[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5802-5803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3046]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of Army
Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson Water Resources Feasibility Study in
Howard County, Maryland
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
initiating the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson Water Resources Feasibility
Study for the watersheds of the Patapsco River basin. The riparian and
aquatic environmental integrity of the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson
watersheds have been severely degraded by urbanization, inadequate
infrastructure and industrial encroachment. Potential environmental
restoration of streambanks, wetlands and forest buffers could restore
riparian and aquatic habitat, improve water quality, restore stream
channel stability, and reduce erosion and sedimentation. A DEIS will be
integrated into the feasibility study to document existing conditions,
project actions, and project effects and products. Howard County is the
non-Federal sponsor for the project. The Maryland Department of the
Environment has also contributed matching grant funds to the county for
this study.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be addressed to Ms.
Kathryn Conant, Study Manager, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-
1715, telephone (410) 962-5175. E-mail address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Public Works and Transportation, authorized the Baltimore
Metropolitan Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson Water Resources Study, in a
resolution adopted April 30, 1992.
2. The areas proposed for environmental restoration are known as
the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson watersheds and are located in highly
developed eastern portions of Howard County, Maryland. The most
significant problems in the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson watersheds are
the loss of aquatic and riparian habitat and the instability of the
stream channels. This excessive degradation includes: flashy stormwater
flows which cause streambank erosion and sedimentation, encroachment of
development which limits riparian habitat and wetlands, and polluted
runoff which contributes to poor water quality. These factors
negatively impact the aquatic and riparian environment in the present
and the future.
3. In September 1996, the Corps and Howard County executed a
feasibility cost-sharing agreement to prepare a study on both the Deep
Run and Tiber-Hudson watersheds. This watershed study is being
conducted to investigate the feasibility of restoring habitat and the
environmental integrity of both of these watersheds. The purpose of
this study is to develop an ecosystem restoration plan that will
address improvements to aquatic and terrestrial habitat, water quality,
and recreation. The goal of this study is to implement the watershed
restoration plan that will improve the aquatic and riparian ecosystem
within the Deep Run and Tiber-Hudson watersheds. To achieve this goal,
the Corps will further define the problems, needs, and opportunities in
these watersheds; analyze and forecast environmental resource
conditions; formulate, evaluate, and compare alternative plans for
multiple sites; develop detailed designs and costs at selected sites;
and recommend a cost effective plan for these watersheds.
4. Throughout the feasibility study, potential restoration projects
will be identified, evaluated, and selected on a watershed basis. To
achieve the proposed watershed restoration plan, the alternatives to be
evaluated will include stabilization of eroding stream channels,
creation of wetlands, restoration of floodplains, and construction of
stormwater detention ponds and retrofits. Habitat structures would also
be installed, if necessary, to restore aquatic habitat and provide
added cover for spawning. Stream restoration alternatives may include
stabilization techniques, such as rootwads, plantings, and geotubes.
Where feasible, fish blockages may be removed to allow for resident and
migratory passage.
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
that reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal will be
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable costs. The Baltimore
District is preparing a DEIS that 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 that 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
[[Page 5803]]
quality, energy needs, safety, and the general needs and welfare of the
people. If applicable the DEIA 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 will 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, and radio and television announcements.
7. In addition to the Corps, Howard County and the Maryland
Department of the Environment, other participants that will be involved
in the study and DEIS process include 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
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 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 scheduled to be available for public review in the
spring of 1998.
Dr. James E. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 97-3046 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
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