[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5803-5804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3047]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the Upper North Branch Potomac River Environmental Restoration
Feasibility Study, Maryland and West Virginia
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
initiating the Upper North Branch Potomac River Environmental
Restoration Feasibility Study. The riparian and aquatic environmental
integrity of this has been severely degraded by urbanization, acid mine
drainage and industrial encroachment. Potential environmental
restoration of streambanks and remediation of wetlands and forest
buffers could restore several acres of riparian and aquatic habitat, in
addition to improving water quality, low base flows, and sedimentation.
A DEIS will be integrated into the feasibility study to document
existing conditions, project actions, and project effects and products.
the non-Federal sponsors for the project are the Maryland Department of
Natural Resources, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and
the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be addressed to Ms.
Erika Hieber, Study Manager, Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-
1715, telephone (410) 962-4633. E-mail address: erika.j.hieber@ccmail.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Public Works and Transportation, authorized the North
Branch Potomac River Water Resources Feasibility Study in a resolution
adopted May 13, 1993.
2. The Upper North Branch watershed of the Potomac River extends
from the Potomac River headwaters down to the Jennings Randolph Lake.
The study area includes portions of Garret and Allegeny counties in
Maryland, and portions of Grant and Mineral Counties in West Virginia.
A particular focus of this study is the Corps of Engineers' multi-
purpose Jennings Randolph Lake. The most significant problems in the
Upper North Branch watershed are acid mine drainage, the loss of
biodiversity, and water quality degradation. As a result, environmental
resources and aquatic habitats have become degraded.
3. A watershed study is being conducted to investigate the
feasibility of restoring the habitat and environmental integrity of the
Upper North Branch watershed. The purpose of this study is to develop
an ecosystem restoration plan that will address improvement of aquatic
and terrestrial habitat, water quality, and recreation. The goal of
this study is to improve the aquatic and riparian ecosystem within the
Upper North Branch watershed. To achieve this goal, the Corps will
further define the problems and opportunities in the Upper North Branch
watershed; analyze and forecast environmental resource conditions;
formulate, evaluate, and compare alternative plans for multiple sites;
develop detailed designs and costs at selected sites; and recommend a
cost effective plan for the Upper North Branch watershed. The proposed
environmental restoration plan would potentially include a evaluation
of acid mine drainage sites that individually contribute to a
significant amount of the acid loading in the watershed. To accomplish
the proposed environmental restoration plan, an alternative analysis
will be conducted. The analysis would include an evaluation of passive
and active acid mine drainage treatment and control technologies that
would improve degraded aquatic habitat and water quality by
neutralizing acidity, decreasing metal concentrations, and raising pH
levels.
4. The decision to implement these actions will be based on an
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activities on the
public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for
both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit
which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal will be
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable costs. The Baltimore
District is preparing a DEIS which will describe the impacts of the
proposed projects on environmental and cultural resources in the study
area and the overall public interest. The DEIS will be in accordance
with NEPA and will document all factors which may be relevant to the
proposal, including the cumulative effects thereof. Among these factors
are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental
concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood
hazards, floodplain values, land use, recreation, water supply and
conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, and the general
needs and welfare of the people. If applicable, the DEIS will also
apply guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, under
the authority of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act of 1977
(Public Law 95-217).
5. The public involvement program will include workshops, meetings,
and other coordination with interested private individuals and
organizations, as well as with concerned Federal, state and local
agencies. Coordination letters and newsletters have been sent to
appropriate agencies, organizations, and individuals on an extensive
mailing list. Additional public information will be provided through
print media, mailings, and radio and television announcements.
6. In addition to the Corps, the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, West Virginia
Division of Environmental Protection, and other participants that will
be involved in the study and DEIS process
[[Page 5804]]
include the following: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Geological Survey;
Natural Resource Conservation Service; and the U.S. National Park
Service. The Baltimore District invites potentially affected Federal,
state, and local agencies, and other organizations and entities to
participate in this study.
7. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public
review in the winter of 1998.
Dr. James F. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 97-3047 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M
