[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 52959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20650]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Lower Mud River Watershed Project, Milton, Cabell County, WV

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District will prepare 
a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The SEIS will 
evaluate potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human 
environment as a result of the proposed flood damage reduction measures 
for the area at the City of Milton, Cabell County, West Virginia (Lower 
Mud River Project). The Corps is soliciting public concerns/issues to 
be evaluated during the study process.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposed project to S. Michael Worley PM-PD, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 
25701-2070. Telephone: (304) 529-5712. Electronic mail: 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on the 
mailing list should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Louis E. Aspey PM-P, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, 
WV, 25701-2070. Telephone: (304) 528-7446. Electronic mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authority: The proposed project is authorized under Section 580 
of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996, which provides 
the Corps authority ``* * * to conduct a limited reevaluation of the 
watershed plan and environmental impact statement prepared for the 
Lower Mud River, Milton, W.V., by the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, pursuant to the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and may carry out the project,'' and Section 
340 of the WRDA of 2000, which reads: ``Modifies Lower Mud River 
project at Milton authority (Sec 580 of WRDA of 1996) to direct the COE 
to construct the project as selected in the COE reevaluation report.''
    2. Background: Under authority of the Watershed Protection and 
Flood Prevention Act (Pub. L. 83-566), the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service (NRCS) began an investigation of land and water 
resource problems, including flooding, in the Lower Mud River watershed 
in 1972. This early investigation culminated with completion of the 
Lower Mud River Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
in May 1993, in which a channel modification project on the Mud River 
in the vicinity of Milton was recommended. Section 580 of WRDA 1996 
provided the Corps authority to re-evaluate that study and construct a 
project.
    Alternatives being initially considered include the NRCS 
recommended plan (channel modification); four levee alternatives; a 
diversion alternative; non-structural alternatives; and the no action. 
The levee alternatives include a levee providing low-level of 
protection, two levees that would provide protection from 100-year 
floods, and a levee that would protect Milton to a 500-year flood 
level. Alternatives to be evaluated in detail in the SEIS will be 
selected from the those described above.
    3. Public Participation: The Corps invites full public 
participation to promote open communication and better decision-making. 
All persons and organizations that have an interest in the Lower Mud 
River flooding problems as they affect the community of Milton, West 
Virginia and the environment are urged to participate in this NEPA 
environmental analysis process. Assistance will be provided upon 
request to anyone having difficulty with learning how to participate.
    Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA process. 
Formal opportunities for public participation include: (1) Public 
meetings to be held near the community of Milton; (2) Anytime during 
the NEPA process via mail, telephone or e-mail; (3) During Review and 
Comment on the Draft EIS--approximately January 2003; and, (4) Review 
of the Final EIS-Spring 2003. Schedules and locations will be announced 
in local news media. Interested parties should submit contact 
information to be included on the mailing list for public distribution 
of meeting announcements and documents (See ADDRESSES).

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-20650 Filed 8-13-02; 8:45 am]
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