Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam Fish Passage Project, Dawson County, Montana, 72788-72790 [2016-25375]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
Carolina. The proposed JOT would be
located across the Savannah River from
Elba Island, Georgia, and would
increase the region’s capacity to
efficiently handle the forecasted cargo.
The proposed JOT would include a
pile supported wharf designed to
accommodate Neo-Panamax
containerships, a container storage yard,
an intermodal rail yard, gate facilities to
process entering and existing over the
road truck traffic, administrative
buildings, and equipment service
facilities. The proposed JOT would also
include elements common to other
types of industrial sites, such as a water
tower, underground utilities, electrical
substations, backup generators, highmast lighting, stormwater management
facilities, perimeter fencing, and parking
areas for employees and other personal
vehicles.
Proposed transportation and utility
improvements that would serve the
proposed JOT include a 4-lane divided
highway to connect the JOT to U.S.
Highway 17, a double track rail corridor
to connect the JOT’s intermodal rail
yard to existing CSX Transportation and
Norfolk Southern rail lines, a new rail
bridge across the Savannah River, and
utility lines and intermediary facilities
to connect to existing services (water,
sewer, electricity, etc). Likewise,
navigation improvements associated
with the proposed JOT include new
work and maintenance dredging of
berths, an access channel, and a turning
basin to provide vessel access to the
terminal, and shoreline stabilization,
bulkhead, and wharf construction
adjacent to the existing Savannah
Harbor federal navigation channel.
According to the JOT Joint Venture, a
separate feasibility study will evaluate
the costs and benefits of modifications
to the existing Savannah Harbor Federal
navigation channel. Should this
feasibility study or the Corps’ analysis
of the proposed JOT determine that
modifications to the federal navigation
channel are required to operate the
proposed marine container terminal,
potential impacts to the human and
natural environment (e.g., aquatic
resources) associated with any
navigational improvements will be
evaluated and included in the EIS for
the proposed JOT.
2. Alternatives. A range of reasonable
alternatives to the proposed action will
be identified, and fully evaluated in the
EIS, including: The No-Action
Alternative, the applicant’s proposed
alternative, and alternatives that may
result in avoidance and minimization of
impacts; however, this list in not
exclusive and additional alternatives
may be considered for inclusion.
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3. Scoping and Public Involvement
Process. A scoping meeting will be
conducted to gather information on the
scope of the project and the alternatives
to be addressed in the EIS. Additional
public and agency involvement will be
sought through the implementation of a
public involvement plan and agency
coordination.
4. Significant issues. Issues and
potential impacts associated with the
proposed JOT that are likely to be given
detailed analysis in the EIS include, but
are not necessarily limited to: Existing
and proposed transportation
infrastructure (roadways and railways),
waters of the United States, air quality,
noise, light, Environmental Justice,
visual resources/aesthetics, general
environmental concerns, cultural
resources, fish and wildlife values,
protected species, flood hazards,
floodplain values, land use, recreation,
water quality, hazardous materials and
solid waste, socioeconomics, safety, and
in general, the needs and welfare of the
people.
5. Additional Review and
Consultation. Additional review and
consultation, which will be
incorporated into the preparation of the
EIS, will include, but will not
necessarily be limited to, Section 14 of
the RHA; Section 401 of the CWA;
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
consultation requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act; the
Endangered Species Act; Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act; National
Historic Preservation Act; and the South
Carolina Coastal Zone Management Act.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS. At this
time, the Corps expects the Draft EIS to
be made available to the public in late
fall/winter 2020. A Public Hearing will
be held during the public comment
period for the Draft EIS.
Matthew W. Luzzatto,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Charleston District.
[FR Doc. 2016–25519 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Lower Yellowstone Intake
Diversion Dam Fish Passage Project,
Dawson County, Montana
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD; Bureau
of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) and Reclamation, as
joint lead agencies, have prepared and
made available the Lower Yellowstone
Intake Diversion Dam Fish Passage
Project Final Environmental Impact
Statement (Final EIS). The Final EIS
analyzes and discloses potential effects
associated with the proposed Federal
action to improve passage for
endangered pallid sturgeon and other
native fish at Intake Diversion Dam in
the lower Yellowstone River while
continuing the effective and viable
operation of the Lower Yellowstone
Project.
SUMMARY:
The Corps and Reclamation will
not issue a final decision on the
proposed action until at least 30 days
after the date that the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes notice of
availability of the Final EIS. After the
Final EIS has been available for 30 days,
the Corps and Reclamation may
complete a Record of Decision. The
Record of Decision will state the action
that the Corps and Reclamation select
for implementation and will discuss
factors considered in the decision.
ADDRESSES: The Final EIS may be
viewed on Reclamation’s Web site at
www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/
loweryellowstone. Send requests for
copies of the Final EIS to U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Omaha District,
ATTN: CENWO–PM–AA, 1616 Capitol
Ave. Omaha, NE 68102; or email to
cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. See
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for locations where copies of the Final
EIS are available for public review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Tiffany Vanosdall, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, 1616 Capitol Ave. Omaha,
NE 68102, or tiffany.k.vanosdall@
usace.army.mil.
DATES:
The Corps
and Reclamation are issuing this notice
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.; the Council on
Environmental Quality’s (CEQ)
regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA, 43 CFR
parts 1500 through 1508; the
Department of the Interior’s NEPA
regulations, 43 CFR part 46.
Background Information
Reclamation’s Lower Yellowstone
Project is located in eastern Montana
and western North Dakota. Intake
Diversion Dam is located approximately
70 miles upstream of the confluence of
the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers
near Glendive, Montana. The Lower
Yellowstone Project was authorized by
the Secretary of the Interior on May 10,
1904. Construction of the Lower
Yellowstone Project began in 1905 and
included Intake Diversion Dam (also
known as Yellowstone River Diversion
Dam)—a wood and stone diversion dam
that spans the Yellowstone River and
diverts water into the Main Canal for
irrigation. The Lower Yellowstone
Project was authorized to provide a
dependable water supply sufficient to
irrigate approximately 54,000 acres of
land on the benches above the west
bank of the Yellowstone River. Water is
also supplied to irrigate approximately
830 acres in the Intake Irrigation Project
and 2,200 acres in the Savage Unit. The
average annual volume of water
diverted for these projects is 327,046
acre-feet.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) listed the pallid sturgeon as
endangered under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) in 1990. Best
available science suggests Intake
Diversion Dam impedes upstream
migration of pallid sturgeon and their
access to spawning and larval drift
habitats. The lower Yellowstone River is
considered by the Service to provide
one of the best opportunities for
recovery of pallid sturgeon.
Section 7(a)(2) requires each Federal
agency to consult on any action
authorized, funded, or carried out by the
agency to ensure it does not jeopardize
the continued existence of any
endangered or threatened species.
Reclamation has been in formal
consultation with the Service to identify
potential conservation measures to
minimize adverse effects to pallid
sturgeon associated with continued
operation of the Lower Yellowstone
Project. The Pallid Sturgeon Recovery
Plan specifically identifies providing
passage at Intake Diversion Dam to
protect and restore pallid sturgeon
populations. By providing passage at
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Intake Diversion Dam, approximately
165 river miles of spawning and larval
drift habitat would become accessible in
the Yellowstone River.
Section 3109 of the 2007 Water
Resources Development Act authorizes
the Corps to use funding from the
Missouri River Recovery and Mitigation
Program to assist Reclamation in the
design and construction of
Reclamation’s Lower Yellowstone
Project at Intake, Montana for the
purpose of ecosystem restoration.
Planning and construction of the Intake
Project is a Reasonable and Prudent
Alternative for the Corps in the 2003
Missouri River Amended Biological
Opinion as amended by letter exchange
in 2009, 2010, and 2013. The
Reclamation Act/Newlands Act of 1902
(Pub. L. 161) authorizes Reclamation to
construct and maintain the facilities
associated with the Lower Yellowstone
Project, which includes actions or
modifications necessary to comply with
Federal law such as the ESA.
Analysis in the Final EIS serves to
support a decision on the selection of an
alternative. Current and past project
information and analyses can be
accessed at: www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/
loweryellowstone.
The Corps and Reclamation are joint
lead Federal agencies for the NEPA
analysis process and preparation of the
Final EIS. The Corps is the
administrative lead for NEPA
compliance activities during the
preparation of the Final EIS. State,
Federal, and local agencies with
specialized expertise or jurisdictional
responsibilities are participating as
cooperating agencies. Cooperating
agencies include the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; Western Area Power
Administration; Montana Fish, Wildlife
and Parks; Montana Department of
Natural Resources and Conservation;
and the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation
Project.
The purpose of the Lower
Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam Fish
Passage Project is to improve passage for
the endangered pallid sturgeon while
continuing the effective and viable
operation of the Lower Yellowstone
Project, and contribute to ecosystem
restoration. The Final EIS discloses the
analysis of six alternatives, including a
No Action Alternative.
The No Action Alternative would
continue the ongoing operations,
maintenance, and rehabilitation of the
Lower Yellowstone Project including
diversion up to 1,374 cubic feet per
second (cfs) of water through the
screened headworks; rocking of the weir
as needed to continue diversions during
low flow periods; routine maintenance
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72789
of the headworks, weir, and irrigation
distribution facilities and pumps;
rehabilitation of the trolley; and
associated activities to comply with
state and Federal law.
The Rock Ramp Alternative includes
abandonment of the existing weir in
place; construction of a new concrete
weir and shallow sloped rock ramp to
improve instream fish passage;
maintenance of the new weir and rock
ramp, continued diversion up to 1,374
cfs through the screened headworks;
and continued operation and
maintenance of the irrigation
distribution facilities and supplemental
pumps.
The Bypass Channel Alternative
(Preferred Alternative) includes
abandonment of the existing weir in
place; construction of a new concrete
weir; construction, operation, and
maintenance of a two-mile long bypass
channel for fish passage around the
weir; placement of fill in the upstream
portion of existing side channel for
stabilization; continued diversion up to
1,374 cfs through the screened
headworks; and continued operation
and maintenance of the irrigation
distribution facilities and supplemental
pumps.
The Modified Side Channel
Alternative includes operation,
maintenance, and rehabilitation of the
existing weir and trolley; construction,
operation, and maintenance of a 4.5mile long bypass channel created by
modifying the existing high-flow
channel for fish passage around the
weir; continued diversion up to 1,374
cfs through the screened headworks;
construction, operation, and
maintenance of an access bridge
spanning the high-flow bypass channel;
and continued operation and
maintenance of the irrigation
distribution facilities and supplemental
pumps.
The Multiple Pump Alternative
includes the construction, operation,
and maintenance of 5 screened surface
pumping stations; removal of the
existing weir; improved power
infrastructure to increase capacity; land
acquisition as necessary for power
infrastructure and pump stations;
continued diversion up to 1,374 cfs
through the screened headworks and
pumps as needed; and continued
operation and maintenance of the
irrigation distribution facilities and
supplemental pumps.
The Multiple Pumps with
Conservation Measures Alternative
includes the construction, operation,
and maintenance of seven pumping
stations each with six Ranney Wells
(total of 42 Ranney Wells); removal of
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72790
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
the existing weir; construction,
operation, and maintenance of wind
turbines and infrastructure to provide
power to pumping stations; land
acquisition as necessary for power
infrastructure and pump stations;
diversion up to 608 cfs through the
screened headworks or by pumping
depending upon river flow;
reconstruction of the Main Canal;
installation of water conservation
measures such as conversion of flood
irrigation to sprinkler, lining canals, and
piping laterals; and continued operation
and maintenance of the irrigation
distribution facilities and supplemental
pumps.
A Notice of Availability for the Draft
EIS was published in the Federal
Register on June 3, 2016 (81 FR 35754).
The comment period for the Draft EIS
ended on July 28, 2016. Public meetings
on the Draft EIS were held on Tuesday,
June 28, 2016, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., in
Sidney, MT; Wednesday, June 29, 2016,
from 5:30 to 9 p.m., in Glendive, MT;
and Thursday, June 30, 2016, from 5:30
to 9 p.m., in Billings, MT. The Final EIS
contains responses to all comments
received and reflects comments and any
additional information received during
the review period.
Copies of the Final EIS are available
for public review at the following
locations:
1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616
Capitol Ave., Omaha, NE 68102.
2. Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains
Region, 2021 4th Avenue North,
Billings, MT 59101.
3. Bureau of Reclamation, Montana
Area Office, 2900 4th Avenue North,
#303, Billings, MT 59101.
4. Sidney Public Library, 121 3rd
Avenue NW., Sidney, MT 59270.
5. Glendive Public Library, 200 S.
Kendrick Avenue, Glendive, MT 59330.
6. Billings Public Library, 510 N.
Broadway, Billings, MT 59101.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Public Disclosure Statement
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or any other
personal identifying information in any
communication, you should be aware
that your entire communication—
including your personal identifying
information—may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can
request in your communication to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
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19:06 Oct 20, 2016
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cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
John W. Henderson,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District
Commander.
Michael J. Ryan,
Regional Director, Great Plains Region,
Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 2016–25375 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0110]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Application for New Grants Under the
Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate
Achievement Program (1890–0001)
Office of Postsecondary
Education (OPE), Department of
Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is
proposing a reinstatement of a
previously approved information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
November 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
documents related to the information
collection listed in this notice, please
use https://www.regulations.gov by
searching the Docket ID number ED–
2016–ICCD–0110. Comments submitted
in response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Docket ID number or via postal mail,
commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
Please note that comments submitted by
fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be
accepted. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by
postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the Director of the
Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room
2E–347, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Carmen
Gordon, 202–453–7311.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Application for
New Grants Under the Ronald E.
McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement
Program.
OMB Control Number: 1840–0619.
Type of Review: A reinstatement of a
previously approved information
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 350.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 13,960.
Abstract: The Department of
Education is requesting a reinstatement
with change of a previously approved
collection of information entitled
Application for New Awards under the
Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate
Achievement (McNair) Program. This
application will be used to award new
grants and collect data under the
McNair program. which provides grants
to institutions of higher education and
combinations of such institutions to
prepare low-income, first-generation
college students, and students from
groups underrepresented in graduate
education, for doctoral study. Two of
the three previously used competitive
preference priorities have been removed
while one remains unchanged in
anticipation of the FY 2017 competition.
The cost burden to the Federal
Government, which was reported as
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72788-72790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25375]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Lower Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam Fish Passage
Project, Dawson County, Montana
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD;
Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Reclamation, as
joint lead agencies, have prepared and made available the Lower
Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam Fish Passage Project Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS). The Final EIS analyzes and
discloses potential effects associated with the proposed Federal action
to improve passage for endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish
at Intake Diversion Dam in the lower Yellowstone River while continuing
the effective and viable operation of the Lower Yellowstone Project.
DATES: The Corps and Reclamation will not issue a final decision on the
proposed action until at least 30 days after the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency publishes notice of availability of the
Final EIS. After the Final EIS has been available for 30 days, the
Corps and Reclamation may complete a Record of Decision. The Record of
Decision will state the action that the Corps and Reclamation select
for implementation and will discuss factors considered in the decision.
ADDRESSES: The Final EIS may be viewed on Reclamation's Web site at
www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/loweryellowstone. Send requests for copies of the
Final EIS to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District, ATTN: CENWO-
PM-AA, 1616 Capitol Ave. Omaha, NE 68102; or email to cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. See the Supplementary Information section for
locations where copies of the Final EIS are available for public
review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tiffany Vanosdall, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, 1616 Capitol Ave. Omaha, NE 68102, or
tiffany.k.vanosdall@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps and Reclamation are issuing this
notice
[[Page 72789]]
pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on
Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; the
Department of the Interior's NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 46.
Background Information
Reclamation's Lower Yellowstone Project is located in eastern
Montana and western North Dakota. Intake Diversion Dam is located
approximately 70 miles upstream of the confluence of the Yellowstone
and Missouri rivers near Glendive, Montana. The Lower Yellowstone
Project was authorized by the Secretary of the Interior on May 10,
1904. Construction of the Lower Yellowstone Project began in 1905 and
included Intake Diversion Dam (also known as Yellowstone River
Diversion Dam)--a wood and stone diversion dam that spans the
Yellowstone River and diverts water into the Main Canal for irrigation.
The Lower Yellowstone Project was authorized to provide a dependable
water supply sufficient to irrigate approximately 54,000 acres of land
on the benches above the west bank of the Yellowstone River. Water is
also supplied to irrigate approximately 830 acres in the Intake
Irrigation Project and 2,200 acres in the Savage Unit. The average
annual volume of water diverted for these projects is 327,046 acre-
feet.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) listed the pallid
sturgeon as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1990.
Best available science suggests Intake Diversion Dam impedes upstream
migration of pallid sturgeon and their access to spawning and larval
drift habitats. The lower Yellowstone River is considered by the
Service to provide one of the best opportunities for recovery of pallid
sturgeon.
Section 7(a)(2) requires each Federal agency to consult on any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by the agency to ensure it
does not jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or
threatened species. Reclamation has been in formal consultation with
the Service to identify potential conservation measures to minimize
adverse effects to pallid sturgeon associated with continued operation
of the Lower Yellowstone Project. The Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Plan
specifically identifies providing passage at Intake Diversion Dam to
protect and restore pallid sturgeon populations. By providing passage
at Intake Diversion Dam, approximately 165 river miles of spawning and
larval drift habitat would become accessible in the Yellowstone River.
Section 3109 of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act authorizes
the Corps to use funding from the Missouri River Recovery and
Mitigation Program to assist Reclamation in the design and construction
of Reclamation's Lower Yellowstone Project at Intake, Montana for the
purpose of ecosystem restoration. Planning and construction of the
Intake Project is a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative for the Corps in
the 2003 Missouri River Amended Biological Opinion as amended by letter
exchange in 2009, 2010, and 2013. The Reclamation Act/Newlands Act of
1902 (Pub. L. 161) authorizes Reclamation to construct and maintain the
facilities associated with the Lower Yellowstone Project, which
includes actions or modifications necessary to comply with Federal law
such as the ESA.
Analysis in the Final EIS serves to support a decision on the
selection of an alternative. Current and past project information and
analyses can be accessed at: www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/loweryellowstone.
The Corps and Reclamation are joint lead Federal agencies for the
NEPA analysis process and preparation of the Final EIS. The Corps is
the administrative lead for NEPA compliance activities during the
preparation of the Final EIS. State, Federal, and local agencies with
specialized expertise or jurisdictional responsibilities are
participating as cooperating agencies. Cooperating agencies include the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Western Area Power Administration;
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Montana Department of Natural
Resources and Conservation; and the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation
Project.
The purpose of the Lower Yellowstone Intake Diversion Dam Fish
Passage Project is to improve passage for the endangered pallid
sturgeon while continuing the effective and viable operation of the
Lower Yellowstone Project, and contribute to ecosystem restoration. The
Final EIS discloses the analysis of six alternatives, including a No
Action Alternative.
The No Action Alternative would continue the ongoing operations,
maintenance, and rehabilitation of the Lower Yellowstone Project
including diversion up to 1,374 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water
through the screened headworks; rocking of the weir as needed to
continue diversions during low flow periods; routine maintenance of the
headworks, weir, and irrigation distribution facilities and pumps;
rehabilitation of the trolley; and associated activities to comply with
state and Federal law.
The Rock Ramp Alternative includes abandonment of the existing weir
in place; construction of a new concrete weir and shallow sloped rock
ramp to improve instream fish passage; maintenance of the new weir and
rock ramp, continued diversion up to 1,374 cfs through the screened
headworks; and continued operation and maintenance of the irrigation
distribution facilities and supplemental pumps.
The Bypass Channel Alternative (Preferred Alternative) includes
abandonment of the existing weir in place; construction of a new
concrete weir; construction, operation, and maintenance of a two-mile
long bypass channel for fish passage around the weir; placement of fill
in the upstream portion of existing side channel for stabilization;
continued diversion up to 1,374 cfs through the screened headworks; and
continued operation and maintenance of the irrigation distribution
facilities and supplemental pumps.
The Modified Side Channel Alternative includes operation,
maintenance, and rehabilitation of the existing weir and trolley;
construction, operation, and maintenance of a 4.5-mile long bypass
channel created by modifying the existing high-flow channel for fish
passage around the weir; continued diversion up to 1,374 cfs through
the screened headworks; construction, operation, and maintenance of an
access bridge spanning the high-flow bypass channel; and continued
operation and maintenance of the irrigation distribution facilities and
supplemental pumps.
The Multiple Pump Alternative includes the construction, operation,
and maintenance of 5 screened surface pumping stations; removal of the
existing weir; improved power infrastructure to increase capacity; land
acquisition as necessary for power infrastructure and pump stations;
continued diversion up to 1,374 cfs through the screened headworks and
pumps as needed; and continued operation and maintenance of the
irrigation distribution facilities and supplemental pumps.
The Multiple Pumps with Conservation Measures Alternative includes
the construction, operation, and maintenance of seven pumping stations
each with six Ranney Wells (total of 42 Ranney Wells); removal of
[[Page 72790]]
the existing weir; construction, operation, and maintenance of wind
turbines and infrastructure to provide power to pumping stations; land
acquisition as necessary for power infrastructure and pump stations;
diversion up to 608 cfs through the screened headworks or by pumping
depending upon river flow; reconstruction of the Main Canal;
installation of water conservation measures such as conversion of flood
irrigation to sprinkler, lining canals, and piping laterals; and
continued operation and maintenance of the irrigation distribution
facilities and supplemental pumps.
A Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was published in the
Federal Register on June 3, 2016 (81 FR 35754). The comment period for
the Draft EIS ended on July 28, 2016. Public meetings on the Draft EIS
were held on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., in Sidney,
MT; Wednesday, June 29, 2016, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., in Glendive, MT; and
Thursday, June 30, 2016, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., in Billings, MT. The
Final EIS contains responses to all comments received and reflects
comments and any additional information received during the review
period.
Copies of the Final EIS are available for public review at the
following locations:
1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616 Capitol Ave., Omaha, NE
68102.
2. Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Region, 2021 4th Avenue
North, Billings, MT 59101.
3. Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Area Office, 2900 4th Avenue
North, #303, Billings, MT 59101.
4. Sidney Public Library, 121 3rd Avenue NW., Sidney, MT 59270.
5. Glendive Public Library, 200 S. Kendrick Avenue, Glendive, MT
59330.
6. Billings Public Library, 510 N. Broadway, Billings, MT 59101.
Public Disclosure Statement
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or any
other personal identifying information in any communication, you should
be aware that your entire communication--including your personal
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time.
While you can request in your communication to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
John W. Henderson,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander.
Michael J. Ryan,
Regional Director, Great Plains Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 2016-25375 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
