[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42486-42487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17591]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Integrated Water Supply Storage Reallocation 
Report; Environmental Impact Statement for Missouri River Municipal and 
Industrial (M & I) Reallocation and Hold Public Meetings

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 of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended and the 1958 Water Supply Act, as amended, the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District, intends to prepare an 
integrated Municipal and Industrial (M&I) Water Supply Storage 
Reallocation Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Missouri River. The purpose of the study is to determine if changes to 
the current allocation of storage for M&I water supply may be 
warranted, and what the effects of making those changes would be on 
other authorized project purposes. If found to be feasible, storage 
could be allocated for purposes specific to M&I water supply storage, 
allowing for non-federal entities to acquire the rights to storage on a 
long-term or permanent basis via water supply contracts with the Corps 
of Engineers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the NEPA 
process, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Eric Laux, by 
mail: CENWO-PM-AC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616 Capitol Avenue, 
Omaha, NE 68102, or by telephone: (402) 995-2682. For additional 
information on the Reallocation Study, contact Gwyn Jarrett, by mail: 
CENWO-PM-AA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, 
NE 68102, or by telephone: (402) 995-2717.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Geographic Area. The study area will encompass the six mainstem 
reservoirs and river proper from the headwaters of Fort Peck Reservoir, 
Ft. Peck, MT to St. Louis, MO.
    Project Scope. The demand for M&I water has increased in recent 
years and the Corps has received numerous requests for intakes and 
permission to withdraw water as a result of this demand. The Corps of 
Engineers is pursuing this study to evaluate the long- term Missouri 
River main stem water storage reallocation need in order to respond to 
the current and future water supply needs.
    The 1944 Flood Control Act, as amended, directed the USACE to 
allocate the river's resources among the authorized Missouri River 
project purposes; which are: fish and wildlife, flood control, 
irrigation, navigation, hydropower, recreation, water quality, and 
water supply. Although water supply is one of the several purposes of 
the Missouri River main stem projects, no specific allocation of 
storage has been made for M&I. The Water Supply Act of 1958 provides 
the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA[CW]) the 
discretion to make a change in the use of storage in an existing 
reservoir project from its present use to M&I water supply 
(reallocation) and allows the secretary to enter into agreements for 
long term or permanent storage at Corps reservoir projects.
    While water rights are conveyed by the state, the rights to water 
supply storage in a Corps reservoir may be acquired by non-federal 
entities on a long-term or permanent basis via a water supply contract 
with the Corps of Engineers. The cost of acquiring the right to storage 
would be based on the ASA (CW)'s determination of appropriate costs to 
be borne by the non-federal entities, as would be spelled out in the 
Decision Document that would result from the study.
    The Reallocation Study will take a comprehensive, systems approach 
to evaluate present and future M&I storage needs along the Missouri 
River from the headwaters of Ft. Peck, MT to St. Louis, MO. In 
contemplating an allocation of storage to M&I to meet needs in the 
basin, the Reallocation Report/EIS will discuss and evaluate the 
following: (1) Identify current and future water demand and potential 
need for reallocated storage to support demand; (2) evaluate the 
impacts on the project purposes and existing users and whether or not 
compensation would be required; (3) determine environmental effects of 
any proposed action and whether or not mitigation would be required; 
(4) determine the price to be charged the purchasers of reallocated 
storage; and (5) determine appropriate compensation, if any, to 
existing users/beneficiaries. In addition to reallocation

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alternatives, other alternative sources of water supply will also be 
evaluated and compared to the use of Missouri River storage.
    Scoping and agency meetings. Public concerns on issues, studies 
needed, alternatives to be examined, procedures and other related 
matters will be addressed during scoping. This process will be the key 
to preparing a concise EIS and clarifying the significant issues to be 
analyzed in depth. Public meetings are scheduled as follows:
    August 20, 2012--Nebraska City, NE: Lied Lodge and Conference 
Center, 2700 Sylvan Road.
    August 21, 2012--St. Joseph, MO: Stoney Creek Inn and Conference 
Center, 1201 North Woodbine Road.
    August 22, 2012--St. Louis, MO: Marriott West, 660 Maryville Centre 
Drive.
    August 23, 2012--Sioux City, IA: Holiday Inn, 701 Gordon Drive.
    August 27, 2012--Pierre, SD: Best Western Ramkota, 920 W. Sioux 
Avenue.
    August 28, 2012--Bismarck, ND: Best Western Doublewood Inn and 
Conference Center, 1400 E Interchange Avenue.
    August 29, 2012--Glasgow, MT: Fort Peck Visitor Center, Highway 24 
South 17 miles to Fort Peck.

    Dated: July 11, 2012.
Gwyn Jarrett,
Project Manager.
[FR Doc. 2012-17591 Filed 7-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P