[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25551-25552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9583]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of Draft Integrated Feasibility Report & 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Flood Damage Reduction Project, 
Bloomsburg, 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 Integrated Feasibility 
Report & Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the flood damage 
reduction project for the Town of Bloomsburg, in Columbia County, PA. 
The integrated report investigates the potential environmental effects 
of an array of alternative plans based on reducing flood damages in 
Bloomsburg. The preferred alternative includes 16,555 linear feet of 
levee/floodwall systems with fourteen drainage structures, and nine 
closure structures, six of which incorporate limited road raisings. We 
are making the integrated report and EIS available to the public for a 
45-day review and comment period.

DATES: Comments need to be received on or before June 27, 2005, to 
ensure consideration in final plan development. A public meeting on the 
flood damage reduction measures presented in the integrated report and 
EIS will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2005 beginning at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposed project to 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn: Mr. Jeff 
Trulick, CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715. Submit 
electronic comments to [email protected]. The public meeting 
will be held at the Bloomsburg Fire Department Banquet Hall at 911 
South Market Street, in Bloomsburg, PA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Trulick, Study Manager, (410) 
962-6715 or (800) 295-1610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Town of Bloomsburg, PA is located in 
Columbia County within the Middle Susquehanna River sub-basin. The 
Susquehanna River forms the Town's southern boundary, and Fishing Creek 
forms the northern and western boundary.
    The primary water resources problem along the Susquehanna River at 
Bloomsburg is recurrent flooding. Recurrent flooding that occurs in the 
Bloomsburg study area is a result of the morphology of the Susquehanna 
River and the regional topography. When the Susquehanna River and a 
local tributary, Fishing Creek, simultaneously rise above flood stage, 
overbank flooding can cover up to 33 percent of the landmass within the 
Town of Bloomsburg's boundaries.
    Flood damages are attributable to overbank flooding from the 
Susquehanna River and to flooding along Fishing Creek. Past flood 
events have resulted in extensive damages to structures and their 
contents and have threatened public safety. The Bloomsburg study area 
includes approximately 525 residential structures and 75 businesses.
    The recommended flood damage reduction plan is the National 
Economic Development (NED) Plan with a Tropical Storm Agnes (440-year) 
level of protection from Susquehanna river flooding, and 100-year level 
of protection from Fishing Creek flooding. The recommended plan 
consists of 16,555 linear feet of levee/floodwall systems with fourteen 
drainage structures, and nine closure structures, six of which 
incorporate limited road raisings. The alignment of the line of 
protection was refined based on physical, environmental, and economic 
criteria.
    The project consists of a system of earthen levees, mechanically 
stabilized earth (MSE) floodwalls, concrete floodwalls, railroad and 
road closure structures and roadway relocations to provide ramps over 
the line of protection. Earthen levees are proposed for the majority of 
the line of protection, though MSE walls will be required along 
portions of Fishing Creek in both Bloomsburg and Fernville and a 
concrete floodwall (H-Pile wall) will be required along portions of 
Fishing Creek in Bloomsburg. Limited riprap will be used to protect the 
steep banks of Fishing Creek from bank crest to below the stream invert 
along the lower project reaches along Fishing Creek.

[[Page 25552]]

    Permanent environmental impacts would include restricted views by 
the levee/floodwall system of Fishing Creek from Bloomsburg and 
Fernville, excavation and off-site disposal of approximately 4,500 
cubic yards of hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste materials, 
conversion of approximately 11.5 acres of farmland designated as Prime 
Farmland or additional Farmland of Statewide Importance to non-
agricultural use, long-term loss of nearly 3,000 linear feet of 
riparian habitat along Fishing Creek, the loss of less than one acre of 
wetlands, and taking of residential homes and business structures 
within the levee/floodwall footprint.
    A public hearing on the Draft SEIS will be held at the Bloomsburg 
Fire Department Banquet Hall (see DATES and ADDRESSES). A map showing 
the location of the Bloomsburg Fire Department can be found at http://wphc.us/Default.aspx?alias=wphc.us/bfd. The meeting will provide an 
opportunity for the public to present oral and/or written comments. For 
submission of electronic comments, your comment must be contained in 
the body of your message; do not send attached files. Include your name 
and address in your message. All persons and organization that have an 
interest in the flood damage reduction measures as they affect Columbia 
County and the environment are urged to attend the meeting and provide 
comments.
    USACE has distributed copies of the Draft report and EIS 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) Bloomsburg Public Library, 225 Market Street, Bloomsburg, PA 
17815.
    (2) Columbia County Historical Library, 225 Market Street, 
Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
    (3) Columbia County Traveling Library, 15 Perry Avenue, Bloomsburg, 
PA 17815.
    You may view the Draft report and EIS in addition to 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 June 27, 2005, USACE will 
consider all comments received. The integrated report and EIS will be 
revised as appropriate and a Final Integrated Report and EIS will be 
issued.
    The Draft Integrated Report and EIS 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).

Jeff Trulick,
Study Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-9583 Filed 5-12-05; 8:45 am]
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