[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 235 (Thursday, December 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30205]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 8, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers

 

Intent to Prepare a Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement Regarding Disposal Sites of the Locks and Dams 2, 3, 
and 4, Monongahela River Project Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The EIS supplement addresses the investigation of alternative 
disposal sites to accommodate all excavated and dredged material in 
association with the authorized navigation improvement project, 
identified as Locks and Dams 2, 3 and 4, Monongahela River project.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, William 
S. Morrhead Federal Building, 1000 Liverty Avenue, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15222-4186.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Purdy, (412) 644-6844.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lower Monongahela River Navigation 
System Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement were 
completed in December 1991. The plan of improvement recommended in the 
feasibility report was authorized for construction by the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1992. The authorized project consists of 
replacing the fixed crest dam at Braddock, Pennsylvania with a gated 
dam, removing the locks and dam facility at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and 
constructing twin 84'  x  720' locks at Charleroi, Pennsylvania. A new 
continuous navigation pool 2 will be created between Braddock and 
Charleroi by raising the existing pool 2 by five feet (three feet when 
the existing flow over the fixed crest dam 2 is considered) and 
lowering the existing pool 3 by 3.2 feet (five feet when the existing 
flow over the fixed crest dam 3 is considered). There will be about 
3,500,000 cubic yards of dredged and excavated material associated with 
construction and restoration of the navigation channel between 
Elizabeth and Charleroi. Two upland disposal sites identified as Bunola 
and Coursin Hill were recommended in the Feasibility Report. Use of 
these sites would necessitate the relocation of fourteen residences and 
one business. Due to the concerns of local residents and elected 
officials expressed at the public meetings for the project, the 
Pittsburgh District committed to exploring alternative disposal sites 
during post authorization studies.
    Reasonable alternatives to the sites recommended in the Feasibility 
Report include two areas currently being developed by the Regional 
Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) at Duquesne and McKeesport, 
PA; in addition to sites near Eldora and Victory Hills in Carroll 
Township, Lockview in Fallowfield Township, and Panburg Hollow in 
Forward Township, PA; and within pools 2, 3, and/or 4 of the 
Monongahela River.
    Significant issues to be addressed in the Draft EIS Supplement 
include socio-economic impacts, residential and business relocations, 
noise and air pollution, impacts to wildlife and terrestrial habitat, 
potential for hazardous, toxic and radiologic waste disturbance (HTRW), 
effects upon endangered species, impacts on cultural resources, flood 
plain intrusion, wetland disturbance, temporary and permanent effects 
upon recreation, and in the case of the in-river alternative, water 
quality and aquatic life.
    The Pittsburgh District's public involvement program for this 
activity has been on-going since the Feasibility Study review process. 
Impacts to the sites recommended in the Feasibility Report were 
addressed at the October 22, 1991 Public Meeting when the 
recommendations of the report were presented and the District responded 
to numerous public inquiries. Subsequent to the Feasibility Report, the 
District has met with officials representing the Duquesne, Eldora and 
Lockview sites. Two public meetings were held concerning use of the 
Eldora site. The first was held on May 14, 1993 and involved township 
officials and the township engineer. A follow-up meeting took place on 
June 1, 1993 at the regular monthly Carroll Township supervisors 
meeting where twenty-five residents and township officials attended. A 
public meeting was held with Fallowfield Township officials on August 
30, 1994 concerning use of the Lockview site.
    No additional public meetings are scheduled at this time but may be 
scheduled in the future subject to comments received on the DIS draft 
supplement. Comments are encouraged from concerned Federal, State, and 
local agencies, as well as from private industries, local groups, and 
the general public. Further details may be obtained from the address 
given in this Notice of Intent and from Mr. Purday, 412-644-6844.
    The draft Supplemental EIS will be issued to interested parties 
upon completion, tentatively scheduled for March 1995.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-30205 Filed 12-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-85-M