[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 62 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 16904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7196]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and 
General Reevaluation Report for the Blue River Basin in the Kansas City 
Metropolitan Area in Jackson and Cass Counties in Missouri, and 
Johnson, Wyandotte, and Miami Counties in Kansas

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and 
General Reevaluation Report (GRR) for the Blue River Basin to evaluate 
flood damage reduction, environmental resource restoration, 
recreational resource development, and water quality improvement in the 
watershed. The Blue River drainage basin is approximately 272 square 
miles located in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area in Jackson and Cass 
counties of Missouri, and Johnson, Wyandotte, and Miami counties in 
Kansas. The GRR is a reanalysis of a previously authorized plan for the 
Blue River Basin using updated planning criteria and policies. The 
results of this study may affirm the previous plan; reformulate and 
modify the existing plan, as appropriate; or find that no plan is 
currently justified. The purpose of this DEIS is to analyze both 
beneficial and adverse impacts to the natural, physical and human 
environment as a result of implementing any of the proposed project 
alternatives that may be developed from the GRR analysis and the EIS 
process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John D. Holm, Planning, Programs, & 
Project Management Division or Mr. Matthew D. Vandenberg, Environmental 
Resource Section, Attn: CENWK-PM-PR, U.S. Army Engineer District, 
Kansas City, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2896, Phone 
816-983-3100 or e-mail to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background: Public Law 91-611, River and Harbor Act of 1970 
(1970 Flood Control Act), authorized the project for ``flood protection 
and other purposes in the Blue River Basin, vicinity of Kansas City, MO 
and Kansas.'' ``The project for flood protection and other purposes in 
the Blue River Basin * * * is hereby authorized substantially in 
accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Engineers in House 
Document, Numbered 91-332, except that not to exceed $40,000,000 is 
authorized for initiation and partial accomplishment of the project.'' 
House Document 91-332, in the Report of the Chief of Engineers, on page 
6 states: ``The major problem in the basin is the widespread and 
damaging floods which destroy property and cause hazards to life, 
particularly in the highly industrialized lower basin area. Only 
slightly less acute is the need for streamflow supplementation to 
alleviate the poor quality from unsightliness of low-flow condictions. 
There are definite needs for water-based recreation and enhancement of 
the fish and wildlife resources. Any plan of improvement should provide 
for the preservation and enhancement of parks, parkways, and historical 
sites.''
    2. Scoping Process: Scoping meetings will be held during 2004 in 
the Blue River Basin to obtain comments and input concerning the 
proposed Blue River basin reevaluation study. The scoping meetings will 
be advertised in the local papers and a mailing list will be used to 
notify the public and other interested parties of these meetings. The 
public, native American tribes, and affected government agencies at the 
local, State, and federal level are encouraged to participate in the 
scoping process by forwarding written comments to the above noted 
address. Interested parties may also request to be included on the 
mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and the 
status of EIS document preparation. Environmental consultation and 
review will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as per regulations of the 
Council of Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and other 
applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.
    3. Availability of EIS Documents: The availability of the Draft and 
Final EIS will be presented in the Federal Register and by notices in 
the local papers. The mailing list will also be used to notify 
interested parties of the availability and location of the Draft and 
Final EIS for public review.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-7196 Filed 3-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KN-M