Environmental Impact Statement for Bear Creek Dam Leakage Resolution, 32173-32175 [E6-8564]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 106 / Friday, June 2, 2006 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–Phlx–2006–18 on the
subject line.
or an RSQT when there is a bid/ask
differential of one minimum trading
increment that is established by the
quotes of such SQT or RSQT. The
Commission believes that the proposed
Paper Comments
rule change should help facilitate better
• Send paper comments in triplicate
priced executions for larger-sized orders
to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary,
on the floor of the Exchange. The
Securities and Exchange Commission,
Commission notes that it has previously
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
approved rule proposals that permit an
20549–1090.
exchange to grant priority to in-crowd
All submissions should refer to File
participants in open outcry auctions on
Number SR–Phlx–2006–18. This file
its floor over market participants who
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the are not physically present in the
crowd.17
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
The Exchange has requested
only one method. The Commission will accelerated approval of the proposed
post all comments on the Commission’s rule change. The Commission finds
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
good cause, consistent with Section
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
19(b)(2) of the Act, to approve the
submission, all subsequent
proposed rule change, as amended,
amendments, all written statements
prior to the 30th day after the date of
with respect to the proposed rule
publication of the notice of filing thereof
change that are filed with the
in the Federal Register. As noted above,
Commission, and all written
the Exchange’s proposal yields a result
communications relating to the
similar to that of CBOE rules previously
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than approved by the Commission that
permit a Floor Broker and a contra-side
those that may be withheld from the
participant in the trading crowd to have
public in accordance with the
priority in split price transactions over
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
out-of-crowd participants when there is
available for inspection and copying in
a bid/ask differential of one trading
the Commission’s Public Reference
increment.18 Accordingly, the
Room. Copies of the filing also will be
Commission believes that it is
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of the Phlx. All
appropriate to approve the proposed
comments received will be posted
rule change on an accelerated basis to
without change; the Commission does
allow the Phlx to compete more
not edit personal identifying
effectively for larger-sized orders in
information from submissions. You
open outcry transactions on the floor of
should submit only information that
the Exchange.
you wish to make available publicly. All
V. Conclusion
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–Phlx–2006–18 and should
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
be submitted on or before June 23, 2006.
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,19 that the
IV. Commission’s Findings and Order
proposed rule change, as amended
Granting Approval of the Proposed
(Phlx–2006–18), is hereby approved on
Rule Change
an accelerated basis until the expiration
After careful consideration, the
of the current split price priority pilot
Commission finds that the proposed
program on June 30, 2006.
rule change, as amended, is consistent
For the Commission, by the Division of
with the requirements of the Act and the
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
rules and regulations thereunder,
authority.20
applicable to a national securities
J. Lynn Taylor,
exchange, and, in particular with the
Assistant Secretary.
requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act.16 The proposed rule change would [FR Doc. E6–8550 Filed 6–1–06; 8:45 am]
provide a limited exception to the
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
Exchange’s split price priority rule by
allowing a Floor Broker and a contraside participant in the trading crowd to
have priority over an out-of-crowd SQT
16 In approving this proposed rule change, as
amended, the Commission notes that it has
considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:05 Jun 01, 2006
Jkt 208001
17 See
supra note 13.
18 Id.
19 15
20 17
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00146
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
32173
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5433]
Notice of Public Meeting on FY 2007
Refugee Admissions Program
There will be a meeting on the
President’s FY 2007 Refugee
Admissions Program on Wednesday,
June 28, 2006 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The
meeting will be held at the Refugee
Processing Center, 1401 Wilson
Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington,
Virginia. The meeting’s purpose is to
hear the views of attendees on the
appropriate size and scope of the FY
2007 Refugee Admissions Program.
Seating is limited. Persons wishing to
attend this meeting must notify the
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and
Migration at telephone (202) 663–1045
by 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2006, to
arrange for admission. Persons wishing
to present oral comments, or to submit
written comments for consideration,
must provide them in writing by 5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006. All
comments should be faxed to PRM at
(202) 663–1364.
Any questions about the public
meeting should be directed to Kelly
Gauger, PRM/Admissions Program
Officer at (202) 663–1055. Information
about the Refugee Admissions Program
may be found at https://www.state.gov/g/
prm/.
Dated: May 24, 2006.
Kelly Ryan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. E6–8624 Filed 6–1–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–33–P
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Environmental Impact Statement for
Bear Creek Dam Leakage Resolution
Tennessee Valley Authority.
Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
addressing the proposed resolution of
leakage problems at Bear Creek Dam,
Franklin County, Alabama. Since the
dam was completed in 1969, there has
been excessive leakage of water through
its foundation and TVA seeks a longterm resolution of this leakage. TVA
will use the EIS process to obtain public
involvement on this proposal. Public
comment is invited concerning both the
scope of the EIS and environmental
issues that should be addressed as a part
of this EIS.
E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM
02JNN1
32174
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 106 / Friday, June 2, 2006 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
DATES: Comments on the scope and
environmental issues for the EIS must
be postmarked or e-mailed no later than
July 3, 2006 to ensure consideration.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be sent to Charles P. Nicholson,
Environmental Stewardship and Policy,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Mail Stop
WT 9B, 400 West Summit Hill Drive,
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902–1499.
Comments may be e-mailed to
cpnichol@tva.gov or submitted by fax at
(865) 632–6855.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Warren P. Behlau, Tennessee Valley
Authority, Mail Stop LP 3D–C, 1101
Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee
37402–2801. Telephone (423) 751–8760.
E-mail may be sent to
wpbehlau@tva.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Bear Creek Reservoir is one of four
reservoirs located in northwest Alabama
that comprise the Bear Creek Project.
The Bear Creek Project was authorized
by Congress in 1964 for the primary
purposes of flood control, recreation,
and economic development, including
water supply. The project dams do not
generate electricity. Construction of
Bear Creek Dam began in 1967 and was
completed in 1969. The earth-fill dam
has a maximum height of 68 feet and
length of 1385 feet. It impounds a
reservoir with a maximum length of 12
miles, summer pool of 690 acres, and
approximately 39 miles of shoreline.
Most of the reservoir shoreline is owned
by TVA and much of the adjacent backlying land is owned by Bear Creek
Development Authority (BCDA), a state
agency. Shoreline development consists
of an environmental education center
and two public recreation areas with
campgrounds and other facilities
operated by BCDA, and a municipal raw
water intake and treatment plant
operated by the Franklin County Water
Service Authority approximately 2.3
miles upstream of Bear Creek Dam.
Bear Creek Dam has a concrete chute
spillway with an elevation of 602 feet.
The reservoir has historically been
operated with a winter pool elevation of
565 feet and a summer pool elevation of
576 feet. The target spring fill date is
mid-April and the target date to begin
the winter drawdown in November 15.
Under normal conditions, discharges are
through a tower-type intake structure,
sluiceway tunnel, and stilling basin.
The reservoir is operated to maintain a
minimum continuous flow of 21 cubic
feet per second at Red Bay, Alabama,
about 23 miles downstream of Bear
Creek Dam.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:05 Jun 01, 2006
Jkt 208001
Bear Creek Dam is constructed of
earth fill. A portion of the dam was
constructed on residual soil and there
are numerous sinkholes in its vicinity.
Since the completion of the dam in
1969, there has been continuous leakage
of water through the foundation of the
dam. Although some leakage is typical
of earthen dams, the amount at Bear
Creek has been excessive. In 1972, TVA
completed a major foundation drilling
and grouting project which reduced the
leakage. Since 1972 the leakage has
slowly increased and TVA has
attempted several subsequent repairs.
The most recent repairs were in 2004–
2005, when TVA completed another
major drilling and grouting project. This
repair project did not adequately reduce
leakage when the reservoir was returned
to its normal summer pool level.
The excessive leakage through the
dam foundation increases the risk of
dam failure, especially when the pool
level is at an elevation above 570 feet.
TVA has taken steps to minimize this
risk by maintaining the summer
reservoir pool at an elevation of 568
feet, eight feet lower than the normal
summer operating level of 576 feet. The
normal winter pool level continues to be
565 feet. Due to the limited size of the
intake structure and sluiceway,
however, TVA cannot pass enough
water through them during many
rainfall events to prevent the pool from
rising above 570 feet. When heavy rains
cause the reservoir to rise above
elevation 576, TVA notifies the local
emergency management agencies of the
increased risk and monitors the
situation closely. TVA also has
equipment and materials on hand for
emergency repairs, should a sinkhole or
other problem develop.
TVA recognizes that these measures
are not viable long-term solutions to the
leakage problem. TVA’s Hydro Board of
Consultants has jointly agreed with TVA
that it must take action to resolve the
leakage problem.
Potential Alternatives
TVA is considering a range of
alternatives. Although the No Action
alternative, which consists of operating
the dam as designed, would not remedy
the leakage problem, it would provide a
baseline for comparison with other
alternatives and its consideration is
required by the implementing
regulations for the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Other alternatives under consideration
include: (1) Continue to operate the dam
as done since 2005 with a lower
summer pool elevation of 568 feet; (2)
modify the dam by rebuilding the
spillway at a lower elevation to
PO 00000
Frm 00147
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
maintain a winter pool elevation of 565
feet and with a maximum rise of 5 feet;
(3) repair the dam by installing a grout
curtain in the soil foundation or by
building a barrier to prevent flow
through the dam; (4) remove the dam
and rebuild it in approximately the
same location and with similar
operating characteristics; (5) build a
new weir dam, capable of maintaining
a reservoir pool elevation of 565 feet, a
short distance downstream of the
Franklin County Water Service
Authority water intake, remove Bear
Creek Dam, and restore the former creek
channel; and (6) remove the dam and
restore the original creek channel.
TVA will use the results of the public
scoping process and additional
technical studies to refine the range of
alternatives that will be evaluated in
detail in the EIS.
Proposed Issues To Be Addressed
The EIS will contain descriptions of
the existing environmental and
socioeconomic resources within the area
that would be affected by the proposed
action. TVA’s evaluation of potential
environmental impacts to these
resources will include, but not
necessarily be limited to, the potential
impacts on water quality, water supply,
aquatic and terrestrial ecology,
endangered and threatened species,
wetlands, flooding and floodplains,
recreation, aesthetics and visual
resources, land use including
agricultural operations, historic and
archaeological resources, and
socioeconomic resources.
Scoping Process
Scoping, which is integral to the
process for implementing NEPA, is a
procedure that solicits public input to
the EIS process to ensure that: (1) Issues
are identified early and properly
studied; (2) issues of little significance
do not consume substantial time and
effort; (3) the draft EIS is thorough and
balanced; and (4) delays caused by an
inadequate EIS are avoided. TVA’s
NEPA procedures require that the
scoping process commence soon after a
decision has been reached to prepare an
EIS in order to provide an early and
open process for determining the scope
and for identifying the significant issues
related to a proposed action. The range
of alternatives and the issues to be
addressed in the draft EIS will be
determined, in part, from written
comments submitted by mail or e-mail,
and comments presented orally or in
writing at any public meetings. The
preliminary identification of reasonable
alternatives and environmental issues in
E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM
02JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 106 / Friday, June 2, 2006 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
this notice is not meant to be exhaustive
or final.
The scoping process will include both
interagency and public scoping. The
public is invited to submit written
comments or e-mail comments on the
scope of this EIS no later than the date
given under the DATES section of this
notice.
TVA will conduct a public scoping
meeting on June 20, 2006, at the Arts
and Entertainment Center in Red Bay,
Alabama. The meeting, which will be
conducted in an open-house format,
will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. At the
meeting, TVA staff will describe the
project and the EIS process, answer
questions, and solicit comments on the
issues that the public would like
addressed in the EIS. The meeting will
be publicized through notices in local
newspapers, by TVA press releases, on
the TVA Web site at https://www.tva.gov/
environment/calendar.htm, and in
letters to local elected officials.
The agencies to be included in the
interagency scoping are U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Bear Creek
Development Agency, Alabama
Department of Environmental
Management, the Alabama Historical
Commission, and other Federal, State,
and local agencies, as appropriate. After
consideration of the scoping comments,
TVA will further identify alternatives
and environmental issues to be
addressed in the EIS. Following analysis
of the environmental consequences of
each alternative, TVA will prepare a
draft EIS for public review and
comment. Notice of availability of the
draft EIS will be published by the
Environmental Protection Agency in the
Federal Register. TVA will solicit
written comments on the draft EIS, and
information about public meetings to
comment on the draft EIS will be
announced. TVA expects to release a
draft EIS in the spring of 2007 and a
final EIS in the fall of 2007.
In the event the situation
unexpectedly worsens or is determined
to be worse, it may be necessary to take
action expeditiously to address this
consistent with applicable procedures
for emergency actions.
Dated: May 26, 2006.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Executive Vice President, River System
Operations & Environment.
[FR Doc. E6–8564 Filed 6–1–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120–08–P
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:05 Jun 01, 2006
Jkt 208001
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Public Notice for a Change in Use of
Aeronautical Property at Lawrence
Municipal Airport, Lawrence, MA
AGENCY: Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The FAA is requesting public
comment on the City of Lawrence,
Massachusetts’ request to change a
portion (40.37 acres) of Airport property
from aeronautical use to nonaeronautical use. The property is
located in North Andover, MA, off Clark
Street in the area known of the
Northwest quadrant of the Airport and
is currently used for vacant land. The
City plans to sell 17.44 acres and lease
22.9 acres for revenue production. Upon
disposition is the property will be used
as for development of an industrial
park. Portions of the property were
acquired under FAAP Project No. 9–19–
007–0503 and ADAP Project No. 5–25–
0026–06.
The disposition of proceeds from the
disposal of airport property will be in
accordance with FAA’s Policy and
Procedures Concerning the Use of
Airport Revenue, published in the
Federal Register on February 16, 1999.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before July 3, 2006.
Documents are available for
review by appointment by contacting
Mr. Michael Miller, Airport Manager at
Lawrence Municipal Airport, 492
Sutton Street, North Andover, MA,
Telephone 978–794–5880 or by
contacting Donna R. Witte, Federal
Aviation Administration, 16 New
England Executive Park, Burlington,
Massachusetts, Telephone 781–238–
7624.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna R. Witte at the Federal Aviation
Administration, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington,
Massachusetts 01803, Telephone 781–
238–7624.
Section
125 of The Wendell H. Ford Aviation
Investment and Reform Act for the 21st
Century (AIR 21) requires the FAA to
provide an opportunity for public notice
and comment to the ‘‘waiver’’ or
‘‘modification’’ of a sponsor’s Federal
obligation to use certain airport property
for aeronautical purposes.
PO 00000
Frm 00148
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on
May 17, 2006.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager, Airports Division, New England
Region.
[FR Doc. 06–5030 Filed 6–1–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Request for public comments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
32175
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Approval of Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) on a Short
Form Environmental Assessment (EA);
Central Illinois Regional Airport,
Bloomington, IL
AGENCY: Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Approval of
Documents.
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) is issuing this
notice to advise the public of the
approval of a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) on an Environmental
Assessment for proposed Federal
actions at Central Illinois Regional
Airport, Bloomington, Illinois. The
FONSI specifies that the proposed
federal actions and local development
projects are consistent with existing
environmental policies and objectives as
set forth in the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 and will not
significantly affect the quality of the
environment.
A description of the proposed Federal
action is: (a) To issue an environmental
finding to allow approval of the Airport
Layout Plan (ALP) for the development
items listed below; (b) Approval of the
Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the
development items listed below; and (c)
Establish eligibility of the Central
Illinois Regional Airport Authority to
compete for Federal funding for the
development projects depicted on the
Airport Layout Plan.
The specific item in the local airport
development project is to construct a
new fuel farm.
Copies of the environmental decision
and the Short Form EA are available for
public information review during
regular business hours at the following
locations:
1. Central Illinois Regional Airport,
3201 CIRA Drive, Suite 200,
Bloomington, Illinois.
2. Division of Aeronautics—Illinois
Department of Transportation, One
Langhorne Bond Drive, Capital Airport,
Springfield, IL 62707.
3. Chicago Airports District Office,
Room 320, Federal Aviation
E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM
02JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32173-32175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8564]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Environmental Impact Statement for Bear Creek Dam Leakage
Resolution
AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing the proposed resolution
of leakage problems at Bear Creek Dam, Franklin County, Alabama. Since
the dam was completed in 1969, there has been excessive leakage of
water through its foundation and TVA seeks a long-term resolution of
this leakage. TVA will use the EIS process to obtain public involvement
on this proposal. Public comment is invited concerning both the scope
of the EIS and environmental issues that should be addressed as a part
of this EIS.
[[Page 32174]]
DATES: Comments on the scope and environmental issues for the EIS must
be postmarked or e-mailed no later than July 3, 2006 to ensure
consideration.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Charles P. Nicholson,
Environmental Stewardship and Policy, Tennessee Valley Authority, Mail
Stop WT 9B, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-
1499. Comments may be e-mailed to cpnichol@tva.gov or submitted by fax
at (865) 632-6855.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Warren P. Behlau, Tennessee Valley
Authority, Mail Stop LP 3D-C, 1101 Market Street, Chattanooga,
Tennessee 37402-2801. Telephone (423) 751-8760. E-mail may be sent to
wpbehlau@tva.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Bear Creek Reservoir is one of four reservoirs located in northwest
Alabama that comprise the Bear Creek Project. The Bear Creek Project
was authorized by Congress in 1964 for the primary purposes of flood
control, recreation, and economic development, including water supply.
The project dams do not generate electricity. Construction of Bear
Creek Dam began in 1967 and was completed in 1969. The earth-fill dam
has a maximum height of 68 feet and length of 1385 feet. It impounds a
reservoir with a maximum length of 12 miles, summer pool of 690 acres,
and approximately 39 miles of shoreline. Most of the reservoir
shoreline is owned by TVA and much of the adjacent back-lying land is
owned by Bear Creek Development Authority (BCDA), a state agency.
Shoreline development consists of an environmental education center and
two public recreation areas with campgrounds and other facilities
operated by BCDA, and a municipal raw water intake and treatment plant
operated by the Franklin County Water Service Authority approximately
2.3 miles upstream of Bear Creek Dam.
Bear Creek Dam has a concrete chute spillway with an elevation of
602 feet. The reservoir has historically been operated with a winter
pool elevation of 565 feet and a summer pool elevation of 576 feet. The
target spring fill date is mid-April and the target date to begin the
winter drawdown in November 15. Under normal conditions, discharges are
through a tower-type intake structure, sluiceway tunnel, and stilling
basin. The reservoir is operated to maintain a minimum continuous flow
of 21 cubic feet per second at Red Bay, Alabama, about 23 miles
downstream of Bear Creek Dam.
Bear Creek Dam is constructed of earth fill. A portion of the dam
was constructed on residual soil and there are numerous sinkholes in
its vicinity. Since the completion of the dam in 1969, there has been
continuous leakage of water through the foundation of the dam. Although
some leakage is typical of earthen dams, the amount at Bear Creek has
been excessive. In 1972, TVA completed a major foundation drilling and
grouting project which reduced the leakage. Since 1972 the leakage has
slowly increased and TVA has attempted several subsequent repairs. The
most recent repairs were in 2004-2005, when TVA completed another major
drilling and grouting project. This repair project did not adequately
reduce leakage when the reservoir was returned to its normal summer
pool level.
The excessive leakage through the dam foundation increases the risk
of dam failure, especially when the pool level is at an elevation above
570 feet. TVA has taken steps to minimize this risk by maintaining the
summer reservoir pool at an elevation of 568 feet, eight feet lower
than the normal summer operating level of 576 feet. The normal winter
pool level continues to be 565 feet. Due to the limited size of the
intake structure and sluiceway, however, TVA cannot pass enough water
through them during many rainfall events to prevent the pool from
rising above 570 feet. When heavy rains cause the reservoir to rise
above elevation 576, TVA notifies the local emergency management
agencies of the increased risk and monitors the situation closely. TVA
also has equipment and materials on hand for emergency repairs, should
a sinkhole or other problem develop.
TVA recognizes that these measures are not viable long-term
solutions to the leakage problem. TVA's Hydro Board of Consultants has
jointly agreed with TVA that it must take action to resolve the leakage
problem.
Potential Alternatives
TVA is considering a range of alternatives. Although the No Action
alternative, which consists of operating the dam as designed, would not
remedy the leakage problem, it would provide a baseline for comparison
with other alternatives and its consideration is required by the
implementing regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). Other alternatives under consideration include: (1) Continue to
operate the dam as done since 2005 with a lower summer pool elevation
of 568 feet; (2) modify the dam by rebuilding the spillway at a lower
elevation to maintain a winter pool elevation of 565 feet and with a
maximum rise of 5 feet; (3) repair the dam by installing a grout
curtain in the soil foundation or by building a barrier to prevent flow
through the dam; (4) remove the dam and rebuild it in approximately the
same location and with similar operating characteristics; (5) build a
new weir dam, capable of maintaining a reservoir pool elevation of 565
feet, a short distance downstream of the Franklin County Water Service
Authority water intake, remove Bear Creek Dam, and restore the former
creek channel; and (6) remove the dam and restore the original creek
channel.
TVA will use the results of the public scoping process and
additional technical studies to refine the range of alternatives that
will be evaluated in detail in the EIS.
Proposed Issues To Be Addressed
The EIS will contain descriptions of the existing environmental and
socioeconomic resources within the area that would be affected by the
proposed action. TVA's evaluation of potential environmental impacts to
these resources will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the
potential impacts on water quality, water supply, aquatic and
terrestrial ecology, endangered and threatened species, wetlands,
flooding and floodplains, recreation, aesthetics and visual resources,
land use including agricultural operations, historic and archaeological
resources, and socioeconomic resources.
Scoping Process
Scoping, which is integral to the process for implementing NEPA, is
a procedure that solicits public input to the EIS process to ensure
that: (1) Issues are identified early and properly studied; (2) issues
of little significance do not consume substantial time and effort; (3)
the draft EIS is thorough and balanced; and (4) delays caused by an
inadequate EIS are avoided. TVA's NEPA procedures require that the
scoping process commence soon after a decision has been reached to
prepare an EIS in order to provide an early and open process for
determining the scope and for identifying the significant issues
related to a proposed action. The range of alternatives and the issues
to be addressed in the draft EIS will be determined, in part, from
written comments submitted by mail or e-mail, and comments presented
orally or in writing at any public meetings. The preliminary
identification of reasonable alternatives and environmental issues in
[[Page 32175]]
this notice is not meant to be exhaustive or final.
The scoping process will include both interagency and public
scoping. The public is invited to submit written comments or e-mail
comments on the scope of this EIS no later than the date given under
the DATES section of this notice.
TVA will conduct a public scoping meeting on June 20, 2006, at the
Arts and Entertainment Center in Red Bay, Alabama. The meeting, which
will be conducted in an open-house format, will be from 4 p.m. to 8
p.m. At the meeting, TVA staff will describe the project and the EIS
process, answer questions, and solicit comments on the issues that the
public would like addressed in the EIS. The meeting will be publicized
through notices in local newspapers, by TVA press releases, on the TVA
Web site at https://www.tva.gov/environment/calendar.htm, and in
letters to local elected officials.
The agencies to be included in the interagency scoping are U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bear Creek
Development Agency, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the
Alabama Historical Commission, and other Federal, State, and local
agencies, as appropriate. After consideration of the scoping comments,
TVA will further identify alternatives and environmental issues to be
addressed in the EIS. Following analysis of the environmental
consequences of each alternative, TVA will prepare a draft EIS for
public review and comment. Notice of availability of the draft EIS will
be published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal
Register. TVA will solicit written comments on the draft EIS, and
information about public meetings to comment on the draft EIS will be
announced. TVA expects to release a draft EIS in the spring of 2007 and
a final EIS in the fall of 2007.
In the event the situation unexpectedly worsens or is determined to
be worse, it may be necessary to take action expeditiously to address
this consistent with applicable procedures for emergency actions.
Dated: May 26, 2006.
Kathryn J. Jackson,
Executive Vice President, River System Operations & Environment.
[FR Doc. E6-8564 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8120-08-P
