[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77108-77109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30347]


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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 Middle Mississippi River Regulating Works Project, 
Missouri and Illinois

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a 
draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Middle 
Mississippi River Regulating Works Project. This project is the means 
by which USACE provides a safe and dependable 9-foot navigation channel 
on the Middle Mississippi River. The Middle Mississippi River is 
defined as that portion of the Mississippi River that lies between the 
confluences of the Ohio and Missouri rivers. The original environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for the Project was finalized in 1976. USACE has 
determined that there is sufficient significant new information 
regarding the potential impacts of the project on the human environment 
to warrant the preparation of a supplemental environmental impact 
statement.

ADDRESSES: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, CEMVS-EC-H, 1222 Spruce St., 
St. Louis, MO 63103-2833.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and SEIS should be addressed to Mr. Jasen Brown, (see ADDRESSES) or 
email: [email protected]; phone: (314) 331-8540; fax: 314-
331-8346.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Middle Mississippi River Regulating 
Works Project is specifically and currently authorized pursuant to 
Rivers and Harbors Acts beginning in 1881. These authorize USACE to 
provide a safe and dependable navigation channel, 9 feet deep and not 
less than 300 feet wide. USACE accomplishes this mission through bank 
stabilization and sediment management to ensure adequate navigation 
depth and width. Project improvements are achieved through the 
construction of river training structures, revetment, rock removal, and 
construction dredging. The Regulating Works Project is maintained 
through dredging and any needed maintenance to already constructed 
features. The long-term goal of the Regulating Works Project, as 
authorized by Congress, is to reduce or eliminate the amount of annual 
maintenance dredging and the occurrence of vessel accidents through the 
construction of river training structures to provide a sustainable 
navigation channel and reduce federal expenditures. Since the 1970s 
various environmental laws, regulations, and policies have resulted in 
consideration of the environment in the design and construction of the 
Regulating Works Project.
    1. Proposed Action. USACE proposes to continue to provide a safe 
and dependable 9-foot-deep and minimum of 300-foot-wide navigation 
channel on the Middle Mississippi River by means of one of the 
alternatives currently recommended for consideration or by another 
reasonable alternative developed during the scoping process. Economic 
and environmental impact analyses will be utilized to determine which 
alternative is the best course of action.
    2. Alternatives. Alternatives recommended for consideration 
currently include:
     Continue with the Regulating Works Project. This would 
entail continuing to build rock dikes, weirs, and revetment at the 
current pace and continuing to dredge as necessary to maintain the 
navigation channel. This alternative would lead to the minimum

[[Page 77109]]

amount of continued maintenance dredging.
     Do not build any new dikes, weirs, or revetment going 
forward but maintain the existing structures to perform their intended 
functions. Maintenance dredging would continue into the future at 
roughly the current level.
    3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the range of 
alternatives and significant issues to be analyzed in detail in the 
SEIS. Public involvement is an integral part of the scoping process. 
All parties believed to have an interest in the analysis, including 
affected federal, state, and local agencies, and affected Federally 
Recognized Tribes will be included in the SEIS scoping process. Letters 
will be sent to all interested parties requesting their input on 
alternatives and issues to be evaluated. The letters will also notify 
interested parties of public scoping meetings that will be held in the 
local area. Notices will also be sent to local news media. All 
interested parties are invited to comment at this time, and anyone 
interested in the SEIS should request to be included in the mailing 
list.
    Public scoping meetings will be held in early 2014. The meetings 
will be held in the vicinity of St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 
Additional meetings could be held, depending upon interest and if it is 
determined that further public coordination is warranted.
    4. Significant Issues. The significant new information that has 
been developed since completion of the original EIS will be evaluated 
and the EIS will be supplemented pursuant to this evaluation. Resources 
and issues which could reasonably be expected to be analyzed in the 
SEIS at this time include aquatic habitat, navigation, river stages, 
fish and wildlife resources, water quality, air quality, threatened and 
endangered species, commercial and recreational fisheries, historic and 
cultural resources, and socioeconomic resources.
    5. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be assisting in the documentation of 
existing conditions and assessment of the effects of project 
alternatives through Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act consultation 
procedures. The USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
Report. Consultation will be accomplished with the USFWS concerning 
threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat. USACE 
will also work closely throughout the SEIS process with other resource 
agency partners including the Missouri Department of Conservation and 
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The draft SEIS or a notice of 
its availability will be distributed to all interested agencies, 
organizations, and individuals.
    6. Estimated Date of Availability. The earliest that the draft SEIS 
would be available for public review would be in the fall of 2015. The 
draft SEIS or a notice of availability will be distributed to all 
interested agencies, organizations, and individuals.

    Dated: December 12, 2013.
Christopher G. Hall,
Col, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2013-30347 Filed 12-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P