[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8169-8170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4000]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Whitney Point Lake Reallocation, Susquehanna River Basin Water 
Management Feasibility Study and Integrated Environmental Impact 
Statement

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 Whitney Point Lake Reallocation, Susquehanna River Basin 
Water Management Feasibility Study and Integrated Environmental Impact 
Statement. The purpose of the study is to develop a low flow 
augmentation plan for the Eastern New York sub-basin (below Whitney 
Point Lake) in Broome, Cortland, and Tioga Counties, New York. This 
study will determine the feasibility of reallocating reservoir storage 
at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Whitney Point Lake for the purpose 
of aquatic habitat restoration. Specifically, the study will evaluate 
the aquatic habitat benefits to stream reaches below the reservoir as a 
result of various low flow augmentation releases. The feasibility study 
will involve the collection of existing conditions data; identification 
of problems, needs and opportunities; development and evaluation of 
plan alternatives; documentation of potential effects; comparison of 
plan alternatives; and selection of a recommended plan for 
implementation that is environmentally, economically, and engineeringly 
sound.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be addressed to Mr. 
Richard R. Starr, Study Team Leader, 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: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. The Whitney Point Lake Reallocation Study was authorized in 
Section 721(a) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986.
    2. The study area is located in the Eastern New York sub-basin and 
is the headwaters to the Susquehanna River. The study will focus on the 
area around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Whitney Point Lake and 
approximately 60 miles downstream to Waverly, New York, along the 
Otselic, Tioughnioga, Chennago, and Susquehanna Rivers. The study area 
has experienced continued impacts to aquatic habitat during low flow 
periods. Specifically, the physical aquatic habitat within the study 
area's riverine channels fluctuates throughout the river from deep, 
free flowing conditions during high and normal flow periods, to much 
shallower, restricted conditions during low-flow conditions or times of 
dewatering. It is the dewatered habitats, specifically riffles and back 
water areas, for which this study will be addressing. Aquatic habitat, 
under extended periods of these conditions, have been stressed, and 
established benthic and other small fish species populations have been 
impacted. Consequently, this condition has resulted in an impact on 
other riverine species populations higher in the food chain. In 
addition, riverine water quality problems have been exacerbated by low-
flow conditions, further stressing the fishery resource.
    3. In July 1997, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore 
District and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) executed a 
feasibility cost-sharing agreement for the Whitney Point Lake 
Reallocation, Susquehanna River Basin Water Management Feasibility 
Study. The planning goals of this study are to restore and protect 
water flows that can support healthy aquatic and riparian ecosystems 
and to promote environmental awareness and values necessary for the 
continual restoration of a stressed ecosystem. To achieve these goals 
the Corps and SRBC will: (1) conduct hydraulic, hydrologic, economic, 
cultural, and environmental analyses of the study area; (2) identify 
low flow conditions and available water storage in Whitney Point Lake; 
(3) select a range of low flow conditions that can be enhanced by the 
available reservoir storage; (4) prioritize low flow release scenarios 
for each reallocation alternative; (5) evaluate low flow augmentation 
release scenarios for each reallocation alternative; (6) identify which 
low flow release scenario, for each reallocation alternative, that has 
the greatest potential for increased habitat benefits; (7) conduct 
trade-off analysis; and (8) select the recommended plan. Three products 
will be produced upon completion of this study: (1) a feasibility 
report with an integrated environmental impact statement; (2) 65-
percent complete designs; and (3) a Instream Flow Incremental 
Methodology model.
    4. The feasibility study is in line with the Susquehanna River 
Basin Commission's ultimate goal of developing a Susquehanna River 
basinwide water management plan under the ``pooled water'' concept. The 
``pooled water'' concept is based on the development of a reservoir 
water release system with water storage located in various reservoirs 
throughout the entire Susquehanna basin. The intent is to release small 
amounts of water from more than one reservoir to meet water use needs 
(environmental and human) while minimizing potential impact to 
reservoir resources. As each individual sub-basin water management plan 
is developed and implemented, the management plan becomes more 
effective in meeting basinwide water use needs.
    5. The decision to implement these actions will be based on an 
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activities on the 
public. 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 
reallocation on environmental and cultural resources in the study area 
and the overall interest's of the public. 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 quality, energy needs, safety, and the general 
needs and welfare of the people. If applicable, the DEIS will also 
apply guidelines issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
under the authority of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act of 1977 
(Public Law 95-217).
    6. 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.
    7. In addition to the Corps of Engineers and the Susquehanna River

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Basin Commission, other participants that will be involved in the study 
and DEIS process includes 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 New York 
Department of Environmental Conservation. 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 tentatively scheduled to be available for public 
review in April of 2000.
Dr. James F. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 98-4000 Filed 2-17-98; 8:45 am]
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