The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District welcomes the public to participate in a virtual, public scoping meeting on Thurs., June 2 to learn about the Garrison Dam Safety Modification Study. Garrison Dam is located near Riverdale, North Dakota.
The study evaluates what repairs or improvements are needed to address concerns about conditions at certain places at the dam. These concerns pose risks to USACE’s ability to operate the dam as designed and to reduce the risks to people and property downstream during extreme flood events. Currently, there is no immediate dam safety risk at Garrison Dam.
Dam safety experts will provide an overview of Garrison Dam and significant updates to the Dam Safety Modification Study, including additional risk assessment information since the initial public scoping period in 2021. Staff will also summarize potential actions that are under consideration to address concerns. The meeting will be open for public, agency, and local input regarding the scope of the study, including environmental and social effects of any proposed action in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
USACE, Omaha District, the lead agency for this study, has initiated the preparation of an Environmental Assessment under NEPA. At any time during preparation of the EA, it may be determined that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is necessary, and at time USACE will publish a Notice of Intent.
Should USACE decide to prepare an EIS and publish an NOI, the agency intends that the public scoping meeting announced in this public notice will substitute for conducting any additional public scoping after the publication of an NOI. However, USACE would accept additional comments on the scope of the proposal following the publication of an NOI. This scoping will also be used to partially fulfill National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 requirements.
The meeting will be held via WebEx from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (CST). The phone line will open at 5:45 p.m.
Join WebEx: https://usace1.webex.com/meet/OmahaDamSafety
To dial in separately, call: 844-800-2712 and enter Access Code: 1990 64 8125#
Instructions for providing comments at the virtual meeting will be provided at the start of the meeting. A 30-day open comment period provides additional opportunity for the public to submit written comments through July 2, 2022. Written comments may be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil , or by postal mail at:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN: CENWO-PMA-C
1616 Capitol Avenue
Omaha, NE 68102
As part of its Dam Safety Program, USACE routinely monitors and inspects its dams and also conducts detailed technical and risk analyses to ensure the dams are safe and operate as designed to reduce flood risks to the public, property, and the environment.
To learn more about the Garrison Dam and the Dam Safety Modification Study, visit https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Planning-Projects/Garrison-Dam-Safety-Modification-Study/