Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Dam Safety Modification Report, Bluestone Dam, Hinton, Summers County, WV, 62105-62106 [2016-21570]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 174 / Thursday, September 8, 2016 / Notices
Counsel
—Air Force Defense Appellate
Division Counsel
—Navy-Marine Corps Defense
Appellate Division Counsel
—Coast Guard Defense Appellate
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—2:30–4:00 Service Government
Appellate Divisions’ Perspectives on
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—Army Government Appellate
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—4:00–4:30 Public Comment
—4:30 Meeting Adjourned
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Meeting: A copy of the September 23,
2016 public meeting agenda and any
updates or changes to the agenda,
including individual speakers not
identified at the time of this notice, as
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meeting, may be obtained at the meeting
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Counsel, 1600 Defense Pentagon, Room
3B747, Washington, DC 20301–1600.
Dated: September 2, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2016–21611 Filed 9–7–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for the Dam Safety
Modification Report, Bluestone Dam,
Hinton, Summers County, WV
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
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62105
Supplemental Draft
Environmental Impact Statement—
public and agency comment period.
ACTION:
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps),
Huntington District prepared a
Supplemental Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (SDEIS) to disclose
potential impacts to the natural,
physical, and human environment
resulting from modifications to
Bluestone Dam. The original EIS was
published in 1998 and a Record of
Decision (ROD) was signed in 1999
concluding the NEPA process allowing
the Corps to initiate implementation of
the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance
(DSA) Project. When completed, the
current modifications under
construction will strengthen the dam’s
stability and allow for increased
discharge capacity through the use of
hydropower penstocks substantially
reducing risk. However, physical
modeling and expert analysis conducted
during project construction indicated
the downstream bedrock is vulnerable
to an unacceptable degree of erosion
during high flow events. The Corps has
also recognized potential for
unacceptable erosion associated with
overtopping of areas of the dam not
designed to be overtopped. After a full
consideration of alternatives to achieve
acceptable risk levels, this SDEIS
recommends implementing
modifications to the existing stilling
basin to prevent scour that could result
in spillway instability and thus dam
failure. Modification may include
alteration to the existing stilling basin to
include installation of a concrete apron,
larger baffles, and would also include
non-structural risk management
measures. This SDEIS also addresses the
prolonged construction duration of
modification features described in the
original EIS and ROD.
DATES: The review period will be open
from September 1, 2016 to October 17,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and
suggestions concerning this proposed
project to Rebecca Rutherford, Chief,
Environmental Analysis Section,
Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Huntington District, 502
Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701–
2070. Telephone: 304–399–5924.
Electronic mail: BluestoneDamDSA@
usace.army.mil. Requests to be placed
on the mailing list should also be sent
to this address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority: Bluestone Dam and
Reservoir was authorized by Executive
SUMMARY:
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mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
62106
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 174 / Thursday, September 8, 2016 / Notices
Order (E.O.) 7183 in 1935 and the Flood
Control Acts of 1936 and 1938 for the
purposes of flood control, low flow
augmentation, and hydroelectric power
development. The purposes were later
expanded to include recreational
activities under the Flood Control Act of
1944 and fish and wildlife enhancement
under the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (FWCA) of 1958.
2. Background: a. Guidance for this
study is provided in USACE Engineer
Regulation (ER) 1110–2–1156 (October
2011). This guidance details agency
policy and procedures for the study and
implementation process addressing dam
safety issues.
b. Bluestone Lake is a multipurpose
component of the Kanawha River basin
system which provides for flood control,
recreation, power development, low
flow augmentation, and fish and
wildlife enhancement. The project
began operation in 1949 and helps
control a 4,565 square mile drainage
area.
c. The ROD, signed in 1999,
completed the NEPA process for the
DSA project permitting the Huntington
District to begin detailed design and
subsequent construction of the
recommended alternative which
included a 13 foot cantilever wall on top
of the dam, an additional concrete
monolith on the east abutment, a
floodgate closure across WV Rt. 20,
removable closures at each end of the
spillway, high strength anchors placed
into the dam itself, massive concrete
blocks placed against the downstream
face of the dam, and a pavement for
scour protection downstream of the
hydropower penstocks. The majority of
the ongoing construction on these
measures will continue through the year
2019. The ROD for this work anticipated
construction would be completed 2005.
d. Physical modeling and expert
analysis conducted during project
construction has shown the downstream
bedrock is vulnerable to erosion during
high flow events as a result of
deficiencies with the current stilling
basin configuration. This potential
erosion creates an unacceptable level of
risk according to guidelines established
in ER 1110–2–1156, under which this
study is being conducted.
e. The SDEIS and Dam Safety
Modification report (DSMR) will
consider the structural integrity of the
dam, its ability to accommodate flood
waters as well as transportation, noise,
terrestrial, aquatic, economic,
environmental justice and cultural
resource issues associated with the
performance of the dam. The SDEIS and
DSMR will recommend any
modifications necessary to ensure the
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19:34 Sep 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
long-term safe performance of the
structure as originally intended.
f. Modifications to meet current
acceptable risk guidelines per ER 1110–
2–1156 may include, modification of the
existing stilling basin, modification of
other dam components, construction of
an alternative/auxiliary stilling basin,
construction of an alternative/auxiliary
spillway and non-structural measures or
other actions to prevent overtopping.
The No Action alternative will also be
considered. As required by NEPA and
Corps planning guidance, the No Action
alternative will form a benchmark from
which alternatives are evaluated and
compared.
3. Public Participation: a. The SDEIS
will be made available to the public in
the affected area for forty-five (45) days
for review and comment. A Notice of
Availability will be advertised in
affected area newspapers informing the
general public about the SDEIS public
review period. The SDEIS and draft
ROD can be viewed at: https://
www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/
PublicReview.aspx. Copies of the SDEIS
and draft ROD may be obtained by
contacting the Huntington District
Office of the Corps of Engineers at (304)
399–5924 (See ADDRESSES). All persons
and organizations that have an interest
in the Bluestone Dam Project are urged
to participate in this SDEIS review and
comment period. Upon the close of the
comment period, USACE will consider
all comments and if necessary conduct
further analysis.
Additionally, the Corps will conduct
public meetings to gain input from
interested agencies, organizations, and
the general public concerning the
content, issues, and impacts of the
SDEIS, a separate Notice of Intent will
be published in the Federal Register for
this action. Prior to the meeting, a
public notice will be distributed to
agencies, organizations, and the general
public, informing interested parties of
the date and location for the public
meeting. The Corps invites full public
participation to promote open
communication and better decisionmaking.
4. Schedule: The Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement is
scheduled to be released for public
review and comment on or about
September 1, 2016. The Final Report
and Final Supplemental EIS are
tentatively scheduled to be completed
in May 2017.
Rebecca A. Rutherford,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Section,
Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 2016–21570 Filed 9–7–16; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the
Proposed Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee
Setback Project, Yolo County, CA
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), Sacramento
District, as the lead agency under the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), and the California Department
of Water Resources (DWR), as the lead
agency under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), will
prepare a joint Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report
(EIS/EIR) for the Lower Elkhorn Setback
Levee Project. DWR is the project
proponent and may be referred to as the
Applicant or Requester.
The EIS/EIR will analyze DWR’s
proposed action to implement a flood
risk management project in the Lower
Elkhorn Basin in Yolo County,
California. Because the proposed action
would alter Federal levees, permission
from USACE is required under Section
14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
(Section 408) (33 U.S.C. 408). The
proposed action would also affect
waters of the United States and require
a permit from USACE under Section 404
of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
DATES: Submit written comments by
October 7, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
suggestions concerning the scope and
content of the environmental
information may be submitted to Mr.
Tyler Stalker, email at spk-pao@
usace.army.mil; or surface mail at U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento
District, Attn: Public Affairs Office
(CESPK–PAO), 1325 J Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814–2922. Requests
to be placed on the electronic or surface
mail notification lists should also be
sent to this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Tanis Toland at (916) 557–6717, or by
email at tanis.j.toland@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. The proposed
Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback
Project would include levee setbacks to
widen portions of the Yolo and
Sacramento Bypasses to increase
conveyance capacity and reduce flood
risk. The project would be part of a
series of proposed flood risk
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62105-62106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21570]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Dam
Safety Modification Report, Bluestone Dam, Hinton, Summers County, WV
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement--public and
agency comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District prepared a
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) to disclose
potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment
resulting from modifications to Bluestone Dam. The original EIS was
published in 1998 and a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 1999
concluding the NEPA process allowing the Corps to initiate
implementation of the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance (DSA) Project.
When completed, the current modifications under construction will
strengthen the dam's stability and allow for increased discharge
capacity through the use of hydropower penstocks substantially reducing
risk. However, physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during
project construction indicated the downstream bedrock is vulnerable to
an unacceptable degree of erosion during high flow events. The Corps
has also recognized potential for unacceptable erosion associated with
overtopping of areas of the dam not designed to be overtopped. After a
full consideration of alternatives to achieve acceptable risk levels,
this SDEIS recommends implementing modifications to the existing
stilling basin to prevent scour that could result in spillway
instability and thus dam failure. Modification may include alteration
to the existing stilling basin to include installation of a concrete
apron, larger baffles, and would also include non-structural risk
management measures. This SDEIS also addresses the prolonged
construction duration of modification features described in the
original EIS and ROD.
DATES: The review period will be open from September 1, 2016 to October
17, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this
proposed project to Rebecca Rutherford, Chief, Environmental Analysis
Section, Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington
District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-
399-5924. Electronic mail: BluestoneDamDSA@usace.army.mil. Requests to
be placed on the mailing list should also be sent to this address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority: Bluestone Dam and Reservoir was authorized by
Executive
[[Page 62106]]
Order (E.O.) 7183 in 1935 and the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938
for the purposes of flood control, low flow augmentation, and
hydroelectric power development. The purposes were later expanded to
include recreational activities under the Flood Control Act of 1944 and
fish and wildlife enhancement under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act (FWCA) of 1958.
2. Background: a. Guidance for this study is provided in USACE
Engineer Regulation (ER) 1110-2-1156 (October 2011). This guidance
details agency policy and procedures for the study and implementation
process addressing dam safety issues.
b. Bluestone Lake is a multipurpose component of the Kanawha River
basin system which provides for flood control, recreation, power
development, low flow augmentation, and fish and wildlife enhancement.
The project began operation in 1949 and helps control a 4,565 square
mile drainage area.
c. The ROD, signed in 1999, completed the NEPA process for the DSA
project permitting the Huntington District to begin detailed design and
subsequent construction of the recommended alternative which included a
13 foot cantilever wall on top of the dam, an additional concrete
monolith on the east abutment, a floodgate closure across WV Rt. 20,
removable closures at each end of the spillway, high strength anchors
placed into the dam itself, massive concrete blocks placed against the
downstream face of the dam, and a pavement for scour protection
downstream of the hydropower penstocks. The majority of the ongoing
construction on these measures will continue through the year 2019. The
ROD for this work anticipated construction would be completed 2005.
d. Physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during project
construction has shown the downstream bedrock is vulnerable to erosion
during high flow events as a result of deficiencies with the current
stilling basin configuration. This potential erosion creates an
unacceptable level of risk according to guidelines established in ER
1110-2-1156, under which this study is being conducted.
e. The SDEIS and Dam Safety Modification report (DSMR) will
consider the structural integrity of the dam, its ability to
accommodate flood waters as well as transportation, noise, terrestrial,
aquatic, economic, environmental justice and cultural resource issues
associated with the performance of the dam. The SDEIS and DSMR will
recommend any modifications necessary to ensure the long-term safe
performance of the structure as originally intended.
f. Modifications to meet current acceptable risk guidelines per ER
1110-2-1156 may include, modification of the existing stilling basin,
modification of other dam components, construction of an alternative/
auxiliary stilling basin, construction of an alternative/auxiliary
spillway and non-structural measures or other actions to prevent
overtopping. The No Action alternative will also be considered. As
required by NEPA and Corps planning guidance, the No Action alternative
will form a benchmark from which alternatives are evaluated and
compared.
3. Public Participation: a. The SDEIS will be made available to the
public in the affected area for forty-five (45) days for review and
comment. A Notice of Availability will be advertised in affected area
newspapers informing the general public about the SDEIS public review
period. The SDEIS and draft ROD can be viewed at: https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicReview.aspx. Copies of the SDEIS
and draft ROD may be obtained by contacting the Huntington District
Office of the Corps of Engineers at (304) 399-5924 (See ADDRESSES). All
persons and organizations that have an interest in the Bluestone Dam
Project are urged to participate in this SDEIS review and comment
period. Upon the close of the comment period, USACE will consider all
comments and if necessary conduct further analysis.
Additionally, the Corps will conduct public meetings to gain input
from interested agencies, organizations, and the general public
concerning the content, issues, and impacts of the SDEIS, a separate
Notice of Intent will be published in the Federal Register for this
action. Prior to the meeting, a public notice will be distributed to
agencies, organizations, and the general public, informing interested
parties of the date and location for the public meeting. The Corps
invites full public participation to promote open communication and
better decision-making.
4. Schedule: The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
is scheduled to be released for public review and comment on or about
September 1, 2016. The Final Report and Final Supplemental EIS are
tentatively scheduled to be completed in May 2017.
Rebecca A. Rutherford,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Section, Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 2016-21570 Filed 9-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
