[Federal Register: March 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 44)]
[Notices]
[Page 10434-10435]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr04-60]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the
Missouri River Master Water Control Manual Review and Update
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and implementing regulations, a Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) has been prepared to evaluate the environmental
impacts of a Preferred Alternative (PA) Water Control Plan for the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) operation of the Missouri River
Mainstem Reservoir System (Mainstem Reservoir System). The Missouri
River Master Water Control Manual (Master Manual) specifies the
operating criteria for the operation of six Corps dams and reservoirs
on the mainstem of the Missouri River. The original Master Manual was
published in December 1960. Revisions were published in revised Master
Manuals in 1975 and 1979. The existing Master Manual establishes
guidelines for operation of the Mainstem Reservoir System for the
multiple project purposes of flood control, hydropower, water supply,
water quality, irrigation, navigation, recreation, and fish and
wildlife. Each year an Annual Operating Plan is developed using the
Water Control Plan outlined in the Master Manual as a guide. During the
periods 1987-1993 and 2000-present, the Missouri River basin
experienced moderate to severe droughts. There were numerous lawsuits
concerning the Corps' operation of the reservoirs during both droughts.
In November 1989, the Corps initiated a Review and Update of the Master
Manual and published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in
1994. In response to public comments and requests for additional
studies received during the comment period following publication of the
DEIS, the
[[Page 10435]]
Corps revised that document. In August 2001, the Corps published a
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIS). The RDEIS, which
did not identify a PA, analyzed the environmental effects of a set of
six alternative water control plans for the Master Manual. During the
6-month public comment period on the RDEIS, 20 Tribal and public
workshops and hearings were held throughout the Missouri River basin,
including Tribal Reservations, and at some Mississippi River locations.
About 54,000 Tribal and public comments were received.
Following publication of the RDEIS, the Corps and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) reinitiated consultation under Section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On November 3, 2003, the Corps
provided the USFWS a Biological Assessment (BA) that identified the
Corps proposed action for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem
Reservoir System, Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation
Project, and Kansas River Reservoir System. The Corps proposed action
includes the operational changes identified in the PA. The PA
identified in the FEIS includes the features identified below:
(1) More Stringent Drought Conservation Measures;
(2) Unbalancing the Upper Three Reservoirs; and
(3) Increased Summer Releases to the Lower River in Non-navigation
Years.
On December 16, 2003, the USFWS provided the Corps an amendment to
its November 2000 Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Operation of the
Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, Missouri River Bank
Stabilization and Navigation Project, and Kansas River Reservoir
System. The amended BiOp and comments received in response to the FEIS
will be considered in the Corps' decision regarding a selected plan,
which will be announced in the Corps' Record of Decision following the
FEIS review period.
DATES: Due to a court order dated February 26, 2004, issued by the
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, in Case No.
03-MD-1555, In re: Operation of the Missouri River System Litigation,
the public review period for the FEIS extends from March 5, 2004 to
March 19, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the FEIS may be
sent to Rosemary Hargrave, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern
Division, 12565 West Center Road, Omaha, NE 68114-3869. Ms. Hargrave
can also be contacted by telephone at (402) 697-2527, or e-mail at
rosemary.c.hargrave@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Missouri River extends 2,619 miles from
its source at Hell Roaring Creek to its confluence with the Mississippi
River near St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri River is the longest river
in the United States, draining one sixth of the country. The Mainstem
Reservoir System consists of six dams and reservoirs located in
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The Mainstem
Reservoir System has the capacity to store 73.4 million acre-feet of
water, which makes it the largest system of reservoirs in North
America. Water flowing down the Missouri River is stored in the six
lakes and released as needed for project purposes. The planes of
conflict surrounding the revision of the Master Manual are numerous,
complex, and contentious. While the basin has made historic progress
during the last decade, significant controversy still remains. In the
course of the Master Manual Review and Update, much controversy has
centered on inclusion of more stringent drought conservation measures
in a revised Water Control Plan and on changes in spring and summer
releases from Gavins Point Dam for three species provided protection
under the Endangered Species Act.
There are 30 Federally recognized American Indian Tribes in the
Missouri River basin. Thirteen reservations are located on the mainstem
of the Missouri River. The Tribes are dependent sovereign nations and
the Corps has a Trust responsibility to the Tribes. The FEIS, which
includes a Tribal Appendix, identifies impacts to Tribes resulting from
changes in the operation of the Mainstem Reservoir System. Consultation
with basin Tribes on the Master Manual Review and Update will continue
throughout the NEPA process as the Corps meets its Tribal
responsibilities.
Following the review period (see DATES), the Corps will prepare a
Record of Decision, revise the Master Manual, and develop and implement
an Annual Operating Plan in conformance with the revised manual.
Additional information can be found on the Corps' Northwestern
Division Web page at http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-4879 Filed 3-4-04; 8:45 am]
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