Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Foothills West Transportation Access Project, 29218-29219 [2011-12371]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
29218
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 98 / Friday, May 20, 2011 / Notices
However, the exact number of acres
needed to be constructed and
maintained is uncertain at this time.
Based on the analysis in the PEIS, the
impacts of the larger alternatives (3, 2
and 1) are deemed to be moderate to
high. The Corps has chosen a maximum
construction ceiling of Alternative 3.5
(4,370 acres) at this time. Impacts of
lesser alternatives (3.5, 4 and 5) are
deemed to be moderate to low. This
checkpoint of Alternative 3.5 is
proposed because it represents a
midrange of habitat available at a time
when the birds were productive
(biological metric), and it is anticipated
that a positive, sustainable biological
response will be met before fully
implementing up to Alternative 3.5. If
Alternative 3.5 is fully implemented
and the birds are not meeting biological
metrics, the Corps can consider
continuing to higher acreage alternatives
or look at other methodologies.
Appropriate coordination and
disclosure would be pursued if
Alternative 3.5 was exceeded (potential
amended Record of Decision or
additional NEPA).
2. Document Availability. The
Emergent Sandbar Habitat Programmatic
EIS is available online at https://
www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/MRRP_
PUB_DEV.download_documentation_
peis, or see the ADDRESSES section. For
more information about the Emergent
Sandbar Habitat program, please visit
https://www.moriverrecovery.org under
‘‘BiOp/Mit Efforts.’’
[FR Doc. 2011–12511 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Availability of a Final Environmental
Impact Statement To Consider
Issuance of a Department of the Army
Permit Pursuant to Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act for the Sabine Mining
Company’s Proposal To Construct,
Operate, and Reclaim the Rusk Permit
Area, Rusk, Panola, and Harrison
Counties, TX (USACE Project No.
SWF–2007–00560)
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:22 May 19, 2011
Jkt 223001
Submit comments no later than
60 days from the date of publication of
this notice.
DATES:
Send written comments and
suggestions concerning this proposal to
Mr. Darvin Messer, Regulatory Project
Manager, Regulatory Branch, CESWF–
PER–R, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300,
Fort Worth, TX 76102–0300 or via email: Darvin.Messer@usace.army.mil.
Requests to be placed on the mailing
list should also be sent to this address.
Please reference USACE Project No.
SWF–2007–00560.
ADDRESSES:
Copies of the FEIS are also available
for inspection at the locations identified
below:
(1) Tatum Public Library, 335 Hood
Street, Tatum, TX 75691.
(2) Sammie Brown Library, 522 West
College Street, Carthage, TX 75633.
(3) Longview Public Library, 222 West
Cotton Street, Longview, TX 75601.
(4) Rusk County Library, 106 East
Main St., Henderson, TX 75652.
(5) Marshall Public Library, 300 South
Alamo Boulevard, Marshall, TX 75670.
(6) Henderson City Hall, 400 West
Main Street, Henderson, TX 75652.
(7) Tatum City Hall, 680 Crystal
Farms Road, Tatum, TX 75691.
(8) Longview City Hall, 300 West
Cotton Street, Longview, TX 75601.
(9) Carthage City Hall, 812 West
Panola Street, Carthage, TX 75633.
(10) Marshall City Hall, 401 South
Alamo Boulevard, Marshall, TX 75785.
After the public comment period
ends, the USACE will consider all
comments received, revise the FEIS as
appropriate, and issue a Final
Environmental Impact Statement.
Stephen L Brooks,
Chief, Regulatory Branch.
[FR Doc. 2011–12512 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
Mr.
Darvin Messer, Regulatory Project
Manager at (817) 886–1744 or via email: Darvin.Messer@usace.army.mil.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Discharges
of fill material into waters of the United
States are regulated under Section 404
of the Clean Water Act, with the
permitting responsibility administered
by the USACE. The proposed project
must also address environmental
impacts relative to the Clean Air Act,
Clean Water Act, Endangered Species
Act and the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (FWCA). In
accordance with the NEPA, the FEIS
evaluates practicable alternatives for the
USACE’s decision making process. As
required by NEPA, the USACE also
analyzes the ‘‘no action’’ alternative as a
baseline for gauging potential impacts.
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska
Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities Foothills West
Transportation Access Project
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: May 9, 2011.
Kayla Eckert Uptmor,
Chief Planning Branch, Omaha District.
SUMMARY:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Fort Worth District has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
This FEIS evaluates project alternatives
and potential impacts to the natural,
physical and human environment as a
result of the Sabine Mining Company’s
proposal to construct, operate and
reclaim the Rusk Permit Area. The
USACE regulates this proposed project
pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act. The proposed
activity would involve the discharge of
dredged and fill material into waters of
the United States associated with the
proposed construction, operation and
reclamation of the Rusk Permit Area.
Written comments should be sent to
Mr. Darvin Messer (see ADDRESSES). The
comments are due no later than 60 days
from the date of publication of this
notice. Copies of the FEIS may be
obtained by contacting USACE Fort
Worth District Regulatory Branch at
(817) 886–1731 or downloaded/printed
from the Fort Worth District USACE
Internet Web site at: https://
www.swf.usace.army.mil/pubdata/
environ/regulatory/permitting/rusk.asp.
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
The Alaska District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
intends to prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
to identify and analyze the potential
impacts associated with the proposed
Foothills West Transportation Access
Project (Foothills Project). The Corps is
the lead Federal agency; the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) and the
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
(ADNR) are participating as cooperating
agencies in the DEIS development
process. The Corps will be evaluating a
permit application for work under
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act. The Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will be used as a basis
for the permit decision and to ensure
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 98 / Friday, May 20, 2011 / Notices
compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action
and the DEIS can be answered by: Ms.
Melissa Riordan, Regulatory Division,
telephone: (907) 474–2166, or mail: U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, CEPOA–RD,
2175 University Avenue, Suite 201(E),
Fairbanks, AK 99709–4927. You may
also request to be added to the mailing
list and find additional information at
the following Web site: https://
www.foothillswesteis.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. The Department
of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOT&PF) is proposing to construct an
all-season transportation access road
from the Dalton Highway to Umiat, to
increase access to potential oil and gas
resources for exploration and
development along the northwestern
foothills of the Brooks Range, and
within the National Petroleum
Reserve—Alaska (NPR–A). The project
is considered an important investment
by the State of Alaska to further oil and
gas resource exploration and
development opportunities to benefit
Alaska’s economy.
The proposed Foothills Project area is
within the North Slope Foothills
Areawide Oil and Gas Lease Sale Area
between the Dalton Highway and Umiat.
The project area is within the North
Slope Borough; south of the Umiat
baseline (principal east-west line
dividing survey townships 1 north and
1 south of the Umiat Quadrangle,
Alaska), west of the Dalton Highway,
north of the Gates of the Arctic National
Park and Preserve, and east of the
National Petroleum Reserve—Alaska.
Construction components of this
project would include an all-season
gravel road, associated bridges and other
crossing structures (i.e., culverts), pullouts, maintenance facilities, temporary
construction camps, and material sites.
The road would be designed to safely
accommodate industrial traffic in arctic
conditions. Although the road may be
closed to the public during periods of
exploration, development and
production activities, the road may
eventually be open to the general
public. Depending upon the final route
alignment, there could be up to six
major river crossings. These are the
Anaktuvuk, Chandler, Colville, Itkillik,
Kuparuk, and Toolik rivers. Bridges and
other crossing structures would be
designed to accommodate industrial
activities and weight loads associated
with oil and gas pipelines. While
subsequent efforts by industry to
develop infrastructure such as oil and
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:22 May 19, 2011
Jkt 223001
gas pipelines and their associated
components are reasonably foreseeable,
these elements are not proposed by this
action.
2. Alternatives. A reasonable range of
alternatives will be identified and
evaluated through scoping and the EIS
process. The DOT&PF has identified
several possible road corridors between
the Dalton Highway and Umiat within
the Foothills Project area, including a
preferred corridor that goes from
Galbraith Lake at milepost 278 on the
Dalton Highway and heads in a
northerly, and then northwesterly, route
to Umiat. The intent of the DOT&PF is
to identify a feasible corridor that
concurrently accesses areas with high
oil and gas potential, minimizes the
distance between the road corridor and
likely exploration areas, and traverses as
much state land as possible. One or
more corridors will be identified
through scoping. Within the corridor(s),
additional analysis would be conducted
to determine optimal road alignments
and river crossing locations.
3. Scoping Process. The scoping
period will begin on May 20, 2011 and
end on July 5, 2011.
a. Public involvement. The Corps
invites full public participation to
promote open communication on the
issues to be addressed regarding the
proposed action. All Federal, state,
Tribal, and local agencies, and other
interested persons or organizations with
an interest are urged to participate in
the NEPA scoping process. Scoping
meetings will be held to receive public
input on the development of proposed
alternatives to be reviewed in the EIS,
and to identify significant issues to be
analyzed.
b. Scoping meetings. The Corps plans
to hold scoping meetings in Anaktuvuk
Pass, Anchorage, Barrow, Fairbanks,
and Nuiqsut. Information about these
meetings and meeting dates will be
published locally, posted at https://
www.foothillswesteis.com, or available
by contacting the Corps as described
above. A description of the proposed
project will be posted on the project
Web site prior to these meetings to help
the public focus their scoping
comments.
4. Major Issues To Be Analyzed in the
DEIS. The DEIS will analyze the
potential social, economic, physical,
and biological impacts on the affected
areas. The following major issues will
be analyzed in depth in the DEIS: road
construction and operation and its effect
on the surrounding communities; water
resources; fish and wildlife; cultural and
subsistence resources; hazardous
materials; human health;
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29219
socioeconomics; and secondary and
cumulative impacts.
5. Other Environmental Review and
Consultation Requirements. Other
environmental review and consultation
requirements include: Magnuson
Stevens Act for Essential Fish Habitat
identification, Executive Order 13175
Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments; Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act
of 1966; Section 9 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899; and subsistence
uses in accordance with Section 810 of
the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA).
6. Land Ownership. The lands within
the Foothills Project area are mostly
state lands, but also include Federal
lands administered by the BLM, Arctic
Slope Regional Corporation lands, and
private lands.
7. Estimated Date DEIS Available to
Public. It is anticipated that the DEIS
will be available June 2012 for public
review.
Dated: May 5, 2011.
Melissa C. Riordan,
Project Manager, Alaska District, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2011–12371 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection Requests
Department of Education.
Comment Request.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Education
(the Department), in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)),
provides the general public and Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on proposed and continuing
collections of information. This helps
the Department assess the impact of its
information collection requirements and
minimize the reporting burden on the
public and helps the public understand
the Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. The Director,
Information Collection Clearance
Division, Privacy, Information and
Records Management Services, Office of
Management, invites comments on the
proposed information collection
requests as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before July 19,
2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding burden
and/or the collection activity
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29218-29219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12371]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Foothills West
Transportation Access Project
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to
identify and analyze the potential impacts associated with the proposed
Foothills West Transportation Access Project (Foothills Project). The
Corps is the lead Federal agency; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) are participating
as cooperating agencies in the DEIS development process. The Corps will
be evaluating a permit application for work under Section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be used as a basis for
the permit decision and to ensure
[[Page 29219]]
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and the DEIS can be answered by: Ms. Melissa Riordan, Regulatory
Division, telephone: (907) 474-2166, or mail: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, CEPOA-RD, 2175 University Avenue, Suite 201(E), Fairbanks,
AK 99709-4927. You may also request to be added to the mailing list and
find additional information at the following Web site: https://www.foothillswesteis.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. The Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOT&PF) is proposing to construct an all-season
transportation access road from the Dalton Highway to Umiat, to
increase access to potential oil and gas resources for exploration and
development along the northwestern foothills of the Brooks Range, and
within the National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska (NPR-A). The project is
considered an important investment by the State of Alaska to further
oil and gas resource exploration and development opportunities to
benefit Alaska's economy.
The proposed Foothills Project area is within the North Slope
Foothills Areawide Oil and Gas Lease Sale Area between the Dalton
Highway and Umiat. The project area is within the North Slope Borough;
south of the Umiat baseline (principal east-west line dividing survey
townships 1 north and 1 south of the Umiat Quadrangle, Alaska), west of
the Dalton Highway, north of the Gates of the Arctic National Park and
Preserve, and east of the National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska.
Construction components of this project would include an all-season
gravel road, associated bridges and other crossing structures (i.e.,
culverts), pull-outs, maintenance facilities, temporary construction
camps, and material sites. The road would be designed to safely
accommodate industrial traffic in arctic conditions. Although the road
may be closed to the public during periods of exploration, development
and production activities, the road may eventually be open to the
general public. Depending upon the final route alignment, there could
be up to six major river crossings. These are the Anaktuvuk, Chandler,
Colville, Itkillik, Kuparuk, and Toolik rivers. Bridges and other
crossing structures would be designed to accommodate industrial
activities and weight loads associated with oil and gas pipelines.
While subsequent efforts by industry to develop infrastructure such as
oil and gas pipelines and their associated components are reasonably
foreseeable, these elements are not proposed by this action.
2. Alternatives. A reasonable range of alternatives will be
identified and evaluated through scoping and the EIS process. The
DOT&PF has identified several possible road corridors between the
Dalton Highway and Umiat within the Foothills Project area, including a
preferred corridor that goes from Galbraith Lake at milepost 278 on the
Dalton Highway and heads in a northerly, and then northwesterly, route
to Umiat. The intent of the DOT&PF is to identify a feasible corridor
that concurrently accesses areas with high oil and gas potential,
minimizes the distance between the road corridor and likely exploration
areas, and traverses as much state land as possible. One or more
corridors will be identified through scoping. Within the corridor(s),
additional analysis would be conducted to determine optimal road
alignments and river crossing locations.
3. Scoping Process. The scoping period will begin on May 20, 2011
and end on July 5, 2011.
a. Public involvement. The Corps invites full public participation
to promote open communication on the issues to be addressed regarding
the proposed action. All Federal, state, Tribal, and local agencies,
and other interested persons or organizations with an interest are
urged to participate in the NEPA scoping process. Scoping meetings will
be held to receive public input on the development of proposed
alternatives to be reviewed in the EIS, and to identify significant
issues to be analyzed.
b. Scoping meetings. The Corps plans to hold scoping meetings in
Anaktuvuk Pass, Anchorage, Barrow, Fairbanks, and Nuiqsut. Information
about these meetings and meeting dates will be published locally,
posted at https://www.foothillswesteis.com, or available by contacting
the Corps as described above. A description of the proposed project
will be posted on the project Web site prior to these meetings to help
the public focus their scoping comments.
4. Major Issues To Be Analyzed in the DEIS. The DEIS will analyze
the potential social, economic, physical, and biological impacts on the
affected areas. The following major issues will be analyzed in depth in
the DEIS: road construction and operation and its effect on the
surrounding communities; water resources; fish and wildlife; cultural
and subsistence resources; hazardous materials; human health;
socioeconomics; and secondary and cumulative impacts.
5. Other Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements. Other
environmental review and consultation requirements include: Magnuson
Stevens Act for Essential Fish Habitat identification, Executive Order
13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments;
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966; Section
9 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899; and subsistence uses in
accordance with Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA).
6. Land Ownership. The lands within the Foothills Project area are
mostly state lands, but also include Federal lands administered by the
BLM, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation lands, and private lands.
7. Estimated Date DEIS Available to Public. It is anticipated that
the DEIS will be available June 2012 for public review.
Dated: May 5, 2011.
Melissa C. Riordan,
Project Manager, Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2011-12371 Filed 5-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
