[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69361-69362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26262]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility Report/Environmental 
Impact Statement--James River Feasibility Study, South Dakota

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 69362]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and 
implementing regulations, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will 
be prepared and incorporated into the James River, South Dakota 
Feasibility Study once alternative actions are identified that meet the 
project objectives described below. The James River Water Development 
District (JRWDD) is the non-Federal sponsor for this study. The JRWDD 
encompasses portions of Brown, Marshall, Spink, Davison, Yankton, 
Beadle, Sanborn, Hutchinson and Hanson Counties in South Dakota.
    Based on the authorizing legislation and previous studies, this 
Feasibility Study will address the need for enhancement of ecological 
resources and ecosystem management and flood damage reduction, both 
independently and in combination. The study will evaluate pertinent 
information and identify problems and opportunities that exist in the 
study area. Various alternatives (i.e., potential projects) will be 
evaluated to determine whether or not they are technically feasible and 
economically cost effective or economically justified depending on 
their purpose (e.g., ecosystem enhancement/restoration and/or flood 
damage reduction).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the NEPA 
process, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Eric Laux, CENWO-
PM-AE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 106 South 15th Street, Omaha, 
Nebraska 68102, telephone at (402) 221-7186, or Fax (402) 221-4886. For 
additional information on the Feasibility Study, contact Richard 
Taylor, CENWO-PM-AP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 106 South 15th 
Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, telephone (402) 221-3772, or Fax (402) 
221-4890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. This Feasibility Study is authorized 
under Section 401(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. 
The Federal objective of water and related land resources planning is 
to contribute to national economic development consistent with 
protecting the nation's environment in accordance with national 
environmental statutes, applicable executive orders, and other Federal 
planning requirements.
    b. The study area consists of the portion of the James River and 
adjacent areas that are located in eastern South Dakota. The James 
River flows generally southward for a distance of 747 river miles, 474 
miles of which lie in the study area. This river has the flattest 
gradient of any river of its length in North America, falling only 
about 135 feet along its South Dakota course. The James River basin 
occupies a total of 22,000 square miles, of which 14,000 square miles 
lie in South Dakota. The basin in South Dakota is bounded by the 
Missouri River drainage to the west and the Big Sioux and Vermillion 
River basins to the east and southeast. The Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge 
is located at the upper end of the study area. Land use in the basin is 
primarily agriculture and the larger communities located in the study 
area include Mitchell, Huron, and Aberdeen.
    c. The intention of this Feasibility Study and EIS is to formulate 
and evaluate alternatives that help to restore or enhance ecological 
function and habitat and/or ameliorate flooding problems along the 
James River. Factors such as sediment deposits from tributaries, log 
jams, encroachment of vegetation into the channel, inadequate bridge 
capacity, low head dams in the channel, and the flat slope and 
meandering nature of the river are contributors to the flooding 
problems exhibited by the river. In 2000, the Corps completed a 
reconnaissance study evaluating potential solutions to limit flooding 
along the James River and to identify where flood control storage could 
supplement instream flows for fish and wildlife habitat. No structural 
flood control projects were found to be feasible. However, the study 
recommended future local study efforts focusing on long-term management 
and protection of the two- to five-year flood plain with emphasis on 
removing local channel obstructions. In addition, the report identified 
numerous opportunities to pursue environmental restoration projects 
that would also help alleviate agricultural flood damages.
    d. Scoping and agency meetings will be held for this project. A 
public notice will be widely distributed inviting public participation 
in the scoping process. This process will be the key to preparing a 
concise EIS and clarifying the significant issues to be analyzed in 
depth. Public concerns on issues, studies needed, alternatives to be 
examined, procedures and other related matters will be addressed during 
scoping. Scoping meetings are tentatively planned to be held at 
Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell and Yankton, South Dakota in the middle part 
of December. Upon setting exact locations, dates, and times for the 
meetings, the specific locations of the meetings will be provided in 
news releases and posted on the Omaha District Corps of Engineers and 
James River Water Development District Web-sites. The web addresses for 
the sites are http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pa/pahm/hottopics.htm 
and http://www.jrwdd.com.
    e. The estimated date when a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
is expected to be available for public review is September 2006.

Candace M. Gorton,
Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Cultural Resources Section, 
Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 04-26262 Filed 11-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M