ACF River Basin Newsletter

September 2015 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mobile District filed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the updated Master Water Control Manual, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin, Alabama, Florida, Georgia (Master Manual) including a water supply storage assessment (WSSA) addressing reallocation of storage in Lake Sidney (Lake Lanier) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The public comment period will end 60-days after the publication date which is expected to be October 2, 2015. Methods to obtain a copy of the DEIS and how to provide comments are detailed in this newsletter. The Master Manual includes appendices prepared for individual projects in the ACF Basin and is the guide used by USACE to operate five reservoir projects on the Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam and Lake Lanier; West Point Dam and Lake; Walter F. George Lock, Dam, and Lake; George W. Andrews Lock, Dam, and Lake; and Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam and Lake Seminole). The purpose and need for the federal action is to determine how federal projects in the ACF Basin should be operated for their authorized purposes, in light of current conditions and applicable law, and to implement those operations through updated water control plans and manuals. The proposed action will result in an updated Master Manual and individual project water control manuals (WCMs) that comply with existing USACE regulations and reflect operations under existing congressional authorizations, taking into account changes in basin hydrology and demands from years of growth and development, new/rehabilitated structural features, legal developments, and environmental issues. The action also includes updates to account for a June 28, 2011, decision of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded that water supply is an authorized purpose for Lake Lanier. Get a Copy The DEIS and appendices are available to the public for review: Online as PDF documents: Click here As a CD when requested in writing to: Commander, USACE, Mobile District, Attn: PD-EI (ACF-DEIS), P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628 As a CD at the DEIS open house meetings (a limited number will be available) Public Review and Comment USACE invites all interested parties to submit comments on the DEIS. The public comment period will end 60-days after the publication date which is expected to be October 2, 2015. Comments can be submitted via the following methods: Onsite at open houses through comment cards or the court reporter Digitally by email to @acf-wcm@usace.$army.mil By letter addressed to: Commander USACE Mobile District Attn: PD-EI (ACF-DEIS) P.O. Box 2288 Mobile, AL 36628 Open House Meetings Open house public meetings will be held at the following locations and times:
Monday, October 26, 2015 4:00pm-7:00pm Eastern time Gainesville Civic Center 830 Green Street NE Gainesville, GA 30501	Thursday, October 29, 2015 4:00pm-7:00pm Eastern time Bainbridge State College Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center 2500 E. Shotwell Street (US Highway 84) Bainbridge, GA 39819
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 4:00pm-7:00pm Eastern time West Point Depot 500 3rd Avenue West Point, GA 31833	Monday, November 9, 2015 4:00pm-7:00pm Eastern time Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve 108 Island Drive Eastpoint, FL 32328
Wednesday, October 28, 2015 4:00pm-7:00pm Central time James S. Clark Center 333 E. Broad Street Eufaula, AL 36027
Specific questions may be directed to: Mr. Brian Zettle, Mobile District Environmental and Resources Branch, Planning and Environmental Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District P.O. Box 2288 Mobile, AL 36628-0001 Telephone: (251) 690-2115 Fax: (251) 694-3815 Email: brian.a.zettle@usace.army.mil

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