Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 98 / Friday, May 20, 2011 / Notices 29217 

the project area. Due to these 

authorities, USACE is acting as the lead 

agency for the EIS pursuant to NEPA. 

SBFCA will be acting as the lead agency 

for the EIR according to CEQA as an 

agency of the State of California with 

delegated authority to approve the 

project. 

2. Alternatives. The EIS/EIRs will 

consider several alternatives for 

reducing flood damage. Alternatives 

analyzed during the investigation will 

consist of a combination of one or more 

measures to reduce the risk of flooding. 

These measures include installing cutoff 

walls, and constructing seepage berms. 

3. Scoping Process. 

a. A series of public scoping meetings 

will be held on June 27 and 28, 2011, 

to present information to the public and 

to receive comments from the public on 

both the feasibility study and the 

FRWLP. These meetings are intended to 

initiate the process to involve concerned 

individuals, and local, state, and 

Federal agencies. 

b. Significant issues to be analyzed in 

depth in the environmental documents 

include effects on hydraulics, wetlands 

and other waters of the U.S., vegetation 

and wildlife resources, special-status 

species, aesthetics, cultural resources, 

recreation, land use, fisheries, water 

quality, air quality, transportation, and 

socioeconomics; and cumulative effects 

of related projects in the study area. 

c. USACE is consulting with the State 

Historic Preservation Officer to comply 

with the National Historic Preservation 

Act and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service and National Marine Fisheries 

Service to comply with the Endangered 

Species Act. USACE also is coordinating 

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

to comply with the Fish and Wildlife 

Coordination Act. 

d. A 45-day public review period will 

be provided for individuals and 

agencies to review and comment on the 

draft environmental documents. All 

interested parties are encouraged to 

respond to this notice and provide a 

current address if they wish to be 

notified of the draft EIS/EIR circulation. 

4. Availability. The draft EIS/EIR for 

the FRWLP is scheduled to be available 

for public review and comment in late 

2011. The draft EIS/EIR for the Sutter 

Basin Feasibility Study is scheduled to 

be available for public review and 

comment in mid 2012. 

Dated: May 12, 2011. 

Andrew B. Kiger, 

LTC, EN, Commanding. 

[FR Doc. 2011–12510 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Notice of Availability of the Final 

Programmatic Environmental Impact 

Statement for the Mechanical and 

Artificial Creation and Maintenance of 

Emergent Sandbar Habitat in the 

Riverine Segments of the Upper 

Missouri River, Missouri River Basin, 

United States 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers intends to file a Final 

Programmatic Environmental Impact 

Statement (FPEIS) for the Mechanical 

and Artificial Creation and Maintenance 

of Emergent Sandbar Habitat on the 

Riverine Segments of the Upper 

Missouri River with the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency. The 

FEIS is available for final public review. 

Details on the proposed action, location 

and areas of environmental concern 

addressed in the FPEIS are provided 

below under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION. 

DATES: The review period will be open 

30 days from the date of this notice. The 

Record of Decision is anticipated to be 

issued in August, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments should 

be sent to: Department of the Army; 

Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; 

CENWO–PM–AC; ATTN: Emergent 

Sandbar Habitat Programmatic EIS; 1616 

Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102– 

4901, or e-mailed to: 

Cynthia.s.upah@usace.army.mil. 

Comments must be postmarked, 

e-mailed, or otherwise submitted no 

later than June 13, 2011. Copies of the 

FPEIS have been sent to all agencies and 

individuals who participated in the 

scoping process or public hearings and 

to those requesting copies. The FEIS is 

available online at: http:// 

www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/MRRP_

PUB_DEV.download_documentation_

peis. To obtain a copy, please contact 

Ms. Cynthia Upah. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Cynthia Upah, Project Manager, by 

telephone: (402) 995–2672, by mail: 

1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 

68102–4901, or by e-mail: 

Cynthia.s.upah@usace.army.mil. For 

inquires from the media, please contact 

the USACE Omaha District Public 

Affairs Officer (PAO), Ms. Monique 

Farmer by telephone: (402) 995–2416, 

by mail: 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, 

NE 68102, or by e-mail: 

Monique.l.farmer@usace.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. 

Background. The Emergent Sandbar 

Habitat (ESH) program is being 

implemented by the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (Corps) for the benefit of the 

interior population of the Interior least 

tern (least tern) and the northern Great 

Plains piping plover (piping plover). 

This implementation program resulted 

from a Biological Opinion (BiOp) issued 

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) in which the Reasonable and 

Prudent Alternative (RPA) called for the 

Corps to provide sufficient ESH acreage 

in order to meet biological metrics 

(fledge ratios) to avoid jeopardizing 

continued existence of the species, as 

defined by the Endangered Species Act 

(ESA). 

The FPEIS is needed to provide 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) coverage for the mechanical and 

artificial construction of ESH in the 

riverine segments of the Upper Missouri 

River, pursuant to the 2003 BiOp 

Amendment RPA IV(b) 3, and to 

compare impacts among a range of 

alternatives. The goal is to inform the 

selection of a preferred alternative that 

allows for the creation and replacement 

of sufficient habitat to support tern and 

plover populations on the Missouri 

River in a safe, efficient and costeffective manner that minimizes 

negative environmental consequences. 

Alternatives to the proposed project 

that are considered in the FPEIS include 

(1) no action, including existing 

program activities and no action; (2) and 

6 action alternatives of various acreage 

creation. Environmental issues 

addressed in the FPEIS include 

hydrology, water quality, aggradation 

and degradation, biological resources, 

air quality, noise and recreation. 

After detailed consideration of the 

environmental and social impacts, and 

cumulative effects, of the Alternatives, 

the Corps has identified an Adaptive 

Management Implementation Process 

(AMIP) as the preferred alternative, and 

not one of the specific acreage 

alternatives. The key aspect of the AMIP 

is that, rather than selecting a specific 

acreage alternative and pursuing such 

construction, actions would be 

progressively implemented with the 

focus on monitoring a combination of 

biological and physical metrics 

(measurements). Implementation of 

progressively larger acreage amounts of 

habitat would continue until the desired 

biological response is attained and 

sustained. 


jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
29218 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 98 / Friday, May 20, 2011 / Notices 

However, the exact number of acres 

needed to be constructed and 

maintained is uncertain at this time. 

Based on the analysis in the PEIS, the 

impacts of the larger alternatives (3, 2 

and 1) are deemed to be moderate to 

high. The Corps has chosen a maximum 

construction ceiling of Alternative 3.5 

(4,370 acres) at this time. Impacts of 

lesser alternatives (3.5, 4 and 5) are 

deemed to be moderate to low. This 

checkpoint of Alternative 3.5 is 

proposed because it represents a 

midrange of habitat available at a time 

when the birds were productive 

(biological metric), and it is anticipated 

that a positive, sustainable biological 

response will be met before fully 

implementing up to Alternative 3.5. If 

Alternative 3.5 is fully implemented 

and the birds are not meeting biological 

metrics, the Corps can consider 

continuing to higher acreage alternatives 

or look at other methodologies. 

Appropriate coordination and 

disclosure would be pursued if 

Alternative 3.5 was exceeded (potential 

amended Record of Decision or 

additional NEPA). 

2. Document Availability. The 

Emergent Sandbar Habitat Programmatic 

EIS is available online at http:// 

www.moriverrecovery.org/mrrp/MRRP_

PUB_DEV.download_documentation_

peis, or see the ADDRESSES section. For 

more information about the Emergent 

Sandbar Habitat program, please visit 

http://www.moriverrecovery.org under 

‘‘BiOp/Mit Efforts.’’ 

Dated: May 9, 2011. 

Kayla Eckert Uptmor, 

Chief Planning Branch, Omaha District. 

[FR Doc. 2011–12511 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Availability of a Final Environmental 

Impact Statement To Consider 

Issuance of a Department of the Army 

Permit Pursuant to Section 404 of the 

Clean Water Act for the Sabine Mining 

Company’s Proposal To Construct, 

Operate, and Reclaim the Rusk Permit 

Area, Rusk, Panola, and Harrison 

Counties, TX (USACE Project No. 

SWF–2007–00560) 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

requirements of the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 

Fort Worth District has prepared a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). 

This FEIS evaluates project alternatives 

and potential impacts to the natural, 

physical and human environment as a 

result of the Sabine Mining Company’s 

proposal to construct, operate and 

reclaim the Rusk Permit Area. The 

USACE regulates this proposed project 

pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and 

Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of 

the Clean Water Act. The proposed 

activity would involve the discharge of 

dredged and fill material into waters of 

the United States associated with the 

proposed construction, operation and 

reclamation of the Rusk Permit Area. 

DATES: Submit comments no later than 

60 days from the date of publication of 

this notice. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and 

suggestions concerning this proposal to 

Mr. Darvin Messer, Regulatory Project 

Manager, Regulatory Branch, CESWF– 

PER–R, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, 

Fort Worth, TX 76102–0300 or via email: Darvin.Messer@usace.army.mil. 

Requests to be placed on the mailing 

list should also be sent to this address. 

Please reference USACE Project No. 

SWF–2007–00560. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Darvin Messer, Regulatory Project 

Manager at (817) 886–1744 or via email: Darvin.Messer@usace.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discharges 

of fill material into waters of the United 

States are regulated under Section 404 

of the Clean Water Act, with the 

permitting responsibility administered 

by the USACE. The proposed project 

must also address environmental 

impacts relative to the Clean Air Act, 

Clean Water Act, Endangered Species 

Act and the Fish and Wildlife 

Coordination Act (FWCA). In 

accordance with the NEPA, the FEIS 

evaluates practicable alternatives for the 

USACE’s decision making process. As 

required by NEPA, the USACE also 

analyzes the ‘‘no action’’ alternative as a 

baseline for gauging potential impacts. 

Written comments should be sent to 

Mr. Darvin Messer (see ADDRESSES). The 

comments are due no later than 60 days 

from the date of publication of this 

notice. Copies of the FEIS may be 

obtained by contacting USACE Fort 

Worth District Regulatory Branch at 

(817) 886–1731 or downloaded/printed 

from the Fort Worth District USACE 

Internet Web site at: http:// 

www.swf.usace.army.mil/pubdata/ 

environ/regulatory/permitting/rusk.asp. 

Copies of the FEIS are also available 

for inspection at the locations identified 

below: 

(1) Tatum Public Library, 335 Hood 

Street, Tatum, TX 75691. 

(2) Sammie Brown Library, 522 West 

College Street, Carthage, TX 75633. 

(3) Longview Public Library, 222 West 

Cotton Street, Longview, TX 75601. 

(4) Rusk County Library, 106 East 

Main St., Henderson, TX 75652. 

(5) Marshall Public Library, 300 South 

Alamo Boulevard, Marshall, TX 75670. 

(6) Henderson City Hall, 400 West 

Main Street, Henderson, TX 75652. 

(7) Tatum City Hall, 680 Crystal 

Farms Road, Tatum, TX 75691. 

(8) Longview City Hall, 300 West 

Cotton Street, Longview, TX 75601. 

(9) Carthage City Hall, 812 West 

Panola Street, Carthage, TX 75633. 

(10) Marshall City Hall, 401 South 

Alamo Boulevard, Marshall, TX 75785. 

After the public comment period 

ends, the USACE will consider all 

comments received, revise the FEIS as 

appropriate, and issue a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

Stephen L Brooks, 

Chief, Regulatory Branch. 

[FR Doc. 2011–12512 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army, Corps of 

Engineers 

Intent To Prepare an Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska 

Department of Transportation & Public 

Facilities Foothills West 

Transportation Access Project 

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Department of Defense. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 

intends to prepare a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 

to identify and analyze the potential 

impacts associated with the proposed 

Foothills West Transportation Access 

Project (Foothills Project). The Corps is 

the lead Federal agency; the Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) and the 

Alaska Department of Natural Resources 

(ADNR) are participating as cooperating 

agencies in the DEIS development 

process. The Corps will be evaluating a 

permit application for work under 

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act 

of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean 

Water Act. The Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) will be used as a basis 

for the permit decision and to ensure 


jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES