Public Notices

Draft Environmental Assessment and Unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact for Revision of 1980 Martins Fork Dam and Reservoir Master Plan

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District
Published Aug. 11, 2021
Expiration date: 9/10/2021

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has prepared a Master Plan Update and associated Environmental Assessment and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact for Martins Fork Reservoir, which is located in Harlan County in Kentucky.  These documents are being provided to Federal and State agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise and members of the public.

The original Martins Fork Reservoir MP was last updated in 1980.  The MP serves as a guide for coordination of project development and management of all land and water resources.  The intent of an updated MP is to present a current inventory and assessment of resources, provide an analysis of resource use, and evaluate existing and future needs required to protect and improve the value of resources at Martins Fork Reservoir.  Figures 1 illustrate the location of the project and Figure 2 is a map of the lake. 

A Scoping Letter regarding the revision of Martins Fork’s MP was mailed on February 22, 2020 to solicit comments from the public.  Based on public, federal, state, local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties’ comments to the February 2020 Scoping Letter, the Corps determined an EA was necessary to evaluate environmental impacts associated with the proposed changes to the Martins Fork MP.

 Two alternatives are considered in the EA:  1) No Action, which means there would be no update to the existing MP and no new resource classification, assessment or inventory would occur and operation and management of Martins Fork Reservoir would continue as outlined in the 1980 MP; and 2) Implementation of the Proposed MP Update, which would incorporate three actions: a) project land and water allocations and classifications would be made current, b) an analysis of resource use would be conducted, and c) an evaluation of existing/future needs and demands on the project would be completed.

This letter serves as a Notice of Availability for reviewing the EA and unsigned FONSI.  The EA was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and the Corps Engineering Regulation 200-2-2, Policies and Procedures for Implementing NEPA .  

Please submit any written comments no later than 30 days from the date on this letter to ensure consideration in the Final EA.  Send written comments to the address listed on the letterhead, Attention: CELRN-PMP (Cody A. Flatt), or email your comments to cody.a.flatt@usace.army.mil.  Your participation is greatly appreciated.