[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45287-45288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21696]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Missouri River Master Water Control Manual Review and Update

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, a Revised Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (RDEIS) has been prepared to evaluate the environmental 
impacts of changes in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. The Missouri 
River Master Water Control Manual (Master Manual) specifies the 
operating criteria for the operation of six Corps dams on the mainstem 
of the Missouri River. The original Master Manual was published in 
December 1960. Revisions were made in 1973 and 1975 and a revised 
Master Manual was published in 1975. The existing Master Manual 
establishes guidelines for operation of the reservoir system for the 
multiple project purposes of flood control, hydropower, water supply, 
water quality, irrigation, navigation, recreation, and fish and 
wildlife. In addition, the existing Master Manual includes criteria for 
how reservoir storage is divided and how water is released from the 
reservoirs during navigation and nonnavigation periods. Each year an 
Annual Operating Plan is developed using the water control plan 
outlined in the Master Manual as a guide. During the period 1987-1993, 
the Missouri River basin experienced a moderate to severe drought. 
There were numerous lawsuits concerning the Corps operation of the 
reservoirs. In November 1989, the Corps initiated a Review and Update 
of the Master Manual and published a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) in 1994. In response to public comment and requests 
for additional studies received during the comment period following 
publication of the DEIS, the Corps has revised that document. The RDEIS 
analyzes the environmental effects of a set of six alternative 
operating plans for the Master Manual--the current water control plan 
(CWCP), a modified conservation plan (MCP), and four alternatives that 
add various Gavins Point Dam releases to the MCP. These latter four 
alternatives, referred to as the GP options, address changes in water 
releases from Gavins Point Dam that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS) recommended in their November 2000 Final Biological Opinion 
(BiOp) for the Corps operation of three Missouri River basin projects. 
The USFWS feels these changes in releases, in conjunction with other 
operational and non-operational measures, are necessary to ensure that 
the Corps operation of the Mainstem Reservoir System is not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in 
the destruction or modification of critical habitat for the listed 
species.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the RDEIS may be 
sent to Rosemary Hargrave, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern 
Division, 12565 West Center Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3869. Ms. 
Hargrave can also be contacted by telephone at (402) 697-2527, or email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Missouri River originates at Three 
Forks, Montana and travels 2,341 miles to its confluence with the 
Mississippi

[[Page 45288]]

River near St. Louis, Missouri, draining one sixth of the United 
States. The Mainstem Reservoir System consists of six dams and 
reservoirs located in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Nebraska. The System has the capacity to store 73.4 million acre-feet 
of water, which makes it the largest system of reservoirs in North 
America. Water flowing down the Missouri River is stored in the six 
lakes and released as needed for project purposes. The planes of 
conflict surrounding the revision of the Master Manual are numerous, 
complex, and contentious. While the basin has made historic progress 
during the last decade, significant controversy still remains. Much 
controversy centers on proposed changes in spring and summer releases 
from Gavins Point Dam for three species provided protection under the 
Endangered Species Act.
    There are 30 federally recognized Native American Tribes in the 
Missouri River Basin. Thirteen reservations are located on the mainstem 
of the Missouri River. The Tribes are dependent sovereign nations and 
also hava a Trust relationship with the Corps. The Corps is currently 
in government-to-government consultation with five Tribes, and urges 
all of the basin Tribes to enter into consultation with Corps. The 
RDEIS specifically identifies impacts to Tribes resulting from changes 
in the operation of the Mainstem Reservoir System. Tribal participation 
during the public comment period will be developed in partnership with 
the Tribes.
    A 6-month public comment period will follow release of the RDEIS. 
Oral, written, and electronic comments will be accepted until February 
28, 2002. Prior to this date, the Corps will hold Tribal and public 
informational workshops and hearings throughout the Missouri River 
basin and at some Mississippi River locations. Dates and locations of 
these workshops will be provided in a September newsletter and on the 
Corps' Northwestern Division web page at http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-21696 Filed 8-27-01; 8:45 am]
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