Notice2025-10216
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Southwest Arkansas Red River Navigation Channel Extension
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Published
June 5, 2025
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentEngineers Corps
Abstract
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mississippi Valley Division, Vicksburg District (CEMVK) is announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate extending shallow-draft navigation up to 135 miles on the Red River from its present terminus at Shreveport, Louisiana into Southwest Arkansas. Under the authority of Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 (Section 203), as amended, the non-Federal Interest, Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division will perform the investigation to determine the feasibility of a proposed Southwest Arkansas Red River Navigation (SWARRN) channel.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 107 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23920-23921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10216]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Southwest Arkansas Red River Navigation Channel
Extension
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mississippi Valley
Division, Vicksburg District (CEMVK) is announcing its intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate extending
shallow-draft navigation up to 135 miles on the Red River from its
present terminus at Shreveport, Louisiana into Southwest Arkansas.
Under the authority of Section 203 of the Water Resources Development
Act (WRDA) of 1986 (Section 203), as amended, the non-Federal Interest,
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division will
perform the investigation to determine the feasibility of a proposed
Southwest Arkansas Red River Navigation (SWARRN) channel.
DATES: All comments and suggestions must be submitted by July 7, 2025
ADDRESSES: To ensure the USACE has sufficient time to consider public
input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be
submitted by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#acefe9e1fae781fcfce1e881efc5dac5c081fbc3dec7dfecd9dfcdcfc982cddec1d582c1c5c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9dded8d0cbd6b0cdcdd0d9b0def4ebf4f1b0caf2eff6eedde8eefcfef8b3fceff0e4b3f0f4f1">[email protected]</span></a>, by surface
mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Vicksburg District, Attn: CEMVK-PMP, 4155 Clay St., Vicksburg, MS
39183.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the proposed
action should be directed to Mr. Dan Moore, by phone (601) 631-5008, or
by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6004010e09050c4e124e0d0f0f12052015130103054e01120d194e0d090c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c484d42454940025e024143435e496c595f4d4f49024d5e415502414540">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The existing Red River waterway, known as the J.
Bennett Johnston (JBJ) Waterway, is a navigation system that commences
at the confluence of Old and Red Rivers and proceeds upstream for 236
miles to the Shreveport-Bossier City area. The JBJ Waterway project
consists of a shallow draft navigation channel with five navigation
locks. The portion of the Red River above Shreveport, Louisiana is
presently unsuitable for commercial navigation. In 2005, USACE
completed a draft Feasibility Report for the proposed SWARRN system. At
the time of the report, USACE concluded there were not sufficient
National Economic Development (NED) benefits to warrant recommending a
project plan to authorize and extend shallow-draft navigation upstream
of Shreveport, Louisiana. A recent market analysis and economic update
completed by USACE showed the potential for improved NED benefits. In
addition, USACE guidance allows the consideration of Regional Economic
Development, Environmental Quality and other benefits to be applied
when evaluating the feasibility of proposed water resources projects.
Because of the improved economic benefits conditions, the Natural
Resources Division (non-Federal Interest) has initiated an action to
proceed with additional analyses and a feasibility study under the
Section 203 authority.
Alternatives: The EIS will evaluate an array of alternatives and
the most feasible of the alternatives will be recommended. Alternatives
will consist of the `No-Action' alternative and alternatives to extend
the heads of shallow-draft navigation into Southwest Arkansas. The
shallow-draft navigation alternatives include: (1) extending navigation
from Shreveport, Louisiana to Garland, Arkansas; (2) extending
navigation from Shreveport, Louisiana to Fulton, Arkansas; and, (3)
extending
[[Page 23921]]
navigation from Shreveport, Louisiana to Index, Arkansas. Each plan
requires providing vertical lifts in the waterway through a series of
locks and dams. Approximately 54 feet of vertical lift is needed to
reach Garland requiring two locks and dams; 75 feet of vertical lift to
reach Fulton requiring three locks and dams; and, 102 feet of vertical
lift to reach Index requiring three high lift locks and dams. Each
shallow-draft navigation alternative will require a navigation channel
geometry with a depth up to 12 feet, and revetments and dikes to
provide channel and bank stabilization. All feasible and reasonable
alternatives will be considered for detailed analysis.
Summary of Expected Effects: The EIS will analyze the potential
impacts on the human and natural environment resulting from the
proposed actions for the project. The scoping, public involvement, and
interagency coordination processes are requesting data and information
to help identify and define the range of potential significant issues
that will be considered. Resources and issues that may be significantly
impacted may include wetlands and other waters of the U.S.; aquatic
resources; threatened and endangered species and their critical
habitats; cultural resources; soils; navigation and navigable waters;
transportation and traffic; hydrology and hydraulics; induced flooding;
air, water, and noise quality, and cumulative effects of related
projects in the regional area. It is anticipated that with larger pools
behind each lock and dam, there will be an increase in shallow-water
habitat and an increase in groundwater levels in the vicinity of the
pools. In addition, it is anticipated that there may be unavoidable net
loss of forested and wetland acres and Least Tern sandbar habitat due
to inundation that may require mitigation. Short-term air and water
quality impacts are expected from construction activities but should
recover post-construction. Possible cultural resources sites and
anomalies will be investigated, assessed, and identified. National and
regional economic and recreational benefits are expected to be accrued
as a result of extending waterborne commerce and with creating
navigation pools within the waterway.
Environmental Reviews and Consultation Requirements: The
alternatives are being coordinated with Federal, State, regional, and
local agencies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be
assisting in the documentation of existing conditions and assessment of
effects of project alternatives through Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act consultation procedures. The USFWS will also provide a Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act report. Coordination with the USFWS regarding
threatened or endangered species within the proposed project footprint
would be ongoing throughout the planning process. Endangered Species
Act, Section 7 consultation, would be initiated should the tentatively
selected plan have the potential to affect a protected species.
Consultation will also be done with the State Historic Preservation
Office and federally recognized Indian Tribes. The proposed action will
involve evaluation for compliance with guidelines established by
Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; application (to the State of
Louisiana and State of Arkansas) for Water Quality Certification
pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; and certification of
state lands, easements, and rights of way. The EIS will be distributed
for review to all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Schedule: The draft EIS
(DEIS) is presently scheduled to be available for public review and
comment in May 2026. A 45-day public review period will be provided for
interested parties and agencies to review and comment on this draft
document. All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this
notice and provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the
DEIS circulation. A Record of Decision would be approved and signed no
earlier than 30 days after the Final EIS is published.
Public Involvement and Scoping: USACE invites all affected Federal,
State, and local agencies, affected federally recognized Indian Tribes,
other interested parties, and the public to participate in the NEPA
process during development of the DEIS. Besides providing information,
this notice requests input on alternatives and issues of concern.
To ensure that public comments are considered in the DEIS
preparation process, members of the public, interested persons, and
entities must submit their comments to USACE by mail, email. All
comments and suggestions must be submitted by July 7, 2025. All
personally identifiable information (for example, name, address, etc.)
voluntarily submitted by a commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
Scoping meeting(s) were held prior to the publication of this
Notice of Intent (NOI) on July 30, 2024 in Shreveport, Louisiana and on
July 31, 2024 in Texarkana, Texas to present information and receive
comments from the public. These meetings were publicly announced
through press releases, special public notices, USACE social media
platforms, and the project website at: <a href="https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/SW-Ark-Red-River-Nav-Channel-Extension/">https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/SW-Ark-Red-River-Nav-Channel-Extension/</a>.
Content for the completed scoping meeting and information on the
investigation to extend navigation within the Red River through
Southwest Arkansas can be directly accessed at <a href="https://redrivernavigation.waterplanroom.com/">https://redrivernavigation.waterplanroom.com/</a>.
James A. Bodron,
Programs Director, Mississippi Valley Division.
[FR Doc. 2025-10216 Filed 6-4-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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