98-28182. Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Ohio River Main Stem System Study

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 56165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28182]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Ohio River Main Stem System Study

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY:
    a. The Great Lakes & Ohio River Division of the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers is evaluating alternative investment strategies for the 
maintenance of commercial navigation infrastructure on the Ohio River 
System for the next 50 years and for the restoration of habitats along 
the main stem of the Ohio River that have been degraded by cultural 
influences. The proposed action is being conducted under the authority 
of United States Senate, Committee on Public Works resolution dated May 
16, 1955; and, United States House of Representatives, Committee on 
Public Works and Transportation resolution dated March 11, 1982.
    b. The Corps of Engineers will conduct public scoping meetings at 
three locations along the main stem of the Ohio River to solicit input 
for the development of one or more draft Environmental Impact 
Statements (EIS) for the project. These meetings will be conducted in 
an informal setting with ``work stations'' established for question and 
answer sessions and the submittal of comments relevant to the format 
and scope of the EIS. Meetings are scheduled as follows:
    Date: November 17, 1998.
    Time: 12:00-8:00 pm.
    Place: Radisson Hotel, 600 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN, Phone: 
[phone].
    Date: November 19, 1998.
    Time: 12:00-8:00 pm.
    Place: Huntington Civic Arena, PO Box 2767, Huntington, WV, Phone: 
[phone].
    Date: November 24, 1998.
    Time: 12:00-8:00 pm.
    Place: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1001 Penn Ave., 
Pittsburgh, PA, Phone: [phone].
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide oral comments relevant 
to the scope of the environmental analysis for the EIS at any of these 
public forums. Otherwise, please forward written scoping comments or 
requests for information to the following study contact.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please address questions regarding 
this notice to Mr. Louis E. Aspey II, PD-F, Huntington District, Corps 
of Engineers, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, West Virginia 25701-2070, 
Telephone: [phone].

Supplementary Information:
    a. The Ohio River Main Stem System Study is designed to capture 
foreseeable maintenance, rehabilitation and new construction needs for 
the navigation infrastructure of the Ohio River until the year 2060 and 
to investigate habitat restoration options along the main stem Ohio 
River. The Study would also identify those actions which are 
economically justified and environmentally prudent. The final report 
will be advanced during 2002 for approval with implementation planning 
expected immediately.
    b. The Corps of Engineers has been collecting data and pursuing 
approaches for the study of Ohio River Navigation since 1996. 
Preliminary economic analysis has indicated traffic congestion and 
economic losses for two of the nineteen Ohio River Locks & Dams 
associated with foreseeable maintenance cycles. This has prompted the 
Corps to pursue an Interim Ohio River Main Stem System Study Report to 
address this short-term need at Greenup Locks & Dam, Greenup, Kentucky; 
and John T. Myers Locks & Dam, Mount Vernon, Indiana. This interim 
report will be advanced in 2000 for approval and requesting authority 
to implement immediately. Economic losses for both of these structures 
are associated with future traffic levels being impacted during 
scheduled maintenance.
    c. Feasible approaches to mitigating this economic loss vary with 
each Lock & Dam facility. However, the Corps has begun the review of 
small-capital improvements at each site to facilitate lockages using 
only the existing auxiliary lock chamber during scheduled outages. 
Extensions to the existing auxiliary chambers and new 1200 feet long 
lock chambers at the existing sites are also under consideration.
    d. Interest in habitat restoration along the main stem of the Ohio 
River has also prompted consideration of a program to restore degraded 
habitats as part of a defined restoration program.
    e. The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
construction and operation of the proposed project(s) including impacts 
to biological resources, cultural resources, and socioeconomic effects, 
air quality, noise impacts, and recreation resources. The Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Interim Report is expected to be 
available to the public in December 1999.
Daniel E. Steiner, P.E.,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 98-28182 Filed 10-20-98; 8:45 am]
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