Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Pine Mountain Dam, Arkansas, General Reevaluation Report, 48934 [E9-23172]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
• Engineers Corps
• Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 48934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23172]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Pine 
Mountain Dam, Arkansas, General Reevaluation Report

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 (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Little Rock District will prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Pine Mountain Dam, 
Arkansas, General Reevaluation Report.
    The purpose of the EIS will be to present alternatives and assess 
the impacts to the human environment associated with providing water 
supply to the surrounding areas in Arkansas from the proposed project. 
The study area includes the entire Lee Creek watershed together with 
the lower Lee Creek reservoir near Van Buren, AR. The proposed project 
could affect agriculture, recreation, flood control, water supply and 
natural resources within the study area.
    The EIS will evaluate potential impacts (positive and negative) to 
the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of 
implementing any of the proposed project alternatives that may be 
developed during the EIS process.
    This notice replaces a Notice of Intent (NOI) that was previously 
published in the Federal Register on May 1, 2006 (71 FR 25573) which 
included flood control as part of the project purpose. Flood control is 
no longer being considered as a project purpose.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments concerning the proposed action should 
be addressed to: Ms. Laura Cameron, USACE, Little Rock District, 
Planning and Environmental Office, PO Box 867, Little Rock, AR 72203-
0867, e-mail: laura.l.cameron@usace.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Laura Cameron, (501) 324-5037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Study History: The Pine Mountain Dam project was authorized for 
construction by Congress in 1965. Additional studies and a preliminary 
draft EIS were prepared in the 1970s. In 1980, prior to public review 
of the EIS, the local sponsor decided not to continue sponsoring the 
project. In 2000, the River Valley Regional Water District identified 
themselves as a willing sponsor and requested that the Corps of 
Engineers reevaluate the project. The proposed Pine Mountain Dam, 
Arkansas, General Reevaluation Report is being undertaken by USACE, 
Little Rock District under the direction of the U.S. Congress. A study 
will be conducted consisting of major hydraulics and hydrologic 
investigations, economic analyses, alternative development and related 
analyses in conjunction with the EIS.
    2. Comments/Scoping Meeting: Interested parties are requested to 
express their views concerning the proposed activity. The public is 
encouraged to provide written comments in addition to or in lieu of 
oral comments at scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments 
should clearly describe specific environmental topics or issues, which 
the commentator believes the document should address. Oral and written 
comments receive equal consideration.
    Scoping meetings will be held with government agencies and the 
public in October 2009 in Crawford and Pulaski Counties, AR. The 
location, time, and date will be published at least 14 days prior to 
each scoping meeting. Comments received as a result of this notice and 
the news releases will be used to assist Little Rock District in 
identifying potential impacts to the quality of the human or natural 
environment. Affected local, state, or Federal agencies, affected 
Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations and parties 
may participate in the scoping process by forwarding written comments 
to (see ADDRESSES). Interested parties may also request to be included 
on the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements 
and documents.
    4. Alternatives/Issues: The EIS will evaluate the effects of all 
viable water supply alternatives including the construction of the Pine 
Mountain Dam and Lake, which was authorized by Congress in 1965. 
Anticipated significant issues to be addressed in the EIS include 
impacts on: (1) Water supply, (2) recreation and recreation facilities, 
(3) stream hydraulics, (4) fish and wildlife resources and habitats, 
and (6) other impacts identified by the public, agencies or USACE 
studies.
    5. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is anticipated to 
be available for public review in early 2013 subject to the receipt of 
Federal funding.
    6. Authority: Pine Mountain Dam and Lake was authorized for 
construction by the Flood Control Act of 1965 (Title II, Pub. L. 89-
298) substantially in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief 
of Engineers in House Document No. 270, 89th Congress.

Donald E. Jackson, Jr.,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander.
[FR Doc. E9-23172 Filed 9-24-09; 8:45 am]
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