Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Intake Diversion Dam Modification, Lower Yellowstone Project, Montana, 52964-52966 [E8-21188]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 178 / Friday, September 12, 2008 / Notices
incremental adaptive management
approach should be compared to one
another, and the better of these two
options should be pursued.
9.2 Project Types.
Commercial Navigation &
Hydropower. For commercial navigation
and hydropower features, the plan with
high net economic return (benefit cost
ratio of at least 1.5) to the Nation for
each increment of such work, consistent
with protecting the environment, will be
considered minimally acceptable. Plans
that address the most critical needs and
have an increasingly higher benefit cost
ratio should be more heavily weighted
in the selection process.
Flood and Storm Damage Reduction.
Flood and storm damage reduction
features could include structural and
non-structural components. As both
monetary and non-monetary values are
likely to be part of the decision process
when non-structural components are
included, a comparative approach as
identified in the Multi-Criterion
Evaluation, Consistency & Transparency
section will provide the clarity in these
situations for decision making. Where
benefits are measured in monetary
values only, the plan with high net
economic return (benefit cost ratio of at
least 1.5) to the Nation for each
increment of such work, consistent with
protecting the environment, will be
considered minimally acceptable. Plans
that address the most critical needs and
have an increasingly higher benefit cost
ratio should be more heavily weighted
in the selection process. Generally,
when structural and non-structural
components provide viable options
when considering all evaluation criteria,
including benefits, costs and adverse
effects, preference should be given to
non-structural components so long as
the monetary benefits are at least at
unity. If the non-monetary benefits
represent a majority of the total benefits
and are of National significance, then
consideration can be given to selecting
a plan with monetary benefits less than
unity.
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration. For
aquatic ecosystem restoration features,
the plan that is cost-effective,
sustainable, and is the alternative plan
that best reflects an appropriate level to
invest for that ecosystem from a national
perspective, after considering the
national or regional significance and
cost of protecting or restoring that
ecosystem compared to others will be
considered as minimally acceptable for
selection. Plans that address the most
critical ecological needs using the
minimum action needed to substantially
improve the natural functions or
services with increasingly higher cost
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effectiveness should be more heavily
weighted in the selection process.
Multiple Objectives. For multiple
objective projects with features and
increments of work whose benefits and
costs are jointly distributed among more
than one objective, each such feature or
increment of work should yield a net
overall return to the Nation after
considering its cost, effectiveness, and
other beneficial and adverse effects.
Where the benefits are measured in
monetary values only; those with high
net economic return (benefit cost ratio
of at least 1.5) to the Nation for each
increment of such work, consistent with
protecting the environment, will be
considered minimally acceptable. Plans
that address the most critical needs and
have an increasingly higher benefit cost
ratio should be more heavily weighted
in the selection process. Where plans
have both monetary and non-monetary
values, a comparative approach as
identified in the Multi-Criterion
Evaluation, Consistency & Transparency
section is to be used to inform a
decision. The monetary benefits of a
multi-criteria plan must at least be
unity. If the non-monetary benefits
represent a majority of the total benefits
and are of national significance, then
consideration can be given to selecting
a plan with monetary benefits less than
unity.
9.3 Agency Exception. The Secretary
will ordinarily consider exceptions to
the selection criteria under the
following circumstances: where there
are overriding reasons for doing so,
including safety and other Federal,
State, local, Tribal, and international
concerns. The reasons for an exception
are to be given in a request from the
Chief of Engineers and must be
appropriately documented. The full
planning process carried forth through
the study must be documented,
completed and submitted along with the
documented exception in order to
uphold the ideal of a transparent
process.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–21294 Filed 9–11–08; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Intake Diversion Dam
Modification, Lower Yellowstone
Project, Montana
Bureau of Reclamation,
Interior, and Corps of Engineers, Army.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the Intake Diversion Dam
Modification, Lower Yellowstone
Project, Montana.
AGENCIES:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and
the Council on Environmental Quality’s
(CEQ) regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA, the
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
and the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers
(Corps) propose to jointly prepare an
EIS that analyzes and discloses effects
associated with modifications to Intake
Diversion Dam. The proposed Federal
action is to modify Intake Diversion
Dam and canal headworks, features of
Reclamation’s Lower Yellowstone
Project, to improve passage and reduce
entrainment for endangered pallid
sturgeon and other native fish in the
lower Yellowstone River.
Reclamation and the Corps will serve
as joint lead Federal agencies in the
preparation of the Intake Diversion Dam
Modification EIS. Reclamation will act
as administrative lead for NEPA
compliance activities during
preparation of the EIS. Reclamation and
the Corps will each consider and
approve a Record of Decision regarding
actions and decisions for which the
respective agencies are responsible.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be
held in October 2008. See the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
dates and locations of these meetings.
Written or e-mailed comments on the
scope of issues and alternatives to be
considered in the Draft EIS will be
accepted through November 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
requests to be added to the mailing list
may be submitted to Bureau of
Reclamation, Montana Area Office,
Attention: Paula Holwegner, P.O. Box
30137, Billings, MT 59107.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paula Holwegner, Bureau of
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 178 / Friday, September 12, 2008 / Notices
Reclamation, Montana Area Office, P.O.
Box 30137, Billings, MT 59107;
telephone (406) 247–7300; or facsimile
to (406) 247–7338. You may submit
comments, requests, and/or other
information by e-mail to
pholwegner@gp.usbr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dates of Public Scoping Meetings
• October 21, 2008, 5:30 p.m.–8:30
p.m., Sidney, MT
• October 22, 2008, 5:30 p.m.–8:30
p.m., Glendive, MT
• October 23, 2008, 5:30 p.m.–8:30
p.m., Billings, MT
Locations of Public Scoping Meetings
• Community Services Building—
1201 West Holly, Sidney, MT
• Dawson Community College—300
College Drive—Ullman Center Room
102, Glendive, MT
• Montana State University
Downtown Campus—207 North
Broadway, Billings, MT
The meeting facilities are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
People needing special assistance to
attend and/or participate in the public
hearings should contact Patience Hurley
at 701–221–1204 in the Dakotas Area
Office in Bismarck as soon as possible.
To allow sufficient time to process
special requests, please call no later
than one week before the public hearing
of interest.
ebenthall on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
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 12-foot high 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 52,000 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. Both of
the smaller irrigation projects pump
water from the Main Canal. The average
annual volume of water diverted for
these projects is 327,046 acre-feet.
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The Service listed the pallid sturgeon
as endangered under the ESA in 1990.
The wild population of pallid sturgeon
inhabiting the Yellowstone River and
the Missouri River between Fort Peck
Dam and Lake Sakakawea are
anticipated to be extirpated by 2017 if
reproduction and recruitment of young
fish does not improve. The best
available science suggests Intake
Diversion Dam impedes upstream
migration of pallid sturgeon and their
access to spawning and larval drift
habitats. In addition, previous
entrainment studies on other native fish
in the Yellowstone River suggest that
once passage is provided, pallid
sturgeon may be entrained in the Main
Canal.
The lower Yellowstone River is
considered to provide one of the best
opportunities for recovery of pallid
sturgeon. Section 7(a)(1) of the ESA
directs Federal agencies to utilize their
authorities to further the purposes of the
ESA by carrying out conservation
programs for listed species. Reclamation
has been in informal 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 on the
Yellowstone River. 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 160 river miles of
spawning and larval drift habitat would
become available in the Yellowstone
River. By installing fish entrainment
reduction measures, pallid sturgeon
entrainment in the Main Canal would be
minimized.
The Service recommended in their
2003 amendment to the Missouri River
Master Manual biological opinion that
the Corps assist Reclamation in
providing passage for pallid sturgeon at
Intake Diversion Dam as a conservation
recommendation. 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 with compliance, design,
and construction of modifications to the
Lower Yellowstone Project for purposes
of ecosystem restoration.
Reclamation initiated a collaborative
effort with the Service; Corps; Montana
Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Lower
Yellowstone Irrigation District; and The
Nature Conservancy through a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
signed on July 8, 2005. Reclamation
coordinated a value planning study in
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52965
August 2005 with representatives from
parties signatory to the MOU to explore
and evaluate a broad range of
alternatives for fish passage and
entrainment reduction.
Reclamation and the Corps will use a
broad range of scoping activities to fully
identify the range of potentially
significant issues, actions, alternatives,
and impacts to be considered in the EIS.
These scoping activities will ensure the
public has sufficient opportunity to
review and comment on the proposed
Federal action and reasonable
alternatives for fish passage and
entrainment reduction at Intake
Diversion Dam. Public comments are
invited and encouraged to assist
agencies in identifying the scope of
potentially significant environmental,
social, and economic issues relevant to
the proposed Federal action and
determining reasonable alternatives to
be considered in the EIS.
Reclamation and the Corps have
scheduled three public scoping
meetings and are inviting agencies,
tribes, non-governmental organizations,
and the public to participate in an open
exchange of information and to provide
comments on the proposed scope of the
EIS.
Preliminary Alternatives
As required by CEQ’s implementing
regulations, all reasonable alternatives
to the proposed Federal action that meet
the purpose and need will be
considered in the EIS. These
alternatives will include no action and
a range of reasonable alternatives for
improving fish passage and reducing
entrainment. Appropriate mitigation
measures will be incorporated into the
proposed action and reasonable
alternatives. The EIS will analyze and
disclose environmental impacts
associated with the proposed Federal
action and alternatives together with
engineering, operations and
maintenance, social, and economic
considerations. Through MOU partner
discussions and evaluations,
alternatives for passage have been
identified, discussed, and analyzed.
Preliminary alternatives to improve fish
passage include the following:
(1) Passage around the existing
diversion dam;
(2) Relocation of the diversion dam
and canal headworks to take advantage
of hydrology and topography;
(3) Removing the dam and
constructing a single or multiple
pumping plants; and
(4) Variations of a low-gradient rock
ramp in the river.
The preliminary alternatives for
reducing entrainment include:
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(1) A fish screen structure in the Main
Canal with fish bypass to river; and
(2) A rotary drum fish screen on the
bank of the river.
The EIS will also include a no action
alternative that does not improve fish
passage or reduce entrainment. The
public is invited and encouraged to
identify other reasonable alternatives to
improve fish passage and reduce
entrainment at the Intake Diversion Dam
and canal headworks.
Preliminary Identification of
Environmental Issues
A range of issues relevant to the
proposed Federal action have
tentatively been identified for
consideration and analysis in the EIS.
This list is preliminary and is intended
to facilitate public comment on the
scope of this EIS. Reclamation and the
Corps invite you to comment on the
following general questions that reflect
potentially significant issues or
questions of widespread public interest
believed to be relevant to the proposed
Federal action. Reclamation and the
Corps invite and encourage comments
that identify other potentially
significant issues and effects that you
believe should be addressed in the EIS.
How would the proposed action affect
or address the following:
• Aquatic communities and habitats
in the lower Yellowstone River?
• Delivery of irrigation water for the
Lower Yellowstone Project?
• Continued operation and viability
of irrigated agriculture in the Lower
Yellowstone Project?
• Water-based recreation, such as
changes to boat ramps and/or changes to
angling opportunities for paddlefish and
other fish?
• Economic conditions related to the
paddlefish caviar industry?
• Social and economic conditions in
affected communities associated with
construction activities and long-term
operation and maintenance, including
paddlefish caviar harvest and
concession activities?
• Short-term and long-term impacts
on surface water quality?
• Floodplain, wetlands, and riparian
communities?
• Water quantity associated with
operations and climate change?
• Land-based recreation, including
possible changes to the public park area
and river access?
• Relevant cumulative environmental
impacts to the Yellowstone River from
past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable future actions?
• Cultural resources such as historic,
archaeological, architectural, or
traditional properties?
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• Environmental justice, particularly
whether or not water management
activities have a disproportionate
adverse effect on minority and lowincome populations?
• Compliance with all applicable
Federal, State, and local statutes and
regulations and with international
agreements and required Federal and
State environmental permits,
consultations, and notifications?
• Compliance with all applicable
executive orders?
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Public Disclosure Statement
SUMMARY: The South Folsom Property
Owners Group proposes to implement a
large-scale, mixed-use, mixed-density
master planned community with
residential, commercial, office, public/
quasi-public uses, open space, and
parks. The proposed project consists of
approximately 1,464 acres of residential
development, 523 acres of mixed-use
and commercial development, 109 acres
of parks, and 1,053 acres of open space.
The majority of the 1,053 acres of open
space would be located in the western
portion of the project site. This area
includes Alder Creek, numerous
cultural resources sites, and the highest
concentration of oak woodland habitat
within the project site.
The proposed Folsom South of 50
Specific Plan includes development of
up to 10,045 mixed-density residential
homes and approximately 7.4 million
square feet of retail and office uses
within an area south of Highway 50 that
would be annexed to the City of Folsom.
The proposed project would provide
five elementary schools, one joint
middle school/high school, and a
campus for the Sacramento County Day
School. It is anticipated that
construction would begin in 2010. The
initiation and duration of construction
would depend on market conditions
and receipt of environmental permits
and clearances; full build-out would
likely be completed within 20 years
from construction commencement.
The project site is approximately
3,502 acres and contains 82.89 acres of
waters of the United States. The
proposed project would directly affect
approximately 21.28 acres of waters of
the United States, including vernal
pools and other wetlands. These
acreages do not include indirect impacts
from the proposed action or impacts
anticipated to result from off-site
infrastructure that may be determined to
be required as part of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers’ (USACE)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
process.
The EIS will be prepared as a joint
document with the City of Folsom. The
Reclamation and the Corps believe it
is important to inform the public of the
environmental review process. To assist
Reclamation and the Corps in
identifying and considering issues
related to the proposed Federal action,
comments made during formal scoping
and later on the draft EIS should be as
specific as possible. Reviewers must
structure their participation in the
environmental review of the proposal so
that it is meaningful and alerts
Reclamation and the Corps to the
reviewer’s position and contentions. It
is very important that those interested
in this proposed Federal action
participate by the close of the scoping
period so that substantive comments
and objections are made available to
Reclamation and the Corps at a time
when they can meaningfully consider
and respond to them.
If you wish to comment, you may
mail or e-mail your comments as
indicated under the ADDRESSES section.
Before including your name, address,
phone number, e-mail address, or any
other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment including
your personal identifying information
may be made available to the public at
any time.
While you can request in your
comment for us to withhold your
personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
Dated: September 5, 2008.
Michael J. Ryan,
Regional Director, Great Plains Region,
Bureau of Reclamation.
Witt Anderson,
Director, Programs, Northwestern Division,
Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E8–21188 Filed 9–11–08; 8:45 am]
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Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Folsom South of U.S.
Highway 50 Specific Plan Project, in
Sacramento County, CA, Corps Permit
Application Number SPK–2007–02159
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 178 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52964-52966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21188]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Intake Diversion Dam Modification, Lower Yellowstone
Project, Montana
AGENCIES: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior, and Corps of Engineers,
Army.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS) for the Intake Diversion Dam Modification, Lower Yellowstone
Project, Montana.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental
Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Army,
Corps of Engineers (Corps) propose to jointly prepare an EIS that
analyzes and discloses effects associated with modifications to Intake
Diversion Dam. The proposed Federal action is to modify Intake
Diversion Dam and canal headworks, features of Reclamation's Lower
Yellowstone Project, to improve passage and reduce entrainment for
endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish in the lower
Yellowstone River.
Reclamation and the Corps will serve as joint lead Federal agencies
in the preparation of the Intake Diversion Dam Modification EIS.
Reclamation will act as administrative lead for NEPA compliance
activities during preparation of the EIS. Reclamation and the Corps
will each consider and approve a Record of Decision regarding actions
and decisions for which the respective agencies are responsible.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in October 2008. See the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for dates and locations of these
meetings. Written or e-mailed comments on the scope of issues and
alternatives to be considered in the Draft EIS will be accepted through
November 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be added to the mailing
list may be submitted to Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Area Office,
Attention: Paula Holwegner, P.O. Box 30137, Billings, MT 59107.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Holwegner, Bureau of
[[Page 52965]]
Reclamation, Montana Area Office, P.O. Box 30137, Billings, MT 59107;
telephone (406) 247-7300; or facsimile to (406) 247-7338. You may
submit comments, requests, and/or other information by e-mail to
pholwegner@gp.usbr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dates of Public Scoping Meetings
October 21, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Sidney, MT
October 22, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Glendive, MT
October 23, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Billings, MT
Locations of Public Scoping Meetings
Community Services Building--1201 West Holly, Sidney, MT
Dawson Community College--300 College Drive--Ullman Center
Room 102, Glendive, MT
Montana State University Downtown Campus--207 North
Broadway, Billings, MT
The meeting facilities are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. People needing special assistance to attend and/or
participate in the public hearings should contact Patience Hurley at
701-221-1204 in the Dakotas Area Office in Bismarck as soon as
possible. To allow sufficient time to process special requests, please
call no later than one week before the public hearing of interest.
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 12-foot high 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 52,000
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. Both
of the smaller irrigation projects pump water from the Main Canal. The
average annual volume of water diverted for these projects is 327,046
acre-feet.
The Service listed the pallid sturgeon as endangered under the ESA
in 1990. The wild population of pallid sturgeon inhabiting the
Yellowstone River and the Missouri River between Fort Peck Dam and Lake
Sakakawea are anticipated to be extirpated by 2017 if reproduction and
recruitment of young fish does not improve. The best available science
suggests Intake Diversion Dam impedes upstream migration of pallid
sturgeon and their access to spawning and larval drift habitats. In
addition, previous entrainment studies on other native fish in the
Yellowstone River suggest that once passage is provided, pallid
sturgeon may be entrained in the Main Canal.
The lower Yellowstone River is considered to provide one of the
best opportunities for recovery of pallid sturgeon. Section 7(a)(1) of
the ESA directs Federal agencies to utilize their authorities to
further the purposes of the ESA by carrying out conservation programs
for listed species. Reclamation has been in informal 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 on the Yellowstone River. 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 160 river miles of spawning and larval drift habitat
would become available in the Yellowstone River. By installing fish
entrainment reduction measures, pallid sturgeon entrainment in the Main
Canal would be minimized.
The Service recommended in their 2003 amendment to the Missouri
River Master Manual biological opinion that the Corps assist
Reclamation in providing passage for pallid sturgeon at Intake
Diversion Dam as a conservation recommendation. 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 with compliance, design, and construction of
modifications to the Lower Yellowstone Project for purposes of
ecosystem restoration.
Reclamation initiated a collaborative effort with the Service;
Corps; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Lower Yellowstone Irrigation
District; and The Nature Conservancy through a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) signed on July 8, 2005. Reclamation coordinated a
value planning study in August 2005 with representatives from parties
signatory to the MOU to explore and evaluate a broad range of
alternatives for fish passage and entrainment reduction.
Reclamation and the Corps will use a broad range of scoping
activities to fully identify the range of potentially significant
issues, actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered in the EIS.
These scoping activities will ensure the public has sufficient
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Federal action and
reasonable alternatives for fish passage and entrainment reduction at
Intake Diversion Dam. Public comments are invited and encouraged to
assist agencies in identifying the scope of potentially significant
environmental, social, and economic issues relevant to the proposed
Federal action and determining reasonable alternatives to be considered
in the EIS.
Reclamation and the Corps have scheduled three public scoping
meetings and are inviting agencies, tribes, non-governmental
organizations, and the public to participate in an open exchange of
information and to provide comments on the proposed scope of the EIS.
Preliminary Alternatives
As required by CEQ's implementing regulations, all reasonable
alternatives to the proposed Federal action that meet the purpose and
need will be considered in the EIS. These alternatives will include no
action and a range of reasonable alternatives for improving fish
passage and reducing entrainment. Appropriate mitigation measures will
be incorporated into the proposed action and reasonable alternatives.
The EIS will analyze and disclose environmental impacts associated with
the proposed Federal action and alternatives together with engineering,
operations and maintenance, social, and economic considerations.
Through MOU partner discussions and evaluations, alternatives for
passage have been identified, discussed, and analyzed. Preliminary
alternatives to improve fish passage include the following:
(1) Passage around the existing diversion dam;
(2) Relocation of the diversion dam and canal headworks to take
advantage of hydrology and topography;
(3) Removing the dam and constructing a single or multiple pumping
plants; and
(4) Variations of a low-gradient rock ramp in the river.
The preliminary alternatives for reducing entrainment include:
[[Page 52966]]
(1) A fish screen structure in the Main Canal with fish bypass to
river; and
(2) A rotary drum fish screen on the bank of the river.
The EIS will also include a no action alternative that does not improve
fish passage or reduce entrainment. The public is invited and
encouraged to identify other reasonable alternatives to improve fish
passage and reduce entrainment at the Intake Diversion Dam and canal
headworks.
Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues
A range of issues relevant to the proposed Federal action have
tentatively been identified for consideration and analysis in the EIS.
This list is preliminary and is intended to facilitate public comment
on the scope of this EIS. Reclamation and the Corps invite you to
comment on the following general questions that reflect potentially
significant issues or questions of widespread public interest believed
to be relevant to the proposed Federal action. Reclamation and the
Corps invite and encourage comments that identify other potentially
significant issues and effects that you believe should be addressed in
the EIS.
How would the proposed action affect or address the following:
Aquatic communities and habitats in the lower Yellowstone
River?
Delivery of irrigation water for the Lower Yellowstone
Project?
Continued operation and viability of irrigated agriculture
in the Lower Yellowstone Project?
Water-based recreation, such as changes to boat ramps and/
or changes to angling opportunities for paddlefish and other fish?
Economic conditions related to the paddlefish caviar
industry?
Social and economic conditions in affected communities
associated with construction activities and long-term operation and
maintenance, including paddlefish caviar harvest and concession
activities?
Short-term and long-term impacts on surface water quality?
Floodplain, wetlands, and riparian communities?
Water quantity associated with operations and climate
change?
Land-based recreation, including possible changes to the
public park area and river access?
Relevant cumulative environmental impacts to the
Yellowstone River from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future
actions?
Cultural resources such as historic, archaeological,
architectural, or traditional properties?
Environmental justice, particularly whether or not water
management activities have a disproportionate adverse effect on
minority and low-income populations?
Compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local
statutes and regulations and with international agreements and required
Federal and State environmental permits, consultations, and
notifications?
Compliance with all applicable executive orders?
Public Disclosure Statement
Reclamation and the Corps believe it is important to inform the
public of the environmental review process. To assist Reclamation and
the Corps in identifying and considering issues related to the proposed
Federal action, comments made during formal scoping and later on the
draft EIS should be as specific as possible. Reviewers must structure
their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that
it is meaningful and alerts Reclamation and the Corps to the reviewer's
position and contentions. It is very important that those interested in
this proposed Federal action participate by the close of the scoping
period so that substantive comments and objections are made available
to Reclamation and the Corps at a time when they can meaningfully
consider and respond to them.
If you wish to comment, you may mail or e-mail your comments as
indicated under the ADDRESSES section. Before including your name,
address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment including your personal identifying information may be
made available to the public at any time.
While you can request in your comment for us to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Dated: September 5, 2008.
Michael J. Ryan,
Regional Director, Great Plains Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
Witt Anderson,
Director, Programs, Northwestern Division, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E8-21188 Filed 9-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P
