Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers December 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Chicago Area Waterway System Dredged Material Management Plan Study. The study is sponsored by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) on behalf of the City of Chicago. The purpose of the EIS is to assess the likely social, economic, and environmental effects of a range of potential alternative plans to ensure that maintenance dredging activities are performed in an environmentally acceptable manner, use sound engineering techniques, are economically warranted, and provide sufficient confined disposal capacity, as needed, for at least the next 20 years. Based on stakeholder and public concerns voiced throughout the process of preparing an Environmental Assessment, the Corps has determined that an EIS is warranted for the study.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Rock Island and Chicago Districts, are extending the comment period for the report ``The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) Brandon Road Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)Will County, Illinois,'' (Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS) for 14 days in response to stakeholder requests for an extension, from December 24, 2018 to January 7, 2019.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Study, Los Angeles County, California for review and comment. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Corps has prepared a Draft EIS for the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Study (DSMS). The Draft EIS evaluates risk management plans (alternatives) to remediate safety concerns such as overtopping and seepage. The Draft EIS describes and analyses the impacts of risk management plans (RMPs) that are formulated, evaluated and compared through the DSMS process in order to identify a recommended RMP that reduces risks to downstream life-safety and property associated with dam failure. Implementation of the recommended risk management plan would mitigate the intolerable Dam safety risk and allow the Dam to safely function as originally intended and authorized. Without this action, the Dam could fail resulting in life-threatening floods to downstream communities. The Proposed Action is needed to provide life-safety to the communities downstream of the Whittier Narrows Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to revise the existing regulations to establish a danger zone at the U.S. Naval Base Guam Telecommunication Site in the Pacific Ocean, Guam. The Navy requested establishment of a danger zone extending over the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Finegayan Small Arms Range. Establishment of a danger zone would intermittently restrict commercial, public, and private vessels from entering or lingering in the restricted safety zone to ensure public safety during small arms training activities. This danger zone is necessary to minimize potential conflicts between local populace activities and ongoing military training in the subject area.