[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 62029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23681]



[[Page 62029]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Potential Multipurpose Projects for Ecosystem 
Restoration, Flood Damage Reduction, and Recreation Development Within 
and Along the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth, 
Tarrant County, TX

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

ACTION:  Notice; amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby 
announces its intent to modify the study area to be evaluated during 
the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
the potential multipurpose projects for ecosystem restoration, flood 
damage reduction, and recreation development within and along the 
portion of the Trinity River located in Forth Worth, Tarrant County, 
TX, as published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2002 (67 FR 
63900).
    A resolution by the United States Senate Committee on Environment 
and Public Works dated April 22, 1988, requested that the Board of 
Engineers review the report of the Chief of Engineers on the Trinity 
River and Tributaries, Texas, House Document No. 276, Eighty-Ninth 
Congress, and other pertinent reports, with a view to determining the 
advisability of modifying the recommendations contained therein, with 
particular reference to providing improvements in the interest of flood 
protection, environmental enhancement, water quality, recreation, and 
other allied purposes in the Upper Trinity River Basin with specific 
attention on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. An initial assessment 
based on the resolution guidance indicates a Federal interest in 
continuing with more detailed studies for these purposes and in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
public was informed in October 2002 of the intent to prepare a DEIS. 
The notice identified a study area that was bound by Interstate Highway 
30 on the Clear Fork, Rockwood Park on the upstream end of the West 
Fork, Northeast 28th Street on Marine Creek, a tributary of the West 
Fork, and Riverside Drive on the downstream end of the West Fork.
    A public scoping and project studies have progressed, it has been 
determined that the study area for consideration of project purposes 
should be expanded further upstream of Rockwood Park on the West Fork 
of the Trinity River to include the additional area between Rockwood 
Park and U. S. Highway 183 (approximately 793 acres). Studies of the 
expanded area will concentrate on identifying new plans to evaluate 
flood damage reduction potential and/or prevent future damages through 
establishing hydraulic and hydrologic mitigation through new and 
creative methodologies that reduce environmental impact and provide for 
improved aesthetic properties. Expansion of the study area also 
provides opportunities for ecosystem restoration, including increased 
connectivity of existing high resource value environmental and 
recreational opportunities between isolated natural resource bases 
along the study area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rebecca Griffith, CESWF-PER-P, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, 819 
Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300, phone (817) 886-1820, fax 
(817) 886-6498.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No additional public meetings have been 
scheduled as a result of the decision to expand the study area, as 
public participation during the process was a factor in determining to 
expand the study area. However, all affected Federal, state, and local 
agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and parties are hereby invited to provide scoping 
comments that should be considered during the remainder of the 
feasibility study. The public will be given the opportunity to review 
the DEIS during the 45-day public comment period. Prior to the close of 
the comment period, any person may make a written request for a public 
meeting, setting forth the particular reasons for the request. The 
District Engineer will then determine whether the issues raised are 
substantial and should be considered in his decision. If a public 
meeting is warranted, all known interested parties will be notified of 
the time, date, and location of such a meeting in the local news media. 
Release of the DEIS for public comment is scheduled for March 2005. The 
exact release date, once established, will be announced in the local 
news media.

    Dated: October 14, 2004.
John R. Minahan,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 04-23681 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
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