[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35662-35663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14555]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Greenup Locks and Dam, General Reevaluation Report, 
Greenup County, KY

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District will prepare 
a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to disclose potential impacts to 
the natural, physical, and human environment resulting from the 
implementation of alternatives to reduce foreseeable traffic delays and 
associated economic losses that occur during periodic maintenance at 
the Greenup Locks and Dam located on the Ohio River. A Feasibility 
Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was previously 
completed for the project in April 2000. This study recommended a 600-
foot (ft) extension of the existing auxiliary lock chamber to a length 
of 1200 ft. The project was authorized by Congress in 2000; however, no 
funds have been appropriated for project construction. Due to the 
amount of time that has elapsed since completion of the Feasibility 
Report, and the associated economic, environmental and reliability 
changes that may have occurred during this time, the Federal interest 
must be reevaluated. The project alternatives being considered include 
the plans considered in the previous study as well as variations to 
these plans which may include both structural and nonstructural 
operational measures, and the No Action alternative.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on June 28, 2012 from 
5:30-7:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held in the Kentucky room 
of the Ashland Plaza Hotel, located at 1441 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, 
KY 41101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Black, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 
25701-2070. Telephone: (304) 399-5172. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authority: Investigation and justification of the proposed 
action was conducted under the authority of United States Senate, 
Committee on Public Works resolution dated May 16, 1955; and, United 
States House of Representatives, Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation resolution dated March 11, 1982. Construction of the 
project was authorized by Section 101(b) (15) of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 2000.
    2. Background: a. The primary concern at Greenup Locks and Dam 
involves traffic delays. Greenup is one of the most heavily used locks 
on the Ohio River. When the main 1200 ft

[[Page 35663]]

chamber is closed, all traffic must lock through the smaller, land-side 
600 ft chamber resulting in long delays for all lockages. Reducing 
delays could save millions of dollars in transportation costs and 
reduce the impacts of waiting-tows on aquatic resources adjacent to the 
locks and dam. The Feasibility Report and EIS completed in 2000 
considered various alternatives to either minimize maintenance closure 
time and/or to increase traffic throughput when one or the other 
chamber is closed to traffic.
    b. In 2000, the Chief of Engineers recommended that the Greenup 
Locks and Dam be modified for the purposes of navigation efficiency and 
reliability. The Greenup plan of improvement included a 600 ft 
extension of the existing auxiliary lock chamber to a length of 1200 
ft, extension of the downstream guidewall, filling and emptying system 
improvements, installation of a miter gate quick changeout system for 
faster repairs to the lock miter gates, an off-site dry dock to 
minimize transportation impacts during construction, and environmental 
mitigation measures.
    c. The District is currently utilizing Operation and Maintenance 
funds to replace the miter gates in the main chamber. Replacement of 
the miter gates is expected to increase the reliability of main chamber 
operation, resulting in fewer traffic delays at the lock. In addition, 
barge traffic at the lock has decreased in recent years and future 
traffic forecasts are expected to reflect a continuation of that trend.
    d. The without project conditions developed in the 2000 Feasibility 
Report and EIS have changed for the Greenup Locks due to the length of 
time since the report was completed, changes in the reliability of the 
main chamber, and a potential for decreased traffic at the project. 
Therefore, the Corps will complete a study to reevaluate the 
feasibility of project alternatives including their economic and 
environmental effects to identify federal interest.
    3. Public Participation: a. The Corps will conduct a public scoping 
meeting (see DATES and ADDRESSES) to gain input from interested 
agencies, organizations, and the general public concerning the content 
of the SEIS, issues and impacts to be addressed in the document, and 
alternatives that should be analyzed.
    b. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open 
communication and better decision-making. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the Greenup Lock improvements and its 
potential effects on the environment are urged to participate in this 
NEPA evaluation process. Assistance will be provided upon request to 
anyone having difficulty with learning how to participate.
    c. Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA 
process. Formal opportunities for public participation include: (1) 
Public meeting to be held in the community of Ashland; (2) Anytime 
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or email; (3) During Review 
and Comment on the Draft SEIS; and (4) Review of the Final SEIS. 
Schedules and locations will be announced in local news media. 
Interested parties should submit contact information to be included on 
the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and 
documents. Please address all written comments and suggestions 
concerning this proposed project to Natalie McKinley, CELRH-PM-PD-F, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, 
Huntington, WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5842. Email: 
[email protected].
    4. Schedule: The GRR and Draft SEIS are scheduled to be released 
for public review and comment in June 2014. The Final GRR and SEIS are 
scheduled to be completed in September 2014.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-14555 Filed 6-13-12; 8:45 am]
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