Notice2023-02779
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Wood River Watershed, Custer County, Dawson County, Buffalo County, Hall County, and Merrick County, Nebraska
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Published
February 9, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentNatural Resources Conservation Service
Abstract
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska State Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Wood River Watershed Project in the proximity of Oconto, Nebraska, downstream to Grand Island, Nebraska. The EIS process will examine the potential impacts of alternative solutions to reduce flood risk and damages caused by flooding to the communities and agricultural lands throughout the watershed. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues, potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action from all interested individuals, Federal and State agencies, and Tribes.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8400-8403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02779]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
[Docket No. NRCS-2023-0001]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Wood River Watershed, Custer County, Dawson County, Buffalo County,
Hall County, and Merrick County, Nebraska
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska
State Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Wood River
Watershed Project in the proximity of Oconto, Nebraska, downstream to
Grand Island, Nebraska. The EIS process will examine the potential
impacts of alternative solutions to reduce flood risk and damages
caused by flooding to the communities and agricultural lands throughout
the watershed. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant
issues, potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to
the proposed action from all interested individuals, Federal and State
agencies, and Tribes.
DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by March 13, 2023.
Comments received after the close of the comment period will be
considered to the extent possible.
[[Page 8401]]
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice.
You may submit your comments through one of the methods below:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for docket ID NRCS-2023-0001. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments; or
<bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: John Petersen, Project Manager, JEO
Consulting Group, 11213 Davenport Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, NE 68154.
For written comments, specify the docket ID NRCS-2023-0001.
All comments received will be posted without change and made
publicly available on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Britt Weiser, telephone: (402)
437-4116; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0240706b76762c55676b71677042777166632c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85c7f7ecf1f1abd2e0ecf6e0f7c5f0f6e1e4abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a>, for information regarding
general NRCS policy; or John Petersen, telephone: (402) 392-9923,
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cba1bbaebfaeb9b8aea58ba1aea4e5a8a4a6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="076d7762736275746269476d62682964686a">[email protected]</span></a> for information specific to the Wood River
Watershed Project; or visit the project website at: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/3k6ukz7w">https://tinyurl.com/3k6ukz7w</a>.
Individuals who require alternative means for communication should
contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 for
Telecommunications Relay service (both voice and text telephone users
can initiate this call from any telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need
The primary purpose for watershed planning and preparation of this
EIS is to provide flood prevention or flood risk reduction measures to
the communities and agricultural lands in the Wood River Watershed
located in the jurisdiction of the Central Platte Natural Resources
District (CPNRD) across portions of Custer, Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, and
Merrick Counties in south-central Nebraska. The purposes of watershed
planning are authorized by the Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act of 1954, (Pub. L. 83-566) as amended, and the Flood
Control Act of 1944 (Pub. L. 78-534).
Action is needed because areas of the Wood River Watershed have
experienced repeated and damaging flooding, including major floods in
1967, 2005, and 2019. The Wood River Watershed experiences both flash
and riverine floods from the Wood River and various tributaries. Flood
damages are exacerbated by the high groundwater table in the region.
Outside of the Wood River Watershed's communities, the majority of land
is used for row-crop agriculture. Flood damages to cropland and pasture
occur due to inundation, sediment deposition, scour, and erosion.
The earliest recorded flood impacted the watershed in 1883, and
recurring floods have been reported throughout the 1940s to present
day. The most extensive flood event occurred in 1967 when the Wood
River overflowed its banks following a rainfall of over 10 inches. The
Wood River inundated the City of Grand Island, killing three people and
damaging approximately 1,800 buildings. In 2004 a levee and diversion
channel were constructed to protect the City of Grand Island from high
flows in the Wood River. This system was put to the test in 2005 when
it successfully protected the City of Grand Island.
In 2005 a severe thunderstorm dropped 11 inches of rain near the
City of Wood River, resulting in a flash flood and the evacuation of a
dozen homes. It was estimated that every structure in the City of Wood
River sustained some sort of storm or flood damage following the event.
In total, the 2005 flash flood caused $10 million in damages.
The Wood River Watershed experienced severe flooding in 2019 during
a bomb cyclone event in March, and then later flooding in July. In the
City of Wood River, more than 350 homes were flooded in March 2019,
with almost 60 of those having some sort of structural damage. In the
City of Gibbon, the Wood River crested at a record high of 17.4 feet on
March 14, 2019. This resulted in much of Gibbon being flooded both
north and south of Highway 30.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The proposed action may include a variety of measures that will
meet the purpose and need of reducing flood risk and damages to the
Wood River Watershed. These measures may be both structural and non-
structural, including channel widening, construction of diversion
channels, construction of levees, construction of detention cells,
stream restoration and construction of wetlands, installation of upland
conservation measures, construction of dams, property acquisition and
demolition, property relocation, floodproofing of structures,
floodplain regulation and zoning, and interior drainage or storm sewer
system improvements.
The EIS objective is to formulate and evaluate alternatives for
flood prevention or flood damage reduction in the Wood River Watershed.
Preliminary investigation has determined that one or a combination of
the following alternatives are the most likely to be effective and
should be considered for further evaluation:
Proposed Action Alternative 1: Diversion Channel
This alternative involves the construction of a new diversion
channel combined with berms to intercept and re-route high flows from
the Wood River south to the Platte River. West of Gibbon, there is a
location where the Wood River meanders nearly adjacent to Highway 30.
This would be an optimum location to divert flood waters to the south,
underneath Interstate 80, and into the Platte River. A diversion
channel of this size would entail excavating a new, properly sized
channel approximately 20,000 feet in length and lined on both sides by
berms to retain flows within the channel. The diversion channel would
need to cross Highway 30, the Union Pacific Railroad, and both the
eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 80, to reach the Platte
River. This alternative would be effective at reducing flood risk for
Gibbon and all other downstream communities impacted by the Wood River.
Proposed Action Alternative 2: Levees
A levee running adjacent and through the north end of Gibbon
directly south of the Wood River would potentially protect the
community from flood waters overflowing the southern bank of the Wood
River. The levee would need to be approximately 7,200 feet long and tie
into the Highway 30 embankment on both sides of Gibbon. Depending on
the level of protection, the levee would range from approximately 5 to
10 feet tall. Currently, the levee is sized to protect Gibbon from the
50-year event. A higher level of protection is possible, but would
require raising the Highway 30 grade where the levee ties in. A closure
section between the Union Pacific Railroad and Highway 30 embankment
might also be needed to keep water from flowing in the ditch.
Constructing a levee along the north side of Gibbon between existing
housing structures and the industrial processing facility would be
challenging. It would require property acquisition and demolition. The
final footprint of the levee can be adjusted based on real estate or
property issues.
A levee on the north side of Wood River would protect the city from
flooding up a selected level of design. Currently, the proposed Wood
River north levee will protect the city from a 50-year event. This
levee would be 8 to 10 feet tall and tie into the Highway 30
embankment. The level of protection is
[[Page 8402]]
limited by the elevation of the Highway. Adding a grade raise to the
highway where the levee ties in or continuing the levee south of the
Highway could potentially increase the level of projection up the 100-
year flood event. Further analysis and modeling are needed to properly
locate and size this levee.
Proposed Action Alternative 3: Detention Cells
This alternative includes surface storage located south of the City
of Wood River and Highway 30. The subbasins to the south of Highway 30
flood primarily agricultural land with shallow overland flow. These
flows eventually combine with the main channel of the Wood River south
of Alda. These subbasin flows contribute to some shallow flooding along
the entire southern extent of the Lower Wood River Watershed. There is
ample room for detention storage south of Wood River, just north of
Interstate 80. This would lower peak flows when the main channel
combines near Alda and provide flooding relief for agricultural lands.
It is possible to lower the level of protection by reducing storage,
which could dramatically reduce construction costs. Optimizing the size
and locations of this alternative to determine optimum economic benefit
needs to be performed. This includes determining if this option is
beneficial with different combinations, and the optimal location and
configuration of a detention cell along with flow paths. The detention
cell would also have the potential for environmental benefits, such as
habitat for threatened and endangered species.
Proposed Action Alternative 4: Single Dam or Multiple Dams
This alternative consists of constructing one large dam or multiple
dams in the Upper and Lower Wood River Watersheds along contributing
subbasins to retain floodwaters and reduce flood risk in the downstream
communities.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Early agency scoping of this federally assisted action indicates
that proposed alternatives may have significant local, regional, or
national impacts on the environment. Potential impacts include wetland
and flood plain alteration due to the construction of these proposed
alternatives. Potential realignment or raising of roads and railroads
could occur, depending on the location of the proposed alternatives.
The levees would impact several dozen property owners and businesses.
The proposed action would reduce flood damage to structures and
infrastructure in Gibbon and Wood River. Other actions, like the
detention cells, may improve wildlife habitat.
NRCS will coordinate with other federal agencies throughout the
planning process to ensure the proper measures are being taken to avoid
and minimize impacts before considering mitigation. Conservation
measures will be considered to avoid and minimize environmental impacts
by implementing best management practices.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
The following permits and other authorizations are anticipated to
be required:
<bullet> Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit: Proposed Action
may require permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
<bullet> CWA Section 402 Permit: Project may require National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit; and
<bullet> Dam Safety and Floodplain Permits: Local dam safety and
floodplain permits may be required depending on the final alternatives
selected.
Schedule of Decision-Making Process
A Draft EIS (DEIS) will be prepared and circulated for review and
comment by agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and the public as
required by 40 CFR 1503.1, 1502.20, 1506.11, 1502.17, and 7 CFR 650.13.
DEIS is anticipated to be complete and available for public review
within 18 months of publication of this document. Once DEIS is
completed, a Notice of Availability (NOA) will be published in the
Federal Register and a public review period of 45 days will be
provided. Comments on DEIS will be addressed in the Final EIS. A
subsequent NOA will be published in the Federal Register indicating the
availability of the Final EIS. A Final EIS is anticipated to be
published within 5 months of completion of the public comment period
for the DEIS. After a 30-day review period, the Record of Decision
(ROD) will be signed by the decision maker and responsible federal
official for the project, the NRCS Nebraska State Conservationist, Mr.
Robert Lawson. The ROD will be made available to the public. Based on
the analysis, NRCS will decide whether to provide financial assistance
to the CPNRD to implement the preferred alternative identified in the
Final EIS.
Public Scoping Process
An initial public scoping meeting was held virtually via Microsoft
Teams on August 18, 2020, to present the project and develop the scope
of the draft environmental assessment. Scoping meeting presentation
materials, including a video recording of the meeting, is available on
the project website, along with project background information: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/3k6ukz7w">https://tinyurl.com/3k6ukz7w</a>.
This meeting involved a project presentation followed by a group
question-and-answer period. Project team members were available for
discussion of individual questions. Scoping provides the ability for
the public to provide input on the kinds of issues that should be
addressed, what alternatives should be considered, impacts and
additional research that should be considered, and any actions that
could be related to the project.
A second public meeting will be conducted after DEIS is completed.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be part of the public record. The date, time, and
locations of future scoping meetings will be announced on the project
website, the sponsor's website, Nebraska NRCS social media, and
published in the local newspaper.
Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and Analyses
NRCS invites agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and individuals
who have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest in the Wood
River Watershed Project to provide comments concerning the scope of the
analysis and identification of relevant information and studies. All
interested parties are invited to provide input related to the
identification of potential alternatives, information, and analyses
relevant to the Proposed Action in writing or during a public scoping
meeting.
NRCS will coordinate the scoping process to correspond with any
required National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) processes, as
allowed in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3) and 800.8 (54 U.S.C. 306108). The
information about historic and cultural resources within the area
potentially affected by the proposed project will assist NRCS in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of
both National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and NHPA.
NRCS will consult with Native American tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with 36 CFR 800.2 and 800.3, Executive
Order 13175, and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources and
historic
[[Page 8403]]
properties, will be given due consideration.
Authorities
This document is published as required by the NEPA regulations
regarding publication of a notice of intent to issue an environmental
impact statement (40 CFR 1501.9(d)). This EIS will be prepared to
evaluate potential environmental impacts as required by NEPA section
102(2)(C); the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508); and NRCS regulations that implement NEPA in 7 CFR
part 650. Watershed planning is authorized under the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, as amended, (Pub. L. 83-
566) and the Flood Control Act of 1944 (Pub. L. 78-534).
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal assistance program in the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this Notice of Funding
Availability applies is 10.904 Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention.
Executive Order 12372
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,'' requires consultation with State and local officials that
would be directly affected by proposed Federal financial assistance.
The objectives of the Executive order are to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism, by relying
on State and local processes for State and local government
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and
direct Federal development. This program is subject to the provisions
of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation
with State and local officials.
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees,
and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family or parental
status, income derived from a public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in
any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases
apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by
program or incident.
Individuals who require alternative means of communication for
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape,
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or
USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or dial 711 for
Telecommunicaions Relay Service (both voice and text telephone users
can initiate this call from any phone). Additionally, program
information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eba4aaa8ab9e988f8ac58c849d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ca858b898abfb9aeabe4ada5bc">[email protected]</span></a>. USDA is an equal
opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Robert D. Lawson,
Nebraska State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-02779 Filed 2-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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