[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51448-51449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20742]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Withdrawal of Notice for Preparation of an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Arkansas White River Cutoff Study

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) is withdrawing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Arkansas White River Cutoff Study. The original 
Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on June 
20, 2003 (68 FR 36974). The Corps has determined that a long term 
solution that is economically justified and environmentally acceptable 
cannot be determined under current authorities and funding at this 
time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Dana Coburn, Chief, Environmental 
Branch, Planning and Environmental Division, PO Box 867, Little Rock, 
Arkansas 72203-0867, Telephone 501-324-5601, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the EIS was to present 
alternatives and assess the impacts associated with implementation of 
environmentally sustainable solutions for reducing head-cutting and 
scouring in the Ark-White Cutoff area. The two rivers are attempting to 
join in this area and are strongly influenced by high water in the 
Mississippi River. The study area included the Lower Arkansas River 
below Dam 2, the lower 5-10 miles of the White River in 
Arkansas, and any adjacent landmasses that are presently being impacted 
or could be potentially impacted by the alternatives. There are 
numerous public and private entities that have a variety of interests 
within the study area. Head-cutting in

[[Page 51449]]

the study area has resulted in adverse impacts to navigation and the 
environment. Solutions were focused on decreasing erosion on the White 
River containment structure, reducing degradation of the landmass 
separating the White and Arkansas Rivers, and other required features 
to ensure navigation on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation 
System (MKARNS) is maintained. Continued Operation and Maintenance 
actions will proceed as usual until a more long term solution can be 
determined in the future.

Glen A. Masset
Colonel, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2010-20742 Filed 8-19-10; 8:45 am]
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