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”)-Evaluation of Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls Near Brandon Road Lock and Dam: Extension of the Public Scoping Period and Announcement of an Additional Public Scoping Meeting Location, 210-211 [2014-30859]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 210 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 2015 / Notices options for locations of parking structures, and acquisition of additional space at two existing, offsite leased locations. These alternatives will be further developed during preparation of the Draft EIS as a result of public and agency input and environmental analyses of the activities. The No Action Alternative (not undertaking the East Campus Integration Program) will also be analyzed in detail. This notice of intent is required by 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1508.22 and briefly describes the Proposed Action and possible alternatives and our proposed scoping process. The EIS will comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations in 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508, and DoD Instruction 4715.9 (Environmental Planning and Analysis). Significant Issues: Environmental issues to be analyzed in the EIS will include potential impacts on air quality, noise, natural resources, water use, solid waste, hazardous materials and wastes, transportation, and cumulative impacts from increased burdens on the installation and neighboring community based on projected development. Scoping Process: Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping begins with this notice, continues through the public comment period (see DATES), and ends when the DoD has completed the following actions: —Invites the participation of Federal, State, and local agencies, any affected Indian tribes, and other interested persons; —Determines the actions, alternatives, and impacts described in 40 CFR 1508.25; —Identifies and eliminates from detailed study those issues that are not significant or that have been covered elsewhere; —Indicates any related EISs or environmental assessments (EAs) that are not part of the EIS; —Identifies other relevant environmental review and consultation requirements; —Indicates the relationship between timing of the environmental review and other aspects of the proposed program; —At its discretion, exercises the options provided in 40 CFR 1501.7(b). Once the scoping process is complete, DoD will prepare a Draft EIS, and will publish a Federal Register notice announcing its public availability. If VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:33 Jan 02, 2015 Jkt 235001 you want that notice to be sent to you, please contact the DoD Project Office point of contact identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. You will have an opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EIS. Additionally, the DoD anticipates holding a public meeting after publication of the Draft EIS in the vicinity of Fort Meade, Maryland, to present the Draft EIS and receive public comments regarding the document. The DoD will consider all comments received and then prepare the Final EIS. As with the Draft EIS, the DoD will announce the availability of the Final EIS and once again give you an opportunity for review and comment. Dated: December 19, 2014. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2014–30343 Filed 1–2–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Termination of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Foothills West Transportation Access Project U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense. ACTION: Withdrawal of notice of intent. Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the proposed Foothills project in the Federal Register on Friday, May 20, 2011 (76 FR 29218). In the summer of 2013 the Alaska DOT&PF decided to reevaluate plans for future EIS work, and in response the Corps suspended work and closed the EIS project file. After confirming on October 21, 2014 that the DOT&PF has no future plans to proceed with the project, the Corps officially determined that it is appropriate to terminate the EIS. The Corps’ neutral role in the EIS process was to evaluate the environmental consequences of the proposed project under the authority of Section 10 of the River and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The preparation of the EIS was being conducted by a third-party contractor directed by the Corps, and funded by the applicant, which is typical of the Corps Regulatory EIS studies. Withdrawal of the permit application and termination of the EIS process will not prevent DOT&PF from reapplying at a later date. Dated: November 3, 2014. Approved by: Michael Salyer, North Branch Chief, Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. [FR Doc. 2014–30862 Filed 1–2–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P AGENCY: The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is notifying interested parties that it has terminated the process to develop an Environmental Impact Statement and has withdrawn the application for a Department of the Army permit from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) proposed Foothills West Transportation Access Project (Foothills Project). The original Notice of Intent to Prepare the EIS was published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2011 (76 FR 29218). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the termination of this EIS process should be addressed to: 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. Or email: melissa.c.riordan@ usace.army.mil. Emailed questions, including attachments, should be provided in .doc, .docx, .pdf or .txt formats. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska District published the original SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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’’)— Evaluation of Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls Near Brandon Road Lock and Dam: Extension of the Public Scoping Period and Announcement of an Additional Public Scoping Meeting Location AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice. Reference the Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on Thursday, November 20, 2014, volume 79, number 224, pages 69099–100 (79 FR 69099). This notice extends the public comment period and identifies an additional location for a GLMRIS public scoping meeting. For convenience, the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the November 20, 2014 notice has been reprinted with SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 2015 / Notices new text announcing the extension of the public comment period and the additional location where USACE will host a scoping meeting. DATES: The NEPA public scoping period ends on January 30, 2015. Please refer to the ‘‘Scoping and Public Involvement’’ section below for instructions on ways 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, 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604, or by email: david.m.wethington@ usace.army.mil. For media inquiries, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Lynne Whelan, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604, by phone: 312.846.5330 or by email: lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Background. In January 2014, USACE released the GLMRIS Report, which evaluated the potential range of alternatives to prevent ANS transfer between the GL and MR basins via the CAWS. In GLMRIS, USACE has interpreted the term ‘‘prevent’’ to mean the reduction of risk to the maximum extent possible, because it may not be technologically feasible to achieve an absolute solution. The GLMRIS Report identified eight alternatives, six of which were structural alternatives. Three structural alternatives established an ANS control point near Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois. The GLMRIS Report identified the Brandon Road control point as a single location that can address upstream transfer of MR ANS through the CAWS. Based on evaluations presented in the GLMRIS Report and in response to stakeholder input, USACE has been directed by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) to proceed with a formal evaluation of potential ANS controls to be applied near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, located near Joliet, Illinois. The GLMRIS—Brandon Road effort will evaluate the range of options or technologies available to prevent MR ANS transfer through the CAWS into the GL Basin. This effort will assess the potential of various ANS controls to address the one-way, upstream transfer of ANS through the approach channel and/or lock chamber at Brandon Road Lock and Dam, and seek to minimize any adverse impacts to waterway users or resources. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:33 Jan 02, 2015 Jkt 235001 The Brandon Road Lock and Dam Historic District includes the Brandon Road Lock and Dam and was retroactively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 11, 2004. 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—Brandon Road until January 30, 2015. 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 wish to make oral comments in person to register on the GLMRIS project Web site at https://glmris.anl.gov/ . Each meeting’s on-line registration to speak will be closed at 10 a.m. central time the day of the meeting. Those who do not register to speak via the GLMRIS Web site may register at the meeting. Those registering through the Web site may be given a preference over those that register to make an oral comment at the meeting. 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—Brandon Road Scoping, 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Comments must be postmarked by January 30, 2015; and • Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand-delivered to the Chicago District, USACE office located at 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments must be received by January 30, 2015. The public 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. The additional public meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2015, at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District Office, Assembly Room A PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 211 located at 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. Please see the GLMRIS project Web site at https:// glmris.anl.gov/ for directions, more information regarding the meeting and if you wish to make an oral comment. Comments received during the scoping period will be posted on the GLMRIS project Web site and will become part of the EIS. If you require assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Ms. Lynne Whelan via email 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 impacts of ANS on current waterway uses and resources; impacts of potential ANS controls on current waterway uses and resources; and statutory and legal responsibilities relative to the lakes and waterways. Examples of waterway uses and resources that may be impacted by ANS include significant natural resources such as ecosystems and threatened and endangered species, commercial and recreational fisheries, and current recreational uses of the lakes and waterways. Examples of current waterway uses that may be impacted by potential ANS controls are commercial and recreational navigation, flood risk management and water supply and quality. 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, Pub. L. 110–114, 121 STAT. 1121, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended. Dated: December 29, 2014. Susanne J. Davis, Chief Planning Branch, Chicago District, Corps of Engineer. [FR Doc. 2014–30859 Filed 1–2–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 210-211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30859]


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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'')--Evaluation of Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls 
Near Brandon Road Lock and Dam: Extension of the Public Scoping Period 
and Announcement of an Additional Public Scoping Meeting Location

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Reference the Notice of Intent published in the Federal 
Register on Thursday, November 20, 2014, volume 79, number 224, pages 
69099-100 (79 FR 69099). This notice extends the public comment period 
and identifies an additional location for a GLMRIS public scoping 
meeting. For convenience, the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the 
November 20, 2014 notice has been reprinted with

[[Page 211]]

new text announcing the extension of the public comment period and the 
additional location where USACE will host a scoping meeting.

DATES: The NEPA public scoping period ends on January 30, 2015. Please 
refer to the ``Scoping and Public Involvement'' section below for 
instructions on ways 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, 231 S. 
LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604, or by email: 
david.m.wethington@usace.army.mil.
    For media inquiries, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Public 
Affairs Officer, Ms. Lynne Whelan, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 
231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604, by phone: 
312.846.5330 or by email: lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background. In January 2014, USACE released the GLMRIS Report, 
which evaluated the potential range of alternatives to prevent ANS 
transfer between the GL and MR basins via the CAWS. In GLMRIS, USACE 
has interpreted the term ``prevent'' to mean the reduction of risk to 
the maximum extent possible, because it may not be technologically 
feasible to achieve an absolute solution.
    The GLMRIS Report identified eight alternatives, six of which were 
structural alternatives. Three structural alternatives established an 
ANS control point near Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois. 
The GLMRIS Report identified the Brandon Road control point as a single 
location that can address upstream transfer of MR ANS through the CAWS.
    Based on evaluations presented in the GLMRIS Report and in response 
to stakeholder input, USACE has been directed by the Assistant 
Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) to proceed with a formal evaluation 
of potential ANS controls to be applied near the Brandon Road Lock and 
Dam, located near Joliet, Illinois. The GLMRIS--Brandon Road effort 
will evaluate the range of options or technologies available to prevent 
MR ANS transfer through the CAWS into the GL Basin.
    This effort will assess the potential of various ANS controls to 
address the one-way, upstream transfer of ANS through the approach 
channel and/or lock chamber at Brandon Road Lock and Dam, and seek to 
minimize any adverse impacts to waterway users or resources.
    The Brandon Road Lock and Dam Historic District includes the 
Brandon Road Lock and Dam and was retroactively listed on the National 
Register of Historic Places on March 11, 2004.
    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--Brandon Road until January 30, 2015.
    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 wish to make oral comments in person to register on 
the GLMRIS project Web site at https://glmris.anl.gov/. Each meeting's 
on-line registration to speak will be closed at 10 a.m. central time 
the day of the meeting. Those who do not register to speak via the 
GLMRIS Web site may register at the meeting. Those registering through 
the Web site may be given a preference over those that register to make 
an oral comment at the meeting. 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--Brandon Road 
Scoping, 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Comments 
must be postmarked by January 30, 2015; and
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand-delivered to the 
Chicago District, USACE office located at 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments must 
be received by January 30, 2015.
    The public 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.
    The additional public meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 
p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2015, at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
New Orleans District Office, Assembly Room A located at 7400 Leake 
Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. Please see the GLMRIS project Web site 
at https://glmris.anl.gov/ for directions, more information regarding 
the meeting and if you wish to make an oral comment.
    Comments received during the scoping period will be posted on the 
GLMRIS project Web site and will become part of the EIS.
    If you require assistance under the Americans with Disabilities 
Act, please contact Ms. Lynne Whelan via email 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 impacts of ANS on 
current waterway uses and resources; impacts of potential ANS controls 
on current waterway uses and resources; and statutory and legal 
responsibilities relative to the lakes and waterways. Examples of 
waterway uses and resources that may be impacted by ANS include 
significant natural resources such as ecosystems and threatened and 
endangered species, commercial and recreational fisheries, and current 
recreational uses of the lakes and waterways. Examples of current 
waterway uses that may be impacted by potential ANS controls are 
commercial and recreational navigation, flood risk management and water 
supply and quality.
    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, Pub. L. 110-114, 
121 STAT. 1121, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended.

    Dated: December 29, 2014.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief Planning Branch, Chicago District, Corps of Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2014-30859 Filed 1-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

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