[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79167-79168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32654]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers


Notice for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study 
(GLMRIS)

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District has 
posted on http://glmris.anl.gov the ``Inventory of Available Controls 
for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern--Chicago Area Waterway System'' 
(ANS Control Paper). An Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Control is an 
option or technology that may be applied to prevent ANS transfer via 
aquatic pathways. The ANS Control Paper identifies the range of options 
or technologies available to target the ANS of Concern in the Chicago 
Area Waterway System (CAWS). These ANS of Concern--CAWS were previously 
identified as non-native species that are the initial focus of GLMRIS.
    In a December 8, 2010 notice of intent, Federal Register Notice (75 
FR 76447), USACE announced it will prepare a feasibility report and an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for GLMRIS. GLMRIS is a 
feasibility study of the range of options and technologies that could 
be applied to prevent ANS transfer between the Great Lakes and 
Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways. USACE is conducting 
GLMRIS in consultation with other federal agencies, Native American 
tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-governmental 
organizations. The ANS Control Paper is an interim product of GLMRIS. 
For additional information regarding GLMRIS, please refer to the 
project Web site http://glmris.anl.gov.
    This notice announces a comment period during which USACE is asking 
the public to submit (i) information on ANS Controls that may be 
effective at preventing the transfer of ANS of Concern--CAWS but that 
are not included in the paper, or (ii) comments regarding ANS Controls 
identified in the paper. This notice also announces the dates and times 
of conference calls hosted by USACE for the purpose of providing the 
public an opportunity to ask questions regarding the ANS Control Paper.

DATES: USACE announces an ANS Control Comment Period from Wednesday, 
December 21, 2011, through Friday, February 17, 2012. Please refer to 
the ``ANS Control Comment Period'' section below for details on the 
information USACE is seeking during this comment period and 
instructions on comment submittal.
    USACE will be hosting two (2) conference calls regarding the paper. 
These calls are open to the public. The first call is scheduled on 
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. (CST). The second call is 
scheduled on

[[Page 79168]]

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (CST).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about GLMRIS, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Project 
Manager, Mr. David Wethington, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 111 N. 
Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606, or by email: 
[email protected].
    For media inquiries, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Public 
Affairs Officer, Ms. Lynne Whelan, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 
111 N. Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606, by phone: (312) 846-5330 or 
by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Background. USACE is conducting GLMRIS in consultation with 
other federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local 
governments and non-governmental organizations. For GLMRIS, USACE will 
explore ANS Controls that could be applied to prevent ANS transfer 
between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic 
pathways. Potential ANS Controls may include, but are not limited to, 
hydrologic separation of the basins, modification of water quality or 
flow within a waterway, chemical application to ANS, collection and 
removal of ANS from a waterway, as well as other types of controls 
currently in research and development.
    USACE will develop screening criteria consistent with study 
objectives and refine the list of ANS Controls to determine which 
warrant further consideration. USACE will formulate plans comprised of 
one or more of the screened ANS Controls in consideration of four 
criteria: Completeness, effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability. 
USACE will then evaluate and compare the effects of the alternative 
plans.
    USACE is conducting GLMRIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and with the Economic and Environmental 
Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resource 
Implementation Studies, Water Resources Council, March 10, 1983.
    2. ANS Control Paper. The ANS Control Paper is an interim product 
of GLMRIS and is found at http://glmris.anl.gov/documents/interim/anscontrol/index.cfm. Through literature search and consultation with 
experts in the field of ANS and ANS Controls, USACE identified the ANS 
Controls found in the paper. These ANS Controls are those that may be 
effective at preventing the transfer of ANS of Concern--CAWS via 
aquatic pathways. ANS of Concern--CAWS are the non-native species that 
are the initial focus of GLMIRS.
    3. ANS Control Comment Period. USACE is currently soliciting 
information from the public on ANS Controls that may be effective on 
ANS of Concern--CAWS but that may be missing from the list developed 
for the ANS Control Paper; USACE is also seeking comments on the 
included ANS Controls. The comment period runs from December 21, 2011 
through February 17, 2012. Comments may be submitted in the following 
ways:
     GLMRIS project Web site: Use the web form found at 
www.glmris.anl.gov through February 17, 2012;
     Mail: Mail written information to GLMRIS ANS Control 
Comments, 111 N. Canal, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606. Comments must be 
postmarked by February 17, 2012; and
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the 
USACE, Chicago District office located at 111 N. Canal St., Suite 600, 
Chicago, IL 60606 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments must be 
received by Friday, February 17, 2012.
    USACE will consider all comments received during this comment 
period. If necessary, USACE will update the ANS Control Paper and in 
spring 2012, will post an updated ANS Control Paper to the GLMRIS Web 
site.
    4. Public Conference Calls. USACE will host conference calls on 
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. (CST) and Wednesday, 
February 8, 2012 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (CST). The conference calls are 
intended to provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions 
regarding the ANS Control Paper. Call-in information for both calls is:
    USA Toll-Free: (877) 336-1839.
    Access Code: 8506361.
    5. Authority. This action is being undertaken pursuant to the Water 
Resources and Development Act of 2007, Section 3061, Pub. L. 110-114, 
121 STAT. 1121, and NEPA of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended.

    Dated: December 14, 2011.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief, Planning Branch, Chicago District, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2011-32654 Filed 12-20-11; 8:45 am]
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