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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45543-45545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19208]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Skagit River General Investigation Study (Previously 
Advertised as the Skagit River Flood Damage Reduction Study), Skagit 
County, WA

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

[[Page 45544]]

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) pursuant to 
Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended, for a proposed flood-risk management project in the 
Skagit River Basin from Ross Dam to the river mouth at Skagit Bay. This 
study was requested by Skagit County, Washington, because of the 
potential for significant flooding on the Skagit River.
    A DEIS is being prepared because of the potential for impacts on 
environmental resources, particularly salmonid habitat, and the intense 
public interest already demonstrated in addressing the flooding 
problems of the Skagit River.
    The Skagit River General Investigation (GI) DEIS for the Skagit 
River Basin is being conducted under the authority of Section 209 of 
the Flood Control Act of 1962, Public Law 87-874. That section 
authorized a comprehensive study of Puget Sound, Washington, and 
adjacent waters including tributaries, in the interest of flood 
control, navigation, and other water uses and related land resources.
    This notice of intent (NOI) was originally published in the Federal 
Register on November 20, 1997 for the Skagit River Flood Damage 
Reduction Study (62 FR 62019). A public meeting was held and comments 
were solicited from the public. Due to the amount of time that has 
lapsed since the issuance of the original NOI, USACE is reissuing the 
NOI.

DATES: Persons or organizations wishing to submit scoping comments 
should do so by August 29, 2011. Public comment may also be made at the 
scoping meeting August 10, 2011. Notification of scoping meeting times 
and locations will be sent to all agencies, organizations, and 
individuals on the project mailing list.

ADDRESSES: Requests for inclusion on the mailing list, future 
documents, and all comments on the proposed project should be sent to: 
Hannah Hadley, Study Environmental Coordinator, Seattle District, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. 3755, Seattle, WA 98124-3755, ATTN: 
CENWS-PM-PL-ER; telephone (206) 764-6950; fax (206) 764-4470; or e-mail 
Hannah.F.Hadley@usace.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions concerning the 
proposed action and the DEIS can be directed to: Hannah Hadley, Study 
Environmental Coordinator (see ADDRESSES) or Daniel Johnson, Project 
Manager, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. 3755, 
Seattle, WA 98124-3755, ATTN: CENWS-EN-CM-CJ; telephone (206) 764-3423; 
fax (206) 764-4470; or e-mail Daniel.E.Johnson@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background. The Skagit River Basin is located in northwestern 
Washington State and encompasses 3,140 square miles. The major cities 
on the Skagit River delta--Mt. Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro Woolley--
are located approximately 60 miles north of Seattle. The study area for 
the DEIS will be from Ross Dam to the river mouth at Skagit Bay.
    The purpose of the Skagit River GI study is to better identify the 
problems and opportunities that exist to relieve flooding and reduce 
flood risks and to develop a flood-risk management plan that fits 
Federal law and policy and is within the capability of the local 
sponsor to support their required share of the project costs.
    This is a single-purpose flood-risk management study. The goal of 
this project is to identify the National Economic Development (NED) 
plan, the flood-risk management alternative that provides the maximum 
net economic benefits. In accordance with USACE policy, minimization of 
ecosystem, cultural, and socio-economic impacts will be a significant 
project consideration (Reference: ER 1105-2-100, Planning Guidance 
Notebook). The local sponsor may request the recommendation of a plan 
other than the NED, the Locally Preferred Plan (LPP).
    Since the issuance of the original NOI in 1997, the study has 
evolved to meet new challenges. The purpose of this NOI is to ensure 
the study still accurately reflects resource issues and concerns.
    Alternatives. In the reconnaissance phase for the Skagit River GI 
study, USACE identified two alternative courses of action for further 
analysis which are outlined below.
    Alternative 1--No Action: Allow the current levee system to remain 
in place without a major system-wide levee system upgrade. Individual 
diking districts would continue to operate, maintain, and repair the 
existing levee system, and dams on the Baker River and Skagit River 
would continue present operations for flood reduction.
    Alternative 2: Construct a coordinated flood-risk management 
project that would provide critically needed flood-risk management 
measures at an affordable cost in a reasonable timeframe and that will 
subsequently be authorized and implemented.
    Skagit County and USACE have developed an array of structural and 
nonstructural measures for addressing problems and opportunities and 
for achieving project objectives. In recent years, these measures have 
been presented to the public at several workshops in Skagit County and 
to resource and Tribal groups and agencies.
    Some or all of the measures will be combined to form the range of 
alternatives. In the DEIS, the preferred alternative will be selected 
based on screening and evaluation of the range of alternatives.
    Scoping. Public involvement will be sought during scoping, plan 
formulation, and preparation of the DEIS in accordance with NEPA 
procedures. A public scoping process has been started: (1) To clarify 
which issues appear to be major public concerns, (2) to identify any 
information sources that might be available to analyze and evaluate 
impacts, and (3) to obtain public input and determine acceptability for 
the range of measures to be included within potential alternatives.
    This NOI formally commences the scoping process under NEPA. As part 
of the scoping process, all affected Federal, state, and local 
agencies; Tribes; the public; and other interested private 
organizations, including environmental groups, are invited to comment 
on the scope of the DEIS. Comments are requested regarding issues of 
concern, project alternatives, potential mitigation measures, probable 
significant environmental impacts, and permits or other approvals that 
may be required by any project.
    The following key areas have been identified so far to be analyzed 
in depth in the DEIS:
    1. Flooding characteristics (existing and with any project).
    2. Impacts to fish habitat and fisheries resources.
    3. Impacts to riparian habitat.
    4. Impacts to wetlands.
    5. Impacts to cultural resources.
    6. Impacts to surrounding communities.
    7. Impacts to geomorphic processes.
    Scoping Meeting. Opportunity to comment on the planned study will 
also be available at the study scoping meeting and open house which is 
scheduled for 5 p.m. on August 10, 2011 at Skagit Station, 105 E. 
Kincaid St., Mt. Vernon, WA. Details of the meeting time and location 
will be announced in the local media. Notices will be sent to all

[[Page 45545]]

agencies, organizations, and individuals on the mailing list.
    Availability of DEIS. USACE expects to complete preparation of the 
DEIS and make it available for public review by the fall of 2013.

    Dated: July 21, 2011.
Anthony O. Wright,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2011-19208 Filed 7-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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