Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices 44609 

Dated: August 27, 2018. 

Aaron T. Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18888 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army, Corps of 

Engineers 

Notice of Availability of the Final 

Missouri River Recovery Management 

Plan and Environmental Impact 

Statement 

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

DoD. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Kansas City and Omaha 

Districts of the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS), have developed the Missouri 

River Recovery Management Plan and 

Environmental Impact Statement 

(MRRMP–EIS). This document is a 

programmatic assessment of major 

federal actions necessary to avoid a 

finding of jeopardy to the pallid 

sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), 

interior least tern (Sterna antillarum 

athalassos), and the Northern Great 

Plains piping plover (Charadrius 

melodus) caused by operation of the 

Missouri River Mainstem System and 

the Kansas River Reservoir System and 

operation and maintenance of the 

Missouri River Bank Stabilization and 

Navigation Project (BSNP) in 

accordance with the Endangered 

Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. 

This programmatic document also 

assesses the Missouri River BSNP fish 

and wildlife mitigation project 

described in the 2003 Record of 

Decision (ROD) and authorized by the 

Water Resources Development Act 

(WRDA) of 1986, 1999, and 2007 as it 

relates to endangered species. 

DATES: Submit written comments on the 

final EIS and supporting documents on 

or before October 9, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 

District, ATTN: CENWO–PM–AC— 

MRRMP–EIS, 1616 Capitol Ave., 

Omaha, NE 68102; attach comment 

letters via email at cenwo-planning@

usace.army.mil; or provide comments 

via an online comment form (preferred 

method) at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ 

MRRMP. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Tiffany Vanosdall, Project Manager at 

402–995–2695. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

USACE is issuing this notice pursuant 

to section 102(2)(c) of the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.) and the Council on Environmental 

Quality (CEQ) regulations for 

implementing the procedural provisions 

of NEPA (43 CFR parts 1500 through 

1508). This notice announces the 

availability of the final MRRMP–EIS. 

The MRRMP–EIS, its appendices, and 

other supporting documents can be 

accessed at: www.moriverrecovery.org 

under the ‘‘Management Plan’’ tab on 

the website homepage. These 

documents can also be accessed at 

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/MRRMP. 

Background Information 

The draft MRRMP–EIS was released 

on December 23, 2016 and included a 

122-day public comment period that 

ended on April 24, 2017. During that 

time USACE held six public meetings to 

solicit comments from the public. 

USACE analyzed the comments 

received from the public and considered 

them in preparation of the final 

MRRMP–EIS (Appendix K). The final 

MRRMP–EIS is available for public 

review until October 9, 2018. The 

USACE has also completed formal 

consultation with the USFWS under 

Section 7 of the ESA. A final Biological 

Assessment (BA) was completed by the 

USACE in October of 2017 and a Final 

BiOp was completed by the USFWS in 

April, 2018. The BiOp concludes that 

the proposed action described in the BA 

would not cause jeopardy for the least 

tern, piping plover, or pallid sturgeon. 

The preferred alternative in the Final 

EIS incorporates the proposed action 

described in the 2017 BA and 

incorporates the 2018 BiOp. 

This EIS provides the necessary 

information for the public to fully 

evaluate a range of alternatives designed 

to meet the purpose and need of the 

MRRMP–EIS and to provide thoughtful 

and meaningful comment for the 

Agency’s consideration. Six alternatives 

were carried forward for detailed 

evaluation in the MRRMP–EIS (the noaction alternative and five action 

alternatives). The following 

management actions were included in 

all six of the alternatives: 

—Mechanical construction of emergent 

sandbar habitat (ESH); 

—Vegetation management, predator 

management, and human restriction 

measures on ESH; 

—Pallid sturgeon propagation and 

augmentation; 

—Pallid sturgeon early life stage habitat 

construction downstream of Ponca, 

Nebraska; 

—Habitat development and 

management of acquired lands; and 

—Monitoring and evaluation of 

management actions. 

However, the scale and extent of 

mechanical ESH creation and pallid 

surgeon early life stage habitat 

construction would vary among the 

alternatives. 

Under the no-action alternative, in 

addition to the actions common to all 

alternatives, the USACE would 

mechanically construct ESH at a rate of 

164 acres per year in the Garrison and 

Gavins Point reaches and construct 

pallid early life stage habitat to achieve 

an average of 20 acres of shallow water 

habitat per river mile. The no-action 

alternative would also continue to 

implement the spring pulse included in 

the Master Manual. 

Alternative 2 represents the USFWS’s 

interpretation of the management 

actions that could be ultimately 

implemented as part of the 2003 

Amended BiOp Reasonable and Prudent 

Alternative (RPA). In addition to the 

actions common to all alternatives, the 

USACE would mechanically construct 

ESH at a rate up to 1,331 acres per year 

in the Garrison, Fort Randall, Lewis and 

Clark Lake, and Gavins Point reaches 

and pallid early life stage habitat to 

achieve an average of 30 acres of 

shallow water habitat per river mile. 

Alternative 2 would also include a 

spring pallid flow release consisting of 

a bimodal pulse in March and May and 

a low summer flow. 

Under Alternatives 3–6, the USACE 

would follow the processes and criteria 

in the SAMP that was developed based 

on the results of the effects analysis. The 

SAMP identifies the process and criteria 

to implement initial management 

actions, assess hypotheses, and 

introduce new management actions 

should they become necessary. Initial 

management actions include specific 

study efforts to fill data gaps in 

knowledge of the pallid sturgeon life 

cycle, creation of spawning habitat for 

pallid sturgeon to monitor effectiveness, 

and the construction of pallid early life 

stage habitat following the interception 

and rearing complex (IRC) concept 

identified in the effects analysis. 

In addition to the actions common to 

Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 3 would 

include mechanical construction of ESH 

at an average rate of 332 acres per year 

when construction is needed in the 

Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point 

reaches. Alternative 3 would not 

implement the plenary spring pulse 

included in the Master Manual. 

However, as part of the SAMP the 

potential for a one-time spawning cue 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
44610 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 170 / Friday, August 31, 2018 / Notices 

test release, if studies during the first 9– 

10 years do not provide a clear answer 

on whether a spawning cue is 

important, is included in Alternative 3. 

In addition to the actions common to 

Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 4 would 

include mechanical construction of ESH 

at an average rate of 195 acres per year 

when construction is needed in the 

Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point 

reaches. Alternative 4 also includes 

implementation of a spring ESH 

creation release if System storage is at 

42 MAF or greater on April 1, normal 

flows that could create 250 acres of ESH 

have not occurred in the previous four 

years, and downstream flow is below 

identified flood control constraints 

specific to this alternative. 

In addition to the actions common to 

Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 5 would 

include mechanical construction of ESH 

at an average rate of 253 acres per year 

when construction is needed in the 

Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point 

reaches. Alternative 5 also includes 

implementation of a fall ESH creation 

release if System storage is at 54.5 MAF 

or greater on October 17, normal flows 

that could create 250 acres of ESH have 

not occurred in the previous four years, 

and downstream flow is below 

identified flood control constraints 

specific to this alternative. 

In addition to the actions common to 

Alternatives 3–6, Alternative 6 would 

include mechanical construction of ESH 

at an average rate of 245 acres per year 

when construction is needed in the 

Garrison, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point 

reaches. Alternative 6 also includes 

implementation of a spawning cue 

release, attempted every 3 years, 

consisting of a bimodal pulse in March 

and May. These spawning cue releases 

would not be started or would be 

terminated whenever downstream flow 

is at identified flood control constraints 

specific to this alternative. 

The final EIS evaluates the potential 

effects on the human environment 

associated with each of the above 

alternatives. Resources and uses 

evaluated include: River infrastructure 

and hydrological processes; pallid 

sturgeon; piping plover and interior 

least tern; fish and wildlife habitat; 

other special status species; water 

quality; air quality; cultural resources; 

land use and ownership; commercial 

sand and gravel dredging; flood risk 

management and interior drainage; 

hydropower; irrigation; navigation; 

recreation; thermal power; water 

supply; wastewater facilities; tribal 

interests (other); human health and 

safety; environmental justice; ecosystem 

services; and Mississippi River 

resources. 

Based on projected impacts, the 

ability to meet the plan’s purpose, need 

and species objectives, and other 

decision criteria, USACE has identified 

Alternative 3-Mechanical Construction 

as its preferred alternative. Importantly, 

Alternative 3 would be implemented 

under the science and adaptive 

management framework summarized in 

Chapter 4 of the MRRMP–EIS and 

detailed within the Science and 

Adaptive Management Plan (SAMP). 

Schedule. Public comments on the 

final MRRMP–EIS must be received by 

October 9, 2018. The USACE will 

consider new comments received on the 

final MRRMP–EIS prior to issuing a 

Record of Decision which is expected in 

the fall of 2018. 

Public Disclosure Statement. If you 

wish to comment, you may provide your 

comments as indicated under the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. Before 

including your address, phone number, 

email address, or any other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made available to the public at any 

time. While you can request us to 

withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Dated: August 20, 2018. 

Mark Harberg, 

Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18982 Filed 8–30–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

[Docket No.: ED–2018–ICCD–0037] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget for Review 

and Approval; Comment Request; 

Application for the Educational 

Flexibility (Ed-Flex) Program 

AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), 

Office of Elementary and Secondary 

Education (OESE). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 

proposing a new information collection. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before October 

1, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the 

documents related to the information 

collection listed in this notice, please 

use http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching the Docket ID number ED– 

2018–ICCD–0037. Comments submitted 

in response to this notice should be 

submitted electronically through the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://

www.regulations.gov by selecting the 

Docket ID number or via postal mail, 

commercial delivery, or hand delivery. 

Please note that comments submitted by 

fax or email and those submitted after 

the comment period will not be 

accepted. Written requests for 

information or comments submitted by 

postal mail or delivery should be 

addressed to the Director of the 

Information Collection Clearance 

Division, U.S. Department of Education, 

550 12th Street SW, PCP, Room 9089, 

Washington, DC 20202–0023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

specific questions related to collection 

activities, please contact Melissa Siry, 

202–260–0926. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department of Education (ED), in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general 

public and Federal agencies with an 

opportunity to comment on proposed, 

revised, and continuing collections of 

information. This helps the Department 

assess the impact of its information 

collection requirements and minimize 

the public’s reporting burden. It also 

helps the public understand the 

Department’s information collection 

requirements and provide the requested 

data in the desired format. ED is 

soliciting comments on the proposed 

information collection request (ICR) that 

is described below. The Department of 

Education is especially interested in 

public comment addressing the 

following issues: (1) Is this collection 

necessary to the proper functions of the 

Department; (2) will this information be 

processed and used in a timely manner; 

(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 

(4) how might the Department enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (5) how 

might the Department minimize the 

burden of this collection on the 

respondents, including through the use 

of information technology. Please note 

that written comments received in 

response to this notice will be 

considered public records. 

Title of Collection: Application for the 

Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex) 

Program. 

OMB Control Number: 1810—NEW. 

Type of Review: A new information 

collection. 

Respondents/Affected Public: State, 

Local, and Tribal Governments. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES