[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 39504-39505] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-19333] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Toledo Harbor, Ohio, Long Term Dredged Material Management Plan Within the Context of the Maumee River Watershed Sediment Management Strategy (ER 200-2-2) AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Notice of Intent is being published in accordance with ER 200-2-2, Procedures for Implementing NEPA. The potential project may be considered a major Federal action, of considerable Federal expense but generating considerable long term savings, and/or of considerable environmental and/or public interest. The proposed project will involve implementation of measures shown to be feasible from the engineering and economic perspectives and acceptable from the environmental and social perspectives that will better manage water and sediment quality and loading conditions in the Maumee River Watershed, and dredging and disposal of dredged material from Toledo Harbor, Ohio. Component measures would include those pertaining to: Pollution reduction, sediment load reduction, dredging, open lake disposal, confined disposal facility (CDF) disposal and management, and beneficial use of dredged material. A feasibility study is currently being conducted by the Toledo Harbor Planning Group in order to assess and evaluate various alternative component measures. The Toledo Harbor Planning Group consists of several Federal, State, and local agencies and interests. The study is being conducted under 33 CFR 337.9 (part 200 to end), revised July 1, 1991, 33 CFR 233 and 40 CFR 1501.7, and Section 356 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992. An initial scoping meeting for this project was conducted in May of 1992. Subsequent meetings have followed. Supplemental scoping letters were coordinated with agencies and interests known to have an [[Page 39505]] interest in the study in November of 1993. Significant issues identified include those items identified in the previous paragraph. A reconnaissance (interim) report was completed and coordinated in February of 1996. Since Federal, State, and local interests have been involved with initiation of the study, and adequate coordination is already being conducted, no new formal initial scoping meeting is scheduled. Additional scoping input from potentially affected interests is invited by this notice. It is expected that a Draft Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be made available to the public about April 1999. When the Draft reports are completed, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and coordinated and reviewed under Federal Planning and the National Environmental Policy Act procedures. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tod Smith, 716-879-4175, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, Environmental Analysis Section, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York 14207-3199. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None. Dated: June 29, 1997. Michael J. Conrad, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Commanding. [FR Doc. 97-19333 Filed 7-22-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-GP-M