National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, DC; Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed West Potomac Park Levee Project, 50987-50988 [E9-23550]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 190 / Friday, October 2, 2009 / Notices
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Edward W. Shepard,
State Director, Oregon/Washington BLM.
[FR Doc. E9–23678 Filed 10–1–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
National Mall and Memorial Parks,
Washington, DC; Notice of Availability
of a Finding of No Significant Impact
for the Proposed West Potomac Park
Levee Project
pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: Department of the Interior,
National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a
Finding of No Significant Impact.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
National Park Service (NPS) NEPA
guidelines, NPS prepared and, from
January 30 to March 2, 2009, made
available for a 30-day public review an
Environmental Assessment (EA)
evaluating the potential impacts of
proposed improvements to the existing
West Potomac Park Levee System which
extends from 23rd Street, NW., to the
grounds of the Washington Monument
in Washington, DC. The goal of this
project is to improve the reliability of
the existing levee in order to meet the
current post-Hurricane Katrina
standards for flood protection as
required by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). The existing levee protects
much of the monumental core and large
portions of downtown Washington, DC.
After the end of the 30-day public
review period, the NPS selected for
implementation, the preferred
alternative as described in the EA, and
determined it will not have a significant
impact on the quality of the human
environment and that an Environmental
Impact Statement is not required. In
making that selection and
determination, the NPS considered the
information and analysis contained in
the EA and the comments received
during the public review period. The
NPS has accordingly prepared a Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
proposed West Potomac Park Levee
Project. The FONSI is also accompanied
by an errata sheet that corrected some
minor inaccuracies and updated some
information. The errata did not result in
any changes in the overall findings of
the EA and had no bearing on its
determination of no significant impact.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:40 Oct 01, 2009
Jkt 220001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Doug Jacobs, Deputy Associate Regional
Director for Lands, Resources and
Planning, National Capital Region,
National Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive,
SW., Washington, DC 20242, by
telephone at (202) 619–7025 or by email at doug_jacobs@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the
Potomac Park levee was constructed in
the late 1930’s, the levee system has
relied upon a temporary earthen closure
being built across 17th Street in the
event of a flood emergency. Based on
new policies since Hurricane Katrina
(33 CFR 208.10), the USACE has
deemed the temporary 17th Street
closure unreliable and consequently
gave the levee an unacceptable
inspection rating. For this reason,
FEMA’s most recently proposed 100year floodplain map for this area reflects
a 100-year flood event as if the
currently-designed 17th Street closure
did not exist (44 CFR part 67, 72 FR
54631–54635). This new mapping
would place portions of southeast and
downtown Washington, DC, including
the monumental core, within the 100year flood insurance rate zone. The
placement would require additional
flood insurance and/or costly upgrades
to comply with building standards for
those facilities that would fall within
the new 100-year floodplain. In
addition, a number of projects that are
currently in development on the
National Mall would need to be revised
and could be delayed in order to comply
with these building codes. At the
District of Columbia’s request, FEMA
agreed to delay issuance of the new
floodplain map until November, 2009,
in order to allow the District and the
NPS time to design and implement a
solution that will reliably stop a 100year flood at 17th Street, NW., and
therefore make re-mapping unnecessary.
In addition, the USACE requested that
the solution be designed in such a
manner as to allow for easy
modification to meet the higher level of
protection authorized by Congress in
1936 but never funded. The
congressionally authorized level of
protection is roughly equivalent to a
187-year storm. The District and NPS
agreed that any improvements to the
levee should be consistent with the
current authorization so that the
congressionally authorized level of
protection can ultimately be achieved
once funding is appropriated.
The EA evaluated five alternatives, all
of which incorporate a permanent
structure from Overlook Terrace in
Constitution Gardens to the west side of
17th Street and another permanent
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50987
structure on the east side of 17th Street
which extends into the natural rise of
the Washington Monument Grounds.
The intervening space across 17th Street
will have footings designed to receive a
temporary post and panel closure
system that would be deployed only
during a major flood event. The
permanent structures on either side of
17th Street will be a combination of
earthen berms and concrete walls/
embankments which will be clad in
stone during a subsequent phase of the
project. Since full funding for the entire
project was not certain, all of the
alternatives in this EA are presented in
a phased approach.
The NPS identified Alternative 1B as
its Preferred Alternative and has
selected it for implementation. During
the completion of this EA, it became
apparent that considerable costs and
time of construction and, therefore, time
of disturbance to the National Mall and
visitors, could be avoided if the levee at
17th Street was constructed to the
higher level of protection initially, if
funding would be available. Under
Phase 1 of the alternative, a levee
closure structure will be constructed at
17th Street, approximately 253 feet
south of the centerline of Constitution
Avenue, NW. The closure structure will
consist of two symmetrical curved
concrete flood walls built to the height
of the Congressionally-authorized
solution and set back approximately 23
feet to the east and west of 17th Street.
The flood walls will require the regrading of both the northwest corner of
the Monument Grounds as well as the
eastern edge of Constitution Gardens
between the Overlook Terrace and 17th
Street. Tree planting and final
landscaping will also be completed as
the first phase of the project. In the
second phase of implementation, the
remaining visible sections of the levee
wall at 17th Street will be clad in stone
to match the historic character of the
adjacent cultural landscapes and
historic resources. The cladding will
enhance the aesthetic quality and
character of the landscape to mitigate
against adverse effects associated with
concrete walls.
Phase Two includes a pedestrian path
and additional landscaping.
Improvements to the other parts of the
Potomac Levee will also occur as part of
the second phase of implementation
since the existing conditions at 23rd
Street, NW. and the Reflecting Pool do
not meet the Congressionally-authorized
level of protection. At the southwest
corner of 23rd Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW., portions of the site will
be re-graded and raised by
approximately one to two feet. Along
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
02OCN1
50988
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 190 / Friday, October 2, 2009 / Notices
the levee that runs parallel to the
Reflecting Pool, several hundred feet of
low spots will be filled to bring the
height of the levee to the
Congressionally-authorized level of
protection.
This alternative will be further
developed into preliminary and final
designs which will be subject to
additional review by the National Park
Service, the National Capital Planning
Commission and the Commission of
Fine Arts.
The FONSI and other documents
related to this action are available for
review on the NPS’s Planning,
Environment, and Public Comment
(PEPC) Web site at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
projectHome.cfm?parkID=427&
projectId=22260. You may also request
a hard copy at (202) 619–7025.
Signed on July 29, 2009.
Margaret O’dell,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. E9–23550 Filed 10–1–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAN00000.L18200000.ZX0000]
Notice of Public Meeting: Northwest
California Resource Advisory Council
pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal
Advisory Committee Act of 1972
(FACA), the U.S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) Northwest California Resource
Advisory Council will meet as indicated
below.
DATES: The meeting will be held
Thursday and Friday, October 29 and
30, 2009, in Calistoga, CA. On October
29, the council convenes at 10 a.m. at
the Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, 1006
Washington St., and departs for a field
tour to public land sites managed by the
BLM Ukiah Field Office. On October 30,
the council meeting begins at 8 a.m. in
the Conference Room of the Silver Rose
Inn, 351 Rosedale Rd. The meeting will
run until about 3 p.m. Public comments
will be accepted at 11 a.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Haug, BLM Northern California
District Manager, (530) 221–1743; or
BLM Public Affairs Officer Joseph J.
Fontana, (530) 252–5332.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:40 Oct 01, 2009
Jkt 220001
The 12member council advises the Secretary of
the Interior, through the BLM, on a
variety of planning and management
issues associated with public land
management in Northwest California. At
this meeting agenda topics include
discussion of BLM image and identity
issues, a status report on public land
equestrian projects, a status report on
land use planning, information on the
Weaverville Community Forest, a status
report on development of a north coast
Geotourism Map Guide, access to South
Cow Mountain, and an update on BLM
projects under the American
Reinvestment and Recovery Act
(ARRA). All meetings are open to the
public. Members of the public may
present written comments to the
council. Each formal council meeting
will have time allocated for public
comments. Depending on the number of
persons wishing to speak, and the time
available, the time for individual
comments may be limited. Members of
the public are welcome on field tours,
but they must provide their own
transportation and meals. Individuals
who plan to attend and need special
assistance, such as sign language
interpretation and other reasonable
accommodations, should contact the
BLM as provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: September 24, 2009.
Joseph J. Fontana,
Public Affairs Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–23760 Filed 10–1–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree
Under the Clean Air Act and the
Emergency Planning & Community
Right-To-Know Act
Notice is hereby given that on
September 23, 2009, a proposed
Stipulation of Settlement and Judgment
in United States v. Midwest Renewable
Energy, LLC, Civil Action No.
8:09CV337, was lodged with the United
States District Court for the District of
Nebraska.
In this action, the United States
sought an injunction ordering the
defendant to comply with Sections
112(r) and 113(b) of the Clean Air Act,
42 U.S.C. 7412(r) and 7413(b), and
Section 325(c) of the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-toKnow Act (‘‘EPCRA’’), 42 U.S.C.
11025(c), and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. The United
States also sought civil penalties for the
past violations of these statutes and
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regulations, arising out of Midwest
Renewable Energy’s operations at an
ethanol plant it owns and operates
Sutherland, Nebraska. Midwest
Renewable Energy (‘‘MRE’’) began
production of ethanol at the facility in
September 2004. In the stipulation, MRE
certifies that it has remedied each of the
alleged violations in the complaint and
agrees to pay a civil penalty of $10,000.
For thirty (30) days after the date of
this publication, the Department of
Justice will receive comments relating to
the Stipulation of Settlement and
Judgment. Comments should be
addressed to the Assistant Attorney
General, Environment and Natural
Resources Division, and either e-mailed
to pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov or
mailed to P.O. Box 7611, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC
20044–7611. In either case, the
comments should refer to United States
v. Midwest Renewable Energy, LLC,
Civil Action No. 8:09CV337, D.J. Ref.
No. 90–5–2–1–09275.
The stipulation may be examined at
the Office of the United States Attorney,
District of Nebraska, 1620 Dodge Street,
Suite 1400, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.
During the comment period, the
Stipulation of Settlement and Judgment
may be examined on the following
Department of Justice Web site: https://
www.usdoj.gov/enrd/
Consent_Decrees.html. A copy of the
Stipulation of Settlement and Judgment
may also be obtained by mail from the
Consent Decree Library, P.O. Box 7611,
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington,
DC 20044–7611, or by faxing or emailing a request to Tonia Fleetwood
(tonia.fleetwood@usdoj.gov), fax no.
(202) 514–0097, phone confirmation
number (202) 514–1547. In requesting a
copy from the Consent Decree Library,
please enclose a check in the amount of
$38.00 (25 cents per page reproduction
cost) payable to the United States
Treasury or, if by e-mail or fax, forward
a check in that amount to the Consent
Decree Library at the stated address.
Maureen Katz,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement
Section, Environment and Natural Resources
Division.
[FR Doc. E9–23747 Filed 10–1–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–15–P
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
02OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 190 (Friday, October 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50987-50988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23550]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, DC; Notice of
Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed
West Potomac Park Levee Project
AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
National Park Service (NPS) NEPA guidelines, NPS prepared and, from
January 30 to March 2, 2009, made available for a 30-day public review
an Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluating the potential impacts of
proposed improvements to the existing West Potomac Park Levee System
which extends from 23rd Street, NW., to the grounds of the Washington
Monument in Washington, DC. The goal of this project is to improve the
reliability of the existing levee in order to meet the current post-
Hurricane Katrina standards for flood protection as required by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). The existing levee protects much of the
monumental core and large portions of downtown Washington, DC.
After the end of the 30-day public review period, the NPS selected
for implementation, the preferred alternative as described in the EA,
and determined it will not have a significant impact on the quality of
the human environment and that an Environmental Impact Statement is not
required. In making that selection and determination, the NPS
considered the information and analysis contained in the EA and the
comments received during the public review period. The NPS has
accordingly prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
proposed West Potomac Park Levee Project. The FONSI is also accompanied
by an errata sheet that corrected some minor inaccuracies and updated
some information. The errata did not result in any changes in the
overall findings of the EA and had no bearing on its determination of
no significant impact.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Doug Jacobs, Deputy Associate
Regional Director for Lands, Resources and Planning, National Capital
Region, National Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., Washington, DC
20242, by telephone at (202) 619-7025 or by e-mail at doug_jacobs@nps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the Potomac Park levee was constructed
in the late 1930's, the levee system has relied upon a temporary
earthen closure being built across 17th Street in the event of a flood
emergency. Based on new policies since Hurricane Katrina (33 CFR
208.10), the USACE has deemed the temporary 17th Street closure
unreliable and consequently gave the levee an unacceptable inspection
rating. For this reason, FEMA's most recently proposed 100-year
floodplain map for this area reflects a 100-year flood event as if the
currently-designed 17th Street closure did not exist (44 CFR part 67,
72 FR 54631-54635). This new mapping would place portions of southeast
and downtown Washington, DC, including the monumental core, within the
100-year flood insurance rate zone. The placement would require
additional flood insurance and/or costly upgrades to comply with
building standards for those facilities that would fall within the new
100-year floodplain. In addition, a number of projects that are
currently in development on the National Mall would need to be revised
and could be delayed in order to comply with these building codes. At
the District of Columbia's request, FEMA agreed to delay issuance of
the new floodplain map until November, 2009, in order to allow the
District and the NPS time to design and implement a solution that will
reliably stop a 100-year flood at 17th Street, NW., and therefore make
re-mapping unnecessary.
In addition, the USACE requested that the solution be designed in
such a manner as to allow for easy modification to meet the higher
level of protection authorized by Congress in 1936 but never funded.
The congressionally authorized level of protection is roughly
equivalent to a 187-year storm. The District and NPS agreed that any
improvements to the levee should be consistent with the current
authorization so that the congressionally authorized level of
protection can ultimately be achieved once funding is appropriated.
The EA evaluated five alternatives, all of which incorporate a
permanent structure from Overlook Terrace in Constitution Gardens to
the west side of 17th Street and another permanent structure on the
east side of 17th Street which extends into the natural rise of the
Washington Monument Grounds. The intervening space across 17th Street
will have footings designed to receive a temporary post and panel
closure system that would be deployed only during a major flood event.
The permanent structures on either side of 17th Street will be a
combination of earthen berms and concrete walls/embankments which will
be clad in stone during a subsequent phase of the project. Since full
funding for the entire project was not certain, all of the alternatives
in this EA are presented in a phased approach.
The NPS identified Alternative 1B as its Preferred Alternative and
has selected it for implementation. During the completion of this EA,
it became apparent that considerable costs and time of construction
and, therefore, time of disturbance to the National Mall and visitors,
could be avoided if the levee at 17th Street was constructed to the
higher level of protection initially, if funding would be available.
Under Phase 1 of the alternative, a levee closure structure will be
constructed at 17th Street, approximately 253 feet south of the
centerline of Constitution Avenue, NW. The closure structure will
consist of two symmetrical curved concrete flood walls built to the
height of the Congressionally-authorized solution and set back
approximately 23 feet to the east and west of 17th Street. The flood
walls will require the re-grading of both the northwest corner of the
Monument Grounds as well as the eastern edge of Constitution Gardens
between the Overlook Terrace and 17th Street. Tree planting and final
landscaping will also be completed as the first phase of the project.
In the second phase of implementation, the remaining visible sections
of the levee wall at 17th Street will be clad in stone to match the
historic character of the adjacent cultural landscapes and historic
resources. The cladding will enhance the aesthetic quality and
character of the landscape to mitigate against adverse effects
associated with concrete walls.
Phase Two includes a pedestrian path and additional landscaping.
Improvements to the other parts of the Potomac Levee will also occur as
part of the second phase of implementation since the existing
conditions at 23rd Street, NW. and the Reflecting Pool do not meet the
Congressionally-authorized level of protection. At the southwest corner
of 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., portions of the site will
be re-graded and raised by approximately one to two feet. Along
[[Page 50988]]
the levee that runs parallel to the Reflecting Pool, several hundred
feet of low spots will be filled to bring the height of the levee to
the Congressionally-authorized level of protection.
This alternative will be further developed into preliminary and
final designs which will be subject to additional review by the
National Park Service, the National Capital Planning Commission and the
Commission of Fine Arts.
The FONSI and other documents related to this action are available
for review on the NPS's Planning, Environment, and Public Comment
(PEPC) Web site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkID=427&projectId=22260. You may also request a hard
copy at (202) 619-7025.
Signed on July 29, 2009.
Margaret O'dell,
Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. E9-23550 Filed 10-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
