[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 19060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09060]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Nebraska Highway 12 (N-12) Niobrara East and West 
Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing a 
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) to analyze 
the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of a proposed 
transportation project, the Niobrara East and West Project. 
Construction of the proposed Project is expected to result in temporary 
and permanent impacts to jurisdictional waters of the United States, 
thereby requiring a Clean Water Act section 404 permit proposed by the 
Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). NDOT proposes to 
rehabilitate two segments of N-12 east and west of Niobrara, between 
Verdel and Santee Spur 54-D (S-54D) in Knox County, Nebraska. A Draft 
EIS for this project was released on October 9, 2015. A public open 
house and hearing was held on November 9, 2015. After the public 
comment period ended, NDOT elected to withdraw its Section 404 permit 
application on November 20, 2015. Since that time, NDOT has developed a 
modified project purpose and need, and alternatives responsive to this 
purpose and need.

DATES: Written comments for scoping will be accepted until May 24, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Questions and comments regarding the proposed action and 
SDEIS should be addressed to Becky Latka, Regulatory Field Support, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616 Capitol Ave., Omaha, NE 68102.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Latka, (402) 995-2681; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NDOT's stated project purpose is to 
rehabilitate the existing roadway and to maximize utilization of 
existing transportation infrastructure and right-of-way, to improve the 
safety and reliability of the roadway, and bring the roadway up to 
current NDOT design standards for a major arterial highway. The project 
is needed due to ongoing risk of flooding, unreliable operations, and 
interruptions to regional connectivity.
    The Corps is requesting scoping comments on the Project, 
preliminary alternatives, the NEPA compliance process, and to solicit 
input on the issues and alternatives to be evaluated and other related 
matters. Additional information and links related to the EIS can be 
found at https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Program/Nebraska/EIS-Highway-12/.
    The Corps has invited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal 
Highway Administration, and Knox County to continue as cooperating 
agencies in the formulation of the EIS. Additionally, the Corps has 
invited the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the 
Nebraska Department of Game and Parks to continue to serve as 
participating agencies during the preparation of the EIS.
    The SDEIS will be prepared according to the Corps' procedures for 
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), and consistent with the Corps' policy to 
facilitate public understanding and review of agency proposals. As part 
of the EIS process, a full range of reasonable alternatives, including 
the proposed Project and no action, will be evaluated.

John L. Moeschen,
Nebraska State Program Manager, Regulatory Branch.
[FR Doc. 2019-09060 Filed 5-2-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P