[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51299-51300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21448]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Greers Ferry Lake Shoreline Management Plan, Arkansas

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 51300]]

SUMMARY: The purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is to 
address alternatives and impacts pertaining to the Shoreline Management 
Plan (SMP) at Greers Ferry Lake, Heber Springs, Arkansas, as proposed 
under a review and update of the 1994 SMP. This review and update of 
the SMP is conducted in accordance with Title 36 CFR, 327.30.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments concerning the 
proposed action should be addressed to Ms. Tricia Anslow, Project 
Manager, Planning Branch, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-
0867, telephone 501-324-5032, E-mail: 
[email protected] or Mr. Jim Ellis, Environmental 
Team Leader, Planning Branch, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, Arkansas 
72203-0867, telephone 501-324-5033, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Greers Ferry Lake, has been operating under 
the current Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) since 1994. Shoreline 
Management Plans are reviewed periodically, but no less often than 
every five years, to determine need for updates, and ensure protection 
of a quality resource for the public, while balancing permitted private 
uses. The SMP is a comprehensive document addressing multiple reservoir 
activities and is developed in conjunction with the Operational 
Management Plan. Public meetings were conducted from January 1999-
January 2000 to solicit comments about the current plan and review 
process. During this period, the public involvement was used to develop 
alternatives for the revision of the SMP. Due to the level of public 
interest it was concluded that the SMP warranted revision.
    The Greers Ferry Lake draft SMP addresses the following changes: 
(1) permitting of additional boat docks, resulting in an expansion of 
the current shoreline development; (2) modification in the distance of 
current vegetation modification (mowing) permits from the current 50' 
from a habitable structure, with the addition of minimum shoreline 
buffer; and; (3) implementation of wildlife enhancement permits, 
allowing limited modification of the shoreline. Elements that arise 
during the scoping meetings will also be addressed in the Environmental 
Impact Statement.
    The Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate impacts due to 
revisions proposed in the draft SMP, as modified from the 1994 
Shoreline Management Plan. Significant issues to be addressed in the 
EIS include: (1) Impacts on physical resources; (2) impacts on 
pollution and water quality; (3) impacts on cultural resources; (4) 
impacts on wetlands; (5) impacts on aquatic resources; (6) impacts on 
terrestrial resources; (7) impacts on threatened and endangered 
species; (8) impacts on recreation and facilities; (9) impacts on 
aesthetics; (10) socio-economic impacts; and (11) other impacts 
identified by the public, agencies, or Corps studies.
    Scoping meetings for the project are planned to be conducted in the 
fall of 2000. News releases informing the public and local, state, and 
Federal agencies of the proposed action will be published in state and 
local newspapers. Comments received as a result of this notice and the 
news releases will be used to assist the Little Rock District in 
identifying potential impacts to the quality of the human or natural 
environment.
    Affected local, state, or Federal agencies, affected Indian tribes, 
and other interested private organizations and parties may participate 
in the scoping process by forwarding written comments to the above 
noted address or attending scoping meetings.
    The draft EIS (DEIS) is expected to be available for public review 
and comment by October 1, 2001 subject to receipt of Federal funding. 
Any comments and suggestions should be forwarded to the above noted 
address no later than September 1, 2001, to be considered in the DEIS.

Thomas A. Holden, Jr.,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 00-21448 Filed 8-22-00; 8:45 am]
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