[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5803-5804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3047]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Upper North Branch Potomac River Environmental Restoration 
Feasibility Study, Maryland and West Virginia

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 Upper North Branch Potomac River Environmental 
Restoration Feasibility Study. The riparian and aquatic environmental 
integrity of this has been severely degraded by urbanization, acid mine 
drainage and industrial encroachment. Potential environmental 
restoration of streambanks and remediation of wetlands and forest 
buffers could restore several acres of riparian and aquatic habitat, in 
addition to improving water quality, low base flows, and sedimentation. 
A DEIS will be integrated into the feasibility study to document 
existing conditions, project actions, and project effects and products. 
the non-Federal sponsors for the project are the Maryland Department of 
Natural Resources, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and 
the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be addressed to Ms. 
Erika Hieber, Study Manager, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-
1715, telephone (410) 962-4633. E-mail address: erika.j.hieber@ccmail.
nab.usace.army.mil

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The U.S. House of Representatives, 
Committee on Public Works and Transportation, authorized the North 
Branch Potomac River Water Resources Feasibility Study in a resolution 
adopted May 13, 1993.
    2. The Upper North Branch watershed of the Potomac River extends 
from the Potomac River headwaters down to the Jennings Randolph Lake. 
The study area includes portions of Garret and Allegeny counties in 
Maryland, and portions of Grant and Mineral Counties in West Virginia. 
A particular focus of this study is the Corps of Engineers' multi-
purpose Jennings Randolph Lake. The most significant problems in the 
Upper North Branch watershed are acid mine drainage, the loss of 
biodiversity, and water quality degradation. As a result, environmental 
resources and aquatic habitats have become degraded.
    3. A watershed study is being conducted to investigate the 
feasibility of restoring the habitat and environmental integrity of the 
Upper North Branch watershed. The purpose of this study is to develop 
an ecosystem restoration plan that will address improvement of aquatic 
and terrestrial habitat, water quality, and recreation. The goal of 
this study is to improve the aquatic and riparian ecosystem within the 
Upper North Branch watershed. To achieve this goal, the Corps will 
further define the problems and opportunities in the Upper North Branch 
watershed; 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 the Upper North Branch watershed. The proposed 
environmental restoration plan would potentially include a evaluation 
of acid mine drainage sites that individually contribute to a 
significant amount of the acid loading in the watershed. To accomplish 
the proposed environmental restoration plan, an alternative analysis 
will be conducted. The analysis would include an evaluation of passive 
and active acid mine drainage treatment and control technologies that 
would improve degraded aquatic habitat and water quality by 
neutralizing acidity, decreasing metal concentrations, and raising pH 
levels.
    4. 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 costs. 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 
(Public Law 95-217).
    5. 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, and radio and television announcements.
    6. In addition to the Corps, the Maryland Department of Natural 
Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, West Virginia 
Division of Environmental Protection, and other participants that will 
be involved in the study and DEIS process

[[Page 5804]]

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 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.
    7. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public 
review in the winter of 1998.
Dr. James F. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 97-3047 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M