[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47917-47918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17999]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, Wilkes-Barre, PA

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), Baltimore District has prepared a Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the design modifications and 
recreational enhancements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project 
at the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania River Commons. The Draft SEIS 
investigates the potential environmental effects of an array of 
alternative plans based on the conceptual riverfront plan for Wilkes-
Barre. The preferred alternative includes the addition of two portals 
through the levee, a river landing, fishing platform/dock, and an 
amphitheater and stage. We are making the Draft SEIS available to the 
public for a 45-day review and comment period.

DATES: Comments need to be received on or before September 20, 2004, to 
ensure consideration in final plan development. A public meeting on the 
recreational improvements to the Wyoming Valley Levee Draft SEIS will 
be held at Kings College Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center in Building 
22, near the corner of West Union and North Main Streets in 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 beginning at 7 
p.m.
    A map showing the location on the Kings Campus can be found at 
http://www.kings.edu/nvtour/campusmap.pdf.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposed project to 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn: Mr. William D. 
Abadie, CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715. Submit 
electronic comments to [email protected]. Your comment 
must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached 
files. Please include your name and address in your message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William D. Abadie, Environmental 
Team Leader, (410) 962-4713 or (800) 295-1610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal flood control projects along the 
Susquehanna River have protected communities in the Wyoming Valley of 
northeastern Pennsylvania since the late 1930's. However, in June 1972, 
Tropical Storm Agnes struck, and the Susquehanna River overtopped the 
levee system in the Valley, causing severe damage in many communities. 
In response, in 1986 the U.S. Congress authorized raising the Wyoming 
Valley levee system and implementing other flood damage reduction 
measures. Construction of the levee raising started in the Spring of 
1997 and continues.
    In the urbanized area of the Wyoming Valley, including the City of 
Wilkes-Barre, the levee and floodwall system have created a physical, 
psychological and aesthetic barrier between the communities along the 
Susquehanna River. Through public workshops in 1999, a conceptual plan 
was developed for the City of Wilkes-Barre riverfront that would 
restore the connection between the city and the river. The plan 
consists of a riverfront park to be located on the riverside of the 
levee at downtown Wilkes-Barre, which would be accessible through two 
portals (i.e. gates) in the levee/floodwall system. The Luzerne County 
Flood Protection Authority, which is the non-Federal project partner 
for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, requested that the 
conceptual riverfront plan be incorporated into the project. This 
request initiated a general reevaluation report (GRR) and this Draft 
SEIS to investigate the potential environmental effects to alternative 
plans based on the conceptual riverfront plan.
    The preferred plan for the riverfront park include two portals, a 
river landing, a fishing platform/dock, and an amphitheater and stage. 
In addition to these features, miscellaneous recreational amenities 
(e.g., lights, seating areas with benches, trees/vegetation, 
educational kiosks, and trash receptacles) would be included. Also, the 
existing access road at the riverside of the levee would be paved.
    A public meeting on the Draft SEIS will be held at Kings College 
(see DATES). The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to 
present oral and/or written comments. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the recreational

[[Page 47918]]

improvements to the Wyoming Valley Levee as they affect Luzerne County 
and the environment are urged to attend the meeting and provide 
comments.
    USACE has distributed copies of the Draft SEIS to appropriate 
members of Congress, State and local government officials, Federal 
agencies, and other interested parties. Copies are available for public 
review at the following locations:
    (1) Osterhout Free Library, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, 
PA 18701.
    (2) Osterhout Free Library, South Branch, 2 Airy Street, Wilkes 
Barre, PA 18702.
    (3) D. Leonard Corgan Library, King's College, 14 West Jackson 
Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
    You may view the Draft SEIS and related information on our Web page 
at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/publications/non-reg_pub.htm.
    After the public comment period ends on September 20, 2004, USACE 
will consider all comments received. The Draft SEIS will be revised as 
appropriate and a Final SEIS will be issued.
    The Draft SEIS has been prepared in accordance with (1) The 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality 
for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and (3) USACE regulations implementing NEPA (ER-200-2-2).

William D. Abadie,
Environmental Team Leader.
[FR Doc. 04-17999 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M