Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 40691-40692 [05-13855]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 134 / Thursday, July 14, 2005 / Notices for those systems of records from which they intend to disclose this information. The DoD system of records described below contains an appropriate routine use proviso, which permits disclosure of information by DMDC to ACF and the SPAAs. 2. DoD will use personal data from the record system identified as S322.10 DMDC, entitled ‘‘Defense Manpower Data Center Base,’’ last published in the Federal Register at 69 FR 31974, June 8, 2004, as amended by 69 FR 67117, November 16, 2004. 3. HHS will be disclosing, as applicable, to DMDC personal data it has collected from the SPAAs. No information will be disclosed from systems of records that ACF operates and maintains. HHS will be disclosing, as applicable, to the SPAAs personal data it has received from DMDC. The DMDC supplied matched data will be disclosed by ACF pursuant to the DoD routine use. E. Description of Computer Matching Program Each participating SPAA will send ACF an electronic file of eligible public assistance client information. These files are non-Federal computer records maintained by the states. ACF will then send this information to DMDC. In the alternative, participating SPAAs can submit files directly to DMDC. After DMDC receives the SPAA data, it will match the data against the DMDC database. The Database consists of personnel records of non-postal Federal civilian employees and military members, both active and retired. Resulting ‘‘hits’’ or matches will be disclosed to the SPAA that submitted the client information. 1. The electronic files provided by ACF and the SPAAs will contain data elements of the client’s name, SSN, date of birth, address, sex, marital status, number of dependents, information regarding the specific public assistance benefit being received, and such other data as considered necessary and on no more than 10,000,000 public assistance beneficiaries. 2. The DMDC computer database file contains approximately 4.85 million records of active duty and retired military members, including the Reserve and Guard, and approximately 3.68 million records of active and retired non-postal Federal civilian employees. 3. DMDC will match the SSN on the ACF/SPAA file by computer against the DMDC database. Matching records, ‘‘hits’’ based on SSNs, will produce data elements of the individual’s name; SSN; active or retired; if active, military service or employing agency, and VerDate jul<14>2003 18:32 Jul 13, 2005 Jkt 205001 current work or home address, and other relevant information. F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program The effective date of the matching agreement and date when matching may actually begin shall be at the expiration of the 40-day review period for OMB and Congress, or 30 days after publication of the matching notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. The parties to this agreement may assume OMB and Congressional concurrence if no comments are received within 40 days of the date of the transmittal letter. The 40-day OMB and Congressional review period and the mandatory 30-day public comment period for the Federal Register publication of the notice will run concurrently. By agreement between HHS and DoD, the matching program will be in effect for 18 months with an option to renew for 12 additional months unless one of the parties to the agreement advises the other by written request to terminate or modify the agreement. G. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries Director, Defense Privacy Office, 1901 South Bell Street, Suite 920, Arlington, VA 22202–4512. Telephone (703) 607– 2943. [FR Doc. 05–13729 Filed 7–13–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, WilkesBarre, PA Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District announces the availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the design modifications and recreational enhancements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project at the WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania River Commons. The Final SEIS investigates the potential environmental effects of an array of alternative plans based on the conceptual riverfront plan for WilkesBarre. The preferred alternative includes the addition of two portals through the PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40691 levee, a river landing, fishing platform, and an amphitheater and stage. The Draft SEIS was released on a 45day review and comment period during August and September 2004, and a Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on August 13, 2004. Comments received on the Draft SEIS and our responses are included in the Final SEIS (Appendices G and H). DATES: A Record of Decision may be signed no sooner than 30 days after publication of the notice for this action, as stated in 40 CFR 1506.10(b)(2). ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the Final SEIS, contact Jo Ann Grundy, (410) 962–6136 or write to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn: Jo Ann Grundy, CENAB–PL–P, PO Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203–1715. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo Ann Grundy, (410) 962–6136 or (800) 295–1610. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal flood control projects along the Susquehanna River have protected communities in the Wyoming Valley of northeastern Pennsylvania since the late 1930’s. However, the June 1972, Tropical Storm Agnes struck, and the Susquehanna River overtopped the levee system in the Valley, causing severe damage in many communities. In response, in 1986 the U.S. Congress authorized raising the Wyoming Valley levee system and implementing other flood damage reduction measures. Construction of the levee raising started in the Spring of 1997 and continues. In the urbanized area of Wyoming Valley, including the City of WilkesBarre, the levee and floodwall system have created a physical, psychological and aesthetic barrier between the communities along the Susquehanna River. Through public workshops in 1999, a conceptual plan was developed for the City of Wilkes-Barre riverfront that would restore the connection between the city and the river. The plan consists of a riverfront park to be located on the riverside of the levee at downtown Wilkes-Barre, which would be accessible through two portals (i.e. gates) in the levee/floodwall system. The Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, which is the non-Federal project partner for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, requested that the conceptual riverfront plan be incorporated into the project. This request initiated a general reevaluation report and this Final SEIS to investigate the potential environmental effects to alternative plans based on the conceptual riverfront plan. E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1 40692 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 134 / Thursday, July 14, 2005 / Notices The preferred plan for the riverfront park includes two portals, a river landing, a fishing platform, and an amphitheater and stage. In addition to the features, miscellaneous recreational amenities (e.g., lights, seating areas with benches, trees/vegetation, educational kiosks, and trash receptacles) would be included. Also, the existing access road at the riverside of the levee would be paved. USACE has distributed copies of the Final SEIS to appropriate members of Congress, State and local government officials, Federal agencies, and other interested parties. Copies are also available at the following locations: (1) Osterhout Free Library, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. (2) Osterhout Free Library, South Branch, 2 Airy Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. (3) D. Leonard Corgan Library, King’s College, 14 West Jackson Street, WilkesBarre, PA 18711. You may view the Final SEIS and related information on our Web page at https://www.nab.usace.arny.mil/ publications/non-reg_pub.htm. The Final SEIS has been prepared in accordance with (1) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), and (3) USACE regulations implementing NEPA (ER–200–2–2). Jo Ann Grundy, Biologist. [FR Doc. 05–13855 Filed 7–13–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–41–M DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Dredged Material Management Plan for the Calcasieu River and Pass, Louisiana, Federal Navigation Channel Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District (CEMVN) is initiating this draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) under the authority of the Rivers and Harbors Act of July 24, 1946 (House Document 190, 79th Congress, 2nd Session) and prior Rivers and Harbors acts; the Rivers and VerDate jul<14>2003 18:32 Jul 13, 2005 Jkt 205001 Harbors Act of July 14, 1960 (House Document 436, 86th Congress, 2nd Session); the Rivers and Harbors Act of October 23, 1962 (House Document 582, 87th Congress, 2nd Session); the Senate Public Works committee on December 27, 1970, and the House Public Works committee on December 15, 1970, under the provisions of Section 201 of the Flood Control Act of 1965 (Pub. L. 89– 298; S.D. 91–111); and Section 107 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1960, as amended by Section 310 and Section 112 of the Rivers and Harbors Acts of 1965 and 1970, respectively, to investigate dredged material placement for the next 20 years of maintenance dredging of the Calcasieu and River and Pass, LA. The Calcasieu River and Pass, LA project does not have adequate dredged material disposal areas for the long-term maintenance of the project. Existing disposal sites are at or near capacity, and some disposal sites have been substantially eroded into adjacent water bodies. Other disposal areas have been lost to commercial developments. As a result, remaining disposal areas cannot accommodate the volume of dredged material needed to maintain the Calcasieu River and Pass, LA navigation channel to project-authorized dimensions, and CEMVN has been forced to reduce channel dimensions in some reaches. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this DEIS should be addressed to Mr. Casey Rowe at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM–RP, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160– 0267, phone (504) 862–1583, fax number (504) 862–2572 or by e-mail at Casey.J.Rowe@mvn02.usace.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Proposed Action. The overall goal of the dredged material management plan is to investigate and develop a long-term management plan to maintain, in an economically and environmentally sound manner, the Federally authorized channel dimensions, and maximize the use of the dredged material as a beneficial resource. 2. Alternatives. A number of alternative dredged material disposal sites will be investigated for the Calcasieu River and Pass, LA project, as well as feasible alternatives to maximize the capacity of existing dredged material disposal areas along the channel. 3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of alternatives and significant issues to be addressed in the DSEIS. For this analysis, a letter will be sent to all parties believed to have an interest in the analysis, requesting their input on alternative disposal sites and PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 issues to be evaluated. The letter will also notify interested parties of public scoping meetings that will be held in the local area. Notices will also be sent to local news media. All interested parties are invited to comment at this time, and anyone interested in this study should request to be included in the study mailing list. Two public scoping meetings will be held in July 2005, in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes. Depending on public interest, and if further public coordination is warranted, additional meetings may be scheduled. 4. Significant Issues. The tentative list of resources and issues to be evaluated in the DSEIS include essential fish habitat, wetlands, aquatic resources, commercial and recreational fisheries, wildlife resources, water quality, air quality, threatened and endangered species, recreation resources, and cultural resources. Socioeconomic impacts will also be evaluated in the DSEIS, including navigation as well as potential noise impacts. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be assisting in the documentation of existing conditions and assessment of effects of project alternative through Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act consultation procedures. The USFWS will also provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act report. The CEMVN will consult with the USFWS and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat. The CEMVN will coordinate with the Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The CEMVN will coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources regarding consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will review the action for consistency with applicable laws regarding the discharge of dredged material as it relates to impacting water quality and will provide the State of Louisiana Water Quality Certification. Coordination may also occur with the following agencies for evaluation of impacts to significant resources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals Management Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Geologic Survey, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Estimated Date of Availability. Funding levels and time constraints will dictate the date when the DSEIS will be available for review. The earliest date E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40691-40692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13855]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Wyoming 
Valley Levee Raising Project, Wilkes-Barre, PA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District 
announces the availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS) for the design modifications and recreational 
enhancements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project at the Wilkes-
Barre, Pennsylvania River Commons. The Final SEIS investigates the 
potential environmental effects of an array of alternative plans based 
on the conceptual riverfront plan for Wilkes-Barre. The preferred 
alternative includes the addition of two portals through the levee, a 
river landing, fishing platform, and an amphitheater and stage.
    The Draft SEIS was released on a 45-day review and comment period 
during August and September 2004, and a Notice of Availability was 
published in the Federal Register under the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency on August 13, 2004. Comments received on the Draft 
SEIS and our responses are included in the Final SEIS (Appendices G and 
H).

DATES: A Record of Decision may be signed no sooner than 30 days after 
publication of the notice for this action, as stated in 40 CFR 
1506.10(b)(2).

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the Final SEIS, contact Jo Ann Grundy, 
(410) 962-6136 or write to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore 
District, Attn: Jo Ann Grundy, CENAB-PL-P, PO Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 
21203-1715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo Ann Grundy, (410) 962-6136 or (800) 
295-1610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal flood control projects along the 
Susquehanna River have protected communities in the Wyoming Valley of 
northeastern Pennsylvania since the late 1930's. However, the June 
1972, Tropical Storm Agnes struck, and the Susquehanna River overtopped 
the levee system in the Valley, causing severe damage in many 
communities. In response, in 1986 the U.S. Congress authorized raising 
the Wyoming Valley levee system and implementing other flood damage 
reduction measures. Construction of the levee raising started in the 
Spring of 1997 and continues.
    In the urbanized area of Wyoming Valley, including the City of 
Wilkes-Barre, the levee and floodwall system have created a physical, 
psychological and aesthetic barrier between the communities along the 
Susquehanna River. Through public workshops in 1999, a conceptual plan 
was developed for the City of Wilkes-Barre riverfront that would 
restore the connection between the city and the river. The plan 
consists of a riverfront park to be located on the riverside of the 
levee at downtown Wilkes-Barre, which would be accessible through two 
portals (i.e. gates) in the levee/floodwall system. The Luzerne County 
Flood Protection Authority, which is the non-Federal project partner 
for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, requested that the 
conceptual riverfront plan be incorporated into the project. This 
request initiated a general reevaluation report and this Final SEIS to 
investigate the potential environmental effects to alternative plans 
based on the conceptual riverfront plan.

[[Page 40692]]

    The preferred plan for the riverfront park includes two portals, a 
river landing, a fishing platform, and an amphitheater and stage. In 
addition to the features, miscellaneous recreational amenities (e.g., 
lights, seating areas with benches, trees/vegetation, educational 
kiosks, and trash receptacles) would be included. Also, the existing 
access road at the riverside of the levee would be paved.
    USACE has distributed copies of the Final SEIS to appropriate 
members of Congress, State and local government officials, Federal 
agencies, and other interested parties. Copies are also available at 
the following locations:
    (1) Osterhout Free Library, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, 
PA 18701.
    (2) Osterhout Free Library, South Branch, 2 Airy Street, Wilkes-
Barre, PA 18702.
    (3) D. Leonard Corgan Library, King's College, 14 West Jackson 
Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
    You may view the Final SEIS and related information on our Web page 
at https://www.nab.usace.arny.mil/publications/non-reg_pub.htm.
    The Final SEIS has been prepared in accordance with (1) The 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality 
for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and (3) USACE regulations implementing NEPA (ER-200-2-2).

Jo Ann Grundy,
Biologist.
[FR Doc. 05-13855 Filed 7-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M

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