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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8353-8355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3221]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Notice of Information for Additional NEPA Public Scoping Meetings 
for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (``GLMRIS'')

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In a November 16, 2010, Federal Register Notice (75 FR 69983), 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District announced in 
a notice of intent that it will prepare a feasibility report and an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for GLMRIS, and it will host a 
public scoping meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on December 15, 2010. In a 
December 8, 2010, Federal Register Notice (75 FR 76447), USACE 
announced the metropolitan locations where USACE would be hosting nine 
(9) additional public scoping meetings for GLMRIS but did not include 
specific meeting details. In a January 4, 2010, Federal Register Notice 
(76 FR 336), USACE announced the meeting details for the nine (9) 
additional public scoping meetings. The January 4, 2010 notice also 
announced USACE's intent to host two (2) additional public scoping 
meetings in Milwaukee, WI and New Orleans, LA, but it did not include 
meeting details. This notice announces the meeting details for these 
locations. This notice also announces the rescheduled meeting date and 
location for the Ann Arbor, MI public scoping meeting.
    USACE, in consultation with other federal agencies, Native American 
tribes, state agencies, local governments

[[Page 8354]]

and non-governmental organizations, is conducting a feasibility study 
of the options and technologies that could be applied to prevent 
aquatic nuisance species (ANS) transfer between the Great Lakes and 
Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways.

DATES: USACE will be accepting public comments on the scope of GLMRIS 
until March 31, 2011. Please refer to the ``Scoping and Public 
Involvement'' section below for instructions on how to submit public 
comments, the dates of the Milwaukee, WI, New Orleans, LA and 
rescheduled Ann Arbor, MI public scoping meetings and other meeting 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about GLMRIS, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Project 
Manager, Mr. David Wethington, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 111 N. 
Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606, or by e-mail: 
david.m.wethington@usace.army.mil.
    For media inquiries, please contact the USACE, Chicago District, 
Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Lynne Whelan, by mail: USACE, Chicago 
District, 111 N. Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606, by phone: 
(312)846-5330 or by e-mail: lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background. USACE, in consultation with other federal agencies, 
Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-
governmental organizations, is conducting GLMRIS. For GLMRIS, USACE 
will explore options and technologies, collectively known as ANS 
controls, that could be applied to prevent ANS transfer between the 
basins through aquatic pathways. Potential ANS controls may include, 
but are not limited to, hydrologic separation of the basins, waterway 
modifications, selective barriers, etc.
    USACE will conduct a comprehensive analysis of ANS controls and 
will analyze the effects an ANS control or combination of ANS controls 
may have on current uses of: (1) The Chicago Area Waterway System 
(CAWS), the only known continuous aquatic pathway between the Great 
Lakes and Mississippi River basins; and (2) other aquatic pathways 
between these basins. For the CAWS, current waterway uses include, but 
are not limited to: flood risk management; commercial and recreational 
navigation; recreation; water supply; hydropower; and conveyance of 
effluent from wastewater treatment plants and other industries. 
Additionally, this study will identify mitigation measures or 
alternative facilities necessary to offset and address impacted 
waterway uses and current significant natural resources.
    USACE will conduct GLMRIS in accordance with NEPA and with the 
Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and 
Related Land Resource Implementation Studies, Water Resources Council, 
March 10, 1983.
    2. Scoping and Public Involvement. USACE will accept comments 
related to GLMRIS until March 31, 2011. Note, USACE will only consider 
comments that disclose the first name, last name and zip code of the 
commenter.
    All forms of comments received during the scoping period will be 
weighted equally. Using input obtained during the scoping period, USACE 
will refine the scope of GLMRIS to focus on significant issues, as well 
as eliminate issues that are not significant from further detailed 
study.
    Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
     GLMRIS project Web site: Use the web comment function 
found at http://www.glmris.anl.gov;
     NEPA Scoping Meeting: USACE is hosting scoping meetings 
and asks those who want to make oral comments to register on the GLMRIS 
project Web site at http://www.glmris.anl.gov. Those registering to 
make oral comments through the project website may be given a 
preference over those that register to make oral comments at the 
meeting. The on-line registration for each individual meeting will 
close one (1) day prior to that meeting date. Each individual wishing 
to make oral comments shall be given three (3) minutes, and a 
stenographer will document oral comments;
     Mail: Mail written comments to GLMRIS Scoping, 111 N. 
Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606. Comments must be postmarked by 
March 31, 2011; and
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the 
Chicago District, USACE office located at 111 N. Canal St., Suite 600, 
Chicago, IL 60606 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments must be 
received by March 31, 2011.
    At the scoping meetings, USACE will provide informational materials 
about the study's authorities and USACE study process. The meetings 
will begin with a presentation regarding the study followed by an oral 
comment period. During each meeting, USACE will also collect written 
comments on comment cards and computer terminals.
    Due to weather conditions, USACE rescheduled the February 3, 2011 
public scoping meeting in Ann Arbor, MI. The purpose of this notice is 
to announce the meeting information for (i) the rescheduled public 
scoping meeting in Ann Arbor, MI and (ii) the public scoping meetings 
scheduled in Milwaukee, WI and New Orleans, LA. USACE will host NEPA 
public scoping meetings from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the following 
locations:
    1. Tuesday, February 15, 2011: The Miller Room of the O'Donnell 
Park Complex, 910 E. Michigan St., Milwaukee, WI.
    2. Thursday, February 17, 2011: Port of New Orleans Administration 
Building, Auditorium, 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA.
    3. Tuesday, March 8, 2011: Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle 
Crest 1275 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti, MI.
    Please see the GLMRIS project Web site at http://www.glmris.anl.gov 
if you wish to register to make an oral comment at one of these 
meetings, and for more information regarding the meeting including a 
meeting agenda.
    Comments received during the scoping period will be posted on the 
GLMRIS project website and will become a part of the EIS. You may 
indicate that you do not wish to have your name or other personal 
information made available on the website. However, USACE cannot 
guarantee that information withheld from the website will be maintained 
as confidential. Requests for disclosure of collected information will 
be handled through the Freedom of Information Act. Comments and 
information, including the identity of the submitter, may be disclosed, 
reproduced, and distributed. Submissions should not include any 
information that the submitter seeks to preserve as confidential.
    If you require assistance under the Americans with Disabilities 
Act, please contact Ms. Lynne Whelan via e-mail at 
lynne.e.whelan@usace.army.mil or phone at (312) 846-5330 at least seven 
(7) working days prior to the meeting to request arrangements.
    3. Significant Issues. Issues associated with the proposed study 
are likely to include, but will not be limited to: Significant natural 
resources such as ecosystems and threatened and endangered species, 
commercial and recreational fisheries; current recreational uses of the 
lakes and waterways; ANS effects on water users; effects of potential 
ANS controls on current waterway uses such as flood risk management, 
commercial and recreational navigation, recreation, water supply, 
hydropower and conveyance of effluent from wastewater treatment plants 
and other industries; and statutory and legal responsibilities relative 
to the lakes and waterways.

[[Page 8355]]

    4. Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The 
date that the draft EIS will be made available is contingent upon 
sufficient allocation of funding for the study. Draft EIS availability 
will be announced to the public in the Federal Register in compliance 
with 40 CFR 1506.9 and 1506.10.
    5. Authority. This action is being undertaken pursuant to the Water 
Resources and Development Act of 2007, Section 3061, Pub. L. 110-114, 
121 STAT. 1121, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended.

    Dated: February 4, 2011.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief Planning Branch Chicago District, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2011-3221 Filed 2-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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