[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38718-38719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18882]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Proposed Master Plan Update at Jennings Randolph Lake, Maryland 
and West Virginia

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, proposes 
to update the Master Plan for Jennings Randolph Lake. The existing 
master plan was prepared in 1973 and does not address changes that have 
occurred since its development or since completion of the project. 
Since completion of the master plan, water quality in the lake and 
downstream of the dam has significantly improved, thereby increasing 
recreational opportunities. The purpose of the master planning process 
is to provide direction for project development and use as well as 
stewardship of project resources through the protection, conservation, 
and enhancement of natural, cultural, and constructed resources. The 
master plan update is authorized by the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act of 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be addressed to Ms. 
Robyn Colosimo, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: 
CENAB-PL-EP, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, telephone 
(410) 962-4995.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The update of the Jennings Randolph 
Master Plan was initiated by the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act of 1995, which states ``[the] Corps is directed to 
use available funds to initiate work on a revised master plan for 
Jennings Randolph Lake to reflect changing demands. To the extent 
practical, the Corps should consult and work with all affected interest 
groups in developing the revised plan.''
    2. The project is located in Garrett County, Maryland, and Mineral 
County, West Virginia, on the North Branch Potomac River, approximately 
8 miles upstream from Bloomington, Maryland. The project was authorized 
by the Flood Control Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874) to provide water 
quality control in the North Branch, industrial and municipal water 
supply for the Potomac River basin, flood control protection for 
communities along the North Branch, and recreation. Construction of the 
dam was initiated in 1971 and completed in 1981. At full conservation 
pool, the lake, with a watershed of 263 square miles, extends upstream 
from the dam a distance of 6.6 miles and has a surface area of 952 
acres. The total project, land and water, covers an area of 4,500 
acres. Operation of the project has resulted in significant improvement 
to water quality in the North Branch Potomac River downstream of the 
dam, particularly during low flow conditions.
    3. The Corps operates and maintains five recreation sites at 
Jennings Randolph including a campground, two overlooks, a picnic area, 
and a boat launch. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD 
DNR) is presently constructing a boat launch facility in Maryland. 
Planned future development at this location will include a picnic area 
and campground. Since 1983, Maryland and West Virginia have stocked the 
lake with a variety of fish, including walleye; largemouth and 
smallmouth bass; channel catfish; and rainbow, lake, and brown trout. 
MD DNR raises trout in pens located in the stilling basin below the dam 
for stocking the Potomac River and other Maryland streams. The Mineral 
County Park and Recreation Commission operates and maintains an access 
area for whitewater rafting and fishing downstream of the dam near 
Barnum, West Virginia.
    4. The master plan will determine the types and quantities of 
development the project can support environmentally and economically. 
The master plan will incorporate information from previous and ongoing 
studies, including the Jennings Randolph Lake Reallocation Study and 
the North Branch Potomac River Water Resources Reconnaissance Study, 
visitor needs, local and regional interests, and resource agency 
concerns. The master plan will identify alternatives for recreational

[[Page 38719]]

development and natural resource management at a conceptual level. The 
analysis of alternatives will evaluate consistency with authorizing 
legislation, project operations, and resource use objectives; economic 
benefits; and potential impacts to environmental and cultural 
resources. Recommendations for future project development and 
management will be made based on this analysis.
    5. The Baltimore District is preparing a programmatic DEIS that 
will be integrated with the Master Plan. Potential effects of proposed 
projects to water quality, fish and wildlife, vegetation, cultural 
resources, aesthetics, recreation, and other resources will be 
investigated. If applicable, the DEIS will 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).
    6. The Baltimore District invites interested Federal, state, and 
local agencies and other interested organizations and parties to 
participate in this study. Agencies that will be involved in the DEIS 
process include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maryland 
Department of Natural Resources, the West Virginia Department of 
Natural Resources, Maryland Historical Trust, West Virginia Department 
of Culture and History, North Branch Potomac River Task Force, and the 
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. Coordination letters, 
study bulletins, notices, and workshops will be included as part of the 
public involvement program, as needed.
    7. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public 
review in March of 1997.
Harold L. Nelson,
Asst. Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-18882 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]
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