[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18179-18180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9073]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Platte West Water Production Facilities, Douglas and Saunders Counties, 
NE

AGENCY: Department of the Army, 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 disclose the environmental impacts from the 
Metropolitan Utilities District's (District) proposed new drinking 
water production facilities for the greater metropolitan area of Omaha, 
Nebraska. To meet peak-day demand through the year 2030, the District 
needs an additional maximum capacity of 100 million gallons per day 
(MGD). To provide for an acceptable level of water supply redundancy, 
the District needs an additional 62.8 MGD from a source other than the 
Missouri River.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information and copies 
of this document contact Rebecca Latka, CENWO-PM-AE, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, 106 South 15th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, telephone at 
(402) 221-4602, or e-mail: army.mil">rebecca.j.latka@usace.army.mil. Comments on 
this document can be addressed to Rodney Schwartz, CENWO-OD-RF, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, 12565 W. Center Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68144-
3869, telephone at (402) 22-4143, or e-mail: rodney.j.schwartz@usace. 
army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Six alternatives were selected for detailed 
evaluation. Each of the new water

[[Page 18180]]

supplies would consist of one or more treatment plants and well fields. 
The well fields would be in the Platte River alluvial (groundwater) 
aquifer. The three-way combination would also include a new surface 
water intake on the Missouri River. All the alternatives include 
implementation of a water conservation plan. For all the alternatives, 
significant environmental impacts requiring mitigation are predicted 
for flow in the Platte River, wetlands, private wells, property values, 
and recreation.
    The well fields would pump water from the Platte River alluvial 
aquifer, which would lower the groundwater level around the well field 
and reduce the flow in the river. Lowering the water table is predicted 
to adversely impact about 5 to 30 private wells, cause the loss of 0.6 
to 14.6 acres of wetlands, potentially alter 62 to 142 acres of 
wetlands, and remove subirrigation from 56 to 5,069 acres of land 
around the well fields. The loss of subirrigation could reduce property 
values because of impacts to crop yield and farm income. Recreation 
could be impacted by the lowering of water levels in private ponds and 
ponds and wetlands in the Two Rivers State Recreation Area. The impacts 
of flow depletion in the Platte River would be mitigated by the 
creation of a backwater habitat. Lost wetlands would be mitigated by 
the creation of new wetlands. Potential altered wetlands would be 
monitored for over 30 years and replaced if found to be changed by 
operation of the well field. The District would negotiate compensation 
with private property owners for reductions attributed to groundwater 
drawdown in well performance, subirrigation, and pond water levels. 
Impacts to the Two Rivers State Recreation Area would be mitigated by 
monetary compensation to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the 
possible opening to the public of certain District properties for 
limited recreational use.
    A public meeting and Section 404 hearing was held March 2, 1999 in 
Omaha, Nebraska to obtain comments on the original Draft EIS (DEIS), 
which was published in January 1999. Those comments and responses were 
included in the revised DEIS, which was published in February 2001. A 
public meeting to obtain comments on the revised DEIS was held March 
21, 2001, in Omaha, Nebraska. These comments are addressed in the FEIS.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-9073 Filed 4-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M