[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41341-41342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16446]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Potential Multipurpose Projects for Ecosystem Restoration, Flood Risk 
Management, and Recreation Development Within and Along Johnson Creek, 
Arlington, Tarrant County, TX

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The study is being conducted in response to the authority 
contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. Pertinent text 
is quoted below:

    SEC. 117. JOHNSON CREEK, ARLINGTON, TEXAS.
    (a) IN GENERAL.--The project for flood damage reduction, 
environmental restoration and recreation, Johnson Creek, Arlington, 
Texas, authorized by section 101(b)(14) of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1999 (113 Stat. 280-281) is modified to authorize 
the Secretary to construct the project substantially in accordance 
with the report entitled Johnson Creek: A Vision of Conservation, 
dated March 30, 2006, at a total cost of $80,000,000, with an 
estimated Federal cost of $52,000,000 and an estimated non-Federal 
cost of $28,000,000 if the Secretary determines that the project is 
technically sound and environmentally acceptable.

    An initial assessment based on the authority indicates that the 
modifications outlined within the report ``Johnson Creek: A Vision of 
Conservation'' require preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) to review the project proposal

[[Page 41342]]

based upon magnitude of modifications proposed and potential 
controversy related to degree of initial short term impacts.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the DEIS 
will be prepared to evaluate and compare ecosystem restoration, flood 
damage reduction, and recreation alternatives within and along Johnson 
Creek and its floodplain within the City of Arlington, Texas. In 
addition, the local cost share sponsor (City of Arlington) is 
proceeding with construction of Phase 1a of the project located between 
Randol Mill Road and Sanford Streets and has requested that the federal 
government reimburse a portion of their expenditures. The government's 
decision will be based upon analyses within the EIS to determine 
technical soundness and environmental acceptability of the proposal. 
The general study area will be bound on the upstream by Interstate 
Highway 20 and at the downstream at Interstate Highway 30.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on July 31, 2008 beginning 
at 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Bob Duncan Center, located 
within Vandergriff Park, 2800 South Center Street, Arlington, TX 76014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions pertaining to the proposed 
action and DEIS can be addressed to: Ms. Amy Archambeau, Project 
Manager, CESWF-PER-PP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth 
District, P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300, (817) 886-1867.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The study area lies within an area of rapid 
growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas metropolitan area. Johnson Creek 
has experienced a history of flooding, bank and stream bed erosion and 
habitat degradation during the past 60 years that has led to several 
studies and local and federal actions to reduce damages. Following 
WRDA, 1999, a non-structural flood damage reduction and ecosystem 
restoration project was initiated that resulted in the acquisition and 
removal of 140 residential structures from the 25-year floodplain and 
acquisition of 155 acres of floodplain lands for restoration. 
Approximately 90 acres of this land was planted with a variety of 
native grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees to improve the riparian habitat 
along Johnson Creek.
    Alternatives for ecosystem restoration, flood damage reduction, and 
recreation will be developed and evaluated based on ongoing fieldwork 
and data collection and past studies conducted by the Corps of 
Engineers, the City of Arlington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
U.S. Geological Survey. Ecosystem restoration alternatives will include 
bank protection; natural channel design restoring, protecting and 
expanding the riparian corridor; improving aquatic habitat including 
creating riffle-pool complexes; and constructing wetlands. It is 
anticipated that ecosystem restoration measures would improve water 
quality, improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and minimize erosion 
and scouring along and within Johnson Creek. Alternatives for flood 
damage reduction measures will be evaluated from both a non-structural 
and structural aspect. Non-structural measures will include acquisition 
and removal of structures or flood proofing. Structural measures will 
include channel modification by increasing widths and depths and 
straightening or a combination of these measures. Recreation measures 
will include multipurpose trails and passive recreation features, such 
as interpretive guidance and media and picnic areas. Recreation 
measures will be developed to a scope and scale compatible with 
proposed ecosystem restoration measures without significantly 
diminishing ecosystem benefits.
    The public will be invited to participate in the scoping process, 
invited to attend public meetings, and given the opportunity to review 
the DEIS. The first public scoping meeting will be on (see DATES & 
ADDRESSES). Subsequent public meetings, if deemed necessary, will be 
announced in the local news media. Release of the DEIS for public 
comment is scheduled for December 2009. The exact release date, once 
established, will be announced through mailings to known interested 
individuals, agencies and officials and in the local news media.
    Future coordination with other agencies and public scoping will be 
conducted to ensure full and open participation and aid in the 
development of the DEIS. All affected Federal, state, and local 
agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and parties are hereby invited to participate. Future 
coordination will also be conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS). The USFWS will furnish information on threatened and 
endangered species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. In 
addition, the USFWS will also be requested to provide support with 
planning aid and to provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
Report. The State Historic Preservation Office will be consulted as 
required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

    Dated: July 11, 2008.
Jimmy D. Baggett,
Acting District Engineer.
 [FR Doc. E8-16446 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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