Draft Jennings Randolph Lake Master Plan 1997 Update And Integrated Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers

Draft Jennings Randolph Lake Master Plan 1997 Update And

Integrated Environmental Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the 1995 Energy and Water Development

Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 103-316, 108 Stat. 1701, dated 26 August

1994), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has

prepared the Draft Jennings Randolph Lake Master Plan 1997 Update and

Integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) to address potential

future development at, and to update the NEPA documentation for the

operation of, Jennings Randolph Lake, Garrett County, Maryland and

Mineral County, West Virginia. The public review and comment period for

the Draft Master Plan and integrated EIS will begin on July 31, 1997,

and will end on September 16, 1997. Jennings Randolph Lake is located

on the North Branch of the Potomac River, approximately 8 miles

upstream of Bloomington, Maryland, and approximately 5 miles north of

Elk Garden, West Virginia. The dam is a multi-purpose project

authorized for flood protection, water quality, recreation, and water

supply. The original Master Plan for Jennings Randolph Lake was

completed in 1973. The current update reevaluates the assets, needs,

and potential of the project. The 1997 Master Plan Update reflects

changes that have occurred to the site, in the region, in recreation

trends, and in Corps policy in the years since the original Master Plan

was completed. The purpose of the update is to provide a guide for the

use and development of natural and constructed resources on Corps fee-

owned lands at Jennings Randolph Lake. The Master Plan is the basic

document guiding Corps responsibilities pursuant to Federal laws to

preserve, conserve, restore, maintain, manage, and develop the project

lands, waters, and associated resources. The document also updates the

existing environmental documentation for project operations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information or copies of the report

may be obtained by calling Ms. Lacy Evans at (410) 962-6018. Requests

for copies of the Draft Report and Integrated EIS may be mailed to

District Engineer ATTN: CENAB-OP-TR (Evans), U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, Baltimore District, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715,

or by sending an e-mail message to [email protected]

.nab.usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Master Plan has been prepared in

accordance with Engineering Regulation (ER) 1130-2-550, dated November

1996. This regulation prescribes ``an overall land and water management

plan, resource objectives, and associated design and management

concepts'' that provides the ``best possible combination of response to

regional needs, resource capabilities and suitabilities, and expressed

public interests and desires consistent with authorized project

purpose.'' Additional, as specified in the regulation, the Master Plan

contributes to ``providing qualities, characteristics, and potentials

of the project;'' and exhibits ``consistency and compatibility and with

national objectives and other state and regional goals and programs.''

The decision to implement the proposed future development at

Jennings Randolph Lake is based on an evaluation of the probable impact

of the proposed activities on the environment, as well as public

interest. Factors being considered include regional economics, general

environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural resources, flood hazards,

fish and wildlife resources, flood plain management, land use,

recreation, water supply, water quality, aesthetics, energy needs

regional and local infrastructure, hazardous and toxic materials,

public health and safety, food and fiber production and the general

needs and welfare of the people.

Comments on the Draft Master Plan and Integrated EIS document from

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

will be considered in the decision to implement the Master Plan at the

project, and will be incorporated into the final Environmental Impact

Statement. A public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 14, 1997,

from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Mineral County Health Center, Harley O.

Staggers Sr. Drive, Keyser, West Virginia. The public meeting will

focus on discussing the Draft Master Plan and Integrated EIS.

This Notice of Availability is being sent to organizations and

individuals known to have an interest in the Master Plan Update. Please

bring this notice to the attention of any other individuals with an

interest in this matter. Copies of the Draft Jennings Randolph Lake

Master Plan 1997 Update and Integrated EIS are available for review at

the following locations:

[[Page 40806]]

Keyser/Mineral County Public Library, 105 North Main Street, Keyser,

West Virginia

Fort Ashby Public Branch Library, Fort Ashby, West Virginia

Piedmont Library, Childs Avenue, Piedmont, West Virginia

Allegheny Mountain Top Public Library, Mount Storm, West Virginia

Cumberland Public Library, 31 Washington Street, Cumberland, Maryland

Garrett County Public Library, 6 North 2nd Street, Oakland, Maryland

Westernport Public Library, 66 Main Street, Westernport, Maryland

Frostburg Library, 90 East Main Street, Frostburg, Maryland

La Vale Library, 815 National Highway, La Vale, Maryland

Ronald A. Cucina,

Chief, Operations Division.

[FR Doc. 97-20035 Filed 7-29-97; 8:45 am]

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