[Federal Register: April 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 17665-17666]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap09-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Public Scoping 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 public scoping and opportunity for comment.
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SUMMARY: On Monday, January 26, 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense
(DoD), U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Kansas City and Omaha
Districts, issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the preparation of the Missouri River Ecosystem
Restoration Plan (74 FR 4382). Pursuant to Subsection (a) of Section
5018 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 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. As
part of this effort, the Kansas City and Omaha District offices of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are hosting public scoping meetings. The
first official phase of public scoping will occur from May 1, 2009
through December 1, 2009 and address the plan purpose, need, and target
resource identification. For information regarding public scoping
meetings see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, below.
DATES: USACE invites comments on the proposed scope and content of the
plan/EIS from all interested parties beginning May 1, 2009. Comments
must be received by December 1, 2009 to ensure appropriate
consideration. Late comments will be considered to the extent
practicable. USACE also invites members of the public to participate in
public scoping meetings (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) to learn more
about the proposed plan and provide oral comments on the issues to be
considered.
ADDRESSES: Requests to be added to the project mailing list may be
submitted by
[[Page 17666]]
completing a form available on the Web site for the Missouri River
Ecosystem Restoration Plan, located at: http://www.mrerp.org.
Electronic comments may be submitted at: comments@mrerp.org. Written
comments may be submitted by mail to the NEPA Document Manager for the
Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan: Ms. Jennifer Switzer,
Project Manager, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
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 Mr. Randy Sellers, Project
Manager, by telephone (402) 995-2689, by mail: CENWO-PM-AE, 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: USACE is seeking public input on its
proposed draft purpose and need statements for developing the Plan/EIS.
The Plan is needed to fully implement the direction received in
Subsection (a) of Section 5018 of the Water Resources Development Act
of 2007; and address current trends indicating: diminished natural
habitat; reduced populations of native species and communities; and
reduced variability of physical processes such as flows, flooding, and
sediment erosion/deposition. Therefore, the draft purpose of the Plan
is to determine the actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic and
terrestrial habitat; to recover federally listed species under the
Endangered Species Act; and to restore the ecosystem to prevent further
declines among other native species, while seeking to balance with
social, economic, and cultural values for future generations. The
overall goal of the planning process is to result in a sustainable
decision that will guide mitigation, recovery, and restoration actions
over the next 30 to 50 years.
In addition to seeking input on the proposed draft purpose and need
for the Plan, the USACE is also seeking comments on what specific
natural resources should be addressed and other issues that should be
considered in this type of plan.
USACE is hosting public scoping meetings throughout the basin to
address the plan purpose, need, and target resources. For specific
information regarding these meetings (dates, locations, and times)
please see http://www.mrerp.org.
All meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Any
individual with a disability who requires special assistance, such as a
sign language interpreter, or a translator, please contact either
project manager listed above at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting so that arrangements can be made.
Additional information about the Missouri River Ecosystem
Restoration Plan can be found at http://www.mrerp.org.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-8739 Filed 4-15-09; 8:45 am]
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