[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27030-27031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11347]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
for the Indianapolis, White River (North), IN, Flood Damage Reduction
Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Louisville District will prepare
a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to disclose
potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment
resulting from implementation of alternatives formulated to address
reliability risks associated with Indianapolis, White River (North),
IN, Flood Damage Reduction Project. The currently authorized and
partially completed project does not meet current performance standards
nor does it provide the level of protection for which the project was
authorized. A full array of alternatives will be formulated to meet the
purpose and need of this study. After full consideration of all
alternatives, the best plan will be selected to achieve acceptable risk
levels.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address all written comments and
suggestions concerning completion of this SEIS for the already
partially constructed flood reduction project to Michael Turner, CELRL-
PM-P-E, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, P.O. Box 59,
Louisville, KY 40201-0059. Telephone: 502-315-6900. E-mail:
[email protected].
[[Page 27031]]
Requests to be placed on the mailing list should also be sent to this
address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville
District (Corps), under authority of the Flood Control Act (FCA) of
1936 as amended by the FCA of 1948, completed a General Reevaluation
(i.e. Feasibility) Report (GRR) and Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) in 1996, entitled Indianapolis, White River (North) Flood Damage
Reduction Project for implementation of flood damage reduction measures
in northern Indianapolis (Marion County), Indiana.
In February, 2011, the Corps released an Environmental Assessment
(EA) addressing completion of Section 3B and environmental mitigation.
The EA addressed one alignment along the White River and the canal. As
a result of extensive public interest and comments made regarding the
proposed alignment, a decision has been made to prepare a supplement to
the 1996 EIS for the completion of the flood reduction project. This
SEIS will address four alternatives for Section 3B: (1) The alignment
as identified in the EA or along Westfield Boulevard and the
Indianapolis Water Canal, (2) a modification moving the gate structure
on the canal downstream approximately 600 ft, (3) a levee protecting
the Town of Rocky Ripple, and (4) the no action alternative, i.e., do
not complete Section 3B. The SEIS will also discuss possible changes in
the already completed sections of the project related to requirements
implemented since Hurricane Katrina. Specifically, three alternatives
will be evaluated: (1) Clearing of all woody vegetation 20 ft on each
side of the toe of the existing levee, (2) a variance requiring
clearing of all woody vegetation 20 ft horizontally from the crown of
the completed sections, and (3) no action, i.e., no additional
clearing. The SEIS will also identify any environmental mitigation
requirements that may be needed as a result of implementation of any of
the alternatives considered. The SEIS will concentrate on impacts
related to the identified alternatives, especially aesthetics,
communities, economics, biological and cultural resources, public
safety, and water supply.
Public Participation: The Corps received many comments from the
public and elected officials in response to the EA. These concerns are
reflected in the preceding two paragraphs. Should there be any
additional resources and/or impacts that the Corps should address, the
Louisville District seeks input from interested agencies,
organizations, and the general public concerning the content, issues
and impacts to be addressed in the SEIS. As the Corps will participate
in at least one public meeting held by local agencies and/or elected
officials in the coming month or two and as extensive public comment
has already been received in response to the EA, the Louisville
District does not intend to hold a separate public scoping meeting
regarding the content of the draft SEIS.
Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA process.
Opportunities for public participation and/or comment will include as a
minimum two review periods for the draft and final SEIS lasting a
minimum of 45 and 30 days respectively. Comments may be made anytime
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or e-mail. Interested
parties should submit contact information to be included on the mailing
list for public distribution of any meeting announcements and
documents, e.g., the draft and final SEIS.
Schedule: The Draft SEIS is scheduled to be released for public
review and comment in June 2011.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-11347 Filed 5-9-11; 8:45 am]
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