USFWS

Mass EOEA
 

Woodlot
Alternatives, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11-29-05

Notice of Availability, Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment

The Massachusetts SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees is announcing the release for public review of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program. The Draft PEA is a planning tool intended to address federal compliance at the restoration program level, as opposed to the specific restoration project level. The Draft PEA presents only a conceptual restoration program featuring a potential mix of restoration approaches, including aquatic restoration, wildlife/terrestrial restoration, enhancement of recreational opportunities, and education/outreach initiatives. A mix of restoration approaches will allow the greatest degree of flexibility in the project selection process and will ensure the greatest environmental and socioeconomic benefits. This Draft PEA compares the conceptual preferred, blended restoration alternative with alternatives that focus on a single restoration approach, as well as with a no-action alternative in which no restoration is implemented with natural resource damages (NRD) funds. This Draft PEA is part of the restoration planning and implementation phase of the General Electric/Housatonic River Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) case. The MA SubCouncil will hold an informational meeting on the Draft PEA on:

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005
5:30 – 9:00 PM
Lenox Town Hall
6 Walker Street in Lenox, Massachusetts

The December 1st deadline mentioned in the Federal Register has been extended. Written comments must now be submitted on or before December 20, 2005.

The Draft PEA and more information about the Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Project in Massachusetts is available online at www.ma-housatonicrestoration.org. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Michael Chelminski of Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. at mchelminski@woodlotalt.com or (207) 729-1199.
 

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