[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40691-40692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13855]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Final 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: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District 
announces the availability of the Final 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 Final 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, and an amphitheater and stage.
    The Draft SEIS was released on a 45-day review and comment period 
during August and September 2004, and a Notice of Availability was 
published in the Federal Register under the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency on August 13, 2004. Comments received on the Draft 
SEIS and our responses are included in the Final SEIS (Appendices G and 
H).

DATES: A Record of Decision may be signed no sooner than 30 days after 
publication of the notice for this action, as stated in 40 CFR 
1506.10(b)(2).

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the Final SEIS, contact Jo Ann Grundy, 
(410) 962-6136 or write to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore 
District, Attn: Jo Ann Grundy, CENAB-PL-P, PO Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 
21203-1715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo Ann Grundy, (410) 962-6136 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, the 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 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 and this Final SEIS to 
investigate the potential environmental effects to alternative plans 
based on the conceptual riverfront plan.

[[Page 40692]]

    The preferred plan for the riverfront park includes two portals, a 
river landing, a fishing platform, and an amphitheater and stage. In 
addition to the 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.
    USACE has distributed copies of the Final SEIS to appropriate 
members of Congress, State and local government officials, Federal 
agencies, and other interested parties. Copies are also available 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 Final SEIS and related information on our Web page 
at http://www.nab.usace.arny.mil/publications/non-reg_pub.htm.
    The Final 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).

Jo Ann Grundy,
Biologist.
[FR Doc. 05-13855 Filed 7-13-05; 8:45 am]
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