[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29290-29291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13733]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare Integrated Feasibility Report(s)/Environmental 
Impact Statement(s) (EIS) for Structural and Non-Structural Flood 
Control and Environmental Restoration, Lower Platte River and 
Tributaries, Nebraska

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 29291]]

SUMMARY: Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
by resolution of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation on 
September 28, 1994 to conduct a reconnaissance study along the Lower 
Platte River and Tributaries, Nebraska in the interest of flood 
control, environmental restoration, and other purposes. Based on the 
information and conclusions reached in the reconnaissance report, 
sufficient water resource problems and needs of national significance 
in the study area were found to exist to warrant a Federal interest in 
further study. It was also found that non-Federal sponsors were 
interested in participating in a cost-shared feasibility study that 
would address both structural and non-structural flood control 
measures, and environmental restoration opportunities.
    Non-Federal sponsors include the Nebraska Natural Resources 
Commission, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the 
Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, and the Lower Platte 
North Natural Resources District. The Lower Platte River Corridor 
Alliance is participating in study activities.
    Five specific locations are being studied in detail for potential 
structural flood control measures. They include: Clear Creek Levee and 
Western Sarpy County Levee areas from U.S. Highway 6 upstream to the 
Douglas/Sarpy County line; the Union Dike area downstream of Fremont, 
Nebraska; the Sand Creek tributary near Wahoo, Nebraska; and the south 
Fremont area. Non-structural measures being examined include: flood 
insurance, flood proofing, flood warning, flood plain zoning, and 
evacuation and relocation of buildings. In addition, the study is also 
examining environmental restoration opportunities in the Lower Platte 
River basin. Each of the five specific locations being studied in 
detail involve a plan formulation phase in which various flood control 
alternative plans are given consideration, including non-structural 
solutions. The ``no Corps action'' alternative will also be considered.
    The Sand Creek tributary element of the study will be accomplished 
in a separate integrated feasibility report/EIS because of its 
relationship to a proposed redesign of U.S. Highway 77 scheduled for 
construction in 2002. An earlier Federal Register notice addressing 
this study element was published on April 8, 1999 and a public scoping 
meeting was conducted on May 4, 1999 in Wahoo, Nebraska.
    The remaining elements of study will either be accomplished in a 
comprehensive feasibility report/EIS, or also in individual feasibility 
reports/EISs if the need is warranted. Some environmental restoration 
study elements may be accomplished in an environmental restoration 
report/environmental assessment format.
    Scoping/public information meetings to discuss the Lower Platte 
River and Tributaries studies will be held July 6, 1999 at Mahoney 
State Park, Sapp Riverview Lodge; July 7, 1999 at the Papio-Missouri 
River Natural Resources District, 8901 S. 154th Street, Omaha; and July 
8, 1999 at the North Bend Civic Auditorium, Main Street, North Bend. 
All three meetings will be from 6:30-8 p.m. Scoping comments will also 
be accepted by mail, phone, or email during the preparation of any and 
all draft reports. Draft reports will be circulated for review and 
comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the study elements 
should be directed to Robert S. Nebel, Environmental Resources 
Specialist, Environmental and Economics Section, Planning Branch, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, 215 North 17th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102-
4978, phone: (402) 221-4621, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Environmental restoration needs and 
opportunities will be investigated that specifically fit the Corps' 
authorities--ones that restore degraded conditions caused by existing 
Corps projects (section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act 
(WRDA) of 1986); or ones that restore aquatic ecosystem structure and 
function (section 206 of WRDA 1996) (no relationship to an existing 
Corps project is required); ones that usually include manipulation of 
the hydrology in and along bodies of water, including wetlands and 
riparian areas (section 206 of WRDA 1996); or ones that restore 
degraded streams, rivers, wetlands and other waterbodies to their 
natural condition as a means to control flooding, excessive erosion, 
and sedimentation (section 503 of WRDA 1996).
Candace M. Thomas,
Chief, Environmental and Economics Section Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 99-13733 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M