[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8185-8186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3826]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Upper Mississippi River--Illinois Waterway System 
Navigation Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: A Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) 
will be prepared to address the restructured Upper Mississippi River--
Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study. This is a modification of 
the notice of intent posted in the Federal Register on November 27, 
1995 (60 FR 58339).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be answered by Mr. Kenneth 
Barr by telephone (309) 794-5349, or by mail: Commander, U.S. Army 
Engineer District, Rock Island (ATTN: CEMVR-PM-A), Clock Tower 
Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204-2004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The restructured Upper Mississippi River--
Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study (Navigation Study, study) is 
being conducted under the authority of section 216 of the Flood Control 
Act of 1970. The 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project, originally 
authorized in 1930, is being reviewed for changed physical, economic, 
and environmental conditions that may warrant structural or non-
structural modifications to reduce congestion of commercial navigation 
traffic and to enhance ecosystem restoration.
    1. The initial reconnaissance studies concluded that there was 
sufficient evidence to suggest there was a Federal interest in 
conducting more detailed investigations relating to the issue of need 
and benefits of navigation improvements. Specific investigations were 
recommended to define the base condition, analyze congestion problems, 
determine system benefits, and examine environmental impacts. The 
feasibility study was initiated in 1993 and narrowly focused on 
investigating a long-term solution to meet increased navigation demands 
and reduction of delays to commercial traffic caused by a congested 
system and associated environmental impacts. Study documentation for 
public review, other than supporting technical reports, was never 
completed.
    2. The Chief of Engineers paused the study in 2001 and formed the 
Federal Principals Task Force to help define a new direction. The study 
was restarted in August 2001 under restructuring guidance formulated in 
consideration of comments received from the National Research Council 
(NRC) and from the Federal Principals Task Force. The pause allowed the 
Corps of Engineers to revise the project study plan to address the 
recommendations of the NRC review, as well as establish regional- and 
Washington-level interagency collaboration forums to help guide the 
future direction of the study. The restructured study will address the 
cumulative environmental effects of navigation and the needs for 
ecosystem restoration, providing a balanced consideration of fish and 
wildlife resources, along with navigation improvement planning. The 
feasibility study will ensure the waterway system continues to be a 
nationally treasured ecological resource as well as an efficient 
national transportation system by seeking ways to:
     Provide an efficient National Navigation System;
     Achieve an environmentally and economically 
sustainable system;
     Address ecosystem and floodplain management 
needs related to navigation;
     Operate and maintain the system to ensure 
economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
    3. The feasibility study is evaluating both large- and small-scale 
measures that could be implemented to reduce commercial traffic delays 
and restore, protect, or preserve essential structures and functions of 
the natural ecosystem. Navigation improvement measures being evaluated 
include both structural and non-structural measures. Structural 
measures include extending the length of existing locks, constructing 
new locks and moorings (tie-off facilities that allow a waiting tow to 
wait closer to the lock chamber). Non-structural measures include 
scheduling and congestion fee systems for traffic management and 
switchboats (hired vessels permanently

[[Page 8186]]

stationed on both upstream and downstream sides of the lock to assist 
and speed up the lock process). The study is also evaluating ecosystem 
restoration measures that include island building, fish passage 
structures at locks and dams, floodplain restoration, water-level 
management, backwater restoration, side channel restoration, wing dam/
dike alteration, island protection, shoreline protection, and increased 
topographic diversity of the floodplain. An adaptive management 
framework for integrated system management is also being evaluated. 
Combinations of these measures, along with the `no action' alternative, 
are being evaluated to form an array of alternatives that would 
eventually result in a recommended dual-purpose plan.
    An interim study report, whose contents include the restructuring 
philosophy of sustainability, brief problem assessments, preliminary 
scenario evaluation, descriptions of potential measures, and a 
discussion of implementation issues, was completed in July 2002 and 
provided a `blueprint' for moving forward. Further economic and 
environmental data collection and evaluations have been completed since 
then.
    4. Stakeholders voiced many issues and concerns during the scoping 
for the original study, conducted formally in 1994. The NRC and Federal 
Principles Task Force echoed many of the concerns in their reviews and 
statements. The emphasis in the restructured study on collaboration and 
a more comprehensive, holistic consideration of the multiple uses of 
the Upper Mississippi River system aims to address these issues and 
concerns. Existing coordination bodies, such as the environmental, 
economic, engineering, and ``Governor's Liaison'' committees have been 
influential throughout the study. Public involvement has included 
newsletter distribution to a mailing list of approximately 9,300 
persons, a toll-free information phone line, and a Web site http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/umr-iwwsns/. Since the restructuring of the 
study, public meetings were held in March 2002 and October 2003.
    5. A final study report and DPEIS are anticipated to be completed 
in April 2004.

    Dated: February 2, 2004.
Duane P. Gapinski,
Colonel, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 04-3826 Filed 2-20-04; 8:45 am]
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