[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 7761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4172]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
Cherry Creek Dam Safety Evaluation Denver, Colorado
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Cherry Creek Dam was constructed in the 1940's by the Corps of
Engineers primarily to provide flood control for the City of Denver.
Although the project became operational in 1950, the facility was
operated without a permanent pool until 1958. The State of Colorado,
through its Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, operates the
project as Cherry Creek State Park. A 1993 reconnaissance-level report
by the Corps revealed that the dam does not meet the level of safety
currently required for such a project when located upstream from a
major metropolitan area. The proposed action is to provide increased
flood storage capacity, an increase in emergency spillway capacity, or
a combination of the two, so as to bring the project up to current dam
safety guidelines/requirements.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
and implementing regulations, an environmental impact statement will be
prepared to analyze the impacts of the proposed action and
alternatives. Public scoping meetings have been scheduled to solicit
comments regarding the scope of the environmental studies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and Environmental Impact Statement should be directed to: Ms. Candace
M. Thomas, Chief, Environmental Analysis Branch,U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, 215 North 17th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102-4978; telephone
(402) 221-4598, FAX (402) 221-4886.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A selected plan has yet to be defined. A
number of possible alternatives were identified in the 1993 report; it
is planned to refine the number of alternatives in the current study.
The alternatives most likely to be studied in detail in the EIS are as
follows:
No Federal Action.
A dam rise.
A supplemental spillway.
A combination of dam raise and addition of a supplemental
spillway.
Supplemental upstream storage.
Other, partial solutions such as closing the existing
spillway and/or changes to the existing outlet works capacity.
An afternoon public open house and evening scoping meeting have
been scheduled for March 4, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
respectively at the Holiday Inn Denver Southwest, 3200 South Parker
Road, Aurora, Colorado. The purpose of these meetings is to solicit
input on issues, alternatives to be evaluated, and potential
environmental effects. Written comments will also be solicited.
Potential significant environmental issues include possible impacts
to threatened and endangered species, wetlands, upstream areas of
special biological significance, and social and economic impacts to
upstream and downstream residences and businesses.
Other applicable and pertinent environmental review and
consultation requirements will be undertaken simultaneously with the
NEPA process, including requirements of the Endangered Species Act,
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, National Historic Preservation Act,
Clear Water Act, Clear Air Act, and others.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-4172 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M
