[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 20807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9692]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Withdrawal of Preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Anacostia River and Tributaries, District of Columbia and 
Maryland, Northwest Branch Watershed, Montgomery County, Maryland, 
Draft Ecosystem Restoration Report and Integrated Environmental 
Assessment

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

ACTION:  Notice of withdrawal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, is 
withdrawing its intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for environmental restoration in the Northwest Branch 
watershed. Montgomery County, Maryland. The Corps' environmental 
analyses have not identified any significant impacts associated with 
the proposed action, therefore, intent to prepare a DEIS is hereby 
terminated. The Corps is preparing a draft Environmental Assessment 
(EA) for the proposed environmental restoration. The draft EA will 
evaluate environmental effects of restoring riverine, wetland, and 
riparian habitat at eleven sites in the Northwest Branch watershed. 
Montgomery County and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning 
Commission are the cost-sharing partners and are participating in the 
feasibility study and draft EA development. The goal of this project is 
to provide site-specific restoration measures to enhance, preserve, and 
restore portions of the watershed that have been degraded by urban 
development pressures. Formulation of the restoration measures focuses 
on examining existing conditions and determining the feasibility of 
restoring portions of degraded ecosystem structure, function, and 
dynamic processes to a less degraded condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the termination of the 
DEIS can be addressed to Ms. Nancy Jedziniak, Study Manager, Baltimore 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 
1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, telephone (410) 962-2926. E-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A DEIS was in the process of being prepared 
by the Corps. During the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process, it became apparent that the set of alternatives chosen as the 
final restoration plan did not produce any significant, long-term, or 
adverse impacts to the environment or its surroundings. Therefore, the 
DEIS process has been terminated. A draft ecosystem restoration report 
and draft EA have been prepared, and will be available for public 
review and comment in March 2000.

John A. Hall,
Alternative Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-9692 Filed 4-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M