[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 60412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25647]



[[Page 60412]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River 
Interbasin Study--Brandon Road Integrated Feasibility Study and 
Environmental Impact Statement--Will County, Illinois

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Rock Island and 
Chicago Districts, have developed ``The Great Lakes and Mississippi 
River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS)--Brandon Road Integrated Feasibility 
Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)--Will County, 
Illinois,'' (Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS). The Final GLMRIS-
Brandon Road Report & EIS presents a plan that could prevent aquatic 
nuisance species (ANS) transfer from the Mississippi River Basin to the 
Great Lakes Basin through an aquatic connection in the Chicago Area 
Waterway System. The purpose of this Study was to evaluate structural 
and nonstructural options and technologies near the Brandon Road Lock 
and Dam to prevent the upstream transfer of ANS while minimizing 
impacts to existing waterways uses and users. USACE analyzed and 
evaluated available controls to address ANS of concern and formulated 
alternatives specifically for the Brandon Road site.

DATES: The Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS is available for 
review beginning on Friday, November 23, 2018, ending December 24, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: The Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS will be posted at 
https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/GLMRIS-BR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock 
Island District, ATTN: GLMRIS-Brandon Road EIS, Clock Tower Building, 
P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204-2004; or contact online at https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/GLMRIS-BR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE is issuing this notice pursuant to 
section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4332 et seq.) and the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA (43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508). This notice 
announces the availability of the final GLMRIS-Brandon Road EIS. The 
Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS, its appendices, and other 
supporting documents can be accessed at: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/GLMRIS-BR.

Background Information

    The Draft GLMRIS-Brandon Road EIS was released on August 18, 2017, 
and included a 112-day public comment period that ended on December 8, 
2017. During that time, USACE held four meetings to solicit comments 
from the public. USACE analyzed the comments received from the public 
(Appendix K) and considered them in preparation of the Final GLMRIS-
Brandon Road EIS. This EIS provided the necessary information for the 
public to fully evaluate a range of alternatives designed to meet the 
purpose and need of the Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS and to 
provide thoughtful and meaningful comment for the Agency's 
consideration.
    The Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS identifies six 
alternatives including no new action (continuing current efforts); the 
nonstructural alternative; and three technology alternatives using an 
electric barrier and/or acoustic fish deterrent and lock closure. The 
effectiveness of these alternatives was considered against the three 
different modes of ANS transport, swimming, floating, and hitchhiking. 
Selection of a Recommended Plan required careful evaluation of each 
alternative's (1) reduction in the probability of establishment in the 
Great Lakes Basin, (2) relative life safety risk, (3) system 
performance robustness and (4) costs, which include construction; 
mitigation; operation and maintenance, repair, replacement and 
rehabilitation; and navigation impacts. Evaluation also included 
careful consideration of cost effectiveness and incremental cost 
analyses, significance of the Great Lakes Basin's ecosystem, 
acceptability, completeness, efficiency, and effectiveness. Based on 
the results of the evaluation and comparison of the alternatives, the 
Recommended Plan is the Technology Alternative--Acoustic Fish Deterrent 
with Electric Barrier, which includes the following measures: 
nonstructural measures, acoustic fish deterrent, bubble curtain, 
engineered channel, electric barrier, flushing lock, and boat ramps. 
The Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS identifies potential 
significant adverse impacts that alternatives may have on existing uses 
and users of the waterways.

    Dated: November 19, 2018.
Dennis W. Hamilton,
Chief, Programs and Project Management Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-25647 Filed 11-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P