GALVESTON, Texas –On April 7, The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District published a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Dow Chemical Company’s proposed Harris Reservoir Expansion Project. To ensure that all of the issues related to this proposed project are addressed, the Corps will conduct public scoping meetings, at which agencies, organizations, and members of the general public present comments or suggestions with regard to the range of actions, alternatives, and potential impacts to be considered in the EIS.
“This project was determined to be a major infrastructure project as described in Executive Order 13807 - Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects,” said Col. Timothy Vail, USACE Galveston District Commander. “This means that as the lead federal agency, we have a goal of completing environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects within an agency average of two years and meeting the intent of One Federal Decision as outlined in the Executive Order.”
“The proposed Harris Reservoir Expansion Project would include construction of a 1,929-acre impoundment with a nominal storage capacity of 50,000 acre-feet, an intake and pump station to divert Dow’s existing surface water rights from the Brazos River, an outlet to Oyster Creek, and an emergency spillway,” said Jayson Hudson, regulatory project manager with USACE Galveston District. “The Project would also include floodplain enhancements on Oyster Creek, stream restoration, and temporary construction staging and laydown areas. The proposed Project site is located between the Brazos River and Oyster Creek approximately 8 miles northwest of the City of Angleton in Brazoria County, Texas.”
The Corps invites all affected federal, state, and local agencies, affected Native American Tribes, other interested parties, and the general public to participate in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process during development of the EIS. This “public scoping process” provides information to the public, narrows the scope of analysis to significant environmental issues, serves as a mechanism to solicit agency and public input on alternatives and issues of concern, and ensures full and open participation in the Draft EIS process. You can view the Notice of Intent at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/07/2020-07315/intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-and-public-scoping-meeting-for-dow-chemical
Scoping meetings may be held in person or virtually. They begin with an informal open house, during which Corps and PCCA personnel discuss the proposed project and describe the NEPA process. The Corps invites comments on the proposed scope and content of the EIS from all interested parties. Verbal transcribers will be on hand to accept verbal comments during the prescribed time limit for verbal comments. Written comments may be submitted prior to, during, or up to 14 days after the scoping meeting. The specific dates, times, and locations of scoping meetings will be published in press releases, special public notices, and on the Corps project website: https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Regulatory/Special-Projects-Environmental-Impact-Statements/
Mail written comments regarding the proposed EIS scope to Mr. Jayson Hudson, USACE, Galveston District, Regulatory Branch, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77553-1229. You can also email your comments in .doc, .docx, .pdf or .txt formats to Mr. Hudson at SWG201900067@usace.army.mil
In 1880, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established Galveston District as its first office in Texas, tasked with overseeing river and harbor improvements in the state. Today, the District’s main missions have grown to include navigation, flood risk management, regulatory oversight, emergency management, and ecosystem restoration.
For information on the Executive Order 13807 Visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20190226-Final-CEQ_OMB_327-Fact-Sheet.pdf For more information about the district’s permitting process, visit http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Missions/Permits.aspx. For news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.