### 59122 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 185 / Friday, September 23, 2011 / Notices

grouted riprap, ungrouted riprap, and gunite lining); utility crossings;
activities associated with construction of a Water Reclamation Plant adjacent to the Santa Clara River and required bank protection; water quality control facilities (sedimentation control, flood debris, and water quality basins); regular and ongoing maintenance of all flood, drainage, and water quality protection structures and facilities on the RMDP site (such activities would include periodic inspection of structures and monitoring of vegetation growth and sediment buildup to ensure that the integrity of the structures is maintained and that planned conveyance capacity is present, routine repairs and maintenance of bridges and bank protection, and emergency maintenance activities); and temporary haul routes for grading equipment and geotechnical survey activities.

As a Federal agency, the Corps prepared the Final GCD in compliance with Section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act and for the issuance of a Corps Section 404 Permit for the discharges of fill
material into waters of the United
States. Direct and indirect air emissions for all pollutants related to the Federal action are not below specified de

minimis Federal thresholds (40 CFR 93.153(b)).

On 31 August 2011, the Corps completed its environmental review and finalized the GCD, executed the ROD, and issued a provisional Section 404
Standard Individual Permit for the LEDPA. The Corps considered and responded to all comments received in finalizing the EIS/EIR, Final GCD, ROD, and issuing the provisional permit. The public can request copies of the Final General Conformity Determination document or the ROD from the Corps at the address listed below. In addition, copies of the Final General Conformity
Determination document are available for review during the next 30 days at the following libraries: County of Los Angeles Newhall Branch, Castaic Branch, Sylmar Branch, Valencia Branch, and the County of Ventura
Fillmore Branch.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Questions or requests concerning the Final General Conformity Determination
or the ROD should be directed to: Dr. Aaron O. Allen, Chief, North Coast Branch, Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite 110, Ventura, California 93001, (805) 585–2148.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  None. Dated: September 19, 2011.
David J. Castanon, Chief, Regulatory Division, Los Angeles

District.

[FR Doc. 2011–24509 Filed 9–22–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3720–58–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers** 

**Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in**  **Cooperation With the North Carolina Department of Transportation for**  **Improvements to the US 17 and Market Street (US 17 Business) Corridor in** 
**Northern New Hanover and Southern Pender Counties, NC** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability.

**SUMMARY :**  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, Wilmington Regulatory Division is issuing this notice to advise the public
that a State of North Carolina funded Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared describing proposed improvements to the transportation system starting at Military Cutoff Road in New Hanover County to north of Hampstead along US 17, Pender County, NC (TIP Projects U–4751 and R–3300).

**DATES :**  Written comments on the Draft EIS will be received until November 1,

2011.

**ADDRESSES :**  Mr. Brad Shaver, Regulatory Project Manager, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, 69 Darlington Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403 or Ms. Olivia Farr, Project Development Engineer, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699–

1548.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Questions about the proposed action
and DEIS can be directed to Mr. Brad Shaver, COE—Regulatory Project Manager, telephone: (910) 251–4611 or Ms. Olivia Farr, NCDOT—Project Development Engineer, telephone: (919)

733–7844, ext. 253.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The COE in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation has prepared a DEIS on a proposal to make transportation improvements to the US 17 and Market Street (US 17 Business)
corridor in northern New Hanover and
southern Pender Counties. Two North Carolina Department of Transportation Improvement Program (TIPs U–4751 and R–3300) projects are being evaluated as part of the US 17 Corridor Study.

The purpose of the US 17 Corridor Study project is to improve the traffic carrying capacity and safety of the US
17 and Market Street corridor in the project area. The project study area is roughly bounded on the west by I–40, on the north by the Northeast Cape Fear River, Holly Shelter Game Lands to the east, and Market Street and US 17 to the
south.

This project is being reviewed through the Merger 01 process designed to streamline the project development and permitting processes, agreed to by the COE, North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (Division of Water Quality, Division of Coastal Management), Federal Highway Administration (for this project not applicable), and the North Carolina Department of Transportation and supported by other stakeholder agencies and local units of government. The other partnering agencies include: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; N.C. Department of Cultural Resources; and the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Merger process provides a forum for appropriate agency representatives to discuss and reach consensus on ways to facilitate meeting the regulatory requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act during the NEPA/SEPA decision-making phase of transportation projects.

In 2006 the project was presented to
Federal and State Resource and Regulatory Agencies to gain concurrence on the purpose and need for the project. The aforementioned purpose and need of the project was agreed upon by participating agencies in September of 2006. In January 2007, the project was again presented to participating agencies regarding the preliminary corridor screening process in an attempt to decide which
alternatives would be carried forward for detailed analysis. In August of 2007, the alternatives to carry forward were identified. The COE has worked closely with NCDOT and its representatives to identify jurisdictional resources within the alternatives carried forward. Upon completion of the DEIS, NCDOT submitted a request to the COE to solicit comment from the public in order to identify the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA) for the project. This determination is expected in late 2011.

Citizen public hearings are being scheduled by NCDOT for the Fall of
2011 at which time citizens will be able


### 59123 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 185 / Friday, September 23, 2011 / Notices

to voice their opinions on the LEDPA
decision.

The DEIS is available on the COE Web

site at: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/ Wetlands/Projects/HampsteadBypass
and also available on the NCDOT Web

site at: http://www.ncdot.org/projects/ US17HampsteadBypass/. Any person having difficulty in viewing the
document online can contact the COE project manager or the NCDOT project manager for a CD copy of the document.

After distribution and review of the Draft EIS and Final EIS, the Applicant understands that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project. The ROD will document the completion of the EIS process and will serve as a basis for permitting decisions by Federal and State agencies.

To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the address provided. The Wilmington District will periodically issue Public Notices soliciting public and agency comment on the proposed action and alternatives to the proposed action as they are developed.

Dated: September 15, 2011. S. Kenneth Jolly, Chief, Wilmington Regulatory District.

[FR Doc. 2011–24485 Filed 9–22–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3720–58–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers** 

**Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for**  **the Puyallup River General Investigation Study, Pierce County,** 

**WA**

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of Intent.

**SUMMARY :**  The Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, for a proposed flood-risk management project in the Puyallup River Basin including the Puyallup River
downstream of Electron Dam to Commencement Bay, the Carbon River
and the White River downstream of Mud Mountain Dam. This study was requested by Pierce County (the local sponsor), Washington, because of the potential for significant flooding within the Puyallup River Basin.

A DEIS is being prepared because of the potential for impacts on environmental resources, particularly salmonid habitat, and the intense public interest already demonstrated in addressing the flooding problems of the Puyallup, Carbon and White Rivers.

The Puyallup River General Investigation (GI) DEIS for the Puyallup River Basin is being conducted under the authority of Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 1962, Public Law 87–874.
That section authorized a comprehensive study of Puget Sound, Washington, and adjacent waters including tributaries, in the interest of flood control, navigation, and other
water uses and related land resources.

**DATES :**  Persons or organizations wishing to submit study scoping comments should do so by October 24, 2011. Public comment may also be made at the study scoping meeting October 6, 2011 in Fife, Washington (see Scoping Meeting). Notification of scoping meeting times and locations will be sent to all agencies, organizations, and individuals on the project mailing list.

**ADDRESSES :**  All comments on the proposed project, requests for inclusion on the mailing list and future
documents should be sent to: Amanda Ogden, Study Environmental Coordinator, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. 3755, Seattle, WA 98124–3755, Attn: CENWS–PM–ER; telephone (206) 764–3628; fax (206) 764–4467; or e-mail Amanda.Ogden@usace.army.mil.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  General questions concerning the proposed action and the DEIS can be directed to: Amanda Ogden, Study Environmental Coordinator (see

**ADDRESSES**) or C.J. Klocow, Project Manager, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. 3755, Seattle,
WA 98124–3755, Attn: CENWS–PM–CP; telephone (206) 764–6073; fax (206) 764–4467; or e-mail Charles.J.Klocow@usace.army.mil.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Background. The Puyallup River basin encompasses a drainage area of approximately 1,040 square miles. Major tributaries include the Carbon and White Rivers. The Puyallup, Carbon
and White Rivers drain the northern flank of Mount Rainier. The study area for the DEIS will be the Puyallup River downstream of Electron Dam to Commencement Bay, the Carbon River
and the White River downstream of
Mud Mountain Dam.

The purpose of the Puyallup River GI study is to better identify the problems and opportunities that exist to relieve the potential for flooding, reduce flood risks and to develop a flood-risk management plan that fits Federal law and policy and is within the capability of the local sponsor to support their required share of the total project costs.

This is a single-purpose flood-risk management study. The goal of this project is to identify the National Economic Development (NED) plan, the flood-risk management alternative that provides the maximum net economic
benefits. In accordance with USACE policy, minimization of ecosystem, cultural, and socio-economic impacts will be significant project considerations (Reference: ER 1105–2– 100, Planning Guidance Notebook). The local sponsor may request the recommendation of a plan other than the NED, the Locally Preferred Plan (LPP).

Alternatives. In the reconnaissance phase for the Puyallup River GI study,
USACE identified two alternative courses of action for further analysis
which are outlined below.

Alternative 1—No Action: Allow the current levee system to remain in place without a major system-wide levee system upgrade. Individual jurisdictions would continue to operate, maintain, and repair the existing levees, and dams on the Puyallup River and White River would continue present operations for
flood reduction.

Alternative 2: Construct a coordinated flood-risk management project thatwould provide critically needed floodrisk management measures at an
affordable cost in a reasonable timeframe and that will subsequently be authorized and implemented.

Pierce County and USACE are in the process of developing an array of
structural and nonstructural measures for addressing problems and opportunities and for achieving project objectives. These measures will be presented to the public at several workshops in Pierce County and to resource and Tribal groups and agencies over the course of project development.

Some or all of the measures will be combined to form the range of alternatives. In the DEIS, the preferred
alternative will be selected based on screening and evaluation of the range of
alternatives.

Scoping. Public involvement will be sought during scoping, plan formulation, and preparation of the