5802 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 26 / Friday, February 7, 1997 / Notices

issued to FWS on January 31, 1997.

Permit 1,027 authorizes FWS takes of

adult and juvenile, endangered,

Sacramento River winter-run chinook

salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

associated with artificial propagation

and captive broodstock programs.

Permit 1,027 replaces Permit 747, which

was amended to expire on January 31,

1997 (61 FR 68721, December 30, 1996).

FWS has proposed to develop a genetic

testing protocol to identify the origin of

returning adults so as to prevent

hybridization problems. FWS has also

proposed to acquire a hatchery facility

on the mainstem Sacramento River to

avoid imprinting problems. Until the

proposed genetic testing protocol has

been reviewed and approved by NMFS,

and the mainstem river hatchery facility

has been acquired, tested with nonwinter-run chinook salmon, and

approved by NMFS, the collection of

ESA-listed adult fish for broodstock is

not authorized. Any captured hatchery

progeny suspected of being spring-run/

winter-run hybrids will be destroyed.

To monitor the propagation program,

carcasses of the adult, ESA-listed fish

that return to spawn in the wild will be

collected from the mainstem

Sacramento River and Battle Creek and

sampled for tissues and tags. Permit

1,027 expires on July 31, 2001.

Issuance of the permits, as required by

the ESA, was based on a finding that

such permits: (1) Were requested in

good faith, (2) will not operate to the

disadvantage of the ESA-listed species

that is the subject of the permits, and (3)

are consistent with the purposes and

policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA

and the NMFS regulations governing

ESA-listed species permits.

Dated: February 3, 1997.

Robert C. Ziobro,

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–3090 Filed 2–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army

Corps of Engineers

Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental

Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Deep

Run and Tiber-Hudson Water

Resources Feasibility Study in Howard

County, Maryland

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers is initiating

the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson Water

Resources Feasibility Study for the

watersheds of the Patapsco River basin.

The riparian and aquatic environmental

integrity of the Deep Run and TiberHudson watersheds have been severely

degraded by urbanization, inadequate

infrastructure and industrial

encroachment. Potential environmental

restoration of streambanks, wetlands

and forest buffers could restore riparian

and aquatic habitat, improve water

quality, restore stream channel stability,

and reduce erosion and sedimentation.

A DEIS will be integrated into the

feasibility study to document existing

conditions, project actions, and project

effects and products. Howard County is

the non-Federal sponsor for the project.

The Maryland Department of the

Environment has also contributed

matching grant funds to the county for

this study.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions about the proposed action

and DEIS can be addressed to Ms.

Kathryn Conant, Study Manager,

Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, ATTN: CENAB–PL–P, P.O.

Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203–

1715, telephone (410) 962–5175. E-mail

address: kathryn.j.conant@ccmail.

nab.usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Public Works and

Transportation, authorized the

Baltimore Metropolitan Deep Run and

Tiber-Hudson Water Resources Study,

in a resolution adopted April 30, 1992.

2. The areas proposed for

environmental restoration are known as

the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson

watersheds and are located in highly

developed eastern portions of Howard

County, Maryland. The most significant

problems in the Deep Run and TiberHudson watersheds are the loss of

aquatic and riparian habitat and the

instability of the stream channels. This

excessive degradation includes: flashy

stormwater flows which cause

streambank erosion and sedimentation,

encroachment of development which

limits riparian habitat and wetlands,

and polluted runoff which contributes

to poor water quality. These factors

negatively impact the aquatic and

riparian environment in the present and

the future.

3. In September 1996, the Corps and

Howard County executed a feasibility

cost-sharing agreement to prepare a

study on both the Deep Run and TiberHudson watersheds. This watershed

study is being conducted to investigate

the feasibility of restoring habitat and

the environmental integrity of both of

these watersheds. The purpose of this

study is to develop an ecosystem

restoration plan that will address

improvements to aquatic and terrestrial

habitat, water quality, and recreation.

The goal of this study is to implement

the watershed restoration plan that will

improve the aquatic and riparian

ecosystem within the Deep Run and

Tiber-Hudson watersheds. To achieve

this goal, the Corps will further define

the problems, needs, and opportunities

in these watersheds; analyze and

forecast environmental resource

conditions; formulate, evaluate, and

compare alternative plans for multiple

sites; develop detailed designs and costs

at selected sites; and recommend a cost

effective plan for these watersheds.

4. Throughout the feasibility study,

potential restoration projects will be

identified, evaluated, and selected on a

watershed basis. To achieve the

proposed watershed restoration plan,

the alternatives to be evaluated will

include stabilization of eroding stream

channels, creation of wetlands,

restoration of floodplains, and

construction of stormwater detention

ponds and retrofits. Habitat structures

would also be installed, if necessary, to

restore aquatic habitat and provide

added cover for spawning. Stream

restoration alternatives may include

stabilization techniques, such as

rootwads, plantings, and geotubes.

Where feasible, fish blockages may be

removed to allow for resident and

migratory passage.

5. The decision to implement these

actions will be based on an evaluation

of the probable impact of the proposed

activities on the public interest. That

decision will reflect the national

concern for both protection and

utilization of important resources. The

benefit that reasonably may be expected

to accrue from the proposal will be

balanced against its reasonably

foreseeable costs. The Baltimore District

is preparing a DEIS that will describe

the impacts of the proposed projects on

environmental and cultural resources in

the study area and the overall public

interest. The DEIS will be in accordance

with NEPA and will document all

factors that may be relevant to the

proposal, including the cumulative

effects thereof. Among these factors are

conservation, economics, aesthetics,

general environmental concerns,

wetlands, cultural values, fish and

wildlife values, flood hazards,

floodplain values, land use, recreation,

water supply and conservation, water
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 26 / Friday, February 7, 1997 / Notices 5803

quality, energy needs, safety, and the

general needs and welfare of the people.

If applicable the DEIA will also apply

guidelines issued by the Environmental

Protection Agency, under the authority

of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water

Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95–217).

6. The public involvement program

will include workshops, meetings, and

other coordination with interested

private individuals and organizations,

as will as with concerned Federal, state

and local agencies. Coordination letters

and newsletters have been sent to

appropriate agencies, organizations, and

individuals on an extensive mailing list.

Additional public information will be

provided through print media, mailings,

and radio and television

announcements.

7. In addition to the Corps, Howard

County and the Maryland Department of

the Environment, other participants that

will be involved in the study and DEIS

process include the following: U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency; U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest

Service; U.S. Geological Survey; Natural

Resource Conservation Service; and

Maryland Department of Natural

Resources. The Baltimore District

invites potentially affected Federal,

state, and local agencies, and other

organizations and entities to participate

in this study.

8. The DEIS is scheduled to be

available for public review in the spring

of 1998.

Dr. James E. Johnson,

Chief, Planning Division.

[FR Doc. 97–3046 Filed 2–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–41–M

Corps of Engineers

Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental

Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Upper

North Branch Potomac River

Environmental Restoration Feasibility

Study, Maryland and West Virginia

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers is initiating

the Upper North Branch Potomac River

Environmental Restoration Feasibility

Study. The riparian and aquatic

environmental integrity of this has been

severely degraded by urbanization, acid

mine drainage and industrial

encroachment. Potential environmental

restoration of streambanks and

remediation of wetlands and forest

buffers could restore several acres of

riparian and aquatic habitat, in addition

to improving water quality, low base

flows, and sedimentation. A DEIS will

be integrated into the feasibility study to

document existing conditions, project

actions, and project effects and

products. the non-Federal sponsors for

the project are the Maryland Department

of Natural Resources, the West Virginia

Division of Natural Resources and the

West Virginia Division of

Environmental Protection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions about the proposed action

and DEIS can be addressed to Ms. Erika

Hieber, Study Manager, Baltimore

District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

ATTN: CENAB–PL–P, P.O. Box 1715,

Baltimore, Maryland 21203–1715,

telephone (410) 962–4633. E-mail

address: erika.j.hieber@ccmail.

nab.usace.army.mil

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Public Works and

Transportation, authorized the North

Branch Potomac River Water Resources

Feasibility Study in a resolution

adopted May 13, 1993.

2. The Upper North Branch watershed

of the Potomac River extends from the

Potomac River headwaters down to the

Jennings Randolph Lake. The study area

includes portions of Garret and

Allegeny counties in Maryland, and

portions of Grant and Mineral Counties

in West Virginia. A particular focus of

this study is the Corps of Engineers’

multi-purpose Jennings Randolph Lake.

The most significant problems in the

Upper North Branch watershed are acid

mine drainage, the loss of biodiversity,

and water quality degradation. As a

result, environmental resources and

aquatic habitats have become degraded.

3. A watershed study is being

conducted to investigate the feasibility

of restoring the habitat and

environmental integrity of the Upper

North Branch watershed. The purpose

of this study is to develop an ecosystem

restoration plan that will address

improvement of aquatic and terrestrial

habitat, water quality, and recreation.

The goal of this study is to improve the

aquatic and riparian ecosystem within

the Upper North Branch watershed. To

achieve this goal, the Corps will further

define the problems and opportunities

in the Upper North Branch watershed;

analyze and forecast environmental

resource conditions; formulate,

evaluate, and compare alternative plans

for multiple sites; develop detailed

designs and costs at selected sites; and

recommend a cost effective plan for the

Upper North Branch watershed. The

proposed environmental restoration

plan would potentially include a

evaluation of acid mine drainage sites

that individually contribute to a

significant amount of the acid loading in

the watershed. To accomplish the

proposed environmental restoration

plan, an alternative analysis will be

conducted. The analysis would include

an evaluation of passive and active acid

mine drainage treatment and control

technologies that would improve

degraded aquatic habitat and water

quality by neutralizing acidity,

decreasing metal concentrations, and

raising pH levels.

4. The decision to implement these

actions will be based on an evaluation

of the probable impact of the proposed

activities on the public interest. That

decision will reflect the national

concern for both protection and

utilization of important resources. The

benefit which reasonably may be

expected to accrue from the proposal

will be balanced against its reasonably

foreseeable costs. The Baltimore District

is preparing a DEIS which will describe

the impacts of the proposed projects on

environmental and cultural resources in

the study area and the overall public

interest. The DEIS will be in accordance

with NEPA and will document all

factors which may be relevant to the

proposal, including the cumulative

effects thereof. Among these factors are

conservation, economics, aesthetics,

general environmental concerns,

wetlands, cultural values, fish and

wildlife values, flood hazards,

floodplain values, land use, recreation,

water supply and conservation, water

quality, energy needs, safety, and the

general needs and welfare of the people.

If applicable, the DEIS will also apply

guidelines issued by the Environmental

Protection Agency, under the authority

of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water

Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–217).

5. The public involvement program

will include workshops, meetings, and

other coordination with interested

private individuals and organizations,

as well as with concerned Federal, state

and local agencies. Coordination letters

and newsletters have been sent to

appropriate agencies, organizations, and

individuals on an extensive mailing list.

Additional public information will be

provided through print media, mailings,

and radio and television

announcements.

6. In addition to the Corps, the

Maryland Department of Natural

Resources, West Virginia Division of

Natural Resources, West Virginia

Division of Environmental Protection,

and other participants that will be

involved in the study and DEIS process