Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Integrated General Reevaluation Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico: Mountain View, Isleta and Belen Units, 22814-22815 [2017-10075]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 95 / Thursday, May 18, 2017 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Lake Eufaula Advisory Committee
Meeting Notice
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of open committee
meeting.
AGENCY:
The Department of the Army
is publishing this notice to announce
the following Federal advisory
committee meeting of the Lake Eufaula
Advisory Committee (LEAC). The
meeting is open to the public.
DATES: The Committee will meet from
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Friday, June
16, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Legacy on Main Street, 224 North Main
Street, Eufaula, OK 74432.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Jeff Knack; Designated Federal Officer
(DFO) for the Committee, in writing at
Eufaula Lake Office, 102 E. BK 200 Rd.,
Stigler, OK 74462–1829, or by email at
Jeff.Knack@usace.army.mil, or by phone
at 1–918–484–5135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
meeting is being held under the
provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C.,
Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine
in the Government Act of 1976 (U.S.C.
552b, as amended) and 41 Code of the
Federal Regulations (CFR 102–3.150).
Purpose of the Meeting: The Lake
Eufaula Advisory Committee is an
independent Federal advisory
committee established as directed by
Section 3133(b) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007)
(Pub. L. 110–114). The committee is
advisory in nature only with duties to
include providing information and
recommendations to the Corps of
Engineers regarding operations of
Eufaula Lake, Oklahoma for project
purposes. In accordance with Sections
3133(c)(2) and 3133(d)(1) of WRDA
2007, the committee will also provide
recommendations on a reallocation
study concerning current and future use
of the Lake Eufaula storage capacity for
authorized project purposes as well as a
subsequent pool management plan.
Agenda: This will be the third
meeting of the LEAC. The committee
will have a question and answer session
with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
representatives about reallocation
studies and lake level manipulation
plans, discuss proposals for
recommendations about reallocation
studies, and discuss future direction.
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting:
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR
102–3.140 through 102–3.165, and the
availability of space, this meeting is
open to the public. Seating is on a firstcome basis. Legacy on Main Street is
readily accessible to and usable by
persons with disabilities. For additional
information about public access
procedures, contact Mr. Jeff Knack, the
Committee’s Designated Federal Officer,
at the email address or telephone
number listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Written Comments and Statements:
Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and
102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
public or interested organizations may
submit written comments or statements
to the Committee, in response to the
stated agenda of the open meeting or in
regard to the Committee’s mission in
general. Written comments or
statements should be submitted to Mr.
Knack, the Committee’s Designated
Federal Officer, via electronic mail, the
preferred mode of submission, at the
address listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. Each page
of the comment or statement must
include the author’s name, title or
affiliation, address, and daytime phone
number. Written comments or
statements being submitted in response
to the agenda set forth in this notice
must be received by the Designated
Federal Officer at least seven business
days prior to the meeting to be
considered by the Committee. The
Designated Federal Officer and the
Committee Chair will review all timely
submitted written comments or
statements and ensure the comments are
provided to all members of the
Committee before the meeting. Written
comments or statements received after
this date may not be provided to the
Committee until its next meeting. Please
note that because the LEAC operates
under the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, as amended,
all written comments will be treated as
public documents and will be made
available for public inspection.
Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.140d, the
Committee is not obligated to allow a
member of the public to speak or
otherwise address the Committee during
the meeting. Members of the public will
be permitted to make verbal comments
during the Committee meeting only at
the time and in the manner described
below. If a member of the public is
interested in making a verbal comment
at the open meeting, that individual
must submit a request, with a brief
statement of the subject matter to be
addressed by the comment, at least three
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(3) days in advance to the Committee’s
Designated Federal Officer, via
electronic mail, the preferred mode of
submission, at the addresses listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section. The Designated Federal Officer
will log each request, in the order
received, and in consultation with the
Committee Chair determine whether the
subject matter of each comment is
relevant to the Committee’s mission
and/or the topics to be addressed in this
public meeting. A 15-minute period
near the end of meeting will be available
for verbal public comments. Members of
the public who have requested to make
a verbal comment and whose comments
have been deemed relevant under the
process described above, will be allotted
no more than three (3) minutes during
this period, and will be invited to speak
in the order in which their requests
were received by the Designated Federal
Officer.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017–10052 Filed 5–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Integrated General Reevaluation
Report and Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement,
Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection
Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico:
Mountain View, Isleta and Belen Units
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 a
General Reevaluation Report and
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (GRR/SEIS). This is in
compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for
the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection
Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico Project
(Project). This also is the
implementation of actions to avoid or
minimize potential effects to
Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed
species and/or associated critical
habitat. The GRR/SEIS will supplement
the May 1979, Middle Rio Grande Flood
Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New
Mexico, Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS). That document
assessed impacts from alternatives to
reduce flood risk to structures,
infrastructure and life safety. The
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18MYN1.SGM
18MYN1
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 95 / Thursday, May 18, 2017 / Notices
previously proposed alternative
included reconstructing the existing
spoil bank system maintained by the
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
(MRGCD) with structurally competent
levee system.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
mailed to Albuquerque District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, CESPA–PM–
LE, Bernalillo to Belen Levee GRR/SEIS,
4101 Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque,
NM 87109, or submitted via email to
Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil,
designated by inserting ‘‘Bernalillo to
Belen Levee SEIS’’ in the subject line.
Comments may also be submitted at
public meetings that will be scheduled
at a later date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action
and SEIS can be answered by contacting
Dr. Michael D. Porter, Fishery Biologist,
Albuquerque District, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, CESPA–PM–LE, 4101
Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM
87109, by phone at (505) 342–3264; or
via email to Michael.D.Porter@
usace.army.mil designated by including
‘‘Bernalillo to Belen Levee SEIS’’ in the
subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
original spoil banks were constructed by
MRGCD as part of their authority to
drain wetlands and deliver irrigation
water.
Preparation of this GRR/SEIS became
necessary due to the changes that have
occurred since the project was
authorized as described below. A longer
period of record for hydrological data is
now available to allow improved and
updated hydrological analysis. New
levee design criteria that address long
duration flows have also been adopted
by the Corps in 1993. Any proposed
plan now has to incorporate new design
features that prevent seepage through
the levee or its foundation due to
prolonged flow against the riverward
toe. The Corps has adopted a
probabilistic determination of flood risk
to perform levee design. Three species
that have been listed as threatened or
endangered since 1994 occur within the
study area (two with critical habitat).
These include the Western Yellowbilled Cuckoo, the Southwestern Willow
Flycatcher, and the Rio Grande Silvery
Minnow.
The GRR/SEIS will investigate and
determine the extent of Federal interest
in a range of alternative plans designed
to reduce the risk of flooding in the
communities between Albuquerque and
Belen. The GRR/SEIS will describe the
risk of flooding in the communities
between Albuquerque and Belen;
evaluate a range of alternatives to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:43 May 17, 2017
Jkt 241001
reduce flood risk and potential
environmental impacts; and describe
measures to minimize or mitigate for
potential environmental impacts.
On November 27, 1995, the Corps
published the notice of intent (NOI) to
prepare the SEIS for the MRG GRR
study in the Federal Register (Vol. 60,
No. 227).
Previously Proposed Action: The
Corps has previously proposed a
Tentatively Selected Plan for the Project
to rehabilitate the spoil bank system
with an engineered levee in four Middle
Rio Grande Units. The levee for the
Mountain View (4.4 miles), Isleta West
(3.2 miles), Belen East (18.1 miles), and
Belen West Units (22.1 miles) are
designed to provide protection for the
0.1% probability flood. The Corps
initiated consultation with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (Service) on the
effects of the Project on species listed
under the ESA. As part of that
consultation, the Corps has proposed
several conservation measures that
would modify structures or operation
and maintenance of the Project. The
Service is preparing a Biological
Opinion (BiOp) and the Corps expects
that the Service may incorporate the
conservation measures as part of the
BiOp. The Corps will need to complete
applicable environmental compliance,
including evaluation under NEPA, prior
to adopting and implementing any
terms and conditions in the BiOp. The
proposed GRR/SEIS would constitute
that evaluation under NEPA. The Corps
has proposed several measures to
improve conditions for listed species,
including the actions described in the
Public Involvement Process section
below, subject to authority and funding:
Public Involvement Process:
Coordination has been ongoing since
2008 with both public and private
entities that have jurisdiction or an
interest in land and resources in the
Middle Rio Grande Valley of New
Mexico. These entities include the
general public, local governments, the
Pueblo of Isleta, the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, the Service, the MRGCD,
the New Mexico Department of Game
and Fish, and the Interstate Stream
Commission. Coordination will
continue throughout the development of
the SEIS through comment letters,
public meetings and field visits. All
interested parties, including federal,
state, tribal, and public entities, will be
invited to submit comments on the draft
SEIS when it is circulated for review.
The planning effort is also being
coordinated with the Service pursuant
to the requirements of the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act of 1972 and
the ESA of 1973, as amended.
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22815
Consultation with the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation and the New
Mexico State Historic Preservation
Officer is ongoing pursuant to the
National Historic Preservation Act of
1966.
Significant Issues To Be Analyzed:
Significant issues to be analyzed in the
development of the SEIS include the
effect of the alternatives on endangered
or threatened species and their critical
habitat; floodplain development; water
quality; riparian ecological systems;
social welfare; human safety; cultural
resources; and aesthetic qualities.
Development of mitigation measures
will be undertaken for any unavoidable
impacts.
Request for Review Comments: The
Corps invites affected federal, state, and
local agencies, affected Native American
tribes, and other interested
organizations and persons to participate
in the review of the GRR/SEIS. The
Corps invites interested parties to
provide specific comments on issues
and the preferred alternative in the
GRR/SEIS related to the construction of
the Project. Comments, requests to be
placed on the GRR/SEIS mailing list,
and requests for information may be
submitted to the address above. All
comments and materials received,
including names and addresses, will
become part of the administrative record
and may be released to the public.
Interested parties should not submit
confidential business or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
Public Scoping Meeting: The Corps
currently plans to conduct public
review meetings for this GRR/SEIS in
2017. The exact date, time, and location
of the public meetings has not yet been
determined. The Corps will publicize
this information once the meeting
arrangements have been made. The draft
GRR/SEIS is currently scheduled to be
available for public review in summer
2017. The final GRR/SEIS is currently
scheduled to be available for public
review in spring 2018.
James L. Booth,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District
Commander.
[FR Doc. 2017–10075 Filed 5–17–17; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 95 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22814-22815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10075]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Integrated General
Reevaluation Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement,
Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico:
Mountain View, Isleta and Belen Units
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 a
General Reevaluation Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (GRR/SEIS). This is in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for the Middle Rio Grande Flood
Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico Project (Project). This also
is the implementation of actions to avoid or minimize potential effects
to Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed species and/or associated
critical habitat. The GRR/SEIS will supplement the May 1979, Middle Rio
Grande Flood Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico, Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). That document assessed impacts
from alternatives to reduce flood risk to structures, infrastructure
and life safety. The
[[Page 22815]]
previously proposed alternative included reconstructing the existing
spoil bank system maintained by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy
District (MRGCD) with structurally competent levee system.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Albuquerque District, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, CESPA-PM-LE, Bernalillo to Belen Levee GRR/SEIS,
4101 Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109, or submitted via email
to Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil, designated by inserting
``Bernalillo to Belen Levee SEIS'' in the subject line. Comments may
also be submitted at public meetings that will be scheduled at a later
date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and SEIS can be answered by contacting Dr. Michael D. Porter, Fishery
Biologist, Albuquerque District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CESPA-
PM-LE, 4101 Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109, by phone at
(505) 342-3264; or via email to Michael.D.Porter@usace.army.mil
designated by including ``Bernalillo to Belen Levee SEIS'' in the
subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original spoil banks were constructed by
MRGCD as part of their authority to drain wetlands and deliver
irrigation water.
Preparation of this GRR/SEIS became necessary due to the changes
that have occurred since the project was authorized as described below.
A longer period of record for hydrological data is now available to
allow improved and updated hydrological analysis. New levee design
criteria that address long duration flows have also been adopted by the
Corps in 1993. Any proposed plan now has to incorporate new design
features that prevent seepage through the levee or its foundation due
to prolonged flow against the riverward toe. The Corps has adopted a
probabilistic determination of flood risk to perform levee design.
Three species that have been listed as threatened or endangered since
1994 occur within the study area (two with critical habitat). These
include the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the Southwestern Willow
Flycatcher, and the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow.
The GRR/SEIS will investigate and determine the extent of Federal
interest in a range of alternative plans designed to reduce the risk of
flooding in the communities between Albuquerque and Belen. The GRR/SEIS
will describe the risk of flooding in the communities between
Albuquerque and Belen; evaluate a range of alternatives to reduce flood
risk and potential environmental impacts; and describe measures to
minimize or mitigate for potential environmental impacts.
On November 27, 1995, the Corps published the notice of intent
(NOI) to prepare the SEIS for the MRG GRR study in the Federal Register
(Vol. 60, No. 227).
Previously Proposed Action: The Corps has previously proposed a
Tentatively Selected Plan for the Project to rehabilitate the spoil
bank system with an engineered levee in four Middle Rio Grande Units.
The levee for the Mountain View (4.4 miles), Isleta West (3.2 miles),
Belen East (18.1 miles), and Belen West Units (22.1 miles) are designed
to provide protection for the 0.1% probability flood. The Corps
initiated consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) on the effects of the Project on species listed under the
ESA. As part of that consultation, the Corps has proposed several
conservation measures that would modify structures or operation and
maintenance of the Project. The Service is preparing a Biological
Opinion (BiOp) and the Corps expects that the Service may incorporate
the conservation measures as part of the BiOp. The Corps will need to
complete applicable environmental compliance, including evaluation
under NEPA, prior to adopting and implementing any terms and conditions
in the BiOp. The proposed GRR/SEIS would constitute that evaluation
under NEPA. The Corps has proposed several measures to improve
conditions for listed species, including the actions described in the
Public Involvement Process section below, subject to authority and
funding:
Public Involvement Process: Coordination has been ongoing since
2008 with both public and private entities that have jurisdiction or an
interest in land and resources in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New
Mexico. These entities include the general public, local governments,
the Pueblo of Isleta, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Service, the
MRGCD, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and the Interstate
Stream Commission. Coordination will continue throughout the
development of the SEIS through comment letters, public meetings and
field visits. All interested parties, including federal, state, tribal,
and public entities, will be invited to submit comments on the draft
SEIS when it is circulated for review.
The planning effort is also being coordinated with the Service
pursuant to the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
of 1972 and the ESA of 1973, as amended. Consultation with the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation and the New Mexico State Historic
Preservation Officer is ongoing pursuant to the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966.
Significant Issues To Be Analyzed: Significant issues to be
analyzed in the development of the SEIS include the effect of the
alternatives on endangered or threatened species and their critical
habitat; floodplain development; water quality; riparian ecological
systems; social welfare; human safety; cultural resources; and
aesthetic qualities. Development of mitigation measures will be
undertaken for any unavoidable impacts.
Request for Review Comments: The Corps invites affected federal,
state, and local agencies, affected Native American tribes, and other
interested organizations and persons to participate in the review of
the GRR/SEIS. The Corps invites interested parties to provide specific
comments on issues and the preferred alternative in the GRR/SEIS
related to the construction of the Project. Comments, requests to be
placed on the GRR/SEIS mailing list, and requests for information may
be submitted to the address above. All comments and materials received,
including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative
record and may be released to the public. Interested parties should not
submit confidential business or otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
Public Scoping Meeting: The Corps currently plans to conduct public
review meetings for this GRR/SEIS in 2017. The exact date, time, and
location of the public meetings has not yet been determined. The Corps
will publicize this information once the meeting arrangements have been
made. The draft GRR/SEIS is currently scheduled to be available for
public review in summer 2017. The final GRR/SEIS is currently scheduled
to be available for public review in spring 2018.
James L. Booth,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2017-10075 Filed 5-17-17; 8:45 am]
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