[Federal Register: July 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 144)]
[Notices]
[Page 39030-39031]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jy01-47]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Title VI Land Transfer to the State of South Dakota
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and
implementing regulations, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has
been prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts of a transfer of
approximately 91,178 acres of recreation lands and other lands from the
Army Corps of Engineers to the State of South Dakota. As a result of
the legislation of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Pub. L.
106-53, August 17, 1999, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux
Tribe, and State of South Dakota Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat
Restoration Act, as amended by Pub. L. 106-541, December 11, 2000, WRDA
2000, the Secretary of the Army is required to transfer certain lands
and recreation areas at Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lewis & Clark Lake and
Lake Francis Case in South Dakota to the Department of Game, Fish &
Parks of the State of South Dakota (SDGFP) for fish and wildlife
purposes, or recreation uses, in perpetuity.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the EIS can be
addressed to Patsy Freeman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 106 South
16th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, telephone at (402) 221-3803, or E-
Mail: patricia.l.freeman@usace.army.mil
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The legislation requires the transfer in fee
title of Corps of Engineers lands (outside the boundaries of Indian
reservations) above the top of the exclusive flood pools at Oahe, Big
Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point dam/reservoir projects in the State
of South Dakota to the SDGFP. The technical amendments (P.L. 106-54)
also require that with certain exceptions, the recreation areas on
Corps lands at the 4 projects in South Dakota outside of reservation
boundaries be transferred to the State no later than January 1, 2002.
Of the 123 recreation areas around the four reservoirs within the
state, 63 would transfer to the state, 9 would be leased in perpetuity
to the state, and 51 are either on reservation lands or outside the
state of South Dakota and therefore would not be affected by this
action.
[[Page 39031]]
The purpose of and need for this proposed action is simply to
comply with the Congressional mandate of transferring the lands to the
SDGFP. Although NEPA documents normally assist the decision maker, this
document is only prepared for the purpose of public disclosure of the
environmental impacts of the land transfer, since there is no Federal
decision to be made.
The State of South Dakota has provided to the Corps its plans for
development and management at the recreation areas to be transferred.
These plans have been used to evaluate potential environmental,
cultural, and socioeconomic impacts that would be expected to occur as
a result of the transfer. In addition, the legislation provides funds
to the State and two Tribes for the implementation of plans for
terrestrial wildlife habitat restoration. The Corps will consult with
the State of South Dakota and affected Indian Tribes to develop annual
budget to carry out this title. The State's plan includes habitat
development on Oahe/Sharpe project lands, on Federal lands and on
selected State lands. Total habitat development proposed is 25,620
acres.
Amendments contained in the WRDA 2000 also stated that within 10
years the Secretary shall clean up open dumps and hazardous waste sites
located on lands transferred and leased, inventory and stabilize each
cultural and historical site within transferred or leased lands, and
establish a Cultural Resources Advisory Commission (CRAC) composed of 1
member each from the State of South Dakota, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe,
and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
The no-action alternative traditionally describes what would happen
if the proposed action were not to occur. Although the no-action
alternative is not a reasonable alternative because Congress has
mandated the transfer of these properties, it is being addressed in the
EIS as required by CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1502.14) and to provide a
baseline against which to measure the impacts of the State's proposed
development on the lands to be transferred.
Public Meetings
Public meetings to obtain comments on the Draft EIS will be held
August 13-August 23, 2001. Corps representatives will be available to
answer questions at an informal ``open house'' beginning at 5 p.m. The
formal meetings begin at 7 p.m. at the following locations:
Monday, August 13, 2001; Best Western Kelly Inn, 1607 East
Highway 50, Yankton, SD 57078.
Tuesday, August 14, 2001; Lower Brule Convention Center,
321 Sitting Bull Street, Lower Brule, SD 57548.
Wednesday, August 15, 2001; Crow Creek Reservation Com.
Center, Fort Thompson, SD 57339.
Thursday, August 16, 2001; National Guard Armory, 610 East
Hwy 50, Wagner, SD 57380.
Monday, August 20, 2001; Prairie Nights Casino, 7932
Highway 24, Fort Yates, ND.
Tuesday, August 21, 2001; Wrangler Motor Inn, 800 West
Grand Crossing, Mobridge, SD 57601.
Wednesday, August 22, 2001; King's Inn, 220 South Pierre
Street, Pierre, SD 57501.
Thursday, August 23, 2001; Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, 505
North 5th Street, Rapid City, SD 57701.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-18588 Filed 7-25-01; 8:45 am]
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