[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9509-9510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04864]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent/NEPA Scoping Meeting and Public Comment Period 
for the Grand River Habitat Restoration and Invasive Species Control 
Project, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) Detroit District, announces its intent to conduct public 
scoping and solicit public comments to gather information to prepare a 
draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on behalf of the Great Lakes 
Fishery Commission (GLFC) related to the proposed Grand River Habitat 
Restoration and Invasive Species Control Project in Grand Rapids, 
Michigan. The project must provide a means to block sea lamprey from 
moving upstream, as this invasive species is currently blocked by the 
existing 6th Street Dam in the Grand River, must maintain or reduce the 
current risk of flooding upstream, and must provide for fish passage 
into upstream areas. If implemented, the project is expected to 
adversely impact existing healthy mussel population, which includes the 
federally-listed endangered scaleshell and snuffbox mussels as well as 
a number of state-listed mussel species.

DATES: Comments for consideration in the development of the scope of 
the NEPA draft EIS are due no later than May 15, 2019. Comments may 
also be made at the public scoping meeting as noted below. All comments 
and materials received, including names and addresses, will become part 
of the administrative record and may be released to the public.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit written comments at the 
meeting and/or to Mr. Charles A. Uhlarik, Department of the Army, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, Environmental Analysis 
Branch, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226 or via email to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles A. Uhlarik, 313-226-2476.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 
and the GLFC are tasked with protecting federally endangered species 
and managing invasive sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes, 
respectively. These agencies approached the USACE, Detroit District to 
assist with the evaluation of the proposed project due to the potential 
for constructing a new sea lamprey control structure on the Grand River 
and potential for modifications of the existing barrier to sea lamprey 
at 6th Street Dam. Therefore, the USACE, Detroit District is preparing 
this draft EIS on behalf of the GLFC, and is a cooperating agency in 
the NEPA process based on the Detroit District's expertise in flood 
risk management and in sea lamprey barrier design. The USFWS is also a 
cooperating agency because of the anticipated impacts to federally-
listed endangered mussels. While USACE, Detroit District will be 
conducting the public scoping associated with the draft EIS and the 
preparation of the draft and final EIS, the GLFC will ultimately be 
responsible for signing a Record of Decision at the end of this process 
as the lead agency for this effort.
    Proposed Project: A draft EIS is being proposed for a multipurpose 
restoration project in the Grand River, in downtown Grand Rapids, 
Michigan. The intent of the project is to restore, enhance, and 
maintain the rapids in the Grand River from upstream of Ann Street to 
Fulton Street, and may include habitat, recreation and invasive species 
control features.
    Proposed Project Purpose and Need: The ecosystem processes and 
recreational functions of the Grand River have been degraded by 
channelization, dredging, and urban development in the reach that flows 
through the city of Grand Rapids. A series of five low-head dams and 
more than a mile of floodwalls on both sides of the river have 
constrained the physical, chemical, and biological processes of the 
river ecosystem within this highly urbanized reach of the river. Only 
one percent of riparian areas in the lower peninsula of Michigan is 
comprised of rapids-type habitat, which is critical to the lifecycle of 
many aquatic species. Furthermore, the rapids have a significant 
economic benefit associated with outdoor recreation.
    Alternatives: There is a vested interest by local stakeholders in 
restoring the rapids habitat in this stretch of the Grand River in 
downtown Grand Rapids. A healthy mussel population, that includes the 
federally-listed endangered scaleshell and snuffbox mussels as well as 
a number of state-listed mussel species, is expected to be adversely 
impacted by this project, based on mussel surveys conducted in 2016 and 
informal consultation with the USFWS. Project alternatives must take 
into account the impacted mussels as well as providing a means to block 
sea lamprey from moving upstream, as this invasive species is currently 
blocked by the existing 6th Street Dam in the Grand River, must 
maintain or reduce the current risk of flooding upstream, and must 
provide for fish passage into upstream areas. An outcome of the NEPA 
public scoping process is the formulation/development of a range of 
project alternatives based on public input and agency expertise so that 
the project can be developed in a manner that is consistent with sound 
engineering practice and meets all applicable environmental laws and 
regulations. The draft EIS will consider the direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impacts of alternatives on affected resources that are 
identified during the scoping process, including, but are not limited 
to: Water quality, stream flows, air quality, fish and wildlife 
(including federally-listed endangered species and their designated 
critical habitat), floodplains, wetlands, climate, cultural resources, 
and social and economic resources such as noise, aesthetics, 
environmental justice.
    Scoping Process/Public Involvement: The USACE, Detroit District is 
issuing this notice, on behalf of the GLFC to: (1) Inform other Federal 
and state agencies, tribes, and the public of their plan to analyze 
effects related to implementation of the Grand River Habitat 
Restoration and Invasive Species Control Project in Grand Rapids, 
Michigan; (2) obtain suggestions and information that may inform the 
scope of issues and range of alternatives to evaluate in the draft EIS; 
(3) request input on potential effects to federally-listed endangered 
species and their critical habitat in accordance with the Endangered 
Species Act; and (4) provide notice and request input on potential 
effects on historic properties in accordance with Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
    The scoping process will help identify reasonable prudent 
alternatives, facilitate the evaluation of potential effects to the 
human and natural environments and key issues of concern to be analyzed 
in the draft EIS. The USACE, Detroit District, on behalf of the GLFC, 
intends to comply with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act 
by undergoing formal Section 7 Consultation with the USFWS. 
Additionally, the USACE, Detroit District, on behalf of the GLFC, 
intends to comply with the requirements of

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Section 106 of the NHPA in parallel with the NEPA process. The USACE, 
Detroit District invites federal, state, and local agencies, federally-
recognized Native American Tribes, the State Historic Preservation 
Office, other interested parties, and the general public to participate 
in the NEPA scoping process for the preparation of this draft EIS by 
attending meetings and/or submitting written comments.
    The NEPA Public Scoping open house style meeting will be held at 
the DeVos Place Convention Center, 303 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, 
MI 49503 on Monday, April 8, 2019 from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. to 
provide information to the public, serve as a mechanism to solicit 
agency and public input to develop alternatives and issues of concern, 
and ensure full and open participation in scoping of the draft EIS. A 
short, informal presentation will be held at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 
provide more detail on the project. Written comments will also be 
requested. Additional information related to the public scoping process 
will be provided through news releases to the media, advertisements 
placed in regional/local newspapers of general circulation, Public 
Notice, and/or on the project website at: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Services/.
    Upon completion of the scoping process, the draft EIS will be 
developed and circulated for public review and comment. The USACE 
Detroit District expects to release the draft EIS for public review and 
comment in late 2019. The USACE Detroit District will issue a Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register announcing the release of the 
draft EIS for public comment through news releases to the media, 
advertisements placed in regional/local newspapers of general 
circulation, Public Notice, and/or on the project website listed above.

Charles A. Uhlarik,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch, USACE, Detroit District.
[FR Doc. 2019-04864 Filed 3-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P