[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62100-62101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21522]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of Integrated Feasibility Report & Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Flood Damage Reduction Project, Bloomsburg, PA

AGENCY: Department of the Army; U.S. 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 Final Integrated Feasibility 
Report & Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the flood damage 
reduction project for the Town of Bloomsburg, in Columbia County, PA. 
The Final Integrated Feasibility Report investigated the potential 
environmental effects of an array of alternative plans based on 
reducing flood damages in Bloomsburg. The recommended alternative 
includes approximately 17,000 linear feet of levee/floodwall

[[Page 62101]]

systems with fourteen drainage structures, and nine closure structures, 
six of which incorporate limited road raisings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Trulick, Study Manager, (410) 
962-6715 or (800) 295-1610 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

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 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.
    Permanent environmental impacts will 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.
    USACE has distributed copies of the Final Integrated Feasibility 
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) Bloomsburg University Library, 400 E. Second Street, 
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
    You may also view the Final Integrated Feasibility Report and EIS 
in addition to related information on our Web page at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/publications/non-reg_pub.htm.
    The Final Integrated Feasibility 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, Civil Project Development Branch, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 05-21522 Filed 10-27-05; 8:45 am]
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