Notice of Availability for Proposed Stream Restoration Program

Notice of Availability for Proposed Stream Restoration Program

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Stream Restoration Program U.S. Army Garrison Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

Interested parties are hereby notified that Fort George G. Meade (FMMD) has prepared a Draft Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and regulations implementing the procedural provisions of the NEPA, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1500-1508, 1515-1518, and Environmental Analysis of Army Actions, 32 CFR 651.

The Draft PEA evaluates the potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic effects associated with restoration activities at eight impaired stream reaches in Midway Branch, Franklin Branch, Rogue Harbor, and Severn Run watersheds on FMMD. Under the proposed action, FMMD would restore stream systems in these watersheds to improve water quality, reduce flooding, enhance fish habitat, prevent further stream degradation, and provide numerous co-benefits for FMMD and neighboring communities, while also helping FMMD maintain compliance with federal and state water quality requirements.

As part of FMMD’s comprehensive stream assessment and restoration efforts, FMMD is working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on the proposed restoration actions, the first of which is located in the Severn Run watershed. Midway, Franklin, and Rogue Harbor watersheds will follow, implementing beneficial practices proposed at the Severn Run stream.

Based on the draft PEA, the Army has determined that implementation of the Proposed Action would have no significant adverse direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on the quality of the human or natural environment. Therefore, at the conclusion of the public comment period, it is anticipated that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) would be appropriate and would be signed for the Fort Meade Stream Restoration Program. An Environmental Impact Statement, therefore, is not deemed necessary to implement the Proposed Action.

The Draft PEA is available for review and comment for 30 days from publication of this notice. Copiesmay be found online at https://home.army.mil/meade/index.php/my-fort/all-services/environmental. The documents can also be found at the following locations: Medal of Honor Memorial Library on Fort Meade and Odenton Regional Library, 1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD. Additionally, copies of the Draft PEA may be obtained by writing to the address below.

Comments on the Draft PEA may be submitted in writing within 30 days from the publication of this notice to: ATTN - Fort Meade Programmatic Stream Restoration Environmental Assessment, US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District Planning Division, 2 Hopkins Plaza, 10th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201.