Notice of Availability of the Final Missouri River Recovery Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, 44609-44610 [2018-18982]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices
Dated: August 27, 2018.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2018–18888 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Availability of the Final
Missouri River Recovery Management
Plan and Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
DoD.
ACTION:
Notice.
The Kansas City and Omaha
Districts of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), have developed the Missouri
River Recovery Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement
(MRRMP–EIS). This document is a
programmatic assessment of major
federal actions necessary to avoid a
finding of jeopardy to the pallid
sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus),
interior least tern (Sterna antillarum
athalassos), and the Northern Great
Plains piping plover (Charadrius
melodus) caused by operation of the
Missouri River Mainstem System and
the Kansas River Reservoir System and
operation and maintenance of the
Missouri River Bank Stabilization and
Navigation Project (BSNP) in
accordance with the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended.
This programmatic document also
assesses the Missouri River BSNP fish
and wildlife mitigation project
described in the 2003 Record of
Decision (ROD) and authorized by the
Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA) of 1986, 1999, and 2007 as it
relates to endangered species.
DATES: Submit written comments on the
final EIS and supporting documents on
or before October 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha
District, ATTN: CENWO–PM–AC—
MRRMP–EIS, 1616 Capitol Ave.,
Omaha, NE 68102; attach comment
letters via email at cenwo-planning@
usace.army.mil; or provide comments
via an online comment form (preferred
method) at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/
MRRMP.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tiffany Vanosdall, Project Manager at
402–995–2695.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:42 Aug 30, 2018
Jkt 244001
The
USACE is issuing this notice pursuant
to section 102(2)(c) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) and the Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) regulations for
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (43 CFR parts 1500 through
1508). This notice announces the
availability of the final MRRMP–EIS.
The MRRMP–EIS, its appendices, and
other supporting documents can be
accessed at: www.moriverrecovery.org
under the ‘‘Management Plan’’ tab on
the website homepage. These
documents can also be accessed at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MRRMP.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
The draft MRRMP–EIS was released
on December 23, 2016 and included a
122-day public comment period that
ended on April 24, 2017. During that
time USACE held six public meetings to
solicit comments from the public.
USACE analyzed the comments
received from the public and considered
them in preparation of the final
MRRMP–EIS (Appendix K). The final
MRRMP–EIS is available for public
review until October 9, 2018. The
USACE has also completed formal
consultation with the USFWS under
Section 7 of the ESA. A final Biological
Assessment (BA) was completed by the
USACE in October of 2017 and a Final
BiOp was completed by the USFWS in
April, 2018. The BiOp concludes that
the proposed action described in the BA
would not cause jeopardy for the least
tern, piping plover, or pallid sturgeon.
The preferred alternative in the Final
EIS incorporates the proposed action
described in the 2017 BA and
incorporates the 2018 BiOp.
This EIS provides the necessary
information for the public to fully
evaluate a range of alternatives designed
to meet the purpose and need of the
MRRMP–EIS and to provide thoughtful
and meaningful comment for the
Agency’s consideration. Six alternatives
were carried forward for detailed
evaluation in the MRRMP–EIS (the noaction alternative and five action
alternatives). The following
management actions were included in
all six of the alternatives:
—Mechanical construction of emergent
sandbar habitat (ESH);
—Vegetation management, predator
management, and human restriction
measures on ESH;
—Pallid sturgeon propagation and
augmentation;
—Pallid sturgeon early life stage habitat
construction downstream of Ponca,
Nebraska;
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
44609
—Habitat development and
management of acquired lands; and
—Monitoring and evaluation of
management actions.
However, the scale and extent of
mechanical ESH creation and pallid
surgeon early life stage habitat
construction would vary among the
alternatives.
Under the no-action alternative, in
addition to the actions common to all
alternatives, the USACE would
mechanically construct ESH at a rate of
164 acres per year in the Garrison and
Gavins Point reaches and construct
pallid early life stage habitat to achieve
an average of 20 acres of shallow water
habitat per river mile. The no-action
alternative would also continue to
implement the spring pulse included in
the Master Manual.
Alternative 2 represents the USFWS’s
interpretation of the management
actions that could be ultimately
implemented as part of the 2003
Amended BiOp Reasonable and Prudent
Alternative (RPA). In addition to the
actions common to all alternatives, the
USACE would mechanically construct
ESH at a rate up to 1,331 acres per year
in the Garrison, Fort Randall, Lewis and
Clark Lake, and Gavins Point reaches
and pallid early life stage habitat to
achieve an average of 30 acres of
shallow water habitat per river mile.
Alternative 2 would also include a
spring pallid flow release consisting of
a bimodal pulse in March and May and
a low summer flow.
Under Alternatives 3–6, the USACE
would follow the processes and criteria
in the SAMP that was developed based
on the results of the effects analysis. The
SAMP identifies the process and criteria
to implement initial management
actions, assess hypotheses, and
introduce new management actions
should they become necessary. Initial
management actions include specific
study efforts to fill data gaps in
knowledge of the pallid sturgeon life
cycle, creation of spawning habitat for
pallid sturgeon to monitor effectiveness,
and the construction of pallid early life
stage habitat following the interception
and rearing complex (IRC) concept
identified in the effects analysis.
In addition to the actions common to
Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 3 would
include mechanical construction of ESH
at an average rate of 332 acres per year
when construction is needed in the
Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point
reaches. Alternative 3 would not
implement the plenary spring pulse
included in the Master Manual.
However, as part of the SAMP the
potential for a one-time spawning cue
E:\FR\FM\31AUN1.SGM
31AUN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
44610
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices
test release, if studies during the first 9–
10 years do not provide a clear answer
on whether a spawning cue is
important, is included in Alternative 3.
In addition to the actions common to
Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 4 would
include mechanical construction of ESH
at an average rate of 195 acres per year
when construction is needed in the
Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point
reaches. Alternative 4 also includes
implementation of a spring ESH
creation release if System storage is at
42 MAF or greater on April 1, normal
flows that could create 250 acres of ESH
have not occurred in the previous four
years, and downstream flow is below
identified flood control constraints
specific to this alternative.
In addition to the actions common to
Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 5 would
include mechanical construction of ESH
at an average rate of 253 acres per year
when construction is needed in the
Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point
reaches. Alternative 5 also includes
implementation of a fall ESH creation
release if System storage is at 54.5 MAF
or greater on October 17, normal flows
that could create 250 acres of ESH have
not occurred in the previous four years,
and downstream flow is below
identified flood control constraints
specific to this alternative.
In addition to the actions common to
Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 6 would
include mechanical construction of ESH
at an average rate of 245 acres per year
when construction is needed in the
Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point
reaches. Alternative 6 also includes
implementation of a spawning cue
release, attempted every 3 years,
consisting of a bimodal pulse in March
and May. These spawning cue releases
would not be started or would be
terminated whenever downstream flow
is at identified flood control constraints
specific to this alternative.
The final EIS evaluates the potential
effects on the human environment
associated with each of the above
alternatives. Resources and uses
evaluated include: River infrastructure
and hydrological processes; pallid
sturgeon; piping plover and interior
least tern; fish and wildlife habitat;
other special status species; water
quality; air quality; cultural resources;
land use and ownership; commercial
sand and gravel dredging; flood risk
management and interior drainage;
hydropower; irrigation; navigation;
recreation; thermal power; water
supply; wastewater facilities; tribal
interests (other); human health and
safety; environmental justice; ecosystem
services; and Mississippi River
resources.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:42 Aug 30, 2018
Jkt 244001
Based on projected impacts, the
ability to meet the plan’s purpose, need
and species objectives, and other
decision criteria, USACE has identified
Alternative 3-Mechanical Construction
as its preferred alternative. Importantly,
Alternative 3 would be implemented
under the science and adaptive
management framework summarized in
Chapter 4 of the MRRMP–EIS and
detailed within the Science and
Adaptive Management Plan (SAMP).
Schedule. Public comments on the
final MRRMP–EIS must be received by
October 9, 2018. The USACE will
consider new comments received on the
final MRRMP–EIS prior to issuing a
Record of Decision which is expected in
the fall of 2018.
Public Disclosure Statement. If you
wish to comment, you may provide your
comments as indicated under the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or any other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made available to the public at any
time. While you can request us to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Dated: August 20, 2018.
Mark Harberg,
Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2018–18982 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2018–ICCD–0037]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Application for the Educational
Flexibility (Ed-Flex) Program
Department of Education (ED),
Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education (OESE).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing a new information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before October
1, 2018.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
documents related to the information
collection listed in this notice, please
use https://www.regulations.gov by
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
searching the Docket ID number ED–
2018–ICCD–0037. Comments submitted
in response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Docket ID number or via postal mail,
commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
Please note that comments submitted by
fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be
accepted. 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,
550 12th Street SW, PCP, Room 9089,
Washington, DC 20202–0023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Melissa Siry,
202–260–0926.
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
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: Application for the
Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex)
Program.
OMB Control Number: 1810—NEW.
Type of Review: A new information
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
E:\FR\FM\31AUN1.SGM
31AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44609-44610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18982]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability of the Final Missouri River Recovery
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Kansas City and Omaha Districts of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), have developed the Missouri River Recovery Management
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (MRRMP-EIS). This document is a
programmatic assessment of major federal actions necessary to avoid a
finding of jeopardy to the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus),
interior least tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos), and the Northern
Great Plains piping plover (Charadrius melodus) caused by operation of
the Missouri River Mainstem System and the Kansas River Reservoir
System and operation and maintenance of the Missouri River Bank
Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP) in accordance with the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. This programmatic
document also assesses the Missouri River BSNP fish and wildlife
mitigation project described in the 2003 Record of Decision (ROD) and
authorized by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, 1999,
and 2007 as it relates to endangered species.
DATES: Submit written comments on the final EIS and supporting
documents on or before October 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha
District, ATTN: CENWO-PM-AC--MRRMP-EIS, 1616 Capitol Ave., Omaha, NE
68102; attach comment letters via email at [email protected]; or provide comments via an online comment form
(preferred method) at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MRRMP.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tiffany Vanosdall, Project Manager at
402-995-2695.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE is issuing this notice pursuant to
section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of NEPA (43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508). This notice
announces the availability of the final MRRMP-EIS. The MRRMP-EIS, its
appendices, and other supporting documents can be accessed at:
www.moriverrecovery.org under the ``Management Plan'' tab on the
website homepage. These documents can also be accessed at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MRRMP.
Background Information
The draft MRRMP-EIS was released on December 23, 2016 and included
a 122-day public comment period that ended on April 24, 2017. During
that time USACE held six public meetings to solicit comments from the
public. USACE analyzed the comments received from the public and
considered them in preparation of the final MRRMP-EIS (Appendix K). The
final MRRMP-EIS is available for public review until October 9, 2018.
The USACE has also completed formal consultation with the USFWS under
Section 7 of the ESA. A final Biological Assessment (BA) was completed
by the USACE in October of 2017 and a Final BiOp was completed by the
USFWS in April, 2018. The BiOp concludes that the proposed action
described in the BA would not cause jeopardy for the least tern, piping
plover, or pallid sturgeon. The preferred alternative in the Final EIS
incorporates the proposed action described in the 2017 BA and
incorporates the 2018 BiOp.
This EIS provides the necessary information for the public to fully
evaluate a range of alternatives designed to meet the purpose and need
of the MRRMP-EIS and to provide thoughtful and meaningful comment for
the Agency's consideration. Six alternatives were carried forward for
detailed evaluation in the MRRMP-EIS (the no-action alternative and
five action alternatives). The following management actions were
included in all six of the alternatives:
--Mechanical construction of emergent sandbar habitat (ESH);
--Vegetation management, predator management, and human restriction
measures on ESH;
--Pallid sturgeon propagation and augmentation;
--Pallid sturgeon early life stage habitat construction downstream of
Ponca, Nebraska;
--Habitat development and management of acquired lands; and
--Monitoring and evaluation of management actions.
However, the scale and extent of mechanical ESH creation and pallid
surgeon early life stage habitat construction would vary among the
alternatives.
Under the no-action alternative, in addition to the actions common
to all alternatives, the USACE would mechanically construct ESH at a
rate of 164 acres per year in the Garrison and Gavins Point reaches and
construct pallid early life stage habitat to achieve an average of 20
acres of shallow water habitat per river mile. The no-action
alternative would also continue to implement the spring pulse included
in the Master Manual.
Alternative 2 represents the USFWS's interpretation of the
management actions that could be ultimately implemented as part of the
2003 Amended BiOp Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA). In addition
to the actions common to all alternatives, the USACE would mechanically
construct ESH at a rate up to 1,331 acres per year in the Garrison,
Fort Randall, Lewis and Clark Lake, and Gavins Point reaches and pallid
early life stage habitat to achieve an average of 30 acres of shallow
water habitat per river mile. Alternative 2 would also include a spring
pallid flow release consisting of a bimodal pulse in March and May and
a low summer flow.
Under Alternatives 3-6, the USACE would follow the processes and
criteria in the SAMP that was developed based on the results of the
effects analysis. The SAMP identifies the process and criteria to
implement initial management actions, assess hypotheses, and introduce
new management actions should they become necessary. Initial management
actions include specific study efforts to fill data gaps in knowledge
of the pallid sturgeon life cycle, creation of spawning habitat for
pallid sturgeon to monitor effectiveness, and the construction of
pallid early life stage habitat following the interception and rearing
complex (IRC) concept identified in the effects analysis.
In addition to the actions common to Alternatives 3-6, Alternative
3 would include mechanical construction of ESH at an average rate of
332 acres per year when construction is needed in the Garrison, Fort
Randall, and Gavins Point reaches. Alternative 3 would not implement
the plenary spring pulse included in the Master Manual. However, as
part of the SAMP the potential for a one-time spawning cue
[[Page 44610]]
test release, if studies during the first 9-10 years do not provide a
clear answer on whether a spawning cue is important, is included in
Alternative 3.
In addition to the actions common to Alternatives 3-6, Alternative
4 would include mechanical construction of ESH at an average rate of
195 acres per year when construction is needed in the Garrison, Fort
Randall, and Gavins Point reaches. Alternative 4 also includes
implementation of a spring ESH creation release if System storage is at
42 MAF or greater on April 1, normal flows that could create 250 acres
of ESH have not occurred in the previous four years, and downstream
flow is below identified flood control constraints specific to this
alternative.
In addition to the actions common to Alternatives 3-6, Alternative
5 would include mechanical construction of ESH at an average rate of
253 acres per year when construction is needed in the Garrison, Fort
Randall, and Gavins Point reaches. Alternative 5 also includes
implementation of a fall ESH creation release if System storage is at
54.5 MAF or greater on October 17, normal flows that could create 250
acres of ESH have not occurred in the previous four years, and
downstream flow is below identified flood control constraints specific
to this alternative.
In addition to the actions common to Alternatives 3-6, Alternative
6 would include mechanical construction of ESH at an average rate of
245 acres per year when construction is needed in the Garrison, Fort
Randall, and Gavins Point reaches. Alternative 6 also includes
implementation of a spawning cue release, attempted every 3 years,
consisting of a bimodal pulse in March and May. These spawning cue
releases would not be started or would be terminated whenever
downstream flow is at identified flood control constraints specific to
this alternative.
The final EIS evaluates the potential effects on the human
environment associated with each of the above alternatives. Resources
and uses evaluated include: River infrastructure and hydrological
processes; pallid sturgeon; piping plover and interior least tern; fish
and wildlife habitat; other special status species; water quality; air
quality; cultural resources; land use and ownership; commercial sand
and gravel dredging; flood risk management and interior drainage;
hydropower; irrigation; navigation; recreation; thermal power; water
supply; wastewater facilities; tribal interests (other); human health
and safety; environmental justice; ecosystem services; and Mississippi
River resources.
Based on projected impacts, the ability to meet the plan's purpose,
need and species objectives, and other decision criteria, USACE has
identified Alternative 3-Mechanical Construction as its preferred
alternative. Importantly, Alternative 3 would be implemented under the
science and adaptive management framework summarized in Chapter 4 of
the MRRMP-EIS and detailed within the Science and Adaptive Management
Plan (SAMP).
Schedule. Public comments on the final MRRMP-EIS must be received
by October 9, 2018. The USACE will consider new comments received on
the final MRRMP-EIS prior to issuing a Record of Decision which is
expected in the fall of 2018.
Public Disclosure Statement. If you wish to comment, you may
provide your comments as indicated under the ADDRESSES section of this
notice. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
any other personal identifying information in your comment, you should
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made available to the public at any time. While you
can request us to withhold your personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Dated: August 20, 2018.
Mark Harberg,
Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2018-18982 Filed 8-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
