[Federal Register: December 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 75308-75309]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de04-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Lower
Snake River Reservoirs Navigation Maintenance, in the States of
Washington, and Idaho
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for performing routine maintenance
of the Federal navigation channel and certain public port facilities on
the lower Snake and Clearwater Rivers in Washington and Idaho. The EIS
will evaluate the actions the Corps could take to maintain the
authorized navigation channel and port facilities in the short-term and
will identify the preferred alternative.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10, will be a
cooperating agency for this EIS. The Corps will work with EPA during
development of the EIS to consider and incorporate, as appropriate, the
policies and procedures currently evolving for the Northwest Regional
Dredging Team (RDT), as referred to in the April 26, 2002, policy
letter jointly signed by Brigadier General David A. Tastabend, Corps of
Engineers, Northwestern Division Commander, and L. John Iani, EPA
Region 10 Administrator.
[[Page 75309]]
DATES: Submit comments by January 18, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Sands, Project Manager, Walla
Walla District, Corps of Engineers, CENWW-PM-PPM, 201 North Third
Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone (509) 527-7287, or Ms. Sandra
Simmons, NEPA Coordinator, Walla Walla District, Corps of Engineers,
CENWW-PD-EC, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone (509)
527-7265.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District (Corps) has the responsibility to operate and maintain
the congressionally authorized Federal navigation channel in the lower
Snake River from McNary reservoir on the mid-Columbia River up the
Snake River to Lewiston, Idaho at the confluence of the Snake and
Clearwater Rivers. The Corps is authorized by Congress to maintain a
channel 250 feet wide and 14 feet deep as measured at minimum regulated
flows. Historically the Corps has routinely dredged accumulated
sediments from the navigation channel to maintain its operational
efficiency. The Corps has not performed maintenance dredging in the
channel since the winter of 1998-1999.
Presently sediment has accumulated in the Federal navigation
channel to the point that the channel is less than 14 feet deep at
minimum pool at several locations. Sediment has also accumulated in
port berthing facilities in the Lewiston-Clarkston area, reducing the
water depth at those facilities to less than 14 feet. The shallow water
depths in the Federal channel and port facilities are interfering with
commercial navigation and creating a potentially hazardous situation.
Barge companies and commercial vessels are having difficulty accessing
port facilities and navigating the federal channel due to shallow
conditions. In response to these conditions they have made costly
operational changes. Additional sediment accumulation could render
these operational changes ineffective and increase the potential for
safety hazards and additional economic impact.
The Corps recognizes the need to restore the authorized depth of
the navigation channel and port facilities, and that additional
sediment is likely to accumulate with each successive spring runoff.
Therefore, the Corps proposes to take action at the first opportunity
following the spring 2005 runoff to address the accumulated sediment.
The local ports will fund any actions the Corps takes within the port
facilities. The Corps will consider both dredging and non-dredging
measures, either separately or in combination. Measures identified to
date include no action, sediment reduction, reservoir drawdown/
flushing, dredging with traditional protocols, and dredging with
beneficial use of dredged material.
At this time, the Corps does not plan to conduct public scoping
meetings for this EIS. However, affected Federal, state, and local
agencies; Indian tribess; and other interested organizations and
individuals are invited to provide input to the Corps on the scope of
this EIS. To ensure consideration, input on the scope should be
provided to the Corps by comment date (see DATES). Additional
opportunities for public input on the EIS will be provided during the
normal review periods for the draft and final EIS.
The draft EIS is currently scheduled to be available for public
review in early 2005.
Randy L. Glaeser,
LTC, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 04-27573 Filed 12-15-04; 8:45 am]