[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4234-4235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1823]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Missouri River Flood Plain Developments Between Missouri River 
Miles 29.6 to 38.4, St. Louis County, Missouri

AGENCY:  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, DOD.

ACTION:  Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY:  St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SLD) is 
issuing this notice that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will 
be prepared to address cumulative and future impacts to the Missouri 
River flood plain, resulting from permitted actions evaluated under 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The study area is from approximate 
Missouri River mile 29.6 to 38.4, along the right descending bank of 
the Missouri River in St. Louis County, Missouri. Most of this area of 
flood plain is currently protected by the Howard Bend Levee, which 
connects to the Riverport Levee. No pending regulatory permits are 
required at this time for proposed development projects within this 
area. However, it is the intent of SLD to prepare an EIS to address the 
cumulative impacts that have occurred to the aquatic resources in this 
area from permitted activities, as well as to address the impacts to 
the environment for several large projects forecast in the future, that 
may require Section 404 permits.

ADDRESSES:  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, 
Construction-Operations Readiness Division, Regulatory Branch, 1222 
Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-2833.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Danny McClendon, (314) 331-8580 
or Danny D. [email protected]

[[Page 4235]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  During the last 25 years, the Missouri 
River flood plain between approximate Missouri River miles 27.0 (Earth 
City Levee) and 47.0 (Monarch-Chesterfield Levee) in St. Louis County, 
Missouri, has been subjected to extensive levee construction and 
development for agricultural, industrial, and commercial purposes. 
These activities have impacted the aquatic environment and fish and 
wildlife resources in this reach of flood plain. Construction of the 
Earth City Levee to a 500-year level of protection in 1972, 
construction of the Riverport Levee to a 500-year level of protection 
in 1988, reconstruction and recertification of the Monarch-Chesterfield 
Levee to a 100-year level of protection in 1997 and current proposal to 
raise this levee to a 500+-year level of protection, reconstruction of 
a portion of the Howard Bend Levee to a 100-year level of protection in 
1966 and current proposal to raise this levee to a 500+-year level of 
protection, current construction of the Page Avenue Extension Project, 
and resultant commercial and industrial development and agricultural 
conversions has resulted in a disjointed analysis of natural resource 
impacts in relation to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Prior to 
February 1995, the regulatory responsibility for Section 404 permits in 
the Missouri River flood plain in St. Louis County, Missouri were with 
the Kansas City District, Corps of Engineers (KCD). As of February 1, 
1995, this responsibility was transferred to the St. Louis District, 
Corps of Engineers (SLD). The Earth City Levee, Riverport Levee, and 
Page Avenue Extension Project involved legal challenges, which resulted 
in certain limitations and special conditions for future Corps permit 
actions. In addition, KCD recognized the piecemeal development of the 
levee protected areas within the Monarch-Chesterfield flood plain and 
placed a moratorium on individual developments without the preparation 
of an environmental analysis. The SLD continued this moratorium on 
development in the protected areas within the Monarch-Chesterfield 
flood plain until late 1996 and late 1997, upon which time the SLD 
issued Section 404 permits for the remaining wetlands within the levee 
protected area based upon two consolidated permit applications and 
environmental analysis. Large-scale mitigation was required for these 
permit actions. In 1997, the SLD initiated a study to determine the 
feasibility of raising the Monarch-Chesterfield Levee. The SLD is 
currently preparing an EIS for this project. In addition, the Missouri 
Department of Transportation completed an EIS for the Page Avenue 
Extension Project in 1992, and the National Park Service completed a 
Supplemental EIS for the Page Avenue Extension Project in 1995. 
Therefore, the scope of this current EIS will focus on the section of 
Missouri River flood plain between the Monarch-Chesterfield Levee and 
Interstate 70, and a north/south connector road corridor running 
through the Howard Bend flood plain, with a beginning point at 
Interstate 70 and a terminus at Olive Boulevard, between Route 141 
(Woods Mill Road) and Creve Coeur Mill Road (to be known at the Howard 
Bend Flood Plain EIS). This EIS will not reevaluate the Page Avenue 
Extension Project, the Monarch-Chesterfield Levee Project, the 
Riverport or Earth City Levees, or any other previously approved or 
permitted projects by the Corps of Engineers located in the study area. 
However, the EIS will take into account the cumulative and secondary 
impacts of these projects on the remaining aquatic resources within the 
study area, and address any special conditions or requirements of these 
previous projects.

Alternatives

    The Corps of Engineers has 3 alternative courses of action 
available:
    1. The ``no action'' alternative would be to not grant any future 
Section 404 permits within the study area.
    2. Continue to process Section 404 permit applications on a case-
by-case basis for future developments within the Howard Bend Flood 
Plain study area, without developing a Strategic Area Management Plan 
(SAMP).
    3. Evaluate the environmental effects of future developments within 
the Howard Bend Flood Plain study area leading to the development of a 
Strategic Area Management Plan (SAMP) to address the cumulative and 
secondary impacts of developments in this area, and develop a 
comprehensive plan to protect or mitigate important aquatic resources 
due to permitted activities.

Scoping and Public Involvement

    Public involvement will be sought during scoping and conduct of the 
study in accordance with NEPA procedures. A public scoping process will 
help to clarify issues of major concern, identify any information 
sources that might be available to analyze and evaluate impacts, and 
obtain public input on the range and acceptability of alternatives. The 
Notice of Intent formally commences the scoping process under NEPA. As 
part of the scoping process, all Federal, State and local agencies, 
Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations, including 
environmental groups, are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS. 
Comments are requested concerning project alternatives, mitigation 
measures, probable significant environmental impacts and permits or 
other approvals that may be required.
    Key areas to be analyzed in-depth in the draft EIS will include the 
flood plain, wetlands, water quality, fisheries, wildlife, parks, 
infrastucture, cultural resources, socioeconomic resources, recreation, 
transportation, and cumulative and secondary enviromental impacts.

Other Environmental Review and Coodination Requirements

    All review and coordination requirements will be fulfilled via this 
NEPA process. On-going permit actions and studies are continually 
coordinated with agencies and interested publics.

Scoping Meeting

    A scoping meeting for this EIS will be held in conjunction with a 
public workshop that will be held in March 2000. The exact date has not 
been set and can be requested by calling (314) 331-8580.

Availability of Draft EIS

    The draft EIS is scheduled for release in late 2000 to early 2001.

Michael R. Morrow,
COL, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 00-1823 Filed 1-25-00; 8:45 am]
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