[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 65684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32616]



[[Page 65684]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), 
Grand Forks, ND--East Grand Forks, MN, Flood Control

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Under the authority of the Flood Control Acts of June 30, 
1948, May 17, 1950, and December 31, 1970, a General Reevaluation 
Report for Flood Control at East Grand Forks, Minnesota, is being 
prepared. In order to provide effective flood control, the city of 
Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been included in the investigation.
    The cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, 
Minnesota, were extensively damaged by flooding of the Red River of the 
North and the Red Lake River in the spring of 1997. The cities form one 
urban area separated by the river. Because of the flat topography of 
the Red River of the North, any proposed flood protection must include 
both communities to be effective. Emergency flood protection and 
recovery efforts required significant expenditures. Long-term 
protection would require the construction of flood control measures 
sized to accommodate a flood equal to, or greater than, the flood of 
1997.

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 flood 
control at the cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand 
Forks, Minnesota. Structural measures being considered include levees 
or a combination of levees and a diversion.
    Significant issues and resources to be identified in the DEIS will 
be determined through coordination with responsible Federal, State, and 
local agencies; the general public; interested private organizations 
and parties; and affected Native Americans. Anyone who has an interest 
in participating in 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, groundwater, erosion, and sedimentation; and
    4. Social and economic resources.
    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 the local news media.
    The construction of flood control features in the two cities would 
be considered major in scope and could 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 
summer of 1998.

    Dated: November 12, 1997.
William J. Breyfogle,
Lieutenant Colonel, EN Acting District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 97-32616 Filed 12-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M