[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 13369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7006]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Eastern Arkansas Region Comprehensive Study, Grand Prairie Area 
Demonstration Project, General Reevaluation

AGENCY: Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of 
Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this general reevaluation is to develop a plan 
of improvement that addresses all of the identified water resource 
problems and opportunities within the Grand Prairie project area. It 
will evaluate and determine the optimum plan for providing agricultural 
water supply and conservaiton while incorporating water quality, fish 
and wildlife, recreaiton, and environmental protection/restoration 
measures. The general reevaluation is being conducted in response to 
congressional direction and funding provided by Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Acts. It is a continuation of 
preconstruction, engineering, and design of the Eastern Arkansas Region 
Comprehensive Study authorized by the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportaiton of the U.S. House of Representatives on September 23, 
1982. The Grand Prairie--Bayou Metro Project was reauthorized by the 
Water Resources Development Act of 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ken Bright, telephone (901) 544-
0745, CELMM-PD-F, 167 North Main Street B-202, Memphis, TN 38103-1894. 
Questions regarding the DEIS may be directed to Mr. Edward Lambert, 
telephone (901) 544-0707, CELMM-PD-R.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Proposed Action

    A Corps feasibility study, completed in 1990, identified the Grand 
Prairie as one of five geographic areas within eastern Arkansas 
exhibiting critical groundwater depletion proglems as a result of 
agricultural irrigation demands on the alluvial aquifer. Subsequent 
congressional appropriaiton acts directed the Corps to select and 
develop implementation plans for one of the five areas to serve as an 
agricultrual water supply demonstraiton project. The Grand Prairie was 
selected because groundwater depletion is comparably more severe within 
this area. The Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project general 
reevaluation proposes to devleop an economically feasible and 
environmentally acceptable plan to supply and conserve irrigation water 
in such a manner as to allow stabilization of the aquifer. An eloborate 
water distribution system, water conservation measures, groundwater 
management strategies, retrofit of existing farm irrigation systems, 
and new on-farm storage reservoirs will be integral components of this 
plan. In addition, harvested rice fields will be flooded to benefit 
migratory waterfowl and shore birds. Since a vast tallgrass prairie 
historically occupied this area, native prairie grasses will be planted 
within project rights-of-way. This project area encompasses 362,662 
acres and includes significant portions of Prairie and Arkansas 
counties and small portions of Monroe and Lonoke counties.

2. Alternatives

    Alternatives being considered include plans that provide various 
on-farm water conservation measures and additonal water storage and 
plans that combine conservation measures and additional storage with 
irrigation water supply from the White River. These plans will be 
compared to the No Action alternative.

3. Scoping Process

    An intensive public involvement program has been maintianed 
throughout this study to (1) solicit input from individuals and 
interested parties so that problems, needs, and opportunities within 
the project area could be properly identified and addressed and (2) 
provide status updates to concerned organizations and the general 
public. A formal public meeting was held in Stuttgart, Arkansas, on 
December 8, 1992, to provide information on the general reevaluation 
and proposed project alternatives and to discuss project related issues 
and concerns with the general public. Numerous meetings with the local 
public, sponsor coordination meetings, interagency environmental 
meetings, and public project briefings/presentaitons have been 
conducted. Also, project displays have been exhibited at county fairs 
and outdoors festivals. No additional public scoping meetings are 
anticipated, but interagency environmental meetings will continue. 
Significant issues being analyzed include potential project impacts 
(negative and positive) to fisheries, water quality, wetlands, upland 
forests, waterfowl, endangered species, and cultural resources. It is 
anticipated that the DEIS will be available for public review during 
the fall or winter of 1997. A public meeting will be held during the 
reivew period to recieve comments and address questions concerning the 
DEIS.
Josef R. Hallatschek,
Major, Corps of Engineers, Deputy District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 97-7006 Filed 3-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KS-M