The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), invites public comments on the Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Federal Participation in Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control in the Arkansas River Basin (ARB).
USACE proposes to participate in a cost share program for ongoing or future state-managed/non-Federally managed programs to prevent and control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas within ARB. The ARB AIS program, if funded by Congress, would be cost shared at 50 percent with each state/non-Federal entity. Eligible activities would include, but are not limited to, the establishment and operation of watercraft inspection stations, monitoring programs, contingency planning, and rapid response planning and preparation. Federal participation in these activities would aid in the prevention, control, and progressive eradication of noxious aquatic plant growths and aquatic invasive species from the navigable waters, tributary streams, connecting channels, and other allied waters of the United States, in the combined interest of navigation, flood control, drainage, agriculture, fish and wildlife conservation, public health, and related purposes
The 30-day public comment period starts on June 22, 2024, and concludes on July 22, 2024. Comments must be postmarked or emailed no later than July 22, 2024, to be considered as part of the public record. Comments should be mailed to:
Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CENWW-PPL-C-Area 380
201 North Third Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876
You may also submit comments via email to NEPANWW@usace.army.mil, inserting: “AIS Arkansas River Basin Cost Share Program NEPA Comments” into the subject line.
If you have questions or need additional information, please email or call John Hook, Environmental Resources Specialist at john.d.hook@usace.army.mil or 509-527-7239.