TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Comments are invited on the work described below. Please see the Public Involvement section for details on submitting comments.
Point of Contact. If additional information is desired, please contact the project manager, Rocky Presley, telephone number: (417) 334-4101 ext. 1390, mailing address: Branson Regulatory Field Office, 4600 Hwy 165, Branson, Missouri 65616, email address: Rocky.L.Presley@usace.army.mil.
Project Information. Pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S. Code 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S. Code 1344), notice is hereby given that
City of Hollister
P.O. Box 638
Hollister, Missouri 65673
has requested authorization for annual excavation of gravel in waters of the United States to reduce flooding. The proposed project is located in Turkey Creek, in sections 4 and 9, T. 22 N., R. 21 W., Hollister, Taney County, Missouri.
The basic purpose of the project is to reduce flood levels. The overall purpose of the project is to reduce flood levels in Turkey Creek through-out the downtown area of Hollister, and to minimize impacts to existing properties along the creek. The project is water dependent.
The project involves excavating approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material from several gravel bars within a half-mile section of Turkey Creek. The proposed work area starts at the Business Hwy 65 Bridge and extends upstream past the St. James Street Bridge. Several gravel bars have accreted within this section of Turkey Creek and now have depths ranging between one and three feet. The work would involve excavating the gravel down to bedrock and placing material directly onto trucks. This material would then be used as clean fill for various City projects. The excavation would be done annually, if necessary, to maintain open conveyance for flood waters.
The majority of the work would be done without entering the water, and the excavation would be done only during low flows to minimize water quality impacts. The City proposes to install a temporary rock check dam during excavation to limit downstream sediment releases to Lake Taneycomo.
The location and general plan for the proposed work are shown on the enclosed sheets.
Cultural Resources. A Corps staff archeologist will review topographic maps, the National Register of Historic Places, and other data on reported sites in the area. The District Engineer invites responses to this public notice from Native American Nations or tribal governments; Federal, State, and local agencies; historical and archeological societies; and other parties likely to have knowledge of or concerns with historic properties in the area.
Endangered Species. Our preliminary determination is that the proposed activity will not affect listed Endangered Species or their critical habitat. A copy of this notice is being furnished to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and appropriate state agencies and constitutes a request to those agencies for information on whether any listed or proposed‑to‑be‑listed endangered or threatened species may be present in the area which would be affected by the proposed activity.
Flood Plain. We are providing copies of this notice to appropriate flood plain officials in accordance with 44 CFR Part 60 (Flood Plain Management Regulations Criteria for Land Management and Use) and Executive Order 11988 on Flood Plain Management.
Public Involvement. Any interested party is invited to submit to the above-listed POC written comments or objections relative to the proposed work on or before August 19, 2014. Substantive comments, both favorable and unfavorable, will be accepted and made a part of the record and will receive full consideration in determining whether this work would be in the public interest. The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
Any person may request in writing within the comment period specified in this notice that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. The District Engineer will determine if the issues raised are substantial and whether a hearing is needed for making a decision.
NOTE: The mailing list for this Public Notice is arranged by state and county(s) where the project is located, and also includes any addressees who have asked to receive copies of all public notices. Please discard notices that are not of interest to you. If you have no need for any of these notices, please advise us so that your name can be removed from the mailing list.
Enclosures
Approximate Coordinates of Project Center
Latitude: 36.62577 Longitude: -93.21697
UTM Zone: 15 North: 4053380 East: 480601