Intent to Prepare a Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Disposal Sites of the Locks and Dams 2, 3, and 4, Monongahela River Project Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers

Intent to Prepare a Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental

Impact Statement Regarding Disposal Sites of the Locks and Dams 2, 3,

and 4, Monongahela River Project Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The EIS supplement addresses the investigation of alternative

disposal sites to accommodate all excavated and dredged material in

association with the authorized navigation improvement project,

identified as Locks and Dams 2, 3 and 4, Monongahela River project.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, William

S. Morrhead Federal Building, 1000 Liverty Avenue, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania 15222-4186.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Purdy, (412) 644-6844.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lower Monongahela River Navigation

System Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement were

completed in December 1991. The plan of improvement recommended in the

feasibility report was authorized for construction by the Water

Resources Development Act of 1992. The authorized project consists of

replacing the fixed crest dam at Braddock, Pennsylvania with a gated

dam, removing the locks and dam facility at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and

constructing twin 84' x 720' locks at Charleroi, Pennsylvania. A new

continuous navigation pool 2 will be created between Braddock and

Charleroi by raising the existing pool 2 by five feet (three feet when

the existing flow over the fixed crest dam 2 is considered) and

lowering the existing pool 3 by 3.2 feet (five feet when the existing

flow over the fixed crest dam 3 is considered). There will be about

3,500,000 cubic yards of dredged and excavated material associated with

construction and restoration of the navigation channel between

Elizabeth and Charleroi. Two upland disposal sites identified as Bunola

and Coursin Hill were recommended in the Feasibility Report. Use of

these sites would necessitate the relocation of fourteen residences and

one business. Due to the concerns of local residents and elected

officials expressed at the public meetings for the project, the

Pittsburgh District committed to exploring alternative disposal sites

during post authorization studies.

Reasonable alternatives to the sites recommended in the Feasibility

Report include two areas currently being developed by the Regional

Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) at Duquesne and McKeesport,

PA; in addition to sites near Eldora and Victory Hills in Carroll

Township, Lockview in Fallowfield Township, and Panburg Hollow in

Forward Township, PA; and within pools 2, 3, and/or 4 of the

Monongahela River.

Significant issues to be addressed in the Draft EIS Supplement

include socio-economic impacts, residential and business relocations,

noise and air pollution, impacts to wildlife and terrestrial habitat,

potential for hazardous, toxic and radiologic waste disturbance (HTRW),

effects upon endangered species, impacts on cultural resources, flood

plain intrusion, wetland disturbance, temporary and permanent effects

upon recreation, and in the case of the in-river alternative, water

quality and aquatic life.

The Pittsburgh District's public involvement program for this

activity has been on-going since the Feasibility Study review process.

Impacts to the sites recommended in the Feasibility Report were

addressed at the October 22, 1991 Public Meeting when the

recommendations of the report were presented and the District responded

to numerous public inquiries. Subsequent to the Feasibility Report, the

District has met with officials representing the Duquesne, Eldora and

Lockview sites. Two public meetings were held concerning use of the

Eldora site. The first was held on May 14, 1993 and involved township

officials and the township engineer. A follow-up meeting took place on

June 1, 1993 at the regular monthly Carroll Township supervisors

meeting where twenty-five residents and township officials attended. A

public meeting was held with Fallowfield Township officials on August

30, 1994 concerning use of the Lockview site.

No additional public meetings are scheduled at this time but may be

scheduled in the future subject to comments received on the DIS draft

supplement. Comments are encouraged from concerned Federal, State, and

local agencies, as well as from private industries, local groups, and

the general public. Further details may be obtained from the address

given in this Notice of Intent and from Mr. Purday, 412-644-6844.

The draft Supplemental EIS will be issued to interested parties

upon completion, tentatively scheduled for March 1995.

Kenneth L. Denton,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-30205 Filed 12-7-94; 8:45 am]

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