[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 204 (Friday, October 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 63064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27068]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the Proposed Sauquoit Creek Flood Control Project at 
Whitesboro, NY

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--New York District Department of 
the Army, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 
1948, the New York District Office of the Corps of Engineers proposes 
to provide flood protection for the town of Whitestown through 
modification of the Sauquoit Creek. The Corps has identified a history 
of frequent and serious flooding along the Sauquoit Creek in the town 
of Whitestown. The flooding is caused by both fluvial and ice-jam 
related events. The project extends from the entrance ramp of Route 5A 
to 1,000 feet above the confluence of Sauquoit Creek with the Mohawk 
River. The total length of the channel modification is approximately 1 
mile ending with a 2,000 foot long V notch pilot channel. The channel 
modifications include widening, realigning and deepening along with 
construction of a low flow channel within the main channel. 
Bioengineering techniques will be utilized to stabilize the channel. 
The V notch pilot channel will serve to provide a smooth transition 
between the channel modifications and the natural streambed. The plan 
prevents damages from fluvial events up to the 25-year level.

DATES: Written comments received within 45 days of the publication of 
the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability will be 
considered by the Corps in preparing the Final EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address: New York District Corps of 
Engineers, CENAN-PL-ES, 26 Federal Plaza, New York NY 10278-0090.

Project Planner, Joseph Redican, Attn: CENAN-PL-FB, (202) 264-1060
Project Biologist, Kimberly Rightler, Attn: CENAN-PL-ES, (202) 264-9846

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) was filed in the Federal Register April 14, 1986. A Detailed 
Project Report comprised of a main report containing basic objectives, 
a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and supporting 
documentation with the Sauquoit Creek project was completed in June 
1986 and revised October 1987, but was never published in the Federal 
Register nor had a Record of Decision prepared.
    Various structural and nonstructural alternatives to minimize 
flooding and ice jams were originally considered. Three plans were 
studied in detail (40, 50, 60 foot Channel Plan). The 60 Foot Channel 
Plan (Plan D3a) was designated the preferred plan by the New York 
District for its high benefits compared with its costs. The Plan 
consisted of channel modifications such as realignment, widening, 
deepening and a riprap armored trapezoidal channel along with 
constructing a high flow diversion channel connecting Sauquoit Creek to 
the Mohawk River.
    Funding constraints and changes in administration policy delayed 
proposed implementation of the recommended plan and the FEIS was not 
filed in the Federal Register, pending resolution of these issues. Work 
resumed on the project in 1995 with the preparation of the plans and 
specifications phase. Due to the time that has lapsed and the project 
design changes, an updated draft EIS is necessary. The objective of 
this revised draft Environmental Impact Statement is to provide a 
description of the original and current projects, and to account for 
any potential impacts that may occur from construction disturbances 
since the original draft statement was written in 1984. Major revisions 
that have substantially reduced the amount of adverse impacts of the 
project made since the development of the 1984 DEIS include: (1) 
Elimination of the diversion channel and opening the culverts under the 
Conrail Bridge; (2) Incorporating bioengineering methods into the plan 
in lieu of all rip rap; (3) Installation of a low flow channel and a 
pilot channel.
    Several scoping meetings were held at the time of the original 
environmental assessment for this project and significant issues 
related to the project were identified. The changes in the project 
design have decreased the environmental impacts; therefore an 
additional scoping meeting was not considered necessary.

Eugene Brickman,
Chief, Plan Formulation Branch.
[FR Doc. 00-27068 Filed 10-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-06-M