[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 2107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-563]



[[Page 2107]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment 
(Draft EA) for the Urban Stream Research Center Proposed To Be 
Constructed in Unincorporated Warrenville, IL and Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment 
(Draft EA) for the Urban Stream Research Center proposed to be 
constructed in Unincorporated Warrenville, Illinois and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) 
Office of Response and Restoration is announcing that a document 
entitled ``Draft Environmental Assessment, Urban Stream Research 
Center'' is available for public review and comment. In this document, 
that has been prepared under the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 USC 4321 et seq.), NOAA presents the 
proposal to construct an Urban Stream Research Center along the West 
Branch of the DuPage River in an unincorporated area of Warrenville, 
Illinois. In the Draft EA, NOAA considers and discloses any potential 
significant impacts to the quality of the human environment that may 
arise from the proposed project. The construction of the Urban Stream 
Research Center is one component ecological enhancement of a portion of 
the West Branch DuPage River, proposed to be funded in accordance with 
NOAA Grant Award No. FNA07NOS4630002, DuPage River Restoration. The 
purpose of this Notice is to inform the public of the availability of 
the Draft EA and seek public comment on the proposed project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact 
Brendan Bray at 301-713-2989, ext. 122, by fax at 301-713-4389, or e-
mail at [email protected]. Requests for copies of the Draft 
Environmental Assessment should be sent to Brendan Bray of NOAA, 1305 
East West Highway, 10126, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or the 
document can be viewed online at http://www.dupageco.orglswm. Written 
comments on the plan should be sent to Brendan Bray of NOAA at the 
address listed above. Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment 
must be submitted in writing on or before 30 days after publication of 
this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The overall goal of this project is to build 
a facility that will allow the Forest Preserve District of DuPage 
County to meet its objectives to: 1. Augment the population densities 
and increase the diversity of freshwater mussel and non-game fish 
species that are in decline or extirpated in the West Branch of the 
DuPage River,
    2. Evaluate the success and impacts of ongoing habitat restoration 
and remediation projects along the river, thereby benefiting fresh 
water mussel species, other wildlife, habitat areas, and public 
communities along the West Branch of the DuPage River,
    3. Improve the success of urban aquatic habitat restoration and 
enhancement along the West Branch of the DuPage River, and
    4. Provide educational opportunities for the public and other 
groups.
    The grant recipient, DuPage County Stormwater Management Division, 
proposes to construct a research and education center on the publicly 
owned Roy C. Blackwell Forest Preserve. The preferred alternative, 
Urban Stream Research Center--New Constructed Facility, was created 
through input from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the 
public, and NOAA.
    Currently there are no facilities within Illinois to support common 
freshwater mussel propagation and augmentation. The Urban Stream 
Research Center will propagate and augment the population densities and 
increase the diversity of native freshwater mussel species and non-game 
fish species. Additionally, the Center will promote and encourage 
interdisciplinary research between universities and local, state, and 
federal conservation agencies (e.g., Forest Preserve Distric of DuPage 
County, Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural 
Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey).
    The proposed project would not result in significant adverse 
environmental impacts. Short-term, temporary, and localized 
construction-related impacts to air quality and increases in noise from 
the use of construction equipment are anticipated. However, over the 
long-term, the Center would benefit fish and wildlife, help to enhance 
the area's natural resources, and provide opportunities for research 
and educational programs.

    Dated: January 5, 2010.
David Westerholm,
Director, Office of Response and Restoration.
[FR Doc. 2010-563 Filed 1-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3S10-JE-P