Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Boise River General Investigation Feasibility Study, Ada and Canyon Counties, in the State of Idaho, 22808-22809 [2014-09321]

Download as PDF 22808 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 79 / Thursday, April 24, 2014 / Notices • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. DOD Clearance Officer: Ms. Patricia Toppings. Written requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Ms. Toppings at WHS/ESD Information Management Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. Dated: April 21, 2014. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2014–09310 Filed 4–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Boise River General Investigation Feasibility Study, Ada and Canyon Counties, in the State of Idaho Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Boise River General Investigation Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study will evaluate alternatives to reduce flood risk and meet current and future water supply needs in the lower Boise River watershed. To the extent feasible, the study will also seek to provide ancillary ecosystem restoration benefits, minimize impacts to species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), including bull trout, and minimize socioeconomic effects. The Feasibility Study will focus on the lower Boise River, a tributary to the Snake River, which is located in southwestern Idaho, primarily in Ada and Canyon Counties. The non-federal sponsor for this effort is the Idaho Water Resources Board. pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:19 Apr 23, 2014 Jkt 232001 Almost 40 percent of Idaho residents live in the Boise River watershed, with one-sixth of the State’s population residing in the floodplain. Communities and development along the Boise River have experienced repeated minor flooding, and flood risk management experts emphasize that a significant flood event with major flood damage will likely occur in the future. The Boise River watershed has recently experienced the most significant growth in the State and continuing to meet current and future water needs is a major concern for residents and state/ local officials. ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the alternatives or scope of analysis for the EIS to Mr. Tim Fleeger, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, CENWW–PM–PD–PF, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information should be directed to Mr. Tim Fleeger by phone at (509) 527–7247 or by email at BoiseGI@usace.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This study was authorized by Section 414 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106–53) as amended by Section 4038 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 100– 114). Collectively, these two acts grant the Corps authority to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of undertaking flood risk management, water supply and ecosystem restoration on the Boise River. The Idaho Water Resources Board is authorized to study solutions for water supply and flood risk management, but is not authorized to expend funds studying ecosystem restoration. Therefore, the proposed Feasibility Study is focused on reducing flood risk and meeting current and future water supply needs along the Boise River, while seeking incidental environmental benefits to the extent feasible. The Boise River is approximately 102 miles in length, is located entirely within the State of Idaho, and is one of the major tributaries to the Snake River. The lower Boise River watershed (the focus of the Feasibility Study) contains the Boise River drainage from Lucky Peak Dam to its confluence with the Snake River in southwest Idaho (roughly 64 miles). The lower Boise River floodplain encompasses primarily Ada and Canyon Counties, and includes the cities of Boise (state capital), Garden City, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Nampa, Middleton, Caldwell, Notus, and Parma. The Boise metropolitan area is the third largest in the Pacific Northwest after PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The Boise River is highly regulated. Natural flows are modified by the three Federal storage projects on the upper river which are jointly operated by the Corps (Lucky Peak Dam) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Dams) as a system for the primary purposes of flood risk reduction and irrigation water supply. Additional project facilities include Lake Lowell, an offstream storage reservoir operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, and numerous diversion canals that are federally or privately operated. Operation of the Federal reservoirs is a balancing act between reducing flood risk and having sufficient irrigation water for crops by mid-late summer. Recreation, hydropower, and general fish and wildlife functions are secondary authorized purposes. Water is not released for these purposes unless reservoir storage space is assigned for that specific purpose. A non-continuous series of non-Federal levees line the Boise River through developed areas in downtown Boise, Garden City and Eagle. A few are inspected through the Corps’ Levee Safety Program, but the majority are unregulated and not maintained. Complex, interconnected surface water and aquifer systems supply current water uses in the valley which includes irrigation and domestic, commercial, municipal, and industrial (DCMI) uses. Natural flow, stored surface water, and ground water are reused in multiple locations across the valley through a network of drains and direct discharge into the river. Surface water supplies an estimated 90 percent of the current DCMI water demand. Approximately 77 percent of the annual Boise River flow occurs as snowpack runoff during the March to July period. The Corps will evaluate alternatives for their ability to reduce flood risk and provide water supply to the region. The preliminary range of alternatives will include, but is not limited to the following: • No Action; • Modification of Arrowrock Dam to provide additional flood risk management and water supply; • Modification of Arrowrock Dam along with downstream structural modifications, non-structural measures, and modifications to existing undeveloped lands to reduce effects from localized flooding; • Manage aquifer recharge to address future water supply along with downstream structural modifications, non-structural measures, and E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 79 / Thursday, April 24, 2014 / Notices modifications to existing undeveloped lands to reduce effects from localized flooding. The Corps invites affected Federal, State, local agencies, Native American tribes and other interested organizations and individuals to participate in the development of the EIS. Public information meetings will be conducted on May 6, 2014 from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. in Garden City, Idaho at the City Hall (6015 Glenwood Street); on May 7, 2014 from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in Boise, Idaho at the Washington Group Plaza Training Room (720 Park Boulevard); on May 7, 2014 from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. in Caldwell, Idaho at the Caldwell Industrial Airport Hubler Conference Room (4814 E. Linden Street); and on May 8, 2014 from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. in Idaho City, Idaho at the Ray Robinson Community Hall (206 West Commercial Street). The Corps will provide notice to the public of additional opportunities for public input on the EIS during review periods for the draft and final EIS. Issues to be analyzed in the EIS include, but are not limited to: • Effects to ESA listed bull trout above Arrowrock Reservoir; • Effects to fisheries in the South Fork Boise River; • Effects to hydropower generation facilities at Arrowrock Reservoir; • Effects to recreation in the South Fork Boise River; • Effects to cultural resources, including to Arrowrock Dam, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in preparation of the EIS. A decision will be made in the near future whether other agencies and/or tribes will serve in an official role as cooperating agencies or joint lead agencies. The draft EIS is scheduled to be available for public review in October 2015. The final EIS is currently scheduled to be available for public review in summer 2017. Andrew D. Kelly, LTC, EN, Commanding. [FR Doc. 2014–09321 Filed 4–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED–2014–ICCD–0065] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/ Perkins) Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED). AGENCY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:19 Apr 23, 2014 Jkt 232001 ACTION: Notice. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 23, 2014. ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED–2014–ICCD–0065 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted; ED will ONLY accept comments during the comment period in this mailbox when the regulations.gov site is not available. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Mailstop L–OM–2–2E319, Room 2E105, Washington, DC 20202. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Ian Foss, 202– 377–3681. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), 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, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22809 information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/Perkins). OMB Control Number: 1845–0058. Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 30,051. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 15,027. Abstract: These forms serve as the means by which a federal student loan borrower requests a closed school, false certification, or unpaid refund discharge. The burden hours associated with this collection is increasing for one reason; mainly, that the collection is being combined with the collection with OMB Control Number 1845–0015 so that all loan discharge forms are contained in one collection with the same OMB Control Number. Dated: April 21, 2014. Stephanie Valentine, Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management. [FR Doc. 2014–09350 Filed 4–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. RD13–12–000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC–725T); Comment Request Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE. ACTION: Comment request. AGENCY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information collection FERC–725T, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Texas Reliability Entity Region, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1

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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22808-22809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09321]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Boise 
River General Investigation Feasibility Study, Ada and Canyon Counties, 
in the State of Idaho

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Boise River General 
Investigation Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study will evaluate 
alternatives to reduce flood risk and meet current and future water 
supply needs in the lower Boise River watershed. To the extent 
feasible, the study will also seek to provide ancillary ecosystem 
restoration benefits, minimize impacts to species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), including bull 
trout, and minimize socioeconomic effects. The Feasibility Study will 
focus on the lower Boise River, a tributary to the Snake River, which 
is located in southwestern Idaho, primarily in Ada and Canyon Counties. 
The non-federal sponsor for this effort is the Idaho Water Resources 
Board.
    Almost 40 percent of Idaho residents live in the Boise River 
watershed, with one-sixth of the State's population residing in the 
floodplain. Communities and development along the Boise River have 
experienced repeated minor flooding, and flood risk management experts 
emphasize that a significant flood event with major flood damage will 
likely occur in the future. The Boise River watershed has recently 
experienced the most significant growth in the State and continuing to 
meet current and future water needs is a major concern for residents 
and state/local officials.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the alternatives or scope of analysis for 
the EIS to Mr. Tim Fleeger, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Walla Walla District, CENWW-PM-PD-PF, 201 North Third 
Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information 
should be directed to Mr. Tim Fleeger by phone at (509) 527-7247 or by 
email at BoiseGI@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This study was authorized by Section 414 of 
the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-53) as amended 
by Section 4038 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 
100-114). Collectively, these two acts grant the Corps authority to 
conduct a study to determine the feasibility of undertaking flood risk 
management, water supply and ecosystem restoration on the Boise River. 
The Idaho Water Resources Board is authorized to study solutions for 
water supply and flood risk management, but is not authorized to expend 
funds studying ecosystem restoration. Therefore, the proposed 
Feasibility Study is focused on reducing flood risk and meeting current 
and future water supply needs along the Boise River, while seeking 
incidental environmental benefits to the extent feasible.
    The Boise River is approximately 102 miles in length, is located 
entirely within the State of Idaho, and is one of the major tributaries 
to the Snake River. The lower Boise River watershed (the focus of the 
Feasibility Study) contains the Boise River drainage from Lucky Peak 
Dam to its confluence with the Snake River in southwest Idaho (roughly 
64 miles). The lower Boise River floodplain encompasses primarily Ada 
and Canyon Counties, and includes the cities of Boise (state capital), 
Garden City, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Nampa, Middleton, Caldwell, Notus, 
and Parma. The Boise metropolitan area is the third largest in the 
Pacific Northwest after Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
    The Boise River is highly regulated. Natural flows are modified by 
the three Federal storage projects on the upper river which are jointly 
operated by the Corps (Lucky Peak Dam) and the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Dams) as a system for the primary 
purposes of flood risk reduction and irrigation water supply. 
Additional project facilities include Lake Lowell, an offstream storage 
reservoir operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, and numerous diversion 
canals that are federally or privately operated. Operation of the 
Federal reservoirs is a balancing act between reducing flood risk and 
having sufficient irrigation water for crops by mid-late summer. 
Recreation, hydropower, and general fish and wildlife functions are 
secondary authorized purposes. Water is not released for these purposes 
unless reservoir storage space is assigned for that specific purpose. A 
non-continuous series of non-Federal levees line the Boise River 
through developed areas in downtown Boise, Garden City and Eagle. A few 
are inspected through the Corps' Levee Safety Program, but the majority 
are unregulated and not maintained.
    Complex, interconnected surface water and aquifer systems supply 
current water uses in the valley which includes irrigation and 
domestic, commercial, municipal, and industrial (DCMI) uses. Natural 
flow, stored surface water, and ground water are reused in multiple 
locations across the valley through a network of drains and direct 
discharge into the river. Surface water supplies an estimated 90 
percent of the current DCMI water demand. Approximately 77 percent of 
the annual Boise River flow occurs as snowpack runoff during the March 
to July period.
    The Corps will evaluate alternatives for their ability to reduce 
flood risk and provide water supply to the region. The preliminary 
range of alternatives will include, but is not limited to the 
following:
     No Action;
     Modification of Arrowrock Dam to provide additional flood 
risk management and water supply;
     Modification of Arrowrock Dam along with downstream 
structural modifications, non-structural measures, and modifications to 
existing undeveloped lands to reduce effects from localized flooding;
     Manage aquifer recharge to address future water supply 
along with downstream structural modifications, non-structural 
measures, and

[[Page 22809]]

modifications to existing undeveloped lands to reduce effects from 
localized flooding.
    The Corps invites affected Federal, State, local agencies, Native 
American tribes and other interested organizations and individuals to 
participate in the development of the EIS. Public information meetings 
will be conducted on May 6, 2014 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. in Garden 
City, Idaho at the City Hall (6015 Glenwood Street); on May 7, 2014 
from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in Boise, Idaho at the Washington Group Plaza 
Training Room (720 Park Boulevard); on May 7, 2014 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 
p.m. in Caldwell, Idaho at the Caldwell Industrial Airport Hubler 
Conference Room (4814 E. Linden Street); and on May 8, 2014 from 6:00 
p.m.-8:00 p.m. in Idaho City, Idaho at the Ray Robinson Community Hall 
(206 West Commercial Street). The Corps will provide notice to the 
public of additional opportunities for public input on the EIS during 
review periods for the draft and final EIS.
    Issues to be analyzed in the EIS include, but are not limited to:
     Effects to ESA listed bull trout above Arrowrock 
Reservoir;
     Effects to fisheries in the South Fork Boise River;
     Effects to hydropower generation facilities at Arrowrock 
Reservoir;
     Effects to recreation in the South Fork Boise River;
     Effects to cultural resources, including to Arrowrock Dam, 
which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
    The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in preparation of 
the EIS. A decision will be made in the near future whether other 
agencies and/or tribes will serve in an official role as cooperating 
agencies or joint lead agencies. The draft EIS is scheduled to be 
available for public review in October 2015. The final EIS is currently 
scheduled to be available for public review in summer 2017.

Andrew D. Kelly,
LTC, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2014-09321 Filed 4-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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