Notice2025-11971
Intent To Prepare a Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement for the Harris County Flood Control District Solutions for Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and Resilience (SAFER) Initiative, Harris County, TX
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 27, 2025
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentEngineers Corps
Abstract
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District (USACE) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the "Solutions for Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and Resilience" (SAFER) Initiative. The EIS would be prepared in association with a feasibility report prepared by a Non-Federal Interest (NFI)--the Harris County Flood Control District (Flood Control District) under authority granted by section 203 of Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986) (Pub. L. 99-662). The study will identify and evaluate structural and nonstructural alternatives to reduce the risk of flooding across eleven watersheds. This notice announces the USACE's intent to determine the scope of the issues to be addressed and identify the significant environmental issues (e.g., impacts to aquatic resources, terrestrial habitat, fisheries, etc.) related to the proposed action.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27531-27532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11971]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact
Statement for the Harris County Flood Control District Solutions for
Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and Resilience (SAFER) Initiative,
Harris County, TX
AGENCY: Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft feasibility study and
environmental impact statement for the SAFER Initiative, Harris County,
TX.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston
District (USACE) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the ``Solutions for Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and
Resilience'' (SAFER) Initiative. The EIS would be prepared in
association with a feasibility report prepared by a Non-Federal
Interest (NFI)--the Harris County Flood Control District (Flood Control
District) under authority granted by section 203 of Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986) (Pub. L. 99-662). The study will
identify and evaluate structural and nonstructural alternatives to
reduce the risk of flooding across eleven watersheds. This notice
announces the USACE's intent to determine the scope of the issues to be
addressed and identify the significant environmental issues (e.g.,
impacts to aquatic resources, terrestrial habitat, fisheries, etc.)
related to the proposed action.
DATES: Public scoping comments should be submitted on or before
September 25, 2025, electronically or mailed as written letters. A
minimum of ten scoping meetings will be held from July to August 2025.
Public scoping meeting details can be found at <a href="http://theSAFERstudy.org">theSAFERstudy.org</a>.
ADDRESSES: Submit all electronic public comments via email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d7e7270707873696e5d217c3d756f787b20" http: theSAFERstudy.org">theSAFERstudy.org</a>">comments@<a href="http://theSAFERstudy.org">theSAFERstudy.org</a></a>. Written comments may be mailed to: ATTN:
Mr. Danny Allen, 2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston, Texas, 77550.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the proposed Draft
EIS can be addressed by contacting Mr. Danny Allen by phone at 512-461-
6579, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4105202f28242d6f002d2d242f0134322022246f20332c386f2c282d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="662207080f030a48270a0a03082613150705034807140b1f480b0f0a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. The SAFER initiative is authorized under Section 203
of WRDA 1986, (Pub. L. 99-662), as amended by Section 1014(a) of the
Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014 (Pub. L.
113-121) which authorizes the NFI to perform feasibility studies (FS)
of proposed water resources development projects for submission
directly to the Secretary of the Army with USACE providing technical
guidance and conducting inherently governmental activities. Once
submitted, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
(ASA(CW)) evaluates the FS and prepares a report for congressional
committees that describes whether the project is feasible, including
recommendations concerning project design or conditions for
construction. The FS phase is 100% funded by the NFI.
2. Background. The potential project area covers 11 watersheds
located in Harris County, within the Harris County Flood Control
District's jurisdictional boundary. The Harris County Flood Control
District is a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature
in 1937 and governed by Harris County Commissioners Court. It was
created in response to devastating floods that struck the region in
1929 and 1935. Harris County continues to experience major flood
events, with the most significant occurring during Hurricane Harvey in
2017. These storm events cause significant flood damage, including the
loss of life, coupled with projected increases in precipitation
patterns and the potential for flooding events in the future, warrant
this flood risk management feasibility study. The Flood Control
District, acting as the NFI, is undertaking this study to evaluate
flood risk management alternatives covering Brays Bayou, Buffalo Bayou,
Clear Creek, Cypress Creek, Greens Bayou, Halls Bayou, Hunting Bayou,
Little Cypress Creek, Sims Bayou, White Oak Bayou, and Vince Bayou
watersheds.
3. Alternatives. The study will evaluate structural and
nonstructural alternatives that could reduce flood risk and address
study objectives. A no action alternative will also be considered. A
number of measures will be considered including but not limited to:
channel improvements, deep stormwater tunnels, bypass/diversion
channels, stormwater detention basins, natural and nature-based
features, and nonstructural measures. The study will evaluate potential
benefits and impacts of the array of alternatives including reasonably
foreseeable effects to the human and natural environments that balance
the interests of flood risk management and environmental quality.
4. Public Participation. Scoping completed prior to and after
publication of this NOI will be used to develop the EIS. The scoping
comment period will begin on June 27, 2025 and will end 90 days after
publication of this notice. All comments received during the scoping
period are being used to identify additional measures and alternatives,
significant resources, and impacts that should be considered in the
EIS. Additional comments received outside the scoping period will be
considered prior to the draft EIS public review
[[Page 27532]]
period, to the extent possible. For comments that cannot be addressed
prior to the public review period, the comments will be included with
the public review period comments and addressed at that time. The
Harris County Flood Control District in conjunction with USACE will
host no less than ten Public Scoping Meetings (both virtual and in
person) from July to August 2025. A Public Notice will be available on
the project website: <a href="http://theSAFERstudy.org">theSAFERstudy.org</a>. Public news releases announcing
the scoping period timeframe; public meeting dates, times, and
locations; and where to send comments will be published in the
appropriate local newspapers, on the project website, and will be
distributed to the local stakeholders and known interested parties.
5. Coordination. USACE will prepare the EIS based on information
and analyses provided by the Flood Control District or analyses
conducted by USACE as part of a technical assistance agreement with the
Flood Control District under the authority of Section 203 of WRDA 1986,
as amended. Other Federal and state agencies have been invited to
participate throughout the study process as Coordinating or
Participating Agencies. Further coordination with environmental
agencies will be conducted by USACE under the NEPA, the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water
Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the
Coastal Zone Management Act.
6. Availability of Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is estimated to be
available for public review and comment during the fall of 2026. At
that time, a minimum of a 45-day public review period will be provided
for individuals and agencies to review and comment. USACE will notify
all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals of the
availability of the draft document at that time. Pertinent information
about the study can be found at: <a href="http://theSAFERstudy.org">theSAFERstudy.org</a> or after publication
of the draft EIS at: <a href="https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Planning-Environmental-Branch/Documents-for-Public-Review/">https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Planning-Environmental-Branch/Documents-for-Public-Review/</a>. To request
a hard copy of the draft EIS, please contact Mr. Danny Allen by phone
at 512-461-6579, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8bcfeae5e2eee7a5cae7e7eee5cbfef8eae8eea5eaf9e6f2a5e6e2e7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bcfeae5e2eee7a5cae7e7eee5cbfef8eae8eea5eaf9e6f2a5e6e2e7">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
include your mailing address.
George H. Walter,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2025-11971 Filed 6-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 27, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.