[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61793-61794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27359]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Floyd 
County, Kentucky (Levisa Fork Basin), Section 202 Project

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, DoD, Huntington District will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will evaluate potential 
impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of 
the proposed flood damage reduction measure for the Levisa Fork basin 
in Floyd County, Kentucky.
    The Corps of Engineers will conduct a public scoping meeting (see 
DATES) to gain input from interested agencies, organizations, and the 
general public concerning the content of the EIS, issues and impacts to 
be addressed in the EIS, and alternatives that should be analyzed.

DATES: A scoping meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2003, 4:30-7:30 p.m. 
at Prestonsburg High School, 825 Blackcat Boulevard, Prestonsburg, KY 
41649.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposed

[[Page 61794]]

project to S. Michael Worley PM-PD, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Huntington District, 502 Eight Street, Huntington, WV 25701-2070. 
Telephone: (304) 399-5802. Electronic mail: Stephen M. 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on the mailing list 
should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tammy Conforti PM-PD-S, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, 
WV 25701-2070. Telephone (304) 399-5834. Electronic mail: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authority: The proposed project is authorized under section 202 
of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996, which provides 
the Corps authority to ``* * * design and construct flood control 
measures relating to the Levisa and Tug Fork of the Big Sandy river and 
Cumberland River, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia''.
    2. Background: Since the earliest Levisa Fork Basin settlements, 
the residents faced the problem of frequent and severe flooding. Many 
Floyd County communities within the floodplain of the Levisa and 
Russell Fork and tributaries were devastated by the April 1977 flood, 
which was the flood of record for much of the region. A significant 
flood again inundated the Levisa Fork communities in May of 1984. 
Congressional reaction to these flood events resulted in the inclusion 
of funds and language in various legislative directives that mandated 
expeditious implementation of flood damage reduction measures within 
the study area covered by the Huntington District's Section 202 General 
Plan.
    The study area, primarily residential in nature, includes the 
incorporated areas of Prestonsburg and unincorporated areas in the 
county subject to flood damage from the potential of a reoccurrence of 
the April 1977 flood. The project requires providing flood protection 
measures to approximately 2,000 structures, 75 percent of which are 
residential.
    Alternatives being initially considered include floodwall/levee 
systems protecting Prestonsburg, non-structural flood-proofing and 
several ring walls protecting individual structures. Alternatives to be 
evaluated in detail in the Draft EIS will be selected from 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 Levisa Fork 
Basin Flooding problems as they affect Floyd County 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) A public 
meeting in the community of Prestonsburg, KY (see DATES); (2) Anytime 
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or e-mail; (3) During 
Review and Comment on the Draft EIS--approximately January of 2004; and 
(4) Review of the Final EIS--Fall 2004. 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).

Luiz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-27359 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]
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