[Federal Register: May 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 102)]
[Notices]
[Page 25723-25724]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29my09-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplement No. 2 to the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the West Tennessee Tributaries (WTT)
General Reevaluation
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The draft supplement no. 2 will be prepared in conjunction
with a general reevaluation report (GRR) and will supplement the
``Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, West
Tennessee Tributaries Project (Obion-Forked Deer River Basin),'' filed
with the Environmental Protection Agency on February 25, 1983. A
general reevaluation study will be conducted for the entire WTT project
area to determine if there is still a federal interest in pursuing a
flood risk management project and, if so, recommend a plan of
improvement. The GRR and draft supplement no. 2 to the final
environmental impact statement (FEIS) will focus on methods that reduce
flood risks within the Obion and Forked Deer watersheds by restoring
natural floodplain functions and reducing sedimentation that could
cause channel blockages.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Thron, telephone (901)
544-0708, CEMVM-PM-E, 167 N. Main, Room B-202, Memphis, TN 38103, e-
mail_john.m.thron@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action: The project study consists of determining flood
risk management solutions in the Obion and Forked Deer watersheds in
west Tennessee. The project is authorized by Section 203 of the Flood
Control Act of June 30, 1948 (Pub. L. 80-858, 62 Stat. 1171, 1175,
1178), and amended and modified by Section 207 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of November 7, 1966 (Pub. L. 89-789, 80 Stat. 1405), and
further amended by Section 3 of the Water Resources Development Act of
March 7, 1974 (Pub. L. 93-251, 88 Stat. 12, 14) and Section 183 of the
Water Resources Development Act of October 22, 1976 (Pub. L. 94-587, 90
Stat. 2917). Construction began in 1961. The initial project
environmental impact statement (EIS) was filed with the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) on February 3, 1971. The federal court
determined in 1973 that the 1971 EIS prepared by the Corps did not meet
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards and enjoined the
Corps from further construction on March 2, 1973. The Corps filed a
revised EIS with CEQ on July 21, 1975, entitled, ``Final Environmental
Impact Statement West Tennessee Tributaries Project;'' however, the
federal court in its decision of January 27, 1978 again determined that
the FEIS was not sufficient to meet NEPA standards and directed that it
be supplemented. A final supplement to the FEIS was filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency on February 25, 1983 (Record of
Decision signed August 8, 1983), entitled, ``Final Supplement to the
Final Environmental Impact Statement, West Tennessee Tributaries
Project.'' The final supplement to the FEIS included the addition of
certain soil erosion control and timber, fish, and wildlife
conservation features to the flood control plan. Construction resumed
in 1985 after the issuance of a consent order (Civil Action Number C-
70-349) stating the Corps was allowed to proceed provided they follow a
protocol in the acquisition of the 32,000 acres of mitigation lands
authorized by Section 3 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1974
(Pub. L. 93-251, 88 Stat. 12, 14). However, in June of 1987, the State
of Tennessee denied water quality certification for the next item of
work and construction was again suspended. All attempts to resolve the
denial were unproductive. By April of 1990, the Corps had acquired
13,527 acres of mitigation lands for the project. Several demonstration
projects were pursued between 1992 and 2008. Most notably, a limited
reevaluation was performed in 1996 for a demonstration project in the
Middle Fork Forked Deer River and a demonstration project in the Stokes
Creek watershed. However, the costs of compliance with the consent
order were too great to pursue the demonstration projects. By letter
dated December 23, 2008, the State of Tennessee requested that a
general reevaluation study be conducted for the entire project area to
determine if there is still a federal interest in pursuing a flood risk
management project and, if so, recommend a plan of improvement.
2. Reasonable Alternatives: A wide range of alternatives will be
examined for the study. Alternatives will focus on methods that control
sediment entering the Obion and Forked Deer watersheds, restore natural
floodplain functions, and comply with the consent order while achieving
the authorized project purpose of flood risk management. Comparisons
will be made among the alternative plans, including the ``no action''
alternative.
3. The Scoping Process: The purpose of this notice is to advise all
interested parties of the intent to supplement the ``Final Supplement
to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, West Tennessee Tributaries
Project (Obion-Forked Deer River Basin)'' and to solicit comments and
information concerning the study. A public involvement program has been
initiated and will be maintained throughout the study to solicit input
from individuals and interested parties and to identify any concerns or
significant issues related to the project. This notice is being
circulated to federal, state, and local environmental resource and
regulatory agencies; Indian Tribes; non-governmental organizations; and
the general public. All interested parties are encouraged to
participate in the scoping process. A public scoping meeting will be
held on June 23, 2009, 7 p.m., at the Temple Baptist Church, 9105 East
Van Hook, Milan, Tennessee. It is anticipated that the draft supplement
no. 2 to the FEIS will be available for public review during the fall
of 2014. A public meeting will be held during the review period to
receive comments and address questions concerning the draft report.
[[Page 25724]]
Dated: May 22, 2009.
Thomas P. Smith,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer, Memphis District.
[FR Doc. E9-12567 Filed 5-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KS-P