[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 26409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12072]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of
Public Scoping Meeting
AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, Omaha District.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Metropolitan Utilities District (District), Omaha
Nebraska, proposes to construct a 104 million gallon per day (MGD) well
field near the Platte River in western Douglas and eastern Saunders
Counties, Nebraska. The proposed project also includes a water
treatment plant and transmission pipelines. The purpose of the proposed
project is to provide additional public water supply to meet customer
requirements through the year 2030 and to improve water source
reliability for the District's growing service area.
The proposed action will require a Corps of Engineers' permit
pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), which
authorizes the Corps of Engineers to issue permits for the discharge of
dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States. In
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
implementing regulations, an environmental impact statement will be
prepared to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed action
and alternatives. A public scoping meeting has 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: Mr. Richard D. Gorton, Chief, Environmental
Analysis Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 215 North 17th Street,
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-4978; phone (402) 221-4598; fax (402) 221-4886.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Metropolitan Utilities District
(District) is the potable water supplier of Omaha, Nebraska, and the
surrounding area. The District is experiencing a steady growth within
its existing and expanding service area boundaries. It has determined
that an additional 100 MGD supply would be required by the year 2030.
It has also concluded that if peak day design conditions were to occur
any year after 1995, the District would not be able to meet those
demands. The District does not currently have any excess production
capacity to provide reliability during peak water demand periods.
The proposed project would include a total of 42 wells in the
Platte River alluvial aquifer and associated pumping equipment, water
transmission pipelines, a water treatment facility, and a 25-million-
gallon storage reservoir. These facilities would deliver water to the
western portion of the District's distribution system.
Alternatives to the proposed action identified to date include:
Construction of well facilities in the Platte River
alluvial aquifer in alternative locations;
Construction of additional facilities to supply water from
the Missouri River;
No Federal action.
A public scoping meeting has been scheduled for June 1, 1995 at
7:00 p.m. at the Russell Middle School Cafeteria, 5304 South 172
Street, Omaha, Nebraska.
The purpose of the scoping meetings is to solicit public input on
issues, studies needed, alternatives to be evaluated, and potential
environmental effects. Written comments will also be requested.
Potential significant environmental issues include effects on
threatened and endangered species and the indirect effects of drawdown
on wetlands and recreational lakes.
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,
Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and others.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-12072 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M
