[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46635-46636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22480]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 
Environmental Restoration, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Walla Walla 
District, intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will 
evaluate the environmental effects of providing environmental 
restoration to riverine, wetland, and riparian habitat for four sites 
within the active Snake River channel between Grand Teton National Park 
and the South Park Elk Feed Grounds in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Teton 
County and the Teton County Natural Resources District are cost sharing 
sponsors and participating partners in the project and in developing 
the EIS.
    The objective of this study is to provide site-specific restoration 
measures. Formulation of the restoration activities focuses on 
examining the condition of the existing ecosystem and determining the 
feasibility of restoring degraded ecosystem structure, function, and 
dynamic processes to a less degraded and more natural condition. 
Ecosystem restoration provides a more comprehensive approach than 
focusing only on fish and wildlife habitat for addressing problems 
associated with disturbed and degraded ecological resources.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact Mr. Bill MacDonald, Study Manager, Walla Walla District, 
Corps of Engineers, CENPW-PL-PF, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla, 
WA 99362, phone (509) 527-7253 or Ms. Anneli Aston, NEPA Coordinator, 
Walla Walla District, Corps of Engineers, CENPW-PL-ER, 201 North Third 
Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone (509) 527-7263.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By focusing on the Upper Snake River 
ecosystem structure, the Corps' interdisciplinary planning team will 
identify parameters that are altering water quantity or quality and 
adversely impacting the ecosystem, or parts thereof, within the 
watershed. Consideration must be given, during plan formulation, to 
those activities and conditions in the watershed that may influence the 
success and resilience of the restoration proposal, even though they 
may exist outside of the study area. Hydrology and sediment transport 
are two key functions that must be investigated in order for this 
restoration effort to be successful.
    Alternatives: Along a 25-mile reach of the Snake and Gros Ventre 
rivers, twelve locations which showed the best potential for 
restoration were selected for evaluation. In an effort to reduce the 
scope and cost of the study, the number of sites was reduced to four. 
Alternatives that could be implemented at the four sites include:
    a. Channel restoration to rehabilitate fisheries.
    b. Island protection measures to preserve riparian island values.
    c. Island restoration measures to restore riparian island values.
    d. Fish habitat creation through stream structure alteration.
    e. Headgate opportunities to provide for future water diversions to 
restore spring creeks, wetlands, and riparian habitats.
    f. No action.
    Scoping Process: The Corps invites affected Federal, state and 
local

[[Page 46636]]

agencies, Native American tribes, and other interested organizations, 
parties, and the public to participate in the scoping process for the 
EIS. Input from other agencies and organizations that have a special 
interest and expertise in key resource areas such as fisheries, 
wildlife, water quality, hydrology, and stream restoration techniques 
is welcome. The EIS process includes environmental review and 
consultation in accordance with other environmental statutes, rules, 
and regulations which apply to the proposed action.
    Scoping meeting: A public scoping meeting for the EIS will be held 
in Jackson, Wyoming on September 25, 1996. Time and location 
information will be advertised and provided in a scoping letter that 
will be distributed throughout the region.
    Availability: The draft EIS should be available in September 1998.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-22480 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
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