[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25452]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 

Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS) for Aquatic Plant Management at Lake Seminole, Florida-Georgia-
Alabama

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to 
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), in 
conjunction with a Supplement to the Master Plan for Aquatic Plant 
Management at Lake Seminole, Florida-Georgia-Alabama. Aquatic plants, 
particularly hydrilla, are causing significant water resource problems 
at the lake, covering about 75 percent of the surface area. The Mobile 
District will evaluate the aquatic plant problems at Lake Seminole, 
determine achievable levels of control, develop and evaluate 
alternatives for long-term aquatic plant control at the lake, and 
recommend an environmentally and economically sound plan.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, Inland 
Environment Section, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Michael J. Eubanks, (205) 694-3861.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam and Lake 
Seminole were authorized by Congress in the River and Harbor Act of 
1946 for the primary purposes of navigation and hydropower and 
construction was completed in 1957. Other project purposes include 
public recreation, regulation of stream flow, water quality, and fish 
and wildlife conservation. Since impoundment of this 37,500-acre Corps 
lake, aquatic plants (particularly hydrilla) have grown to problem 
levels. The aquatic plant management at Lake Seminole has been 
discussed in two environmental impact statements (EIS's) prepared by 
the Corps:
    1. Final EIS for Lake Seminole and Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam 
(Operation and Maintenance), Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, filed with 
Council on Environmental Quality on April 16, 1976, and,
    2. Final EIS for the Aquatic Plant Control Program--Mobile 
District, filed with the Council on Environmental Quality on October 
16, 1978.
    However, the level of aquatic plant coverage at the lake has 
increased from approximately 21 percent at the time these EIS's were 
prepared to the current estimated 75 percent. This increase in aquatic 
plants is causing significant adverse impacts on small boat navigation 
interference, water quality degradation, fish and wildlife habitat 
degradation, recreation area use interference (e.g., swimming beaches 
and boat ramps), increased shoreline extension into the lake by 
trapping sediments, increased mosquito production, hydropower intake 
structure blockage, and a decrease in lakeshore property values. A 
number of aquatic plant management techniques have been utilized since 
project construction, including chemical (herbicides), biological, and 
mechanical. Herbicidal control applications have been the most 
effective technique demonstrated to date; however, these repetitive 
applications are costly (annual herbicidal program expenditures are 
approximately $750,000. Two potential aquatic plant management 
techniques which have not been utilized to date at Lake Seminole: water 
level fluctuation (drawdown) and stocking of the triploid (sterile) 
grass carp, have been discussed for many years by the Corps, federal 
and state agencies, and the public. However, a number of technical 
concerns about these methods remain resolved. Therefore, no consensus 
has been reached regarding the viability of their use on Lake Seminole.

Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The Mobile District will formulate and evaluate alternatives to 
address long-term aquatic plant management on the lake including all 
reasonable chemical, biological, and mechanical methods, as well as 
considering various combinations. The no action alternative evaluation 
will include two options:
    1. Continuation of the ``status quo'' aquatic plant control 
activities, and
    2. Cessation of all aquatic plant control activities.

Scoping

    The Mobile District will conduct public scoping meetings at various 
locations around Lake Seminole. Copies of a draft Plan of Study were 
mailed for review to appropriate federal and state agencies on 
September 6, 1994, and an interagency meeting was conducted at Lake 
Seminole on September 15, 1994. As soon as dates and locations of the 
public scoping meetings have been established, they will be published 
in local newspapers which serve the population near Lake Seminole. The 
purpose of the meetings will be to gather information from the public 
about the issues they would like to see addressed in the SEIS. Comments 
may be made orally or in writing at the meetings, or they may be sent 
to the Mobile District at the address listed above. Potentially 
significant issues that will be analyzed in depth in the SEIS include 
environmental and economic impacts of various aquatic plant management 
alternatives (e.g., grass carp and drawdown) on fishery, waterfowl, 
water quality, endangered and threatened species, and wetland 
resources. The evaluation will not only consider potential direct 
effects of these options on Lake Seminole, but also the potential 
effects on upstream and downstream resources.

Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements

    Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be 
accomplished in compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act. Evaluation of the potential use of grass carp will be coordinated 
with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Georgia 
Department of Natural Resources, and Alabama Department of Conservation 
and Natural Resources. Coordination required by other laws and 
regulations will also be conducted.

SEIS Preparation

    The Mobile District estimates that the draft SEIS will be available 
for public view in February 1996.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-25452 Filed 10-13-94; 8:45 am]
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