[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4789]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers

 

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Levisa Fork Basin Flood Damage Reduction Plan, Kentucky and Virginia

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Huntington District, currently has underway a study of 
potential flood damage reduction alternatives for the Levisa Fork Basin 
of the Big Sandy River Drainage, Kentucky and Virginia. The possibility 
of significant environmental and socio-economic impacts as the result 
of the implementation of these potential flood damage reduction 
alternatives, necessitates the preparation of a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Levisa Fork Basin Flood Damage Reduction 
Plan, Kentucky and Virginia, to analyze these potential impacts.

DATES AND LOCATION: The Huntington District is scheduling a public 
scoping meeting on the Levisa Fork Basin Flood Damage Reduction Plan 
DEIS for 28 February 1994, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the 
Birchleaf Elementary School in Birchleaf, Virginia. All interested 
parties are encouraged to attend and participate in this meeting. This 
meeting will be held to determine the scope and significant issues to 
be analyzed in depth in the DEIS. Notice of this meeting will be 
published in local papers. Written comments concerning the scope of the 
analysis must be received by 31 March 1994.

ADDRESSES: Planning Division, Huntington District Corps of Engineers, 
502 8th Street, Huntington, West Virginia 25701-2070.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Richard G. Drum, (304) 529-5644 or Mr. Wallace E. Dean, (304) 529-
5712.

1. Location and Description of Proposed Action

    The project area includes those floodplain areas that would be 
affected by a recurrence of the April 1977 flood within the Levisa and 
Russell Forks of the Big Sandy River Basin in Kentucky and Virginia. 
These floodplain areas extend from the confluence of Indian Creek and 
Russell Fork in Dickerson County, Virginia downstream on the Russell 
Fork to the confluence of the Russell Fork and Levisa Fork at Millard, 
Kentucky (a distance of approximately 50 miles) and from the downstream 
extent of the incorporated limits of the Town of Grundy, Virginia on 
the Levisa Fork to Louisa, Kentucky a distance of approximately 138 
miles (excluding the area included within the Government property 
boundary of the Fishtrap Lake project in Pike County, Kentucky). Also 
included are the floodplain areas located along tributaries of the 
Russell and Levisa Forks that would be affected by backwater flooding 
from a recurrence of the April 1977 flood including mainstream and 
tributaries a total of approximately 220 stream miles are being 
investigated under the study. Approximately 4,500 structures are 
located within the floodplain areas being investigated under this 
study.

2. Components of Proposed Action

    A total of five (5) project alternatives have been formulated for 
reducing flood related damages in the Levisa Fork Basin. These five 
alternatives will be further studied under the authority of Section 202 
of the Energy and Water Resources Development Appropriations Act of 
1980 (Pub. L. 96-367) to determine the most cost-effective method of 
reducing flood related damages in the basin. Project alternatives being 
evaluated under this study include a flood control dam with permanent 
pool located approximately 4.6 miles upstream from the Town of Haysi, 
Virginia on the Russell Fork, a ``dry'' flood control dam (no permanent 
pool) located approximately 4.6 miles upstream from the Town of Haysi, 
Virginia on the Russell Fork, voluntary nonstructural measures 
(floodproofing by raising structures in-place, ringwalls or veneer 
walls or permanent relocation of floodplain structures to flood-safe 
sites), no action and a flood control dam with permanent pool located 
approximately 4.6 miles upstream of the Town of Haysi, Virginia on the 
Russell Fork, that would include seasonal storage to facilitate 
downstream whitewater recreation uses in the Breaks of the Russell 
Fork. Flood warning and emergency evacuation systems will be included 
for all floodplain areas where nonstructural measures are proposed.

3. Draft General Plan Supplement (GPS)

    A draft General Plan Supplement (GPS) containing a summary of 
investigations with specific recommendations is currently scheduled for 
completion by February 1995, with a final report to be completed by 
January 1996. Public involvement will continue throughout the 
development of the DEIS in the form of workshops and information 
furnished to the local media. Federal, State, and local agencies, as 
well as, other affected and concerned organizations will be notified of 
all scheduled meetings through published notices in local newspapers 
and direct notification with concerned parties.

4. Potentially Significant Impacts

    Several potentially significant impacts have been identified and 
studies have been designed and are presently underway to assess and 
qualify the significance of each. Potentially significant impacts are:
    a. Impacts on the present aquatic and terrestrial resources.
    b. Impacts on lifestyle and traditional values.
    c. Impacts on cultural resources.
    d. Socio-economic impacts.
    e. Impacts on the possibility of Endangered and Threatened species 
being present in the project area.
    In addition to the above potential impacts any significant impacts 
developed during the environmental impact analysis or brought out as 
part of the scoping meeting shall be addressed and presented in the 
DEIS.

5. The DEIS

    The DEIS will be developed under guidance, requirements, and format 
in 40 CFR 1502.10, ``Recommended Format''. Consultation will be 
conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental 
Protection Agency during the DEIS process, pursuant to the requirements 
of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq. 
(Pub. L. 85-624), the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 
(Pub. L. 93-205), the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service and 
State Historical Preservation Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 915), (Pub. L. 89-
655), and the Preservation of Historic and Archaeologic Data (88 Stat. 
174), (Pub. L. 93-291) and E.O. 11593. In addition, any other 
interested groups or organizations will be welcomed as active 
participants in the DEIS process. It is anticipated that the DEIS will 
be made available for public review during Fiscal Year 1995.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-4789 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]
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