[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36038-36039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17411]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Baltimore Metropolitan Water Resources Study-Gwynns Falls in 
Baltimore County, Maryland

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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[[Page 36039]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is 
initiating the Baltimore Metropolitan Water Resources Feasibility Study 
for the Gwynns Falls sub-basin of the Patapsco River watershed. The 
riparian and aquatic environmental integrity of the Gwynns Falls sub-
basin has been severely degraded by urbanization, inadequate 
infrastructure and industrial encroachment. Potential environmental 
restoration of streambanks, wetlands and forest buffers could restore 
and/or create up to 150 acres of riparian and aquatic habitat, in 
addition to improving water quality, low base flows, stream channel 
erosion, and sedimentation. A DEIS will be integrated into the 
feasibility study to document existing conditions, projects actions, 
and project effects and products. Baltimore County, Baltimore City and 
the State of Maryland's Department of the Environment (MDE) are the 
non-Federal sponsors for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be addressed to Mr. Richard Starr, Study Manager, 
Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-RP, 
P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, telephone (410) 962-
4633. E-mail address: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The U.S. House of Representatives, 
Committee on Public Works and Transportation, authorized the Baltimore 
Metropolitan Water Resources Study-Gwynns Falls in a resolution adopted 
April 30, 1992.
    2. The study area is located in northern Maryland. The area 
proposed for environmental restoration is known as the Gwynns Falls 
watershed and is located in highly developed portions of Baltimore 
County and Baltimore City. The most significant problem in the Gwynns 
Falls watershed is the instability of the steam channels and the loss 
of aquatic habitat. Due to the extensive urbanization along the narrow 
corridor between the Chesapeake Bay and the Fall Line within a short 
period of time, environmental resources and aquatic habitats have 
become degraded. This excessive degradation includes: flashy stormwater 
flows that cause streambank erosion and sedimentation, residential and 
industrial encroachment has limited riparian habitat and wetlands, and 
polluted runoff has contributed to poor water quality. These factors 
negatively impact the aquatic environment in the present and the 
future.
    3. An ecosystem framework has been developed to restore the habitat 
and environmental integrity of Gwynns Falls. It allows potential 
restoration projects to be identified, evaluated, and selected on a 
watershed basis. Study goals and characterizations will be made of the 
broad Gwynns Falls watershed. Sub-basins, or hydrologic unit areas 
(HUAs), will then be identified, delineated and prioritized within the 
broad watershed. Based on the study objectives, high priority HUAs will 
be further characterized and problem statements for these areas will be 
developed. Upon the identification and characterization of the high 
priority HUAs, specific problem areas within them will be identified 
and prioritized. Preliminary conceptual restoration measures which 
could address the problem areas within Gwynns Falls, developing 
ecosystem based alternative plans for the high priority HUAs, and 
incrementally analyzing each alternative will follow. The final 
evaluation will focus on which combination of problem area restoration 
solutions provide the most environmental benefits, at the least cost, 
for a HUA ecosystem.
    4. This proposed HUA restoration plan would potentially include 
stormwater detention measures, such as the restoration of floodplains, 
creation of wetlands, and conversion of existing stormwater facilities. 
Habitat structures would also be installed to restore aquatic habitat 
and provide added cover for spawning. Stream restoration would include 
stabilization techniques, such as rootwads, plantings and geotubes. 
Where feasible, fish blockages would be removed to allow for 
residential and migratory passage. In the Middle Branch tidal area, 
alternatives to create islands and restore a vegetative wetland buffer 
around the Harbor area will be investigated.
    5. The decision to implement these actions will be based on an 
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activities on the 
public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for 
both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit 
which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal will be 
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. The Baltimore 
District is preparing a DEIS which will describe the impacts of the 
proposed projects on environmental and cultural resources in the study 
area and the overall public interest. The DEIS will be in accordance 
with NEPA and will document all factors which may be relevant to the 
proposal, including the cumulative effects thereof. Among these factors 
are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental 
concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood 
hazards, floodplain values, land use, recreation, water supply and 
conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, and the general 
needs and welfare of the people. If applicable, the DEIS will also 
apply guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, under 
the authority of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (Pub. 
L. 95-217).
    6. The public involvement program will include workshops, meetings, 
and other coordination with interested private individuals and 
organizations, as well as with concerned Federal, state and local 
agencies. Coordination letters and newsletters have been sent to 
appropriate agencies, organizations, and individuals on an extensive 
mailing list. Additional public information will be provided through 
print media, mailings, radio and television announcements.
    7. In addition to the Corps, the Maryland Department of the 
Environment, Baltimore County and Baltimore City, other participants 
that will be involved in the study and DEIS process include, but are 
not limited to the following: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Geological 
Survey; Natural Resource Conservation Service; and the U.S. National 
Park Service. The Baltimore District invites potentially affected 
Federal, state, and local agencies, and other organizations and 
entities to participate in this study.
    8. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public 
review in July 1998.

Harold L. Nelson,

Assistant Chief, Planning Division.

[FR Doc. 96-17411 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]

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