Urgent! Questionable Dealings on LEE CREEK!!

[DeBo]

At the scoping meeting in 2006, the Corp took comments from citizens at their first scoping meeting. It seems now that some of our most important comments were not included in the report and can’t be found! In addition, the Corp has recently been holding scoping meetings on other projects and not allowing the public to comment! The Corp has issued a notice of upcoming meetings on Lee Creek this month but has not yet given dates and times. If they still plan to hold meetings this month they only have 7 days to announce in order to meet the 14 day advance notice deadline. Are they trying to get this in at the last minute? What are the meeting guidelines? Will we be able to make public comments?

I can’t begin to tell you how important your help is in assuring that a dam is not built on Lee Creek! As horribly tragic as the loss of Lee Creek would be, the landslide of attacks on other creeks in this state if Pine Mountain Dam is successful would be incomprehensible!

Send an email or letter or call Ms. Laura Cameron, USACE, Little Rock District, Planning and Environmental Office, PO Box 867, Little Rock, AR 72203–0867 at (501) 324–5037or e-mail: laura.l.cameron@usace.army.mil.

Ask to be notified of the scoping meeting dates and times ASAP and be respectful but demand that the meetings be open for public comment that can be heard by everyone and not lost in some bureaucratic jungle.

Below is a copy of the latest notice from the Corp.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Little Rock District will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Pine Mountain Dam, Arkansas, General Reevaluation Report. The purpose of the EIS will be to present alternatives and assess the impacts to the human environment associated with providing water supply to the surrounding areas in Arkansas from the proposed project. The study area includes the entire Lee Creek watershed together with the lower Lee Creek reservoir near Van Buren, AR. The proposed project could affect agriculture, recreation, flood control, water supply and natural resources within the study area. The EIS will evaluate potential impacts (positive and negative) to the natural, physical, and human environment as a result of implementing any of the proposed project alternatives that may be developed during the EIS process.

This notice replaces a Notice of Intent (NOI) that was previously published in the Federal Register on May 1, 2006 (71FR 25573) which included flood control as part of the project purpose. Flood
control is no longer being considered as a project purpose.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments concerning the proposed action should be addressed to: Ms. Laura Cameron, USACE, Little Rock District, Planning and Environmental Office, PO Box 867, Little Rock, AR 72203–0867, e-mail: laura.l.cameron@usace.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Laura Cameron, (501) 324–5037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Study History: The Pine Mountain Dam project was authorized for construction by Congress in 1965. Additional studies and a preliminary draft EIS were prepared in the 1970s. In 1980, prior to public review of the EIS, the local sponsor decided not to continue sponsoring the project. In 2000, the River Valley Regional Water District identified themselves as a willing sponsor and requested that the Corps of Engineers reevaluate the project. The proposed Pine Mountain Dam, Arkansas, General Reevaluation Report is being undertaken by USACE, Little Rock District under the direction
of the U.S. Congress. A study will be conducted consisting of major hydraulics and hydrologic investigations, economic analyses, alternative development and related analyses in conjunction with the EIS.

2. Comments/Scoping Meeting: Interested parties are requested to express their views concerning the proposed activity. The public is encouraged to provide written comments in addition to or in lieu of oral comments at scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly describe specific environmental topics or issues, which the commentator believes the document should address. Oral and written comments receive equal consideration. Scoping meetings will be held with government agencies and the public in October 2009 in Crawford and Pulaski Counties, AR. The location, time, and date will be published at least 14 days prior to each scoping meeting.
Comments received as a result of this notice and the news releases will be used to assist Little Rock District in identifying potential impacts to the quality of the human or natural environment. Affected local, state, or Federal agencies, affected Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations and parties may participate in the scoping process by forwarding written comments to (see ADDRESSES). Interested parties may also request to be included on the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and documents.

3. Alternatives/Issues: The EIS will evaluate the effects of all viable water supply alternatives including the construction of the Pine Mountain Dam and Lake, which was authorized by
Congress in 1965. Anticipated significant issues to be addressed in the EIS include impacts on: (1) Water supply, (2) recreation and recreation facilities, (3) stream hydraulics, (4) fish and wildlife resources and habitats, and (6) other impacts identified by the public, agencies or USACE studies.

4. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in early 2013 subject to the receipt of Federal funding.

5. Authority: Pine Mountain Dam and Lake was authorized for construction by the Flood Control Act of 1965 (Title II, Pub. L. 89–298) substantially in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief of Engineers in House Document No. 270, 89th Congress.

Donald E. Jackson, Jr.,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander.

[summerbee]

I attempted to send an email to the address you listed, however; it came back invalid.

[RomanLA]

Has anyone contacted AW about this? They seem to be the experts at fighting dams. Plus, they have a lot more pull as a member of the new Outdoor Alliance!

[DeBo]

Try the email link now. It is no longer in color but seems to work now.

[GutIt]

While I realize that I don't live in AR, I didn't see anything that says I have to. I saw "interested parties".

I am interested, and I like parties!

So since all it takes for "dirty dealings" to thrive is for good men & women to do nothing, I'll light off an email to Ms. Cameron.

While not making any comments one way or the other regarding how "good" I am, I'll do it just the same.

Thanks for keeping this out there, Debo.

[DeBo]

Amen Terry!

This is a Federal project. You do not have to live in Arkansas for your opinion to count. Anyone may write a letter to the Corp. I am also sending letters to American Whitewater and American Rivers. They helped us during the regulation change and I'm sure will do so again.

[Sparky]

This takes me back to the mid 1990's, I can't remember the exact year. There were 6 new wild and senic rivers designated for Arkansas. I was conservation chairman for OMP at the time so I signed on to the planning task force for the new W&S rivers. In going throught this process I received a stern lesson of the dirty dealings of the Forest Service and Arkansas polititions. There were originally 13 rivers in the original W&S act before congress. The EIS was completed, all 13 qualified including Lee Creek. Just to name a couple others Falling Waters and North Fork of the Illinois Bayou. While on the task force I had to go through considerable crap to get a copy of the original EIS...freedom of information act! Long story short the native polititions dumped the original 13 rivers and ramroded the 6 through. Everbody was happy and excited about the 6 new W&S rivers for Arkansas There has long been sights On Lee Creek and NF of the Illinois Bayou. If one goes the other will soon follow.

My point to visiting the past is big things happen behind closed doors, let's hope the current administration is a little more above board than the last. The western water wars will soon be approachig those of us that supposedly have plenty. This issue requires alot of diligence on our part.

Brent Glover

Just to give you an idea of how dirty it got the Forest service shut down the task force midway through the process, delayed drawing the river corridor boundries past the 3 year time limit, and logged the headwaters of Richland Creek. They were taken to court by various outdoor groups trying to stop the logging. The courts ruled in favor of the forest service.

[KimL]

I am going to keep my comments here abbreviated in the interest of discretion, but it might be advisable to copy all comments to the Little Rock District's superiors, perhaps even to the EPA.

[Richard]

The Ozark Society has extended an invitation to Ms. Laura Cameron to be the guest speaker at one of their meetings. The invitation was extended this morning and its too soon to see if she will accept the invitation. It may not be a bad idea for the ACC to do the same.

I am going to extend an invitation to float the Buffalo.

[prophet]

its awfully hard to get an agency to rule against a project that makes them money. although i have no confidence in our Congressional folks to consider the environment over any development, maybe a few letters would convince them that any project on Lee cr. will face stiff opposition and be drug thru the mud as much as possible maybe to the point of rendering the project dead due to money/time spent. i wonder if they realize they are spending money on a local contest for water control.

[DeBo]

Thanks everyone, your letters are having the desired effect. Eric E received the following response to his letter from the Corp

Subject: RE: Scoping Meetings and Comments on Lee Creek and the Pine Mountain Dam project


I am adding you to the email list. I hope to send an email out today or early tomorrow to the stakeholders concerning the public meetings which will be held on October 26th and 27th in either Van Buren or Alma (the place has not been finalized.)

Comments made in the past will be considered. We have forwarded our file to the contractor working on the existing conditions analysis portion of the EIS. We do not have a link on the web for those comments.

We published the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. We are holding one agency and two public scoping meetings in Van Buren the last week of October. Early December, we will hold another agency scoping meeting in Little Rock to discuss the comments we received at the meetings held at the end of October. We hope to finalize our alternatives either at that meeting or sometime shortly after.

Little Rock Corp of Engineers

Thanks for your response to this issue. If we make it clear that we care about Lee Creek and will do what it takes to have our point of view heard we can work with the Corp. They just need to know that River Valley is not the only opinion in this fight.

Debbie

[RomanLA]

Thanks everyone, your letters are having the desired effect. Eric E received the following response to his letter from the Corp

Eric must have worn her out...all I got was this! lol

I have added you to our list.

Thank you,
Laura

[DeBo]

The Corp has promised to give us final dates times and places today. So far we know that there will be two meetings on the 26th and 27th in either Alma or Van Buren. We still don't know exact times or locations. If we don't get this information by Oct. 12th they will be out of compliance on timelines. Stay tuned to this channel for more information :)

[DeBo]

Here it is! All you out of staters can ask the corp for a meeting in your state. They might not agree to do it but they will know how many care about Lee Creek.

Under the direction of Congress, this project seeks alternatives that provide a sustainable and clean source of drinking water to the residents in the River Valley Regional Water District (RVRWD). Currently, US Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District and its contractor GEC Inc. are collecting input from agencies and the public.

There will be two public meetings:
* October 26, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Concord Baptist Church,
6105 Alma Highway,
Alma, AR;
(479) 632-4678
* October 27, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks
Carl Totemier Center
4703 N Crossover Rd
Fayetteville, AR 72764
(479)750-2620

Corps of Engineer representatives will be available for questions. There will be representatives on hand to answer questions pertaining to realestate, the environment, the study process, and the water needs of the area.

Comments about the project will be collected at the meeting. The public is welcome to bring in prepared comments, use comment cards provided, or speak with a court reporter that will be provided.

For those not able to attend either meeting, written comments about the alternatives should be provided to Ms. Laura Cameron, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, AR 72203-0867. If you should have any questions concerning this request, please contact Ms. Laura Cameron by phone at (501) 324-5037 or by e-mail at laura.l.cameron@usace.army.mil for clarification or discussion. Scoping comments will be accepted until
November 30, 2009, but general comments will be accepted throughout the study process. As a reminder scoping comments should be directed to potential alternatives as well as concerns with impacts.

Project Background:

The Pine Mountain Dam Project was authorized in the Flood Control Act of
1965, for a dam site at mile 35.7 on Lee Creek 12 miles north of Van Buren,
Arkansas, in Crawford County. Under the direction of Congress, a
reevaluation effort was initiated in 2002. The study was delayed awaiting
congressional legislation in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, as
well as, Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Regulation Number
2. Lee Creek is an Extraordinary Resource Water (ERW) which provides it
extra protection. According to the recent changes in Arkansas Pollution
Control and Ecology Commission Regulation Number 2, impoundments built on ERW
streams can only be built for the purpose of providing municipal water
supply, but that does not prohibit incidental uses of the reservoir that are
consistent with the use of domestic water supply. The purpose of the Pine
Mountain Dam Study is to evaluate options for sustainable and clean source of
municipal water for the RVRWD. Flood Control and recreational storage are no
longer project purposes. The orginal authorized plan and all alternatives
will be evaluated and compared to the no action plan.

As a part of the initial reevaluation effort, scoping meetings were held in
2006 with the agencies and the public. Comments collected at those meetings
will be used in our current effort. The Corps of Engineers, Little Rock
District, has decided to hold additional scoping meetings because of the
lapse in time between the two efforts.

Written comments will be accepted until November 30, 2009. They should be provided to Ms. Laura Cameron, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 867,
Little Rock, AR 72203-0867. If you should have any questions concerning
this request, please contact Ms. Laura Cameron by phone at (501) 324-5037 or
by e-mail at laura.l.cameron@usace.army.mil for clarification or discussion.



Laura L. Cameron, P.E., LEED A.P.
Study Manager
Planning and Environmental Office
US Army Corps of Engineers-Little Rock
Phone 501-324-5037
Fax 501-324-5605
CESWL-PE
700 W. Capitol
PO Box 867
Little Rock AR 72203

[Zen B.]

This is Lee Creek as it is. Researchers have discovered that Crawford County has excellent water availability without need of this dam.