[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69099-69100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27531]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS), Initiate the Public Scoping Period and Host Public 
Scoping Meetings for the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin 
Study (``GLMRIS'')--Evaluation of Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls 
Near Brandon Road Lock and Dam

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Chicago District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
announces its intent to (1) prepare a Draft EIS, (2) accept public 
comments and (3) host public scoping meetings in Lemont, Illinois at 
Argonne National Laboratories and Chicago, Illinois for GLMRIS--
Evaluation of Aquatic Nuisance Species Controls near Brandon Road Lock 
and Dam (GLMRIS--Brandon Road).
    In collaboration with other Federal, State, and local agencies as 
well as non-governmental entities, USACE is evaluating structural and 
nonstructural options and technologies near the Brandon Road Lock and 
Dam site. This effort is an interim response to the GLMRIS authority. 
The purpose of the GLMRIS--Brandon Road evaluation is to consider a 
control point to reduce the risk of upstream transfer of ANS, from the 
Mississippi River (MR) Basin into the Great Lakes (GL) Basin through 
the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), to the maximum extent 
possible. The GLMRIS--Brandon Road effort will seek to minimize adverse 
impacts to waterway users or resources.

DATES: The NEPA scoping period ends on January 16, 2015. The GLMRIS--
Brandon Road NEPA Public Scoping meetings are scheduled for December 6, 
2014 in Lemont, Illinois at Argonne National Laboratories, and December 
9, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Please refer to the ``Scoping and Public 
Involvement'' section below for information regarding the public 
scoping meeting and for instructions on how to submit public comments.

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, Illinois 60604, 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, Illinois 60604, by phone: 
312.846.5330 or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background. In January 2014, USACE released the GLMRIS Report, 
which evaluated the potential range of alternatives to control ANS 
transfer between the GL and MR basins via the CAWS. In GLMRIS, USACE 
has interpreted the term ``prevent'' to mean the reduction of risk to 
the maximum extent possible, because it may not be technologically 
feasible to achieve an absolute solution.
    The GLMRIS Report identified eight alternatives, six of which were 
structural alternatives. Three structural alternatives established an 
ANS control point near Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois. 
The GLMRIS Report identified the Brandon Road control point as a single 
location that can address upstream transfer of MR ANS through the CAWS.
    Based on evaluations presented in the GLMRIS Report and in response 
to stakeholder input, USACE has been directed by the Assistant 
Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) to proceed with a formal evaluation 
of potential ANS controls to be applied near the Brandon Road Lock and 
Dam, located near Joliet, Illinois. The GLMRIS--Brandon Road effort 
will evaluate the range of options or technologies available to prevent 
additional MR ANS transfer through the CAWS into the GL Basin.
    This effort will assess the potential of various ANS controls to 
address the one-way, upstream transfer of ANS through the approach 
channel and/or lock chamber at Brandon Road Lock and Dam, and seek to 
minimize any adverse impacts to waterway users or resources.
    The Brandon Road Lock and Dam Historic District includes the 
Brandon Road Lock and Dam and was retroactively listed on the National 
Register of Historic Places on March 11, 2004.
    GLMRIS will be conducted in accordance with NEPA and with the 
Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and 
Related Land Resource Implementation Studies, Water Resources Council, 
March 10, 1983.
    2. Scoping and Public Involvement. USACE will accept comments 
related to GLMRIS--Brandon Road until January 16, 2014.
    All forms of comments received during the scoping period will be 
weighted equally. Using input obtained during the scoping period, USACE 
will refine the scope of GLMRIS to focus on significant issues, as well 
as eliminate issues that are not significant from further detailed 
study.
    Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
     GLMRIS project Web site: Use the web comment function 
found at http://glmris.anl.gov/.
     NEPA Scoping Meeting: USACE is hosting scoping meetings 
and asks those who wish to make oral comments in person to register on 
the GLMRIS project Web site at http://glmris.anl.gov/. Each meeting's 
on-line registration to speak will be closed at 10 a.m. central time 
the day of the meeting. Those who do not register to speak via the 
GLMRIS Web site may register at the meeting. Those registering through 
the Web site may be given a preference over those that register to make 
an oral comment at the meeting. Each individual wishing to make oral 
comments shall be given three (3) minutes, and a stenographer will 
document oral comments;
     Mail: Mail written comments to GLMRIS--Brandon Road 
Scoping, 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Comments 
must be postmarked by January 16, 2014; and
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand-delivered to the 
Chicago District, USACE office located at 231 S. LaSalle, Suite 1500, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments must 
be received by January 16, 2014.
    The public meetings will begin with a brief presentation regarding 
the study followed by an oral comment period. During the meeting, USACE 
will also collect written comments.
    The public meetings are scheduled for the following:
     1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2014, at 
Argonne National Laboratory's Theory and Computing Sciences Building, 
located at Theory and Computing Sciences Building, Building 240, 
Argonne National

[[Page 69100]]

Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (directions 
available on the GLMRIS project Web site), and
     3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at 
the Gleacher Center, located at 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, 
Chicago, Illinois 60611.

Please see the GLMRIS project Web site at http://glmris.anl.gov/ for 
directions, more information regarding the meeting and if you wish to 
make an oral comment.
    Comments received during the scoping period will be posted on the 
GLMRIS project Web site and will become part of the EIS.
    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.
    3. Significant Issues. Issues associated with the proposed study 
are likely to include, but will not be limited to impacts of ANS on 
current waterway uses and resources; impacts of potential ANS controls 
on current waterway uses and resources; and statutory and legal 
responsibilities relative to the lakes and waterways. Examples of 
waterway uses and resources that may be impacted by ANS include 
significant natural resources such as ecosystems and threatened and 
endangered species, commercial and recreational fisheries, and current 
recreational uses of the lakes and waterways. Examples of current 
waterway uses that may be impacted by potential ANS controls are 
commercial and recreational navigation, flood risk management and water 
supply and quality.
    4. Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. 
Availability of the Draft EIS is contingent upon sufficient allocation 
of funding for the study. Draft EIS availability will be announced to 
the public in the Federal Register in compliance with 40 CFR 1506.9 and 
1506.10.
    5. Authority. This action is being undertaken pursuant to the Water 
Resources and Development Act of 2007, Section 3061, Pub. L. 110-114, 
121 STAT. 1121, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., as amended.

    Dated: November 14, 2014.
Susanne J. Davis, P.E.,
Chief, Planning Branch, Chicago District, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2014-27531 Filed 11-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P