Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Initiate the Public Scoping Period and Host Public Scoping Meetings for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (“GLMRIS”), 69983-69985 [2010-28824]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69983-69985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28824]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS), Initiate the Public Scoping Period and Host Public 
Scoping Meetings for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin 
Study (``GLMRIS'')

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Chicago District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
announces its intent to (1) prepare a Draft EIS, (2) accept public 
comments and (3) host a public scoping meeting in Chicago for GLMRIS.
    In collaboration with other Federal, State, and local agencies as 
well as non-governmental entities, USACE is conducting a feasibility 
study of the options and technologies that could be applied to prevent 
or reduce the risk of

[[Page 69984]]

aquatic nuisance species (ANS) transfer between the Great Lakes and 
Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways.

DATES: The NEPA scoping period ends on February 28, 2011. The first 
NEPA Public Scoping meeting for GLMRIS is scheduled for December 15, 
2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Please refer to the ``Scoping and Public 
Involvement'' section below for information regarding the public 
scoping meeting and for instructions on how to submit public comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about GLMRIS, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Project 
Manager, Mr. David Wethington, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 111 N. 
Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606-7206, or by e-mail: 
david.m.wethington@usace.army.mil.
    For media inquiries, please contact the USACE, Chicago District, 
Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Lynne Whelan, by mail: USACE, Chicago 
District, 111 N. Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606-7206, by phone: 
312.846.5330 or by e-mail: lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background. An aquatic nuisance species (ANS) is a nonindigenous 
species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or 
the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, 
agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on such 
waters. See 16 U.S.C. 4702(1) (2010).
    As a result of international commerce, travel and local practices, 
ANS have been introduced throughout the Mississippi River and Great 
Lakes Basins. These two basins are connected by man-made channels that, 
in the past, exhibited poor water quality, which was an impediment to 
the transfer of organisms between the basins. Now that water quality 
has improved, these canals allow the transfer of both indigenous and 
nonindigenous invasive species.
    In collaboration with other Federal and State agencies, local 
governments and non-governmental organizations, USACE is conducting 
this feasibility study. For GLMRIS, USACE will explore options and 
technologies, collectively known as ANS controls, that could be applied 
to prevent or reduce the risk of ANS transfer between the basins 
through aquatic pathways. Potential ANS controls may include, but are 
not limited to, hydrologic separation of the basins, waterway 
modifications, selective barriers, etc.
    USACE will conduct a comprehensive analysis of ANS controls and 
will analyze the effects an ANS control or combination of ANS controls 
may have on current uses of: (1) The Chicago Area Waterway System 
(CAWS), the only known continuous aquatic pathway between the Great 
Lakes and Mississippi River Basins; and (2) other aquatic pathways 
between these basins. For the CAWS, current waterway uses include, but 
are not limited to: Flood risk management; commercial and recreational 
navigation; recreation; water supply; hydropower; and conveyance of 
effluent from wastewater treatment plants and other industries. 
Additionally, this study will identify mitigation measures or 
alternative facilities necessary to offset and address impacted 
waterway uses and current significant natural resources.
    GLMRIS will be conducted in accordance with NEPA and with the 
Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and 
Related Land Resource Implementation Studies, Water Resources Council, 
March 10, 1983.
    2. Scoping and Public Involvement. USACE will accept comments 
related to GLMRIS until February 28, 2011. Note, USACE will only 
consider comments that disclose the first name, last name and zip code 
of the commenter.
    All forms of comments received during the scoping period will be 
weighted equally. Using input obtained during the scoping period, USACE 
will refine the scope of GLMRIS to focus on significant issues, as well 
as eliminate issues that are not significant from further detailed 
study.
    Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
     GLMRIS project Web site: Use the web comment function 
found at https://glmris.anl.gov;
     NEPA Scoping Meeting: USACE is hosting scoping meetings 
and asks those who want to make oral comments to register on the GLMRIS 
project Web site at https://glmris.anl.gov. Each individual wishing to 
make oral comments shall be given three (3) minutes, and a stenographer 
will document oral comments;
     Mail: Mail written comments to GLMRIS Scoping, 111 N. 
Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60611-3416. Comments must be postmarked 
by February 28, 2011; and
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the 
Chicago District, USACE office located at 111 N. Canal, Suite 600, 
Chicago, IL 60611-3416 between 8 a.m.and 4:30 p.m. Comments must be 
received by February 28, 2011.
    At the scoping meetings, USACE will provide informational materials 
about the study's authorities and USACE study process. The meetings 
will begin with a brief presentation regarding the study followed by an 
oral comment period. During the meeting, USACE will also collect 
written comments on comment cards and computer terminals.
    The first public scoping meeting is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 7 
p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, 2011 at the Gleacher Center, located at 
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL 60611. Please see the 
GLMRIS project Web site at https://glmris.anl.gov for more information 
regarding the meeting and if you wish to make an oral comment.
    USACE is scheduling additional scoping meetings in other cities. 
Specific locations and dates of these meetings will be announced in a 
subsequent Federal Register notice, the GLMRIS project Web site, 
electronic media and news releases. For more information on NEPA 
scoping and study information, please visit the GLMRIS project Web site 
at https://glmris.anl.gov.
    Comments received during the scoping period will be posted on the 
GLMRIS project Web site and will become a part of the EIS. You may 
indicate that you do not wish to have your name or other personal 
information made available on the Web site. However, USACE cannot 
guarantee that information withheld from the Web site will be 
maintained as confidential. Requests for disclosure of collected 
information will be handled through the Freedom of Information Act. 
Comments and information, including the identity of the submitter, may 
be disclosed, reproduced, and distributed. Submissions should not 
include any information that the submitter seeks to preserve as 
confidential.
    If you require assistance under the Americans with Disabilities 
Act, please contact Ms. Lynne Whelan via e-mail at 
lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil or phone at (312) 846-5330 at least seven 
(7) working days prior to the meeting to request arrangements.
    3. Significant Issues. Issues associated with the proposed study 
are likely to include, but will not be limited to: Significant natural 
resources such as ecosystems and threatened and endangered species, 
commercial and recreational fisheries; current recreational uses of the 
lakes and waterways; ANS effects on water users; effects of potential 
ANS controls on current waterway uses such as flood risk management, 
commercial and recreational navigation, recreation, water supply, 
hydropower and conveyance of effluent from wastewater

[[Page 69985]]

treatment plants and other industries; and statutory and legal 
responsibilities relative to the lakes and waterways.
    4. Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. 
Availability of the Draft EIS is contingent upon sufficient allocation 
of funding for the study. Draft EIS availability will be announced to 
the public in the Federal Register in compliance with 40 CFR 1506.9 and 
1506.10.
    5. Authority. This action is being undertaken pursuant to the Water 
Resources and Development Act of 2007, Section 3061, Public Law 110-
114, 121 STAT. 1121, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended.

    Dated: November 8, 2010.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief Planning Branch, Chicago District, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2010-28824 Filed 11-15-10; 8:45 am]
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