[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 647-648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31496]


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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 Great Lakes and Mississippi River 
Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) Report. The GLMRIS Report presents a range of 
options and technologies that could be applied to prevent aquatic 
nuisance species (ANS) transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi 
River basins through aquatic connections. Through a structured study 
process, USACE identified thirteen ANS of Concern established in one 
basin that posed a high or medium risk of adverse impacts by transfer 
and establishment in the opposite basin. USACE analyzed and evaluated 
available controls to address these ANS, and formulated alternatives 
specifically for the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) with the goal 
of preventing ANS transfer between the two basins.
    USACE conducted GLMRIS in consultation with other federal agencies, 
Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-
governmental organizations. 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 
seeking public comment on the alternatives presented in the report. 
This notice also announces the dates and times of public meetings 
hosted by USACE for the purpose of providing the public an opportunity 
to comment on alternatives and ask questions regarding the GLMRIS 
Report.

DATES: USACE announces a public comment period beginning Monday, 
January 6, 2014, through Monday, March 3, 2014. Please refer to the 
``GLMRIS Report'' section below for instructions on comment submittal.
    USACE will be hosting seven (7) public meetings to present 
information on the GLMRIS Report and seek comment on alternatives 
presented in the document. These meetings are open to the public.

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, 231 S. 
LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604, by phone: 312-846-5522 or by 
email: [email protected].
    For media inquiries, please contact USACE, Chicago District, Public 
Affairs Officer, Ms. Lynne Whelan, by mail: USACE, Chicago District, 
231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604, by phone: 312-846-5330 
or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Background: USACE conducted GLMRIS in consultation with other 
federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local 
governments and non-governmental organizations. The GLMRIS authority 
directed USACE to identify the range of options and technologies 
available to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) 
between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the 
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and other aquatic pathways. In GLMRIS, 
USACE has identified thirteen ANS of Concern established in one basin 
with the risk for transfer to the other, analyzed and evaluated 
available ANS

[[Page 648]]

controls, and formulated alternatives specifically for the Chicago Area 
Waterway System (CAWS) with the goal of preventing ANS transfer between 
the two basins.
    2. The GLMRIS Report: The GLMRIS Report identifies eight potential 
alternatives--from continuing current efforts to complete separation of 
the watersheds, and evaluates the potential of these alternatives to 
control the inter-basin spread of thirteen ANS, which include fish 
(such as Asian carp), algae, crustaceans, plants and viruses. The 
report also identifies potential significant adverse impacts that 
alternatives may have on existing uses and users of the waterways, such 
as flood risk management, navigation, and water quality, and identifies 
mitigation measures that could be implemented to minimize these 
impacts.
    3. The GLMRIS Report Comment Period: The comment period runs from 
January 06, 2014 through March 03, 2014. Comments may be submitted in 
the following ways:
     GLMRIS project Web site: Use the web form found at http://glmris.anl.gov through March 03, 2014;
     Mail: Send written information to `U. S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Chicago District, GLMRIS ANS Control Comments, 231 S. 
LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604'. Comments must be postmarked by 
March 03, 2014;
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the 
USACE, Chicago District office located at 231 S. LaSalle St., Suite 
1500, Chicago, IL 60604 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments must 
be received by March 03, 2014; and
     At Public Meetings: All meetings are from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
local time at the following locations:

1. Thursday, January 9, 2014: Gleacher Center, University of Chicago 
Booth School of Business, 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL 
60611.
2. Tuesday, January 13, 2014: Milwaukee Area Technical College, T 
Building Auditorium, 700 West State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233.
3. Thursday, January 16, 2014: Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior 
Ave. NE., Cleveland, OH 44114.
4. Tuesday, January 21, 2014: University of Michigan League, 911 N 
University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
5. Thursday, January 2014: The Hagerty Conference Center, Northwestern 
Michigan College--Great Lakes Campus, 715 E. Front Street, Traverse 
City, MI 49686.
6. Monday, January 27, 2014: Bloomington Education and Visitor Center, 
3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425.
7. Thursday, January 30, 2014: National Great Rivers Museum, 2 
Locks and Dam Way, Alton, IL 62002.

    Please see the GLMRIS project Web site at http://glmris.anl.gov if 
you wish to register to make an oral comment at one of these meetings, 
and for more information regarding the meeting including a meeting 
agenda. Those pre-registering to make oral comments through the project 
Web site may be given a preference over those that register to make 
oral comments at the meeting. The on-line pre-registration for each 
individual meeting will close at approximately noon, central time, on 
that meeting date. Each individual wishing to make oral comments shall 
be given three (3) minutes, and a stenographer will document oral 
comments. If you require assistance under the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, please contact Ms. Lynne Whelan via email at 
[email protected] or phone at (312) 846-5330 at least seven 
(7) working days prior to the meeting to request arrangements.
    Comments received during the comment period will be posted on the 
GLMRIS project Web site. You may indicate that you do not wish to have 
your name or other personal information made available on the Web site. 
However, USACE cannot guarantee that information withheld from the Web 
site will be maintained as confidential. Requests for disclosure of 
collected information will be handled through the Freedom of 
Information Act. Comments and information, including the identity of 
the submitter, may be disclosed, reproduced, and distributed. 
Submissions should not include any information that the submitter seeks 
to preserve as confidential.
    4. Authority: This action is being undertaken pursuant to the Water 
Resources and Development Act of 2007, Section 3061, Pub. L. 110-114, 
and Section 1538 of Public Law 112-141 of the Moving Ahead for Progress 
in the 21st Century Act.

    Dated: December 27, 2013.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief, Planning Branch, Chicago District, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2013-31496 Filed 1-3-14; 8:45 am]
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