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Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for land use reclassification at the Garrison Project available for public review

Published Jan. 22, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. – A draft supplemental environmental assessment to evaluate impacts of reclassifying land use of approximately 109 acres at the Garrison Project in North Dakota is currently available for public review. Management Unit (MU) 100, also known as Dakota Hills Christian Camp (Camp Cherith), would be reclassified from Recreation to Multiple Resource Management – Low Density Recreation. If determined that there are no significant impacts, this change would be documented in the Garrison Dam/Lake Sakakawea Master Plan.

The current land classification of Recreation is not appropriate for the low level of use that actually occurs. As part of the reclassification, the North Dakota Army National Guard (NDARNG) is requesting to lease MU 100 and establish a training site east of Williston, ND. Training activities could include, but are not limited to, vehicle maneuver training in designated areas, practicing tactical reconnaissance, and land navigation. The NDARNG also proposes to maintain and improve the two existing buildings, maintain access roads, and use herbicides to control noxious weeds.

Training maneuvers would include approximately 8 vehicles, 52 personnel and may occur 3 weekends per year. Normal usage would not include the use of fuel tanks or vehicle maintenance except in the case of a break down. All areas disturbed by the NDARNG would be filled, graded, and reseeded back to native grass annually. Less than one acre of land would be disturbed by the maneuvers. The MU is currently gated to public vehicle access and would remain gated and would also be signed during maneuvers for public safety. The NDARNG may open the area to the general public for day use recreation activities to include fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, when the area is not being utilized for training. Overnight camping by the public would not be allowed.

The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft supplemental environmental assessment, which is available for viewing at: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Project-Reports/. Comments can be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AC; ATTN: Amee Rief; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than February 20, 2018.


Contact
Omaha District PAO
402-995-2417

Release no. 18-004