[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 23, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 71109-71110] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-33996] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Restoration Plan (RP) For The Green/Duwamish River Basin Restoration Project, King County, Washington AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Seattle District, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers, as lead Federal agency, will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement evaluating alternative fish and wildlife habitat and water quality restoration approaches for the Green/Duwamish River Basin. This environmental impact statement will be a combined NEPA/SEPA document. The lead agency for SEPA will be the King County Water and Land Resources Division. Three alternatives will be evaluated in the DEIS: no action; habitat restoration that would benefit multiple species; and a program that benefits a single threatened fish species. A restoration plan will also be prepared in association with the DEIS. If approved, implementation of the restoration plan would begin in 2001. Potential issues of concern for the DEIS include impacts to fish and their habitat, water quality, wetlands, riparian habitat, flood control, land use, and public safety. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the scoping process or preparation of the DEIS and RP may be directed to: Patrick Cagney, Biologist, Environmental Resources Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 3755, 4735 East Marginal Way S., Seattle, Washington, 98124-3755, (206) 764-6577. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Action The Corps of Engineers and the King County Water and Land Resources Division propose to evaluate alternative habitat restoration programs for the Green/Duwamish River Basin in King County, Washington. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Seattle District (Patrick Cagney, Biologist) is the lead Federal agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 USC 4321 et seq.) and the Council on Environmental Quality implementing guidelines (40 CFR 1500-1508). The King County Water and Land Resources Division (Clinton Loper, Senior Engineer) is the lead state agency under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA, Chapter 43.21C RCW) and the SEPA guidelines (Chapter 197-10 WAC). The Corps is authorized to implement habitat restoration programs under Section 209 of Public Law 87-874 (Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters Study) of the 1962 Flood Control Act, the Water Resources Development Act of 1990, and Corps ecosystem restoration guidance (Engineering Circular [EC] 1105-2-210). Corps activities in ecosystem restoration will concentrate on engineering solutions to water and related land resource problems. Priority for restoration activities will be given to projects that restore degraded ecosystem functions and values, including hydrology, plant, and animal communities and/or portions thereof, to a less degraded ecological condition. The proposed action would restore aquatic ecosystem habitat and processes by reconnecting isolated habitat elements, increasing channel diversity, establishing areas of estuarine habitat, increasing floodplain habitat, restoring small tributaries, increasing the amount of large woody debris in the river, replenishing river sediments, and improving the water temperature regime. If the proposed action is implemented, initial construction on projects would occur around the year 2001. 2. Alternatives Three programmatic restoration alternatives will be considered and evaluated in the environmental impact statement. The first alternative is No Action and would include various agencies and groups continuing to implement restoration projects but by a less coordinated, intensive means than under the other proposed alternatives. Continued implementation of restoration projects would include reconnecting some isolated habitat elements, some placement of sediment in the river, and some placement of large woody debris. The second alternative is a multiple species approach to habitat restoration. Under this preferred alternative benefits to many fish and wildlife species will be considered. The third alternative is restoration of a single threatened fish species. Recently, Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) have been proposed for listing as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. This alternative would evaluate restoration actions that would benefit this species. Under alternatives two and three, three separate restoration approaches will be evaluated: (a) an ecosystem/ habitat forming process approach; (b) an engineered design and constructed habitat approach, and (c) an integrated approach (elements of both (a) and (b)). 3. Scoping and Public Involvement Public involvement will be sought during scoping and conducting of the study in accordance with NEPA and SEPA procedures. A public meeting will be held during public review of the DEIS. Further meetings will be scheduled as needed. A public scoping process will be initiated to clarify issues of major concern, identify studies that might be needed to analyze and evaluate impacts, and obtain public input on the range and acceptability of alternatives. This Notice of Intent formally commences the joint scoping process under NEPA and SEPA. As part of the scoping process, all affected Federal, [[Page 71110]] state, and local agencies, Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations, including environmental interest groups, are invited to comment on the scope of the DEIS. Comments are requested concerning project alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant environmental impacts, and permits or other approvals that may be required. To date, the following impact areas have been identified and will be analyzed in depth in the DEIS: (1) fish and their habitat; (2) water quality; (3) wetlands; (4) riparian habitat; (5) flood control; (6) land use; and (7) public safety. The environmental review process will be comprehensive and will integrate and satisfy the requirements of NEPA (Federal) and SEPA (Washington State), and other relevant Federal, state, and local environmental laws. 4. Scoping Meeting A notice of the scoping meeting will be mailed to all involved agencies and individuals known to have an interest in this project. A scoping meeting and an open house to receive public comments on restoration program alternatives will be held on January 20, 1999, at the Tukwila Community Center, 12424--42nd Avenue South, Tukwila, Washington. The meeting will occur from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. The meeting will begin with a one-half hour open house to allow the public and agencies to review project information/graphics and ask questions of Corps and King County staff, followed by presentations and then a question and answer period for the proposed alternatives. Verbal or written comments will be accepted at the scoping meeting, or written comments concerning the scope of the analysis may be sent to Patrick Cagney at the above address within 45 days of when this notice is published in the Federal Register. 5. Other Environmental Review, Coordination, and Permit Requirements Other environmental review, coordination, and permit requirements include preparation of a Section 404 (b) (1) evaluation by the Corps of Engineers; and consultation among the Corps, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State of Washington per Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Coordination will also be initiated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to meet the requirements of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. 6. Availability of the Draft EIS The draft Programmatic EIS/Restoration Plan is scheduled for release during the spring of 1999 and the Final Programmatic EIS/ Restoration Plan is scheduled for release during the fall of 1999. Dated: December 9, 1998. James M. Rigsby, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer. [FR Doc. 98-33996 Filed 12-22-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-ER-P