[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 67826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28358]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineer


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Big Sunflower River Maintenance Feasibility Report

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Authorized channel improvements in the Big Sunflower River 
Basin began in the 1940s and were completed in the 1960s. The work 
consisted of channel improvements on a number of streams including the 
Big Sunflower and Little Sunflower Rivers and Bogue Phalia; channel 
improvements consisted primarily of clearing and snagging, with some 
channel enlargement and channel cleanout. The Big Sunflower River Basin 
has experienced extensive flooding to agricultural land and urban areas 
in recent years. Results of surveys taken and engineering data 
collected indicated the lower reaches of the project streams had 
experienced loss of designed capacity due to vegetation growth and 
sediment accumulation, thereby requiring major maintenance. Corrective 
maintenance actions will require extensive channel cleanout, channel 
clearing, and snagging within the Big Sunflower channel system.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) should be 
directed to: Mr. Marvin Cannon, Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers, 
4155 Clay Street, CEMVK-PP-PQ, Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435 or telephone 
(601) 631-5437.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This project is authorized by the Flood 
Control Act (FCA) of December 22, 1944 (House Document [HD] 516-78-2), 
as amended by FCAs of July 24, 1946, and May 17, 1950, October 23, 1962 
(HD-358-89-2), and October 27, 1965 (HD-308-88-2).
    1. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), Flood Control, 
Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, was 
completed in December 1975, covering the original flood control project 
on Big Sunflower River. A Final Supplemental No. 2 to the FEIS, Flood 
Control, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, 
Big Sunflower River Maintenance Project was completed in July 1996, for 
maintenance of the original flood control project on the Big Sunflower 
River. A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in February 
2002 to supplement the information contained in Supplement No. 2 to the 
FEIS, Flood Control, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, 
Mississippi, Big Sunflower River Maintenance Project. The Draft EA was 
circulated for agency and public review and comment. To ensure the 
environmental sustainability of this project, the District Engineer has 
decided to prepare a DSEIS No. 3 to the FEIS, Flood Control, 
Mississippi River and Tributaries, Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, Big River 
Maintenance Project.
    2. The proposed action involves evaluating several non-structural 
and structural alternatives of channel cleanout of sediment and debris 
from the channel bottoms and channel clearing and snagging to restore 
the project channels to authorized design capacities.
    3. A public scoping meeting will be held in December 2002 in 
Rolling Fork, MS. Significant issues identified during this scoping 
process will be analyzed in depth in the DSEIS. The following agencies 
are invited to cooperate: The U.S. Coast Guard; Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Mississippi 
Department of Environmental Quality; and Mississippi Department of 
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Federally recognized Indian Tribes will 
also be invited to cooperate. These agencies and tribes will be asked 
to participate in the review of study data and the DSEIS.
    4. Upon completion, the DSEIS will be distributed for agency and 
public review and comment. Additionally, a public meeting will be held 
to present results of the DSEIS evaluations and the recommended plan.
    5. The DSEIS is estimated to be completed in November 2003.

Frederick L. Clapp, Jr.,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 02-28358 Filed 11-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-PU-M