OMAHA, Neb. – A draft Environmental Assessment for modifications of two levee systems located in Sarpy County, Nebraska, owned and operated by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, is currently available for public review. The draft EA evaluates the environmental impacts of modifying the levees to meet FEMA certification and accreditation standards and continue eligibility in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ PL 84-99 Program, which establishes emergency funds for preparedness and disaster response, and rehabilitation of eligible flood protection systems. Proposed modifications to the levee systems would include levee raises, construction of a concrete T-wall, closure structure replacement, seepage berms, drainage structures and channel improvements.
The project proposes modifications to Missouri River levee systems R-616-613 and R-613. R-616-613 is a 9.7-mile levee segment located along the right bank of the Missouri River and the left bank of Papillion Creek that provides flood risk management for residential housing, an industrial park, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha’s primary wastewater treatment facility, a railroad and highway, recreational areas and agricultural land. R-613 is an 8.8-mile levee segment located along the right bank of the Missouri River adjacent to R-616-613, which provides flood risk reduction to residential property and agricultural land.
The Omaha District is currently conducting a Section 408 review (33 USC 408) to ensure the proposed levee modifications are not injurious to the public interest and will not affect the levee projects’ ability to meet their original authorized purposes. In addition, a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit application for the project is currently being reviewed by the Nebraska Regulatory Office. The Section 404 permit public notice will be available at www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Program/Nebraska/Public-Notices/.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft environmental assessment, which is available for viewing at: 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-PMA-A; ATTN: Ron Beyer/R616-613 EA; 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 April 6, 2018.
Release no. 18-018