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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5802-5803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3046]

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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.

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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 Tiber-Hudson 
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: 
[email protected].

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 Tiber-Hudson 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 Tiber-Hudson 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

[[Page 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
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