[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 144 (Thursday, July 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39030-39031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18588]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Title VI Land Transfer to the State of South Dakota

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and 
implementing regulations, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has 
been prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts of a transfer of 
approximately 91,178 acres of recreation lands and other lands from the 
Army Corps of Engineers to the State of South Dakota. As a result of 
the legislation of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Pub. L. 
106-53, August 17, 1999, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux 
Tribe, and State of South Dakota Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat 
Restoration Act, as amended by Pub. L. 106-541, December 11, 2000, WRDA 
2000, the Secretary of the Army is required to transfer certain lands 
and recreation areas at Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lewis & Clark Lake and 
Lake Francis Case in South Dakota to the Department of Game, Fish & 
Parks of the State of South Dakota (SDGFP) for fish and wildlife 
purposes, or recreation uses, in perpetuity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the EIS can be 
addressed to Patsy Freeman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 106 South 
16th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, telephone at (402) 221-3803, or E-
Mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The legislation requires the transfer in fee 
title of Corps of Engineers lands (outside the boundaries of Indian 
reservations) above the top of the exclusive flood pools at Oahe, Big 
Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point dam/reservoir projects in the State 
of South Dakota to the SDGFP. The technical amendments (P.L. 106-54) 
also require that with certain exceptions, the recreation areas on 
Corps lands at the 4 projects in South Dakota outside of reservation 
boundaries be transferred to the State no later than January 1, 2002. 
Of the 123 recreation areas around the four reservoirs within the 
state, 63 would transfer to the state, 9 would be leased in perpetuity 
to the state, and 51 are either on reservation lands or outside the 
state of South Dakota and therefore would not be affected by this 
action.

[[Page 39031]]

    The purpose of and need for this proposed action is simply to 
comply with the Congressional mandate of transferring the lands to the 
SDGFP. Although NEPA documents normally assist the decision maker, this 
document is only prepared for the purpose of public disclosure of the 
environmental impacts of the land transfer, since there is no Federal 
decision to be made.
    The State of South Dakota has provided to the Corps its plans for 
development and management at the recreation areas to be transferred. 
These plans have been used to evaluate potential environmental, 
cultural, and socioeconomic impacts that would be expected to occur as 
a result of the transfer. In addition, the legislation provides funds 
to the State and two Tribes for the implementation of plans for 
terrestrial wildlife habitat restoration. The Corps will consult with 
the State of South Dakota and affected Indian Tribes to develop annual 
budget to carry out this title. The State's plan includes habitat 
development on Oahe/Sharpe project lands, on Federal lands and on 
selected State lands. Total habitat development proposed is 25,620 
acres.
    Amendments contained in the WRDA 2000 also stated that within 10 
years the Secretary shall clean up open dumps and hazardous waste sites 
located on lands transferred and leased, inventory and stabilize each 
cultural and historical site within transferred or leased lands, and 
establish a Cultural Resources Advisory Commission (CRAC) composed of 1 
member each from the State of South Dakota, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, 
and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
    The no-action alternative traditionally describes what would happen 
if the proposed action were not to occur. Although the no-action 
alternative is not a reasonable alternative because Congress has 
mandated the transfer of these properties, it is being addressed in the 
EIS as required by CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1502.14) and to provide a 
baseline against which to measure the impacts of the State's proposed 
development on the lands to be transferred.

Public Meetings

    Public meetings to obtain comments on the Draft EIS will be held 
August 13-August 23, 2001. Corps representatives will be available to 
answer questions at an informal ``open house'' beginning at 5 p.m. The 
formal meetings begin at 7 p.m. at the following locations:
     Monday, August 13, 2001; Best Western Kelly Inn, 1607 East 
Highway 50, Yankton, SD 57078.
     Tuesday, August 14, 2001; Lower Brule Convention Center, 
321 Sitting Bull Street, Lower Brule, SD 57548.
     Wednesday, August 15, 2001; Crow Creek Reservation Com. 
Center, Fort Thompson, SD 57339.
     Thursday, August 16, 2001; National Guard Armory, 610 East 
Hwy 50, Wagner, SD 57380.
     Monday, August 20, 2001; Prairie Nights Casino, 7932 
Highway 24, Fort Yates, ND.
     Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Wrangler Motor Inn, 800 West 
Grand Crossing, Mobridge, SD 57601.
     Wednesday, August 22, 2001; King's Inn, 220 South Pierre 
Street, Pierre, SD 57501.
     Thursday, August 23, 2001; Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, 505 
North 5th Street, Rapid City, SD 57701.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-18588 Filed 7-25-01; 8:45 am]
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