[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48890-48891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20912]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Draft Environmental Impact Statement--Supplement 1.0 for Lower 
Mud River at Milton, West Virginia, Milton Local Protection Project

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE), Huntington District has prepared this Limited Reevaluation 
Report and Environmental Impact Statement--Supplement 1.0 (LRR/SEIS) in 
response to Section 580 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 
(WRDA) which authorizes the USACE 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 (Section 580 of WRDA of 
1996) to direct the COE to construct the project as selected in the COE 
reevaluation report.'' This report focuses on providing flood 
protection for the City of Milton, Cabell County, WV against flooding 
such as occurred in December 1978, March 1997, and February 2003. In 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, the potential impacts to the 
natural, physical, and human environment associated with proposed flood 
damage reduction measures for the City of Milton (Milton Local 
Protection Project) are evaluated.
    The flood of record for the City of Milton occurred in March 1997. 
The flood had an estimated return frequency of 3.7% chance (27-year) 
flood event, causing over $23 million dollars in damage (1997 price 
level). The need for local flood protection at Milton is well 
documented as flooding has played a significant role in the town's 
history. Milton lies approximately 19 miles upstream from the 
confluence of the Mud River with the Guyandotte River. Within the town, 
approximately 736 structures (both residential and nonresidential) 
stand within the 100-year floodplain and potential annual damages for 
this reach of the Mud River are estimated to be $3.58 million (2003 
dollars).
    In addition to evaluating the flood damage reduction measures for 
Milton and the surrounding area, the natural resources that will be 
impacted by these measures have been examined. Potential significant 
impacts from the final levee alternatives include those to aesthetics, 
aquatic and terrestrial resources, and socioeconomic resources. Social 
impacts associated with construction of a project include principally 
traffic and noise impacts, economic gains and losses, impacts to 
community cohesion due to acquisition of residences and businesses to 
construct a project, and aesthetic impacts from the visual prominence 
of the levee in the community. The document includes a detailed 
description of the existing

[[Page 48891]]

environment and describes impacts anticipated from the final flood 
damage reduction alternatives considered, including the no action 
alternative.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by September 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by letter to: Mr. S. Michael Worley, Chief, 
Planning Branch, Planning Programs and Project Management Division, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, 
Huntington, WV 25701-2070; FAX: 304-529-5136; or e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
proposed project, contact Mr. Louis Aspey, Project Manager, PM-P, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, 
Huntington, WV, 25701-2070, telephone: 304-528-7446, or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    Under authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
Act (Pub. L. 83-566), the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
(NRCS), formerly Soil Conservation Service, 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 in May 1993, in which a channel modification project 
of the Mud River in the vicinity of Milton was recommended. Section 580 
of WRDA 1996 and Section 340 of WRDA 2000 provided the USACE authority 
to re-evaluate that study and construct a project.
    A notice of intent to prepare a SEIS was published in the Federal 
Register on August 14, 2002 (67 FR 52959). The USACE invited full 
public participation to promote open communication and better decision-
making. Persons and organizations interested in the Mud River flooding 
problems as they affect the community of Milton, WV and the affected 
environment were urged to participate in this public environmental 
analysis process. To keep the Milton community informed throughout the 
study process, a citizen's action group consisting of community members 
in the vicinity of Milton was formed and the first meeting held in 
November 2002, with the USACE as an invited guest. They have continued 
meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Milton 
City Hall. Members include the City Council, West Virginia Conservation 
Agency, Cabell County Floodplain Coordinator, and concerned citizens. 
Meetings are informal and open to the public. Assistance will continue 
to be provided upon request to anyone having difficulty with learning 
how to participate.
    As stated in the notice of intent, public comments are welcomed 
anytime throughout the NEPA process. Formal opportunities for public 
participation include: (1) Public meetings 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 LRR/SEIS--
approximately August 11 through September 30, 2003; and (4) Review of 
the final LRR/SEIS--winter 2003-2004. Schedules and locations for 
public meetings will be announced in local news media. Interested 
parties may also request to be included on the mailing list for public 
distribution of meeting announcements and documents.
    To ensure that all issues related to the proposed project are 
addressed, the USACE has conducted an open process to define the scope 
of the LRR/SEIS. Recommendations from interested agencies, local and 
regional stakeholders and the general public were encouraged to provide 
input in identifying areas of concern, issues and impacts to be 
addressed in the LRR/SEIS, and the alternatives that would be analyzed.

2. Alternatives Considered

    Detailed project studies have included consideration of a number of 
local flood damage reduction alternatives including tributary 
impoundments, floodwall/levee combinations, channel modification and 
various nonstructural measures. As part of the study, various 
alternatives considered were found effective for protecting Milton from 
flooding, including a floodwall, levees, floodproofing, and floodplain 
evacuation options. More detailed evaluations determined that none of 
the alternatives were economically feasible except a protective levee 
on the north bank of the Mud River (Plan B) and a protective levee with 
relocation of a segment of the Mud River channel (Plan D). These two 
alternatives along with the No Action alternative have been evaluated 
in detail and the results documented in the LRR/SEIS.
    The primary planning objective was to develop the most economically 
feasible plan and the most environmentally acceptable plan to reduce 
flood damages at Milton. Plan B provides a high level of protection, 
but includes modification to the Mud River channel. Plan B has the 
greatest net benefits and is the National Economic Development (NED) 
plan. Plan D provides a lower level of protection, to approximately 
that of the 1997 flood; however, the project first cost is about 30 
percent less than Plan B. Although Plan D affects several businesses 
and residences, the impacts on the natural environment are minor; 
therefore it is the environmentally preferred plan. Because Plan B 
provides the highest level of flood protection, has the greatest net 
benefits, and all significant environmental impacts can be mitigated by 
special project features, Plan B is the selected plan.

3. Availability of the Draft LRR/SEIS

    USACE has distributed copies of the draft LRR/SEIS to appropriate 
Members of Congress, State and local government official in West 
Virginia, Federal agencies, and other interested parties. Copies of the 
document may be obtained by contacting USACE Huntington District Office 
of the Corps of Engineers at 304-529-5712. Comments pertaining to the 
documents should be sent to the address above. Copies of the draft LRR/
SEIS are also available for inspection at the locations identified 
below:
    (1) Cabell County Library, 455 Ninth Street Plaza, Huntington, WV 
25701.
    (2) Milton Public Library, 11401 Smith Street, Milton, WV 25541.
    (3) Barboursville Public Library, 728 Main Street, Barboursville, 
WV 25504.
    (4) http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/.
    After the public comment period ends (see DATES), USACE will 
consider all comments received, revise the draft SEIS as appropriate, 
and issue a final LRR/SEIS.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-20912 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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