[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44932-44933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17907]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Pearl River Section 211 Watershed Project for the 
Pearl River Watershed, Mississippi

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 211 of the Water Resources Development Act 
of 1996, the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control 
District, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 
is conducting a re-analysis of all engineering, economic, and 
environmental factors relative to prospective flood alleviation 
measures in the Pearl River Watershed study area (the metropolitan 
Jackson area). The re-analysis will employ Department of the Army 
criteria and guidelines as well as local engineering and analytical 
criteria. This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will examine 
the

[[Page 44933]]

reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts of all alternative courses 
of action that may be proposed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments may be submitted 
to Mr. Matthew Mallard, U.S. Army Engineer District, Vicksburg, CEMVN-
PDN-UDP, 4155 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435; (601) 631-5960 
(voice) or (601) 631-5115 (fax); [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Proposed Action. The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage 
Control District, as per the National Environmental Policy Act (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA) and NEPA regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.) and Corps of Engineers 
(33 CFR part 230), proposes in partnership with the U.S Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE) as authorized by Section 211 of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1996, to investigate measures to alleviate flooding 
in the study area.
    Alternatives The DEIS for will be developed to continue to evaluate 
alternatives, both new and those previously provided in a comprehensive 
plan for flood damage reduction dated 2007, Preliminary Feasibility 
Study and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
    Scoping Process.
    Public Involvement. Re-scoping is the method by which the Corps of 
Engineers involves the public, federal and state resource agencies, 
Indian tribes, and other interested parties in identifying the 
environmental issues to be examined and in establishing a range of 
alternatives to be evaluated in an ongoing study. All are invited to 
participate in the re-scoping process by attending the public 
information meeting to be held August 29, 2013, by submitting comments 
on the proposed action or DEIS, or both.
    Environmental Impact. A tentative list of resources and issues that 
may be evaluated in the DEIS includes aquatic resources, recreational 
and commercial fisheries, wildlife resources, water quality, air 
quality, threatened or endangered species, recreation resources, and 
cultural resources. Tentative socio-economic considerations that may be 
evaluated in the DEIS include business and industrial activity, tax 
revenue, population growth, community and regional development, 
transportation, housing, community cohesion, and navigation.
    Re-scoping Meeting. A public information meeting will be held 
August 29, 2013, from 6 to 8:00 p.m., at the Agriculture & Forestry 
Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216.
    Estimated Date of Availability of a DEIS. September 2014.

    Dated; July 16, 2013.
Barbara Petersen,
Acting Chief, Programs and Project, Management Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-17907 Filed 7-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P