[Federal Register: February 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 35)]
[Notices]
[Page 8185-8186]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23fe04-60]
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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 Upper Mississippi River--Illinois Waterway System
Navigation Study
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: A Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS)
will be prepared to address the restructured Upper Mississippi River--
Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study. This is a modification of
the notice of intent posted in the Federal Register on November 27,
1995 (60 FR 58339).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be answered by Mr. Kenneth
Barr by telephone (309) 794-5349, or by mail: Commander, U.S. Army
Engineer District, Rock Island (ATTN: CEMVR-PM-A), Clock Tower
Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204-2004.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The restructured Upper Mississippi River--
Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study (Navigation Study, study) is
being conducted under the authority of section 216 of the Flood Control
Act of 1970. The 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project, originally
authorized in 1930, is being reviewed for changed physical, economic,
and environmental conditions that may warrant structural or non-
structural modifications to reduce congestion of commercial navigation
traffic and to enhance ecosystem restoration.
1. The initial reconnaissance studies concluded that there was
sufficient evidence to suggest there was a Federal interest in
conducting more detailed investigations relating to the issue of need
and benefits of navigation improvements. Specific investigations were
recommended to define the base condition, analyze congestion problems,
determine system benefits, and examine environmental impacts. The
feasibility study was initiated in 1993 and narrowly focused on
investigating a long-term solution to meet increased navigation demands
and reduction of delays to commercial traffic caused by a congested
system and associated environmental impacts. Study documentation for
public review, other than supporting technical reports, was never
completed.
2. The Chief of Engineers paused the study in 2001 and formed the
Federal Principals Task Force to help define a new direction. The study
was restarted in August 2001 under restructuring guidance formulated in
consideration of comments received from the National Research Council
(NRC) and from the Federal Principals Task Force. The pause allowed the
Corps of Engineers to revise the project study plan to address the
recommendations of the NRC review, as well as establish regional- and
Washington-level interagency collaboration forums to help guide the
future direction of the study. The restructured study will address the
cumulative environmental effects of navigation and the needs for
ecosystem restoration, providing a balanced consideration of fish and
wildlife resources, along with navigation improvement planning. The
feasibility study will ensure the waterway system continues to be a
nationally treasured ecological resource as well as an efficient
national transportation system by seeking ways to:
Provide an efficient National Navigation System;
Achieve an environmentally and economically
sustainable system;
Address ecosystem and floodplain management
needs related to navigation;
Operate and maintain the system to ensure
economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
3. The feasibility study is evaluating both large- and small-scale
measures that could be implemented to reduce commercial traffic delays
and restore, protect, or preserve essential structures and functions of
the natural ecosystem. Navigation improvement measures being evaluated
include both structural and non-structural measures. Structural
measures include extending the length of existing locks, constructing
new locks and moorings (tie-off facilities that allow a waiting tow to
wait closer to the lock chamber). Non-structural measures include
scheduling and congestion fee systems for traffic management and
switchboats (hired vessels permanently
[[Page 8186]]
stationed on both upstream and downstream sides of the lock to assist
and speed up the lock process). The study is also evaluating ecosystem
restoration measures that include island building, fish passage
structures at locks and dams, floodplain restoration, water-level
management, backwater restoration, side channel restoration, wing dam/
dike alteration, island protection, shoreline protection, and increased
topographic diversity of the floodplain. An adaptive management
framework for integrated system management is also being evaluated.
Combinations of these measures, along with the `no action' alternative,
are being evaluated to form an array of alternatives that would
eventually result in a recommended dual-purpose plan.
An interim study report, whose contents include the restructuring
philosophy of sustainability, brief problem assessments, preliminary
scenario evaluation, descriptions of potential measures, and a
discussion of implementation issues, was completed in July 2002 and
provided a `blueprint' for moving forward. Further economic and
environmental data collection and evaluations have been completed since
then.
4. Stakeholders voiced many issues and concerns during the scoping
for the original study, conducted formally in 1994. The NRC and Federal
Principles Task Force echoed many of the concerns in their reviews and
statements. The emphasis in the restructured study on collaboration and
a more comprehensive, holistic consideration of the multiple uses of
the Upper Mississippi River system aims to address these issues and
concerns. Existing coordination bodies, such as the environmental,
economic, engineering, and ``Governor's Liaison'' committees have been
influential throughout the study. Public involvement has included
newsletter distribution to a mailing list of approximately 9,300
persons, a toll-free information phone line, and a Web site http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/umr-iwwsns/.
Since the restructuring of the
study, public meetings were held in March 2002 and October 2003.
5. A final study report and DPEIS are anticipated to be completed
in April 2004.
Dated: February 2, 2004.
Duane P. Gapinski,
Colonel, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 04-3826 Filed 2-20-04; 8:45 am]