[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 9183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03491]


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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); Extension of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period.

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SUMMARY: On January 6, 2014, USACE published a notice (79 FR 647) in 
the Federal Register soliciting public comments on the GLMRIS Report 
that presents a range of options and technologies available to prevent 
aquatic nuisance species (ANS) movement between the Great Lakes and 
Mississippi River basins through aquatic connections. Due to additional 
public meetings and public requests, USACE has extended the end of the 
public comment period from March 3, 2014 to March 31, 2014.

DATES: The comment due date is extended to March 31, 2014. Comments 
must be received on or before March 31, 2014. Please refer to the 
ADDRESSES section for instructions on comment submittal.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments in the 
following ways:
     GLMRIS project Web site: Use the web form found at http://glmris.anl.gov through March 31, 2014;
     Mail: Send written information to U. S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Chicago District, GLMRIS ANS Control Comments, 231 S. 
LaSalle St., Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604. Comments must be postmarked 
by March 31, 2014; and
     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 31, 2014.
    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.

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 St., 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 St., 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 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 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.

    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: February 10, 2014.
Susanne J. Davis,
Chief, Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 2014-03491 Filed 2-14-14; 8:45 am]
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