Engineers Corps September 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is seeking public comment on the environmental scope of an upcoming study, named the ``Upper Ohio Navigation Study, Pennsylvania.'' This study will consider and evaluate the feasibility of alternatives for maintaining commercial navigation on the Pennsylvania portion of the Ohio River, and also consider and evaluate the feasibility of ecosystem restoration opportunities. The focus of the upper Ohio River navigation feasibility study is to develop the best plan for maintaining safe, environmentally sustainable, and reliable navigation on the upper 40 miles of the Ohio River in Pennsylvania. Navigation is currently provided through three old lock and dam facilitiesEmsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks and damsdating from the 1920s. The study will consider a 60-year period from 2010 to 2070. Navigation alternatives will consider facility operation and maintenance, rehabilitation, and new construction needs and opportunities. In order to facilitate early public involvement in the planning process, the Corps will be conducting two environmental scoping meetings open to the public in the study area. The public is invited to attend these meetings to hear an overview of the study, and assist in the identification of significant issues to be considered during the study process. (See DATES).

In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the following committee meeting:

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD, Huntington District will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of the proposed installation of hydropower generation facilities at Bluestone Dam, Hinton, Summers County, WV (Hydropower Project). The proposed hydropower project would utilize three of the six existing penstocks which were part of the original construction of the dam. The proposed project would also involve the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States (U.S.) and would involve work in the New River, a navigable water of the U.S. Therefore, the subject proposal would require a Department of the Army (DA) permit pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water Act (Section 404) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (Section 10). This EIS will document the agency's evaluation of all reasonable alternatives as they affect stability of the dam and control the release of water from Bluestone Dam, and will document analysis of impacts to Waters of the U.S. sufficient to accommodate the NEPA process for permitting under section 10 and section 404.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Regulatory Branch), in coordination with the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), announced availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hemet/San Jacinto Integrated Recharge and Recovery Project. The announced deadline for submittal of comments has been corrected in order to meet the statutory 45-day requirement. The new deadline is October 31, 2006.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Regulatory Branch), in coordination with the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hemet/San Jacinto Integrated Recharge and Recovery Project. EMWD requires authorization pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for 53.1 acres of fill into waters of the U.S. A public hearing will be held at the Simpson Center (305 East Devonshire Avenue, Hemet, CA 92543) on September 19, 2006 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.