[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 87 (Friday, May 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10911]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers

 

Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
the Proposed Anacostia River and Tributaries, District of Columbia and 
Maryland Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
investigated the feasibility of construction of fish and wildlife 
restoration measures in the Anacostia River basin. The District 
Engineer recommends the restoration of 80 acres of wetlands, t miles of 
streams and 33 acres of bottomland habitat. The feasibility study of 
the potential restoration actions was conducted under authority of a 
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation resolution adopted September 8, 1988. The non-Federal 
sponsors for the feasibility phase of the project are: Montgomery 
County, Prince Georges County, the District of Columbia, the State of 
Maryland, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and the 
Metropolitan Washington Counsel of Governments.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by June 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Colonel J. Richard Capa, District 
Engineer, P.O. Box 1715, Attn: CENAB-PL-PR, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-
1715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Marak McKevitt, Study Manager, (410) 962-2650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. The U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation, authorized the Anacostia River and Tributaries study in 
a resolution adopted on September 8, 1988. The resolution requested the 
Corps of Engineers to determine if further improvements for flood 
control, navigation, erosion, sedimentation, water quality and other 
related water resources needs are advisable on the Anacostia River and 
Tributaries.
    2. The Anacostia River basin is a 170-square-mile sub-basin of the 
Potomac River. Headwaters of the Anacostia River are in the Piedmont 
and coastal plain areas of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, 
Maryland and it joins with the Potomac River in the District of 
Columbia. The entire river system is freshwater; although, the total 
tidal influence extends for approximately 9 miles above the confluence 
with the Potomac River.
    3. The Corps of Engineers involvement in the basin dates back more 
than 115 years and includes projects and programs for navigation, flood 
control, debris removal and aquatic vegatation control. These Federal 
actions have served their intended purposes well and have benefited the 
area in terms of improved navigation and reduced flood damage. However, 
from 1902 through the 1960s, project construction eliminated 
approximately 2,600 acres of wetlands, 99,000 linear feet of aquatic 
habitat and 700 acres of bottomland hardwoods. These ecosystems 
performed numerous beneficial ecological functions for the Anacostia 
basin and the associated Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. One of the 
primary functions of these ecosystems is fish and wildlife habitat. 
Historically, the Anacostia River basin contained a diverse assemblage 
of fish and wildlife species. However, populations of many species have 
sharply declined due to the habitat loss and degradation in the 
Anacostia basin.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Site                     Action               Target stream                     Location          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Wetland Restoration                                                                                      
                                                                                                                
Kingman Lake....................  WR                Anacostia River..............  Washington, DC.              
River Fringe Wetlands...........  WR                Anacostia River..............  Washington, DC.              
Fordham Street Wetland..........  WR                Northwest Branch.............  Prince George's Co.          
                                                                                                                
       Aquatic Restoration                                                                                      
                                                                                                                
NW Branch-PG Co.................  SR                Northwest Branch.............  Prince George's Co.          
Tanglewood Retrofit.............  WR/SM/SR          Little Paint Branch..........  Montgomery Co.               
Snowden's Mill I................  WR/SM/SR          Paint Branch.................  Montgomery Co.               
Snowden's Mill II...............  WR/SM/SR          Paint Branch.................  Montgomery Co.               
Stewart/April Lane..............  WR/SM/SR          Paint Branch.................  Montgomery Co.               
Lockridge Drive.................  WR/SM/SR          Northwest Branch.............  Montgomery Co.               
Gum Springs.....................  SR                Gum Springs..................  Montgomery Co.               
Sligo Creek.....................  SR                Sligo Creek..................  Montgomery Co.               
NW Branch-Mont. Co..............                                                                                
Paint Branch....................  SR                Paint Branch.................  Montgomery Co.               
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*WR--Wetland Restoration.                                                                                       
SM--Stormwater Management.                                                                                      
SR--Stream Restoration.                                                                                         

    5. The Baltimore District has prepared a DEIS which describes the 
impacts of the proposed projects on environmental and cultural 
resources in the study area and the overall public interest. The DEIS 
also apply guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, 
under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 
95-217). An evaluation of the proposed actions on the waters of the 
United States was performed pursuant to the guidelines of the 
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Section 404(b)(1) evaluations 
show that the proposed actions meet all guidelines under the Clean 
Water Act, and an exemption under Section 404(r) of Public Law 92-500, 
as amended is therefore requested.
    6. The public involvement included meetings and close coordination 
with interested private individuals and organizations, as well as 
concerned Federal, state and local agencies. A public notice requesting 
comments on the proposed project and DE is being provided to 
appropriate agencies and the public through printed media and mailings. 
The Baltimore District invites potentially affected Federal, state and 
local agencies, and other interested organizations and parties to 
comment on the study recommendations. Agencies that are currently 
involved in the feasibility study and EIS process include, but are not 
limited to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Geological 
Service, U.S. Soil Conservation Service, National Park Service, 
National Capital Planning Commission, Montgomery County Department of 
Environmental Protection, Prince George's County Department of 
Environmental Resources, District of Columbia Department of Consumer 
and Regulatory Affairs and Department of Public Works, Maryland 
Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of the 
Environment, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, 
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and the Metropolitan 
Washington Council of Governments.
    7. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
and the Clean Water Act, the Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments 
from the public, Federal, state and local agencies and officials, and 
other interested parties. Any comments received will be considered by 
the Corps of Engineers in the decision to implement the projects. To 
make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered 
species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental 
effects, and other interest factors listed above. Comments are also 
used to determine the overall public interest and the need for a public 
hearing on the proposed activities. This public notice is being sent to 
organizations and individuals known to have an interest in the 
restoration of the Anacostia River basin. Please bring this notice to 
the attention of any other individuals with an interest in this matter.
    8. Any person who has an interest in the proposed projects may make 
comments and/or request a public hearing. Comments must clearly set 
forth the interest which may be adversely affected by these activities 
and the manner in which the interest may be adversely affected. Copies 
of the DEIS are available upon request. Written comments must be 
submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the notice in the 
Federal Register.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-10911 Filed 5-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M