[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 202 (Thursday, October 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25983]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers

 

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for a Proposed Public Water Supply Reservoir on 
Hunting Run in the County of Spotsylvania, VA

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

ACTION: Revised notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: An Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) will be prepared to evaluate project alternatives and 
the public interest review factors for the proposed public water supply 
reservoir.

ADDRESSES: Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 10789 Columbia Drive, 
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22408.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hal Wiggins, (703) 898-3568.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Proposed Action: On October 18, 1991, the Norfolk District Corps 
of Engineers announced its intent in the Federal Register to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate project alternatives and the 
public interest review factors associated with a proposed public water 
supply reservoir on the Po River. This proposed reservoir would involve 
the flooding of 200 acres of wetlands, the reduction of instream flows 
to 15% of the mean annual flow, impacts to a federally listed 
endangered species (dwarf wedgemussel), and flooding of National Park 
Service property.
    After extensive interagency coordination and review, the County of 
Spotsylvania amended its plans and now proposes to construct a 
reservoir in Hunting Run. The project would also involve a pump-over 
from Rapidan River during high flows in the river and an intake 
structure in the Rappahannock River approximately 0.25 mile downstream 
of the confluence with the Rappahannock River and Motts Run. The intake 
structure would withdraw water from the Rappahannock River that has 
been released from the proposed Hunting Run Reservoir upstream. The 
proposed Hunting Run Reservoir would impact 10.8 acres of vegetted 
palustrine wetlands, 10.3 acres of primarily unvegetated shallow 
riverine habitat, 1.1 acre of deepwater habitat, and 397.8 acres of 
predominately forested upland. The proposed reservoir and river 
withdrawals will provide approximately 8.0 million gallons per day of 
water for municipal water supply to meet the County's demand throughout 
the 2040 planning period.
    2. Alternatives. Alternatives which will be investigated include, 
but are not limited to, the Po River Reservoir and the expansion of the 
existing Motts Run Reservoir. Both of these alternatives are addressed 
in the County's environmental impact report.
    3. Scoping Process. A preapplication scoping meeting was held with 
State and Federal agencies in September 1988 and formal agency scoping 
comments were requested in October 1988. Additional scoping meetings 
were held with State and Federal agencies in June and July 1991, April 
1992, and May 1994. Substantive issues identified at these meetings 
included impacts to wetlands and the reduction of instream flow and its 
impact on water quality, fisheries, and recreation. Based on these 
meetings, the County was encouraged to pursue the Hunting Run Reservoir 
in lieu of the Po River Reservoir. The County subsequently concurred 
and an interagency effort was initiated to determine the minimum 
instream flows needed to maintain water quality, fisheries, and 
recreation for the Po. Rappahannock, and Rapidan Rivers.
    4. Public Scoping Meeting: While the Corps of Engineers has not 
held a public scoping meeting, the public has had several opportunities 
to provide comments. Specifically, the County has held numerous public 
meetings and the Corps published a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register and associated public notice and has participated in numerous 
interest group meetings. At this time, the Corps does not intend to 
schedule a public scoping meeting.
    5. Environmental Document Availability: On August 12, 1994, the 
County of Spotsylvania submitted an application for a Department of the 
Army permit for a public water reservoir on Hunting Run and associated 
water intake structures on the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. Along 
with the application, the County submitted an environmental impact 
report. On August 23, 1994, the Corps issued a public notice on the 
project with a thirty day comment period. These documents can be 
obtained from Mr. Wiggins by calling or writing him at the telephone 
number and address listed above.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-25983 Filed 10-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-EN-M