[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 66385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27717]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army: Corps of Engineers


Availability Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Operation and Maintenance of Lake Sidney Lanier, GA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice of availability announces the public release of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Operation and 
Maintenance of Lake Sidney Lanier, GA. Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mobile District (Corps), has 
prepared a DEIS to address activities performed by the Corps to operate 
and maintain Lake Sidney Lanier which is formed by Buford Dam. The 
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, published a notice of 
intent in the Federal Register (66 FR 20639, April 24, 2001) stating 
its intent to prepare a DEIS for Operation and Maintenance of Lake 
Sidney Lanier, GA. This DEIS is being made available for a 45-day 
public comment period.

DATES: A public meeting for receiving comments on the DEIS and the 
Shoreline Management Plan addressed by the DEIS will be held on 
November 25, 2002, at Gainesville College, Continuing Education 
Building, Gainesville, GA. Written comments on the DEIS should be 
submitted on or before December 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to District Engineer, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, ATTN: CESAM-PD-E, P.O. Box 2288, 
Mobile, AL 36628-0001 or by fax (251) 690-2727. Electronic comments can 
also be submitted via the web site established for the Lake Lanier EIS 
effort: http://www.usacelakelaniereis.net.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments concerning the 
DEIS should be addressed to Mr. Glen Coffee, Environment and Resources 
Branch, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628-0001 telephone 251-690-2729, or 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This DEIS is being prepared to analyze the 
potential environmental effects of the USACE proposal to continue the 
ongoing operation and maintenance activities necessary for recreation, 
natural resources management, and shoreline management, and to 
implement specific improvements in these operation and maintenance 
programs to better manage the project on a sustainable basis. These 
activities will be performed within the context of operations to 
satisfy the flood control, hydropower generation, navigation, and water 
supply purposes of the Buford Dam project. The purpose of the proposed 
action is to accomplish congressionally authorized project purposes 
while balancing permitted private uses; community, social, and economic 
needs; and sound environmental stewardship. The proposed action 
reflects two levels of activity: (1) The minimal measures necessary for 
operation and maintenance of Lake Lanier to meet current USACE 
standards and (2) proposed program improvements, which include a large 
array of actions designed to enhance the environmental quality of the 
project and to provide for the long-term use and environmental 
sustainability of project resources.
    Public comments can be submitted through a variety of methods. 
Written comments may be submitted to the Corps by mail, facsimile or 
electronic methods, comments (written) may also be presented at the 
public meeting (see DATES). Additional information on this meeting will 
be mailed in a public notice to the agencies and public, and announced 
in news releases.

Robert B. Keyser,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 02-27717 Filed 10-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-CR-M