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The
Arkansas River Navigation Study began as a Fiscal Year (FY99)
Congressional Add to investigate flooding problems along the Arkansas
River in Crawford and Sebastian Counties in the vicinity of Fort Smith,
AR.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-16228 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
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