[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 54617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27879]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), 
Devils Lake, North Dakota, Emergency Outlet

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The 1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, Public Law 
(Pub. L.) 105-18, directed the Secretary of the Army to conduct 
preconstruction engineering and design (PED) for an emergency outlet 
from Devils Lake, North Dakota, to the Sheyenne River. The PED 
authorization also required that an EIS be prepared. The construction 
of an emergency outlet was not authorized by Pub. L. 105-18.
    Devils Lake is a terminal lake located in northeastern North 
Dakota. Devils Lake has a long history of a wide range of fluctuating 
lake levels. Since 1993, the lake has risen about 20 feet. Rising lake 
levels have resulted in damage to houses, businesses, infrastructure, 
transportation systems, and land uses. Significant expenditures of 
Federal, State, and local funds have been required to relocate 
structures and to raise and strengthen roads and levees. While these 
efforts will provide immediate protection, there is great concern that 
the lake could continue to rise. The Devils Lake Basin is a subbasin of 
the Hudson Bay drainage system, although Devils Lake has not 
contributed to the Hudson Bay drainage for many centuries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the DEIS can be directed to: Colonel J.M. Wonsik, 
District Engineer, St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. 
Robert Whiting, 190 Fifth Street East, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1638.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS will assess impacts, identify areas 
of potential impact, identify mitigation features, discuss monitoring 
activities, and identify future activities associated with an emergency 
outlet from Devils Lake.
    Significant issues and resources to be identified in the DEIS will 
be determined through coordination with responsible Federal, State, 
Canadian, and local agencies; the general public; interested private 
organizations and parties; and affected Native Americans. Anyone who 
has an interest in participating in the development of the DEIS is 
invited to contact the St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers.
    Significant issues identified to date for discussion in the DEIS 
are as follows:
    1. Natural resources including: fishery, wildlife, vegetation, 
wetlands, and riparian areas;
    2. Cultural resources;
    3. Water quality and quantity, groundwater, erosion, and 
sedimentation;
    4. Federally and State listed threatened or endangered plant or 
animal species;
    5. Social and economic resources;
    6. Downstream intrastate, interstate, and international resources;
    7. Native American and Tribal Trust resources and responsibilities.
    Additional issues of significance may be identified through public 
and agency meetings. A notice of those meetings will be provided to 
interested parties and to local news media.
    Construction of an emergency outlet would be considered major in 
scope. An outlet to the Sheyenne River has the potential to result in 
significant impacts. Our environmental review will be conducted 
according to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations, Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and applicable laws and 
regulations.
    We anticipate that the DEIS will be available to the public in the 
fall of 1998.

    Dated: September 30, 1997.
J.M. Wonsik,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 97-27879 Filed 10-20-97; 8:45 am]
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