[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 66464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30743]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the Mill Creek, Ohio Local Flood Protection Project General
Reevaluation Report
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1970 (PL 91-611), the
objective of the Reevaluation Study and DEIS, is to identify a flood
damage reduction plan that will yield a functionally, economically, and
environmentally sound project to reduce damages to communities in
Hamilton County, Ohio from flooding of Mill Creek and its tributaries.
The DEIS will assess the potential impacts of the alternatives upon
social and economic and natural resources.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Kanzinger by phone at (502)
582-5774, facsimile at (502) 582-6734, mail at U.S. Army Engineer
District, Louisville, ATTN: CELRI-PD-E (Kanzinger), P.O. Box 59,
Louisville, KY 40201-0059, or email at robert.c.kanzinger@
lr102.usace.army.mil
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
Flooding has been a chronic problem on Mill Creek for some time.
Following the original authorization of the Mill Creek Local Protection
Project, in 1970, a Local Cooperation Agreement (LCA) for construction
of the project was executed in 1975. Construction was initiated in 1981
and suspended in 1992 with approximately 50 percent of the authorized
project complete. Project construction was suspended at the direction
of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, for the
following reasons: (1) Problems in acquiring real estate and
relocations for the remaining sections, (2) project costs had grown
126% since authorization, (3) likely contamination by hazardous
materials from old land fills along uncompleted portions of the
project, and (4) problems in operating and maintaining the completed
sections.
2. Proposed Action
The Corps, in cooperation with the local sponsor, Millcreek Valley
Conservancy District (MVCD), is conducting a feasibility investigation
to reevaluate alternatives for flood damage reduction. This
investigation proposes to reduce the flood hazards currently associated
with flood flows from Mill Creek and its tributaries.
3. Action Alternatives To Be Considered
Considered alternatives include: constructed wetlands/detention
areas, levees and pump stations, channel modifications, replacement or
modification of railroad bridges to improve flow characteristics, and
nonstructural alternatives such as automated advance warning systems
and structure relocations.
4. The No Action Alternative
The consequences of taking no action will also be considered.
5. Scoping Process
a. The Corps and MVCD is asking, herein and elsewhere, for public
input regarding pertinent issues that need to be addressed in the EIS.
Monthly ``Fire Side Meetings'' are being held at local communities to
discuss flooding issues and the Reevaluation Study. Monthly meetings
began in December 1998 and will continue at least through September
1999 or longer if there is an interest. The Reevaluation Study has also
been a regular agenda line item at quarterly MVCD Executive Committee
Meetings since 1996, and will continue to be so. It is also a regular
agenda item for quarterly Mill Creek Watershed Council (MCWC) Meetings,
periodic MCWC Flood Control Subcommittee meetings, and monthly MCWC
Executive Committee Meetings. A comprehensive mailing list of
potentially interested parties is being assembled, including Federal,
state and local agencies, and individuals. The list will be used to
notify interested parties of opportunities to provide input to the
scoping process.
b. Pertinent issues identified, so far, include appropriate levels
and alternatives for flood damage reduction, as well as potential
effects of the alternatives on water quality, vegetation and wildlife
resources, special status species, cultural resources, social and
economic resources, esthetics and recreation.
c. A 45-day public review period will be provided for individuals
and agencies to review and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS). All interested parties should respond to this notice
and provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the date
of scoping meetings and for receipt of the DEIS for review and comment.
6. Availability
The DEIS is expected to be available for public review and comment
approximately June, 2000. Notice of availability will be published in
the Federal Register as well as mailed to everyone on the mailing list.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-30743 Filed 11-24-99; 8:45 am]
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