[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21905-21907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08795]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Dallas Floodway Project, in the City of Dallas, Dallas County, TX

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District has prepared 
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that analyzes the 
potential effects of implementing each of three alternative scenarios 
for the application of flood risk management elements, ecosystem 
restoration and recreation enhancement features, interior drainage plan 
improvements, and other proposed projects in and around the Dallas 
Floodway, in the City of Dallas, Dallas County, TX. The DEIS documents 
the existing condition of environmental resources in areas considered 
for development, and potential impacts on those resources as a result 
of implementing alternatives. The alternatives considered in detail 
are: (1) No-Action Alternative or ``Future Without Project Condition;'' 
(2) Proposed Action with the Trinity Parkway; and (3) Proposed Action 
without the Trinity Parkway.

DATES: All written comments must be postmarked on or before June 2, 
2014. The Corps of Engineers will hold a public meeting for the DEIS on 
Thursday, May 8, 2014, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Dallas City Hall, 
L1FN Auditorium, 1500 Marilla, Dallas, TX 75201. The public can enter 
the Dallas City Hall Garage entrance off of Field and Young Street 
(parking is free). The building should be entered through the green 
doors.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing to: Marcia Hackett, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, Fort 
Worth, TX 76102-0300, or via email to [email protected]. 
Oral and written comments may also be submitted at the public meeting 
described in the DATES section.

[[Page 21906]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcia Hackett at (817) 886-1373 or 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE, Fort Worth District has prepared 
a DEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The 
DEIS has been developed as a cooperative effort by the USACE Fort Worth 
District, the City of Dallas, TX (non-federal sponsor), and the Federal 
Highway Administration (cooperating agency). The DEIS describes the 
anticipated environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed 
Dallas Floodway Project located in Dallas, TX. The City of Dallas 
proposes to implement Flood Risk Management elements, Balanced Vision 
Plan (BVP) Study Ecosystem and Recreation features, and Interior 
Drainage Plan (IDP) improvements within the Trinity River Corridor. The 
Dallas Floodway Project is located along the Trinity River upstream 
from the abandoned Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe bridge to the 
confluence of the West and Elm Forks, then upstream along the West Fork 
for approximately 2.2 miles, and upstream about 4 miles along the Elm 
Fork. Section 5141 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub. 
L. 110-114; 121 Stat. 1041) provides authorization for implementation 
of the City of Dallas Balanced Vision Plan Study and Interior Drainage 
Plan improvements following the preparation of a required National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation. This action is in 
accordance with Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 
325.2(a)(4), which discusses NEPA procedures and documentation. The 
purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce flood risk through flood 
risk management, enhance ecosystems, and provide greater recreation 
opportunities within the Trinity River Corridor in Dallas, TX. Flooding 
events on the Trinity River have historically caused loss of lives and 
damage to property and structures. Urbanization and past channelization 
and clearing of the Dallas Floodway have significantly degraded the 
natural terrestrial and aquatic habitat of the Dallas Floodway. 
Furthermore, the City of Dallas lacks sufficient recreational 
opportunities for citizens and visitors. Implementation of the Proposed 
Action is needed to comply with Section 5141 of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 2007. USACE invites full public participation to 
promote open communication and better decision-making. All persons and 
organizations that have an interest in the Dallas Floodway Project are 
urged to participate in the NEPA process. A public meeting will be held 
as described in the DATES section. Copies of the DEIS may be reviewed 
at the following locations: (1) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort 
Worth District Web site: http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Missions/WaterSustainment/DallasFloodway.aspx; (2) Dallas Public Library, 1515 
Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201; (3) Oak Lawn Branch Library, 4100 Cedar 
Spring Road, Dallas, TX 75219; (4) North Oak Cliff Library, 302 W. 10th 
Street, Dallas, TX 75208; and (5) at the public meeting as described in 
the DATES section. Copies may also be requested in writing at (see 
ADDRESSES).
    In addition to the Federal project described above, the City of 
Dallas has submitted an application for approval of the entire project 
(BVP and IDP) as a locally sponsored action under the provisions of 33 
United States Code Section 408 (Section 408), Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act (CWA), and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA). 
Approval is required due to: (1) The proposed location of the Project 
and activities within the Dallas Floodway; (2) the discharge of dredge 
and fill material into waters of the United States; and (3) activities 
in navigable waters of the United States. Approximately 323 acres of 
waters of the U.S., including roughly 157 acres of open water and 166 
acres of wetlands, would be impacted by Alternative 2. Of this total 
acreage, approximately 134 acres are navigable open waters of the 
Trinity River. Permit Number for this action is SWF-2014-00151.
    The proposed action will be reviewed in accordance with 33 CFR 320-
332, the Regulatory Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and 
other pertinent laws, regulations, and executive orders. Our evaluation 
will also follow the guidelines published by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency pursuant to Section 404(b)(1) of the CWA. The 
decision whether to approve the project will be based on an evaluation 
of the probable impact, including cumulative impact, of the proposal on 
the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concerns 
for both protection and utilization of important resources. The 
benefits that reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal 
must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All 
factors that may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, 
including its cumulative effects. Among the factors addressed are 
conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, 
wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, 
floodplain values, land use, navigation, shore erosion and accretion, 
recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, 
safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of 
property ownership, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the 
people.
    The USACE is soliciting comments from the public; federal, state, 
and local agencies and officials; Native American Tribes, and other 
interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of 
this proposal associated with a potential permit decision. Any comments 
received will be considered by the USACE in determining whether to 
issue, issue with conditions, or deny the permit. To make this 
decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, 
historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and 
the other public interest factors listed above.
    This project would result in a direct impact of greater than three 
acres of waters of the state or 1,500 linear feet of streams (or a 
combination of the two is above the threshold), and as such would not 
fulfill Tier I criteria for the project. Therefore, Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) certification is required. Concurrent with 
USACE processing of this Department of the Army application, the TCEQ 
is reviewing this application under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, 
and Title 30, Texas Administrative Code Section 279.1-13 to determine 
if the work would comply with State water quality standards. By virtue 
of an agreement between the USACE and the TCEQ, this public notice is 
also issued for the purpose of advising all known interested persons 
that there is pending before the TCEQ a decision on water quality 
certification under such act.
    Any comments concerning the TCEQ application may be submitted to 
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 401 Coordinator, MSC-
150, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087. The public comment period 
extends 45 days from the date of publication of this notice. A copy of 
the public notice with a description of the work is made available for 
review in the TCEQ's Austin Office. The TCEQ may conduct a public 
meeting to consider all comments concerning water quality if requested 
in writing. A request for a public meeting must contain the following 
information: the name, mailing address, application number, or other 
recognizable reference to the application; a brief description of the 
interest of the requestor, or of persons represented by the requestor; 
and a brief description of how the application, if

[[Page 21907]]

granted, would adversely affect such interest.

Rob Newman,
Director, Trinity River Corridor, Project Office.
[FR Doc. 2014-08795 Filed 4-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P