[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42288-42289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20134]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Corps of Engineers: Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for Proposed Lake on Yellow Creek in Lamar County, AL 
(Department of Army Permit Number SAM-2005-4302-MNS)

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to 
address the potential impacts associated with construction of a 2,040-
acre water supply lake along Yellow Creek in Lamar County, AL. The 
Corps will be evaluating the proposed project under the authority of 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The DEIS will be used as a basis 
for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA).

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on October 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held at the Lamar County 
Courthouse, Third Floor Courtroom, 44690 Highway 17, Vernon, Alabama 
35592.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action, 
NEPA process, and the DEIS should be addressed to Mr. Michael B. Moxey, 
Regulatory Division, Inland Team Leader, Phone (251) 694-3771 or e-mail 
at [email protected], Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Regulatory Division, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The Lamar County Commission is the permit 
applicant. The applicant is proposing to

[[Page 42289]]

construct a dam and 2,040 acre lake on Yellow Creek in central Lamar 
County, Alabama, just north of the City of Vernon. The purpose of the 
proposed lake is for public water supply for Lamar County and the 
surrounding areas. Construction of the project as proposed would 
require impacts to approximately 1,660 acres of wetlands and 31.2 miles 
of streams. The project is in the initial stages of planning.
    2. Alternatives to the applicants' proposals may exist which would 
reduce impacts to the surrounding aquatic environment. These could 
include, but are not restricted to: Considering alternate site 
locations for the lake, alternate site layouts that may have less 
impact on the environment, or pursuing alternate sources of water for 
Lamar County and surrounding areas. The scoping and evaluation phase of 
the EIS process will help in the determination of reasonable 
alternatives to be evaluated for the project.
    3. Scoping: a. The Corps invites full public participation to 
promote open communication on the issues surrounding the proposal. The 
scoping process is a key part of the public outreach and involvement 
phase. All Federal, State, and local agencies, and other persons or 
organizations that have an interest are urged to participate in the 
NEPA scoping process. As part of the process, a public meeting will be 
held to receive public input and comment which will be used to assist 
in the identification of significant issues associated with the 
proposed water supply lake. A public meeting will be held at the Lamar 
County Courthouse in Vernon, AL on October 15, 2009. Public meetings 
will also be advertised through various media outlets at least 30 days 
prior to the meeting date.
    b. The DEIS will analyze the potential social, economic, and 
environmental impacts to the local area resulting from the proposed 
project and alternatives. Specifically, the following major issues will 
be analyzed in the DEIS: Hydrologic and hydraulic regimes, threatened 
and endangered species, fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands and stream 
resources, essential fish habitat, and other air quality, cultural 
resources, wastewater treatment capacities and discharges, drainage 
discharges, transportation systems, alternatives, secondary and 
cumulative impacts, socioeconomic impacts, environmental justice 
(effect on minorities and low-income groups) (Executive Order 12898), 
and protection of children (Executive Order 13045).
    c. The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in the 
preparation of the DEIS. The Corps intends to coordinate and/or consult 
with an interagency team of Federal and State agencies during scoping 
and preparation of the DEIS. A decision will be made during the scoping 
process whether other agencies will serve in an official role as 
cooperating agencies.
    4. It is anticipated that the DEIS will be made available for 
public review in December 2010.

Craig J. Litteken,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. E9-20134 Filed 8-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P