[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 44 (Friday, March 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10434-10435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4879]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Missouri River Master Water Control Manual Review and Update

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 National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and implementing regulations, a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) has been prepared to evaluate the environmental 
impacts of a Preferred Alternative (PA) Water Control Plan for the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) operation of the Missouri River 
Mainstem Reservoir System (Mainstem Reservoir System). The Missouri 
River Master Water Control Manual (Master Manual) specifies the 
operating criteria for the operation of six Corps dams and reservoirs 
on the mainstem of the Missouri River. The original Master Manual was 
published in December 1960. Revisions were published in revised Master 
Manuals in 1975 and 1979. The existing Master Manual establishes 
guidelines for operation of the Mainstem Reservoir System for the 
multiple project purposes of flood control, hydropower, water supply, 
water quality, irrigation, navigation, recreation, and fish and 
wildlife. Each year an Annual Operating Plan is developed using the 
Water Control Plan outlined in the Master Manual as a guide. During the 
periods 1987-1993 and 2000-present, the Missouri River basin 
experienced moderate to severe droughts. There were numerous lawsuits 
concerning the Corps' operation of the reservoirs during both droughts. 
In November 1989, the Corps initiated a Review and Update of the Master 
Manual and published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in 
1994. In response to public comments and requests for additional 
studies received during the comment period following publication of the 
DEIS, the

[[Page 10435]]

Corps revised that document. In August 2001, the Corps published a 
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIS). The RDEIS, which 
did not identify a PA, analyzed the environmental effects of a set of 
six alternative water control plans for the Master Manual. During the 
6-month public comment period on the RDEIS, 20 Tribal and public 
workshops and hearings were held throughout the Missouri River basin, 
including Tribal Reservations, and at some Mississippi River locations. 
About 54,000 Tribal and public comments were received.
    Following publication of the RDEIS, the Corps and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) reinitiated consultation under Section 7 of 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On November 3, 2003, the Corps 
provided the USFWS a Biological Assessment (BA) that identified the 
Corps proposed action for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem 
Reservoir System, Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation 
Project, and Kansas River Reservoir System. The Corps proposed action 
includes the operational changes identified in the PA. The PA 
identified in the FEIS includes the features identified below:
    (1) More Stringent Drought Conservation Measures;
    (2) Unbalancing the Upper Three Reservoirs; and
    (3) Increased Summer Releases to the Lower River in Non-navigation 
Years.
    On December 16, 2003, the USFWS provided the Corps an amendment to 
its November 2000 Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Operation of the 
Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, Missouri River Bank 
Stabilization and Navigation Project, and Kansas River Reservoir 
System. The amended BiOp and comments received in response to the FEIS 
will be considered in the Corps' decision regarding a selected plan, 
which will be announced in the Corps' Record of Decision following the 
FEIS review period.

DATES: Due to a court order dated February 26, 2004, issued by the 
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, in Case No. 
03-MD-1555, In re: Operation of the Missouri River System Litigation, 
the public review period for the FEIS extends from March 5, 2004 to 
March 19, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the FEIS may be 
sent to Rosemary Hargrave, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern 
Division, 12565 West Center Road, Omaha, NE 68114-3869. Ms. Hargrave 
can also be contacted by telephone at (402) 697-2527, or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Missouri River extends 2,619 miles from 
its source at Hell Roaring Creek to its confluence with the Mississippi 
River near St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri River is the longest river 
in the United States, draining one sixth of the country. The Mainstem 
Reservoir System consists of six dams and reservoirs located in 
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The Mainstem 
Reservoir System has the capacity to store 73.4 million acre-feet of 
water, which makes it the largest system of reservoirs in North 
America. Water flowing down the Missouri River is stored in the six 
lakes and released as needed for project purposes. The planes of 
conflict surrounding the revision of the Master Manual are numerous, 
complex, and contentious. While the basin has made historic progress 
during the last decade, significant controversy still remains. In the 
course of the Master Manual Review and Update, much controversy has 
centered on inclusion of more stringent drought conservation measures 
in a revised Water Control Plan and on changes in spring and summer 
releases from Gavins Point Dam for three species provided protection 
under the Endangered Species Act.
    There are 30 Federally recognized American Indian Tribes in the 
Missouri River basin. Thirteen reservations are located on the mainstem 
of the Missouri River. The Tribes are dependent sovereign nations and 
the Corps has a Trust responsibility to the Tribes. The FEIS, which 
includes a Tribal Appendix, identifies impacts to Tribes resulting from 
changes in the operation of the Mainstem Reservoir System. Consultation 
with basin Tribes on the Master Manual Review and Update will continue 
throughout the NEPA process as the Corps meets its Tribal 
responsibilities.
    Following the review period (see DATES), the Corps will prepare a 
Record of Decision, revise the Master Manual, and develop and implement 
an Annual Operating Plan in conformance with the revised manual.
    Additional information can be found on the Corps' Northwestern 
Division Web page at http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-4879 Filed 3-4-04; 8:45 am]
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