Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study; Benton, Yakima, and Kittitas Counties, WashingtonINT-DES 08-03, 6202-6203 [E8-1880]

Download as PDF 6202 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2008 / Notices address impacts to transportation, public safety, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, Wilderness Study Areas (WSA), non-WSA lands with wilderness characteristics, areas proposed for designation as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, wildlife, Threatened and Endangered Species, visual resources, air quality, and other relevant issues. If components of the Proposed Action conflict with the Price River Management Framework Plan, the BLM must consider whether or not to amend the plan as part of its decision on full field development. A plan amendment would be necessary if the BLM, as part of its decision, approves an action that does not conform to the plan. Therefore, the DEIS discloses which full field development activities would not be in conformance with the plan and identifies which land use plan decisions would be amended. to evaluate alternatives that would create additional water storage for the Yakima River basin and assess their potential to supply the water needed for ecosystem aquatic habitat, basin-wide agriculture, and municipal demands. The need for the study is based on the existing finite water supply and limited storage capability of the Yakima River basin in low water years. This finite supply and limited storage capacity do not meet the water supply demands in all years and result in significant adverse impact to the Yakima River basin’s economy, which is agriculturebased, and to the basin’s aquatic habitat, specifically, anadromous fisheries. The study seeks to identify means of increasing water storage available, including storage of Columbia River water, for purposes of improving anadromous fish habitat and meeting irrigation and municipal water supply needs. Selma Sierra, Utah State Director. [FR Doc. E8–1760 Filed 1–31–08; 8:45 am] Meetings will be held on 2 days in two locations: • Wednesday, February 27, 2008, in Yakima, Washington. • Thursday, February 28, 2008, in Kennewick, Washington. On each day, an informational open house will occur from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by a public hearing to receive oral comments from 2 to 4 p.m. Another open house will occur from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by another public hearing from 7 to 9 p.m. Requests for special assistance at the meetings should be submitted by February 15, 2008 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, Special Assistance for Public Meetings). Written comments on the draft PR/EIS will be accepted through March 31, 2008. ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held at the following locations: • Yakima, Washington: Yakima Convention Center, 10 North 8th St. • Kennewick, Washington: Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd. The meeting facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Written comments on the Draft PR/ EIS should be addressed to the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, Attention: David Kaumheimer, Environmental Programs Manager, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington 98901–2058. Comments may also be submitted electronically to storagestudy@pn.usbr.gov. Requests for paper or CD copies of the Draft PR/EIS may be made to (509) 575–5848, ext. 612. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of the DATES: BILLING CODE 1310–EJ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study; Benton, Yakima, and Kittitas Counties, Washington INT–DES 08–03 Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Hearings on the Draft Planning Report and Environmental Impact Statement. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared a combined Draft Planning Report and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft PR/EIS) on the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study (Storage Study). The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is a joint lead with Reclamation in the preparation of the Draft PR/EIS which will also be used to comply with requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The cooperating agencies on this study are Yakima County; the U.S. Department of the Army: Yakima Training Center and the Seattle District of the U.S. Corps of Engineers; and the U.S. Department of Energy: Office of River Protection. The purpose of the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study is VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:22 Jan 31, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Draft PR/EIS are available for public review. Information on this project can also be found at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/ programs/storage_study/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact David Kaumheimer, Environmental Programs Manager, Telephone: (509) 575–5848, extension 232. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hearing Process Information Requests to make oral comments at the public hearings may be made at each hearing. In order to ensure that all those interested in providing oral comments have an opportunity to do so, oral comments at the hearings will be limited to 5 minutes. Comments will be recorded by a court reporter. Speakers will be called in the order indicated on the sign in list for speaking. Speakers not present when called will be recalled at the end of the scheduled speakers. Speakers may provide written versions of their oral comments, or other additional written comments, for the hearing record. Longer comments should be summarized at the public hearing and submitted in writing either at the public hearing or identified as hearing comments and mailed within 7 days of the hearing date to Mr. Dave Kaumheimer as indicated under the ADDRESSES section. Background Information Reclamation has undertaken this study to explore ways to augment water supplies in the Yakima River Basin for the benefit of anadromous fish, irrigated agriculture, and municipal water supply under the authority of Public Law 108– 7, Title II, Section 214 which was passed by Congress on February 20, 2003. Public Law 108–7 states: The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, shall conduct a feasibility study of options for additional water storage in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, with emphasis on the feasibility of storage of Columbia River water in the potential Black Rock Reservoir and the benefit of additional storage to endangered and threatened fish, irrigated agriculture, and municipal water supply. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. Ecology is a joint lead with Reclamation in the preparation of this Draft PR/EIS which also complies with SEPA. In addition to the No Action Alternative, this jointly prepared Draft PR/EIS provides NEPA coverage for three storage alternatives, referred to as the Joint Alternatives, which Reclamation and Ecology are considering as part of the Storage Study. E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2008 / Notices These include: Black Rock Dam, Wymer Dam and Reservoir, and Wymer Dam plus Yakima River Pump Exchange Alternatives. In addition to the storage alternatives being considered under feasibility study authority, this EIS provides SEPA coverage for three additional alternatives, referred to as the State Alternatives, which Ecology is considering. These include: Enhanced Water Conservation, Market Based Reallocation of Water Resources, and Groundwater Storage Alternatives. Locations Where Copies of the Draft PR/ EIS Are Available for Public Review • Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior, Room 7455, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. • Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Denver Federal Center, Building 67, Room 167, Denver, Colorado 80225. • Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706–1234. • Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington 98901. • Kennewick City Library, 1620 S. Union St., Kennewick, Washington 99338. • Pasco City Library, 1320 W. Hopkins, Pasco, Washington 99301. • Richland City Library, 955 Northgate Drive, Richland, Washington 99352. • Yakima Valley Regional Library, 102 N. 3 rd St., Yakima, Washington 98901. • Washington State Library, 6880 Capitol Blvd., SW, Olympia, Washington 98504. Special Assistance for Public Meetings TTY users may dial 711 to obtain a toll free TTY relay. Requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired should be submitted to David Kaumheimer at (509) 575–5848, extension 232, or mailed to him at the address in the ADDRESSES section. Spanish language interpretation requests should be made to John Evans at (509) 575–5848. Si necesita interprete ˜ para Espanol, por favor llame John Evans a (509) 575–5848. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Public Disclosure If you wish to comment on this draft PR/EIS, you may mail us your comments as indicated under the ADDRESSES section. Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:22 Jan 31, 2008 Jkt 214001 identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. J. William McDonald, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region. [FR Doc. E8–1880 Filed 1–31–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Notice of Proposed Information Collection Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments for 1029–0091 and 1029– 0118. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request continued approval for the collections of information under 30 CFR Parts 750 and 842 which relate to surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian Lands; and which allows the collection and processing of citizen complaints and requests for inspection, respectively. DATES: Comments on the proposed information collections must be received by April 1, 2008, to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 202—SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted electronically to jtrelease@osmre.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the information collection requests contact John A. Trelease, at (202) 208–2783. You may also review the collection requests at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13), require that interested members of the public and affected PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6203 agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities [see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)]. This notice identifies information collections that OSM will be submitting to OMB for approval. These collections are contained in: (1) 30 CFR Part 750, Requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian Lands; and (2) 30 CFR Part 842, Federal inspections and monitoring. OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for each information collection activity. Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary of the public comments will accompany OSM’s submission of the information collection request to OMB. The following information is provided for the information collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4) frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden for the collection of information. Title: 30 CFR Part 750—Requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian Lands. OMB Control Number: 1029–0091. Summary: Operators who conduct or propose to conduct surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian lands must comply with the requirements of 30 CFR 750 pursuant to Section 710 of SMCRA. Bureau Form Number: None. Frequency of Collection: Once. Description of Respondents: Applicants for coal mining permits on Indian lands. Total Annual Responses: 1. Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,300. Total Annual Non-Wage Burden: $15,000. Title: 30 CFR Part 842—Federal inspections and monitoring. OMB Control Number: 1029–0118. Summary: For purposes of information collection, this part establishes the procedures for any person to notify the Office of Surface Mining in writing of any violation that may exist at a surface coal mining operation. The information will be used to investigate potential violations of the Act or applicable State regulations. E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6202-6203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1880]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study; Benton, 
Yakima, and Kittitas Counties, Washington INT-DES 08-03

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Hearings on the Draft 
Planning Report and Environmental Impact Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) has prepared a combined Draft Planning Report and 
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft PR/EIS) on the Yakima River Basin 
Water Storage Feasibility Study (Storage Study). The Washington 
Department of Ecology (Ecology) is a joint lead with Reclamation in the 
preparation of the Draft PR/EIS which will also be used to comply with 
requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). 
The cooperating agencies on this study are Yakima County; the U.S. 
Department of the Army: Yakima Training Center and the Seattle District 
of the U.S. Corps of Engineers; and the U.S. Department of Energy: 
Office of River Protection.
    The purpose of the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility 
Study is to evaluate alternatives that would create additional water 
storage for the Yakima River basin and assess their potential to supply 
the water needed for ecosystem aquatic habitat, basin-wide agriculture, 
and municipal demands. The need for the study is based on the existing 
finite water supply and limited storage capability of the Yakima River 
basin in low water years. This finite supply and limited storage 
capacity do not meet the water supply demands in all years and result 
in significant adverse impact to the Yakima River basin's economy, 
which is agriculture-based, and to the basin's aquatic habitat, 
specifically, anadromous fisheries. The study seeks to identify means 
of increasing water storage available, including storage of Columbia 
River water, for purposes of improving anadromous fish habitat and 
meeting irrigation and municipal water supply needs.

DATES: Meetings will be held on 2 days in two locations:
     Wednesday, February 27, 2008, in Yakima, Washington.
     Thursday, February 28, 2008, in Kennewick, Washington.
    On each day, an informational open house will occur from 1 to 2 
p.m., followed by a public hearing to receive oral comments from 2 to 4 
p.m. Another open house will occur from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by 
another public hearing from 7 to 9 p.m.
    Requests for special assistance at the meetings should be submitted 
by February 15, 2008 (see Supplementary Information section, Special 
Assistance for Public Meetings).
    Written comments on the draft PR/EIS will be accepted through March 
31, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held at the following locations:
     Yakima, Washington: Yakima Convention Center, 10 North 8th 
St.
     Kennewick, Washington: Three Rivers Convention Center, 
7016 W. Grandridge Blvd.
    The meeting facilities are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities.
    Written comments on the Draft PR/EIS should be addressed to the 
Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, Attention: David 
Kaumheimer, Environmental Programs Manager, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, 
Washington 98901-2058. Comments may also be submitted electronically to 
storagestudy@pn.usbr.gov. Requests for paper or CD copies of the Draft 
PR/EIS may be made to (509) 575-5848, ext. 612.
    See Supplementary Information section for locations where copies of 
the Draft PR/EIS are available for public review.
    Information on this project can also be found at https://
www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/storage_study/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact David Kaumheimer, 
Environmental Programs Manager, Telephone: (509) 575-5848, extension 
232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Hearing Process Information

    Requests to make oral comments at the public hearings may be made 
at each hearing. In order to ensure that all those interested in 
providing oral comments have an opportunity to do so, oral comments at 
the hearings will be limited to 5 minutes. Comments will be recorded by 
a court reporter. Speakers will be called in the order indicated on the 
sign in list for speaking. Speakers not present when called will be 
recalled at the end of the scheduled speakers. Speakers may provide 
written versions of their oral comments, or other additional written 
comments, for the hearing record. Longer comments should be summarized 
at the public hearing and submitted in writing either at the public 
hearing or identified as hearing comments and mailed within 7 days of 
the hearing date to Mr. Dave Kaumheimer as indicated under the 
Addresses section.

Background Information

    Reclamation has undertaken this study to explore ways to augment 
water supplies in the Yakima River Basin for the benefit of anadromous 
fish, irrigated agriculture, and municipal water supply under the 
authority of Public Law 108-7, Title II, Section 214 which was passed 
by Congress on February 20, 2003. Public Law 108-7 states:

    The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of 
Reclamation, shall conduct a feasibility study of options for 
additional water storage in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, with 
emphasis on the feasibility of storage of Columbia River water in 
the potential Black Rock Reservoir and the benefit of additional 
storage to endangered and threatened fish, irrigated agriculture, 
and municipal water supply. There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

    Ecology is a joint lead with Reclamation in the preparation of this 
Draft PR/EIS which also complies with SEPA. In addition to the No 
Action Alternative, this jointly prepared Draft PR/EIS provides NEPA 
coverage for three storage alternatives, referred to as the Joint 
Alternatives, which Reclamation and Ecology are considering as part of 
the Storage Study.

[[Page 6203]]

These include: Black Rock Dam, Wymer Dam and Reservoir, and Wymer Dam 
plus Yakima River Pump Exchange Alternatives.
    In addition to the storage alternatives being considered under 
feasibility study authority, this EIS provides SEPA coverage for three 
additional alternatives, referred to as the State Alternatives, which 
Ecology is considering. These include: Enhanced Water Conservation, 
Market Based Reallocation of Water Resources, and Groundwater Storage 
Alternatives.

Locations Where Copies of the Draft PR/EIS Are Available for Public 
Review

     Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Room 7455, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Denver 
Federal Center, Building 67, Room 167, Denver, Colorado 80225.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 
1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, 1917 
Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington 98901.
     Kennewick City Library, 1620 S. Union St., Kennewick, 
Washington 99338.
     Pasco City Library, 1320 W. Hopkins, Pasco, Washington 
99301.
     Richland City Library, 955 Northgate Drive, Richland, 
Washington 99352.
     Yakima Valley Regional Library, 102 N. 3 rd St., Yakima, 
Washington 98901.
     Washington State Library, 6880 Capitol Blvd., SW, Olympia, 
Washington 98504.

Special Assistance for Public Meetings

    TTY users may dial 711 to obtain a toll free TTY relay.
    Requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired 
should be submitted to David Kaumheimer at (509) 575-5848, extension 
232, or mailed to him at the address in the Addresses section.
    Spanish language interpretation requests should be made to John 
Evans at (509) 575-5848. Si necesita interprete para Espa[ntilde]ol, 
por favor llame John Evans a (509) 575-5848.

Public Disclosure

    If you wish to comment on this draft PR/EIS, you may mail us your 
comments as indicated under the Addresses section. Before including 
your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

J. William McDonald,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. E8-1880 Filed 1-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P

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