Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed Anacostia River and Tributaries, District of Columbia and Maryland Feasibility Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers

Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for

the Proposed Anacostia River and Tributaries, District of Columbia and

Maryland Feasibility Study

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

investigated the feasibility of construction of fish and wildlife

restoration measures in the Anacostia River basin. The District

Engineer recommends the restoration of 80 acres of wetlands, t miles of

streams and 33 acres of bottomland habitat. The feasibility study of

the potential restoration actions was conducted under authority of a

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and

Transportation resolution adopted September 8, 1988. The non-Federal

sponsors for the feasibility phase of the project are: Montgomery

County, Prince Georges County, the District of Columbia, the State of

Maryland, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and the

Metropolitan Washington Counsel of Governments.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by June 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Colonel J. Richard Capa, District

Engineer, P.O. Box 1715, Attn: CENAB-PL-PR, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-

1715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Marak McKevitt, Study Manager, (410) 962-2650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. The U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Public Works and

Transportation, authorized the Anacostia River and Tributaries study in

a resolution adopted on September 8, 1988. The resolution requested the

Corps of Engineers to determine if further improvements for flood

control, navigation, erosion, sedimentation, water quality and other

related water resources needs are advisable on the Anacostia River and

Tributaries.

2. The Anacostia River basin is a 170-square-mile sub-basin of the

Potomac River. Headwaters of the Anacostia River are in the Piedmont

and coastal plain areas of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties,

Maryland and it joins with the Potomac River in the District of

Columbia. The entire river system is freshwater; although, the total

tidal influence extends for approximately 9 miles above the confluence

with the Potomac River.

3. The Corps of Engineers involvement in the basin dates back more

than 115 years and includes projects and programs for navigation, flood

control, debris removal and aquatic vegatation control. These Federal

actions have served their intended purposes well and have benefited the

area in terms of improved navigation and reduced flood damage. However,

from 1902 through the 1960s, project construction eliminated

approximately 2,600 acres of wetlands, 99,000 linear feet of aquatic

habitat and 700 acres of bottomland hardwoods. These ecosystems

performed numerous beneficial ecological functions for the Anacostia

basin and the associated Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. One of the

primary functions of these ecosystems is fish and wildlife habitat.

Historically, the Anacostia River basin contained a diverse assemblage

of fish and wildlife species. However, populations of many species have

sharply declined due to the habitat loss and degradation in the

Anacostia basin.

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Site Action Target stream Location

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Wetland Restoration

Kingman Lake.................... WR Anacostia River.............. Washington, DC.

River Fringe Wetlands........... WR Anacostia River.............. Washington, DC.

Fordham Street Wetland.......... WR Northwest Branch............. Prince George's Co.

Aquatic Restoration

NW Branch-PG Co................. SR Northwest Branch............. Prince George's Co.

Tanglewood Retrofit............. WR/SM/SR Little Paint Branch.......... Montgomery Co.

Snowden's Mill I................ WR/SM/SR Paint Branch................. Montgomery Co.

Snowden's Mill II............... WR/SM/SR Paint Branch................. Montgomery Co.

Stewart/April Lane.............. WR/SM/SR Paint Branch................. Montgomery Co.

Lockridge Drive................. WR/SM/SR Northwest Branch............. Montgomery Co.

Gum Springs..................... SR Gum Springs.................. Montgomery Co.

Sligo Creek..................... SR Sligo Creek.................. Montgomery Co.

NW Branch-Mont. Co..............

Paint Branch.................... SR Paint Branch................. Montgomery Co.

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*WR--Wetland Restoration.

SM--Stormwater Management.

SR--Stream Restoration.

5. The Baltimore District has prepared a DEIS which describes the

impacts of the proposed projects on environmental and cultural

resources in the study area and the overall public interest. The DEIS

also apply guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency,

under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (Pub. L.

95-217). An evaluation of the proposed actions on the waters of the

United States was performed pursuant to the guidelines of the

Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Section 404(b)(1) evaluations

show that the proposed actions meet all guidelines under the Clean

Water Act, and an exemption under Section 404(r) of Public Law 92-500,

as amended is therefore requested.

6. The public involvement included meetings and close coordination

with interested private individuals and organizations, as well as

concerned Federal, state and local agencies. A public notice requesting

comments on the proposed project and DE is being provided to

appropriate agencies and the public through printed media and mailings.

The Baltimore District invites potentially affected Federal, state and

local agencies, and other interested organizations and parties to

comment on the study recommendations. Agencies that are currently

involved in the feasibility study and EIS process include, but are not

limited to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Geological

Service, U.S. Soil Conservation Service, National Park Service,

National Capital Planning Commission, Montgomery County Department of

Environmental Protection, Prince George's County Department of

Environmental Resources, District of Columbia Department of Consumer

and Regulatory Affairs and Department of Public Works, Maryland

Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of the

Environment, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission,

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and the Metropolitan

Washington Council of Governments.

7. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

and the Clean Water Act, the Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments

from the public, Federal, state and local agencies and officials, and

other interested parties. Any comments received will be considered by

the Corps of Engineers in the decision to implement the projects. To

make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered

species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental

effects, and other interest factors listed above. Comments are also

used to determine the overall public interest and the need for a public

hearing on the proposed activities. This public notice is being sent to

organizations and individuals known to have an interest in the

restoration of the Anacostia River basin. Please bring this notice to

the attention of any other individuals with an interest in this matter.

8. Any person who has an interest in the proposed projects may make

comments and/or request a public hearing. Comments must clearly set

forth the interest which may be adversely affected by these activities

and the manner in which the interest may be adversely affected. Copies

of the DEIS are available upon request. Written comments must be

submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the notice in the

Federal Register.

Kenneth L. Denton,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-10911 Filed 5-5-94; 8:45 am]

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