Notice of Availability of and Request for Comment on an Interim Report for the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas Resiliency Study, 62284-62285 [2020-21763]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 192 / Friday, October 2, 2020 / Notices
Board 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.
Verbal Comments: Members of the
public will be permitted to make verbal
comments during the virtual public
meeting only at the time and in the
manner allowed herein. If a member of
the public is interested in making a
verbal comment at the open virtual
meeting, that individual must submit a
request, with a brief statement of the
subject matter to be addressed by the
comment, at least three business (3)
days in advance to the committee DFO
or ADFO, via electronic mail, the
preferred mode of submission, at the
addresses listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. The
committee DFO and ADFO will log each
request to make a comment, in the order
received, and determine whether the
subject matter of each comment is
relevant to the Board’s mission and/or
the topics to be addressed in this public
meeting. A 15-minute period near the
end of the 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 DFO and ADFO.
Thomas P. Smith,
Chief, Operations and Regulatory Division,
Directorate of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corp
of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2020–21762 Filed 10–1–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Availability of and Request
for Comment on an Interim Report for
the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries,
Texas Resiliency Study
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The US Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) requests comments
on the alternatives considered to date by
the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries,
Texas Resiliency Study (BBTRS) to help
inform the Study Team’s
recommendation to the Chief of
Engineers on reducing the flood risk
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:38 Oct 01, 2020
Jkt 253001
along Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries
in Harris and Fort Bend counties, Texas.
An Interim Report has been prepared to
document alternatives considered to
date. The Interim Report, which does
not include recommendations or
decisions, is being published to solicit
input from the public. Seeking this
public input prior to identifying a
preferred alternative will help ensure
the analysis of a complex problem—and
ultimately decisions—are effective,
responsive, sustainable and understood
by the region’s communities.
DATES: Written comments on the Interim
Report must be received by email or
post-marked by November 2, 2020.
ADDRESSES: The Interim Report and
additional pertinent information about
the- study can be found at: https://
www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/
Projects/Buffalo-Bayou-and-TributariesResiliency-Study/.
Interested persons may submit written
comments by email to BBTRS@
usace.army.mil or by mail to: USACE,
Galveston District, Attn: BBTRS, P.O.
Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553–1229.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Melinda Fisher, USACE, Regional
Planning and Environmental Center, at
918–669–7423 or BBTRS@
usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Introduction and Background.
USACE, in partnership with the Harris
County Flood Control District (HCFCD),
as the non-Federal sponsor, began a
feasibility study in 2018 to identify,
evaluate, and recommend actions to
reduce flood risks along Buffalo Bayou
and its tributaries, both upstream and
downstream of Addicks and Barker
dams. The study will also complete a
Dam Safety Modification Evaluation on
Addicks and Barker dams. The BBTRS
is authorized under Section 216 of the
Flood Control Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91–
611) and existing project authority.
Section 216 authorizes USACE to
review a completed navigation, flood
risk reduction, water supply, or related
project due to significantly changed
physical or economic conditions, and to
report to Congress with
recommendations regarding
modification of the project’s structures
or operation, and for improving the
quality of the environment in the overall
public interest.
Existing flood risk management (FRM)
projects in the watersheds include the
Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas
Project (Project), which was authorized
by Congress in the 1930s for the purpose
of providing flood control for the City of
Houston and Port of Houston. In the
1940s, Addicks and Barker Dams were
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
constructed and a portion of Buffalo
Bayou was straightened as part of the
completed Project. Since Project
completion, a number of physical
improvements and operational changes
have been made to attempt to mitigate
changing conditions within Addicks,
Barker, Buffalo Bayou and surrounding
watersheds. However, the watersheds
continue to experience major flood
events, most recently and most
significantly Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
These flood events, combined with
documented increases in precipitation
frequencies, continued urbanization of
the watersheds, and the potential for
flooding events in the future, indicate
the Project may need to be modified to
further mitigate flood risks.
The study will evaluate ways to
reduce flooding in three watersheds—
Addicks Reservoir, Barker Reservoir,
and Buffalo Bayou—focusing on areas
upstream and downstream of Addicks
and Barker dams and along Buffalo
Bayou. A portion of Cypress Creek
Watershed is being considered because
overflow from this watershed
contributes to flooding in the Addicks
Reservoir Watershed. Brays Bayou and
White Oak Bayou could be affected by
actions benefiting Buffalo Bayou, so
impacts to these watersheds will be
evaluated. The scope of the study does
not include identifying ways to lower
flood risk in the lower Cypress Creek,
Brays Bayou or White Oak Bayou
watersheds.
Since the public scoping meetings
held in May 2019 and a newsletter sent
in January 2020, the alternatives
(potential ways to address the problems)
have evolved based on the preliminary
results of modeling the physical and
economic performance of these actions.
The study team used this information to
advance the evaluation of several
alternatives, remove some from further
consideration and add some additional
measures for more detailed
consideration. To explain this updated
information and present the focused
array of alternatives, the Study Team is
adding a step to the process: release of
an Interim Report for public review and
comment.
Note: This is not a Notice of Availability
associated with the release of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in
accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act. This is an interim step intended
to gather public feedback before a Draft EIS
is released.
2. Interim Report. The Study Team
prepared this Report to present
preliminary findings and a focused
array of alternatives considered to date
that manage risk and reduce damages
under existing and future conditions.
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
02OCN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 192 / Friday, October 2, 2020 / Notices
The report describes the process to
identify and screen potential measures
to address the problems and meet the
purpose and need of the study. The
report also describes engineering,
economic, social, and environmental
analyses conducted to date; it does not
identify a preferred alternative nor does
it make any recommendations or
decisions.
The Interim Report identifies three
main problems in the study area—
upstream risks to life safety and
property when inflows exceed reservoir
capacity, dam safety risks if a dam
component were to fail during a flood,
and downstream risks to life safety and
property when flows exceed channel
capacity. To address each of these
concerns, a number of structural and
non-structural measures were
considered including but not limited to:
Bypass channels, new reservoirs,
detention ponds, tunnels, dredging of
existing detention ponds and reservoirs,
spillway modifications, levees/
floodwalls, channel modifications,
property acquisition, changes in
operations, structure modifications, and
prairie/wetland restoration. The Study
Team screened an initial array of
measures based on technical feasibility,
performance, cost, and benefits. Eight
alternatives are identified in the interim
report as the focused array. These
include:
• No Action. No Federal action is
taken to reduce future flood risks. This
alternative serves as the baseline
condition to compare the action
alternatives’ benefits and costs and is
required by policy.
• FRM Alternative 2: Cypress Creek
Reservoir. This alternative investigates
the feasibility of increasing storage
capacity in the upper watersheds
through construction of a third reservoir
in the vicinity of the Harris-Waller
County line in the far western part of
the study area.
• FRM Alternative 6: Buffalo Bayou
Channel Improvements. This alternative
facilitates more efficient conveyance of
water by widening and deepening
Buffalo Bayou, while preserving or
enhancing the natural characteristics of
the aquatic and riparian ecosystem.
• FRM Alternative 7: Non-Structural
Only. This alternative utilizes actions
that reduce human exposure and
vulnerability to flooding, but does not
attempt to change the hazard. Property
acquisition along Buffalo Bayou would
lower the risk to lives and properties
downstream during all precipitation
events, while also allowing for nondamaging larger releases from the
reservoirs during more severe events.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:38 Oct 01, 2020
Jkt 253001
• FRM Alternative 8: Combination
Plan. This alternative utilizes a
combination of FRM Alternative 2 and
6, which includes construction of a
third reservoir and channel
improvements to Buffalo Bayou.
• Dam Safety (DS) Alternative 4:
Tolerable Risk. This alternative
increases the spillway capacity and
prevents overtopping by reinforcing all
four spillways of Addicks and Barker
dams. The north spillways would be
removed and replaced with stepped
roller compacted concrete (RCC) and the
south spillways would be replaced with
articulated concrete block.
• DS Alternative 5: Tolerable Risk +
As Low as Reasonably Practicable. This
alternative is similar to DS Alternative
4, except that all four spillways would
be removed and replaced with stepped
RCC.
• System Operations. This alternative
involves acquiring additional lands to
efficiently and safely operate the
reservoirs given the changed
circumstances. A range of reservoir
elevations are being considered and
could extend from current Federallyowned government land to elevation
112 at Addicks Reservoir and elevation
105 at Barker Reservoir. This would
involve acquisition of between 14,868
and 24,707 tracts of land and involve
relocation of 10,606 to 21,302
residential properties and 259 to 492
commercial properties.
3. Public Participation. USACE and
HCFCD are committed to proactively
informing and engaging with the
community and stakeholders to reach
effective and implementable flood risk
management solutions. These agencies
intend for public review of the Interim
Report to provide input on the
alternatives and the complexity of
developing solutions. Public and
resource agency feedback on the Interim
Report will inform the next level of
evaluation to identify a Tentatively
Selected Plan (TSP). The TSP may be a
single alternative or comprised of
several alternatives from the focused
array under consideration.
Solicitation of Comments: The
USACE is soliciting comments on the
Interim Report from the public, Federal,
State, and local agencies, elected
officials, Tribal Nations, and other
interested parties. The public comment
period will begin [DATE OF
PUBLICATION] and written comments
may be submitted by email or through
postal mail at the addresses provided
above.
Meetings: Due to the ‘‘Proclamation
on Declaring a National Emergency
Concerning the Novel Coronavirus
Disease (COVID–19) Outbreak’’ issued
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62285
on March 13, 2020, no in-person
meetings will be held. The USACE will
host informational sharing sessions
intended to provide an overview of the
report and findings to date. The study
website provides the dates and times of
the information sessions, as well as upto-date access details.
4. Identification of Tentatively
Selected Plan and Availability of Draft
EIS. Depending on input received on the
Interim Report, USACE estimates
issuing a Draft Feasibility Report and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for public review and comment in early
2021. At that time, USACE will provide
a 45-day public review period, in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
USACE will notify all interested
agencies, organizations, and individuals
of the availability of the draft document
at that time.
Christopher G. Beck,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2020–21763 Filed 10–1–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2020–SCC–0159]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Comment Request;
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing an extension without change
of a currently approved collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
December 1, 2020.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
documents related to the information
collection listed in this notice, please
use https://www.regulations.gov by
searching the Docket ID number ED–
2020–SCC–0159. 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.
If the regulations.gov site is not
available to the public for any reason,
ED will temporarily accept comments at
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the
docket ID number and the title of the
information collection request when
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 192 (Friday, October 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62284-62285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21763]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability of and Request for Comment on an Interim
Report for the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas Resiliency Study
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requests comments on
the alternatives considered to date by the Buffalo Bayou and
Tributaries, Texas Resiliency Study (BBTRS) to help inform the Study
Team's recommendation to the Chief of Engineers on reducing the flood
risk along Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries in Harris and Fort Bend
counties, Texas. An Interim Report has been prepared to document
alternatives considered to date. The Interim Report, which does not
include recommendations or decisions, is being published to solicit
input from the public. Seeking this public input prior to identifying a
preferred alternative will help ensure the analysis of a complex
problem--and ultimately decisions--are effective, responsive,
sustainable and understood by the region's communities.
DATES: Written comments on the Interim Report must be received by email
or post-marked by November 2, 2020.
ADDRESSES: The Interim Report and additional pertinent information
about the- study can be found at: https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/Buffalo-Bayou-and-Tributaries-Resiliency-Study/.
Interested persons may submit written comments by email to
[email protected] or by mail to: USACE, Galveston District, Attn:
BBTRS, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melinda Fisher, USACE, Regional
Planning and Environmental Center, at 918-669-7423 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Introduction and Background. USACE, in partnership with the
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), as the non-Federal
sponsor, began a feasibility study in 2018 to identify, evaluate, and
recommend actions to reduce flood risks along Buffalo Bayou and its
tributaries, both upstream and downstream of Addicks and Barker dams.
The study will also complete a Dam Safety Modification Evaluation on
Addicks and Barker dams. The BBTRS is authorized under Section 216 of
the Flood Control Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-611) and existing project
authority. Section 216 authorizes USACE to review a completed
navigation, flood risk reduction, water supply, or related project due
to significantly changed physical or economic conditions, and to report
to Congress with recommendations regarding modification of the
project's structures or operation, and for improving the quality of the
environment in the overall public interest.
Existing flood risk management (FRM) projects in the watersheds
include the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas Project (Project),
which was authorized by Congress in the 1930s for the purpose of
providing flood control for the City of Houston and Port of Houston. In
the 1940s, Addicks and Barker Dams were constructed and a portion of
Buffalo Bayou was straightened as part of the completed Project. Since
Project completion, a number of physical improvements and operational
changes have been made to attempt to mitigate changing conditions
within Addicks, Barker, Buffalo Bayou and surrounding watersheds.
However, the watersheds continue to experience major flood events, most
recently and most significantly Hurricane Harvey in 2017. These flood
events, combined with documented increases in precipitation
frequencies, continued urbanization of the watersheds, and the
potential for flooding events in the future, indicate the Project may
need to be modified to further mitigate flood risks.
The study will evaluate ways to reduce flooding in three
watersheds--Addicks Reservoir, Barker Reservoir, and Buffalo Bayou--
focusing on areas upstream and downstream of Addicks and Barker dams
and along Buffalo Bayou. A portion of Cypress Creek Watershed is being
considered because overflow from this watershed contributes to flooding
in the Addicks Reservoir Watershed. Brays Bayou and White Oak Bayou
could be affected by actions benefiting Buffalo Bayou, so impacts to
these watersheds will be evaluated. The scope of the study does not
include identifying ways to lower flood risk in the lower Cypress
Creek, Brays Bayou or White Oak Bayou watersheds.
Since the public scoping meetings held in May 2019 and a newsletter
sent in January 2020, the alternatives (potential ways to address the
problems) have evolved based on the preliminary results of modeling the
physical and economic performance of these actions. The study team used
this information to advance the evaluation of several alternatives,
remove some from further consideration and add some additional measures
for more detailed consideration. To explain this updated information
and present the focused array of alternatives, the Study Team is adding
a step to the process: release of an Interim Report for public review
and comment.
Note: This is not a Notice of Availability associated with the
release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This is an
interim step intended to gather public feedback before a Draft EIS
is released.
2. Interim Report. The Study Team prepared this Report to present
preliminary findings and a focused array of alternatives considered to
date that manage risk and reduce damages under existing and future
conditions.
[[Page 62285]]
The report describes the process to identify and screen potential
measures to address the problems and meet the purpose and need of the
study. The report also describes engineering, economic, social, and
environmental analyses conducted to date; it does not identify a
preferred alternative nor does it make any recommendations or
decisions.
The Interim Report identifies three main problems in the study
area--upstream risks to life safety and property when inflows exceed
reservoir capacity, dam safety risks if a dam component were to fail
during a flood, and downstream risks to life safety and property when
flows exceed channel capacity. To address each of these concerns, a
number of structural and non-structural measures were considered
including but not limited to: Bypass channels, new reservoirs,
detention ponds, tunnels, dredging of existing detention ponds and
reservoirs, spillway modifications, levees/floodwalls, channel
modifications, property acquisition, changes in operations, structure
modifications, and prairie/wetland restoration. The Study Team screened
an initial array of measures based on technical feasibility,
performance, cost, and benefits. Eight alternatives are identified in
the interim report as the focused array. These include:
No Action. No Federal action is taken to reduce future
flood risks. This alternative serves as the baseline condition to
compare the action alternatives' benefits and costs and is required by
policy.
FRM Alternative 2: Cypress Creek Reservoir. This
alternative investigates the feasibility of increasing storage capacity
in the upper watersheds through construction of a third reservoir in
the vicinity of the Harris-Waller County line in the far western part
of the study area.
FRM Alternative 6: Buffalo Bayou Channel Improvements.
This alternative facilitates more efficient conveyance of water by
widening and deepening Buffalo Bayou, while preserving or enhancing the
natural characteristics of the aquatic and riparian ecosystem.
FRM Alternative 7: Non-Structural Only. This alternative
utilizes actions that reduce human exposure and vulnerability to
flooding, but does not attempt to change the hazard. Property
acquisition along Buffalo Bayou would lower the risk to lives and
properties downstream during all precipitation events, while also
allowing for non-damaging larger releases from the reservoirs during
more severe events.
FRM Alternative 8: Combination Plan. This alternative
utilizes a combination of FRM Alternative 2 and 6, which includes
construction of a third reservoir and channel improvements to Buffalo
Bayou.
Dam Safety (DS) Alternative 4: Tolerable Risk. This
alternative increases the spillway capacity and prevents overtopping by
reinforcing all four spillways of Addicks and Barker dams. The north
spillways would be removed and replaced with stepped roller compacted
concrete (RCC) and the south spillways would be replaced with
articulated concrete block.
DS Alternative 5: Tolerable Risk + As Low as Reasonably
Practicable. This alternative is similar to DS Alternative 4, except
that all four spillways would be removed and replaced with stepped RCC.
System Operations. This alternative involves acquiring
additional lands to efficiently and safely operate the reservoirs given
the changed circumstances. A range of reservoir elevations are being
considered and could extend from current Federally-owned government
land to elevation 112 at Addicks Reservoir and elevation 105 at Barker
Reservoir. This would involve acquisition of between 14,868 and 24,707
tracts of land and involve relocation of 10,606 to 21,302 residential
properties and 259 to 492 commercial properties.
3. Public Participation. USACE and HCFCD are committed to
proactively informing and engaging with the community and stakeholders
to reach effective and implementable flood risk management solutions.
These agencies intend for public review of the Interim Report to
provide input on the alternatives and the complexity of developing
solutions. Public and resource agency feedback on the Interim Report
will inform the next level of evaluation to identify a Tentatively
Selected Plan (TSP). The TSP may be a single alternative or comprised
of several alternatives from the focused array under consideration.
Solicitation of Comments: The USACE is soliciting comments on the
Interim Report from the public, Federal, State, and local agencies,
elected officials, Tribal Nations, and other interested parties. The
public comment period will begin [DATE OF PUBLICATION] and written
comments may be submitted by email or through postal mail at the
addresses provided above.
Meetings: Due to the ``Proclamation on Declaring a National
Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Outbreak'' issued on March 13, 2020, no in-person meetings will be
held. The USACE will host informational sharing sessions intended to
provide an overview of the report and findings to date. The study
website provides the dates and times of the information sessions, as
well as up-to-date access details.
4. Identification of Tentatively Selected Plan and Availability of
Draft EIS. Depending on input received on the Interim Report, USACE
estimates issuing a Draft Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for public review and comment in early 2021. At that
time, USACE will provide a 45-day public review period, in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). USACE will notify
all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals of the
availability of the draft document at that time.
Christopher G. Beck,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2020-21763 Filed 10-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
