[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]


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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.

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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]
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