[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]
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