[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]
[[Page 9509]]
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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
[[Page 9510]]
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]
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