[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 26409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12072]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meeting

AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, Omaha District.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Metropolitan Utilities District (District), Omaha 
Nebraska, proposes to construct a 104 million gallon per day (MGD) well 
field near the Platte River in western Douglas and eastern Saunders 
Counties, Nebraska. The proposed project also includes a water 
treatment plant and transmission pipelines. The purpose of the proposed 
project is to provide additional public water supply to meet customer 
requirements through the year 2030 and to improve water source 
reliability for the District's growing service area.
    The proposed action will require a Corps of Engineers' permit 
pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), which 
authorizes the Corps of Engineers to issue permits for the discharge of 
dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States. In 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 
implementing regulations, an environmental impact statement will be 
prepared to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and alternatives. A public scoping meeting has been scheduled to 
solicit comments regarding the scope of the environmental studies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and Environmental Impact Statement 
should be directed to: Mr. Richard D. Gorton, Chief, Environmental 
Analysis Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 215 North 17th Street, 
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-4978; phone (402) 221-4598; fax (402) 221-4886.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Metropolitan Utilities District 
(District) is the potable water supplier of Omaha, Nebraska, and the 
surrounding area. The District is experiencing a steady growth within 
its existing and expanding service area boundaries. It has determined 
that an additional 100 MGD supply would be required by the year 2030. 
It has also concluded that if peak day design conditions were to occur 
any year after 1995, the District would not be able to meet those 
demands. The District does not currently have any excess production 
capacity to provide reliability during peak water demand periods.
    The proposed project would include a total of 42 wells in the 
Platte River alluvial aquifer and associated pumping equipment, water 
transmission pipelines, a water treatment facility, and a 25-million-
gallon storage reservoir. These facilities would deliver water to the 
western portion of the District's distribution system.
    Alternatives to the proposed action identified to date include:
    <bullet> Construction of well facilities in the Platte River 
alluvial aquifer in alternative locations;
    <bullet> Construction of additional facilities to supply water from 
the Missouri River;
    <bullet> No Federal action.
    A public scoping meeting has been scheduled for June 1, 1995 at 
7:00 p.m. at the Russell Middle School Cafeteria, 5304 South 172 
Street, Omaha, Nebraska.
    The purpose of the scoping meetings is to solicit public input on 
issues, studies needed, alternatives to be evaluated, and potential 
environmental effects. Written comments will also be requested.
    Potential significant environmental issues include effects on 
threatened and endangered species and the indirect effects of drawdown 
on wetlands and recreational lakes.
    Other applicable and pertinent environmental review and 
consultation requirements will be undertaken simultaneously with the 
NEPA process, including requirements of the Endangered Species Act, 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, National Historic Preservation Act, 
Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and others.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-12072 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M