[Federal Register: January 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 15)]
[Notices]
[Page 4382-4383]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja09-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan, Missouri River Basin,
United States
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 of 1969
(NEPA), as amended and in furtherance of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City
and Omaha Districts, intend to prepare the Missouri River Ecosystem
Restoration Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (plan/EIS). In
developing the plan, the Corps must study actions required to mitigate
habitat losses of aquatic and terrestrial habitat, recover federally
listed species under the Endangered Species Act and restore ecosystem
functions to prevent further declines among other native species.
During an extended scoping process, we will invite comment on the draft
purpose and need statements for the plan/EIS.
The plan/EIS will describe a range of alternatives for achieving
the purpose of the plan and assess the effects of those alternatives,
including a preferred alternative, on the human environment as defined
by NEPA. The goal of this planning effort is to develop and implement a
single, comprehensive and integrated plan to guide the implementation
of programs associated with mitigation, recovery, and restoration
activities in the Missouri River Basin.
ADDRESSES: Public scoping on this plan will begin May 1, 2009. A future
notice will identify how written comments and suggestions concerning
the plan may be submitted. Please see http://www.mrerp.org for
additional information. Please see the Scoping and Public Involvement
section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or
questions about the proposed plan/EIS, please contact Ms. Jennifer
Switzer, Project Manager, by telephone: (816) 389-3062, by mail: 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106, or by e-mail:
jennifer.l.switzer@usace.army.mil, or Randy Sellers, Project Manager,
by telephone (402) 995-2689, by mail: 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE
68102, or by e-mail: randy.p.sellers@usace.army.mil. For inquiries from
the media, please contact the Corps, Kansas City District Public
Affairs Officer (PAO), Mr. David Kolarik by telephone: (816) 389-3486,
by mail: 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106, or by e-mail:
david.s.kolarik@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Description of Proposed Plan. Encompassing an area of
approximately 530,000 square miles and a number of governing entities,
including ten states, two Canadian provinces and 28 Native American
tribes, the Missouri River Basin is the second largest river basin in
the United States. From its source at Three Forks, Montana the Missouri
River flows east and southeast for a total of 2,341 miles before
emptying into the Mississippi River, just north of St. Louis, Missouri,
making it the longest river in the United States. The Missouri River
passes through a variety of physiographic provinces, provides various
habitats to diverse populations of flora and fauna, contains numerous
cultural resources, and supports a variety of human uses. Due to its
geographic scale and diverse characteristics, the management of the
Missouri River falls under a variety of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers' (the USACE) authorities and programs as well as other
programs and authorities sponsored by other agencies.
The most significant human alterations to the Missouri River began
as early as the late 1800s with the removal of snags in the river to
improve the safety of navigation. Alterations to the river continued
into the twentieth century. At the request of Congress, the USACE
enhanced navigation, built dams, and regulated river flows.
Simultaneously, land use changes affecting the river's floodplain
occurred creating a river system very different from its pre-alteration
condition. Today, the Missouri River supports less natural habitat,
reduced populations of native species and communities, and reduced
variability of physical processes such as flows, flooding, and sediment
erosion/deposition [i.e., hydrology and geomorphology] needed to
support a functioning Missouri River ecosystem.
Subsection (a) of Section 5018 of the Water Resources Development
Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007) directs the Secretary of the Army, in
consultation with the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee
to conduct a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries to
determine actions required to: (1) Mitigate losses of aquatic and
terrestrial habitat; (2) recover federally listed species under the
Endangered Species Act; and (3) restore the ecosystem to prevent
further declines among other native species. The study described under
Section 5018(a) is the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan and
EIS. The plan/EIS will identify a single, comprehensive strategy to
guide the implementation of programs associated with mitigation,
recovery, and restoration activities in the Missouri River Basin. The
plan/EIS will be conducted in accordance with ER 1105-2-100 and will
follow a watershed approach consistent with the geographic scope and
complexity of issues within the Missouri River Basin.
2. Alternatives. In compliance with the requirements of NEPA, a
range of alternative strategies will be developed to address the
purpose of and need for the plan while staying within the bounds of
identified constraints. In developing these alternatives, multiple
objectives (specific, measurable statements of the outcome or end state
that restoration and management actions aim to achieve) and associated
strategic actions (management, restoration and research activities
functioning together to achieve an objective) will be identified and
combined into several alternatives. The alternatives considered will
include adaptive management strategies to allow changes and
modification to the selected alternative as conditions warrant based on
a described monitoring regime. Additionally, existing management
objectives and related actions and activities that constitute the no
action alternative will be described. Given the scope and complexity of
this plan/EIS, regular and extended public scoping will occur related
to the development of draft alternatives.
3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process. Multiple phases of
public, agency, and tribal government scoping meetings will be
conducted throughout the Missouri River Basin. The first official phase
of public scoping will occur from May 2009 to December 2009 and address
the plan purpose, need, and target resource conditions. This scoping
period will be officially announced through the publication of an
additional notice. Additional scoping phases will take place to address
baseline conditions, issues, and preliminary alternatives. Dates for
these scoping phases have not yet been determined. General concerns,
issues, and/or needs related to the plan will also be obtained
throughout all scoping phases. For more information on scoping phases,
dates, meeting locations, and general information, please visit http://
www.mrerp.org.
4. Significant Issues. Issues associated with the proposed plan to
be given
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significant analysis in the plan/EIS are likely to include, but may not
be limited to, native species declines, including effects of invasive
species; degraded and lost habitat and prevention of future losses of
habitat and resources; loss of ecosystem function including an altered
hydrograph and reduced sediment load; statutory responsibilities, such
as complying with the Endangered Species Act; criteria, goals and
objectives and priorities for restoration; program, authority, and data
gaps, including identification of new strategies for mitigation,
recovery, and restoration efforts; and cumulative impacts. The plan/EIS
will also include identification and analysis of the social, economic,
and cultural impacts of the various alternatives, as well as important
ecosystem functions.
5. Cooperating Agencies. Federal agencies, Tribes, and state
governments are being invited to participate in the planning process as
cooperating agencies under the NEPA.
6. Additional Review and Consultation. Additional public,
scientific, and statutory review and consultation, which will be
incorporated into the preparation of this EIS, will include, but shall
not be limited to: Section 401 of Clean Water Act, Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National
Historic Preservation Act; the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean
Air Act. In addition, as directed by WRDA 2007, the development of this
plan will be done in consultation with the Missouri River Recovery
Implementation Committee.
7. Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is anticipated to be
available as early as November of 2013 or, no later than January of
2014. A series of public meetings will be conducted following the
release of the DEIS.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-1629 Filed 1-23-09; 8:45 am]
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