[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 13713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5535]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Platte West Water Production Facilities, Douglas and Saunders 
Counties, Nebraska

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and 
implementing regulations, a revised Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) has been prepared to evaluate the environmental 
impacts of the Metropolitan Utilities District's (MUD's) preferred 
water supply expansion location (Platte West) as well as other 
reasonable alternatives to that location. The environmental impacts of 
each of the five action alternatives, as well as the ``no action'' 
alternative are described in the DEIS. Public comment on the DEIS will 
be accepted by the Corps through April 13, 2001. A public workshop will 
be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 in the Russell 
Middle School cafeteria at 5304 South 172nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska. 
The public is invited to view displays related to the project and 
provide comments to the Corps.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions and comments regarding the 
DEIS can be addressed to Becky Latka, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 215 
North 17th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102-4978, telephone at (402) 221-
4602, or E-Mail [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MUD's preferred Platte West alternative is 
located in Douglas and Saunders Counties, and consists of 40 to 46 
vertical wells that would withdraw groundwater to provide additional 
water for future growth of the Omaha metropolitan area. It is 
anticipated that the 30-year project could impact wetland habitat, as 
well as result in Platte River depletions. However, the location of the 
Platte West site, which is situated near future growth areas, as well 
as the quality and volume of water available at the site and the 
relatively low cost of the water, make the Platte West site the 
preference for MUD. Information on the costs and environmental impacts 
of the six alternatives (which includes the no-action alternative) are 
detailed in the DEIS.
    Currently, the water supply for the Omaha metropolitan area 
consists of the Florence water treatment plant (67.5% of total 
capacity) which gets its water from the Missouri River, and the Platte 
South wellfield (25.5% of total capacity) which gets water from the 
groundwater in the Platte River aquifer. The remaining water (7% of 
total capacity) comes from smaller wellfields in Millard and Elkhorn. 
One of the purposes of the wellfield expansion project is to diversify 
the water supply so Omaha is not as dependent on any one water source 
as the city is currently. This diversification concept or planned 
redundancy increases the reliability of the overall water supply system 
by providing a back-up water supply in the event of an interruption of 
water supply or contamination of source water.
    The Corps' role in this process is to determine whether a Section 
404 (Clean Water Act) permit should be issued, issued with conditions, 
or denied. The Corps is neither a proponent nor opponent of the 
project, but is required through the National Environmental Policy Act 
to disclose the impacts of the project and reasonable alternatives.
    An earlier DEIS was released for public comment in February of 
1999. Numerous public and agency comments were received at that time. 
In the process of addressing these comments, additional reasonable 
alternatives were identified and included in the NEPA process, which 
has resulted in the release of a revised DEIS. The public may comment 
on the full range of alternatives now available. MUD's preferred 
alternative has remained the same for both DEIS's, although estimated 
Platte River depletions and estimated wetland impacts have each 
decreased slightly from the 1999 proposal. A public hearing to comply 
with the Section 404 permit process has already been held in 
conjunction with public meetings in 1999.
    If the proposed Platte West alternative is permitted, land use 
changes could be expected in the vicinity of the wellfields over the 
next 30 years, and could also result in impacts to the Two Rivers State 
Recreation Area near Venice, Nebraska. A separate agreement between the 
Commission and MUD would allow for funding for deepening the lakes in 
mitigation for the groundwater reduction.
    Additionally, a trust fund consisting of nearly $1 million will be 
established, if the Platte West alternative is permitted, in order to 
compensate for Platte River depletions. The intent is to use the fund 
to develop a backwater area and wetland mitigation site near LaPlatte, 
Nebraska. This proposed plan for mitigation is being coordinated with 
various agencies.

    Dated: March 7, 2001.
Mark E. Tillotson,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 01-5535 Filed 3-6-01; 8:45 am]
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