Folsom Dam Safety of Dams Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD) Modification, California, 66254-66255 [E8-26634]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 217 / Friday, November 7, 2008 / Notices
estate. There are approximately 3.2
million acres of BLM-managed oil and
gas. The Powder River RMP area
includes Powder River and Treasure
Counties, and portions of Big Horn,
Carter, Custer, and Rosebud Counties.
The Billings RMP area includes Carbon,
Golden Valley, Musselshell, Stillwater,
Sweet Grass, Wheatland, and
Yellowstone Counties and the
remaining portion of Big Horn County.
The Proposed SEIS/Amendment
supplements the 2003 Montana
Statewide Final Oil and Gas
Environmental Impact Statement and
Proposed Amendment of the Powder
River and Billings Resource
Management Plans (Statewide
Document).
The Statewide Document was
approved on April 30, 2003. Several
lawsuits were filed against the BLM’s
decisions. Two of the lawsuits resulted
in an April 5, 2005, ruling by the U.S.
District Court ordering the BLM to
prepare the SEIS/Amendment to
consider a phased development
alternative for coal bed natural gas
(CBNG) production in the Billings and
Powder River RMP areas.
Topics addressed in the Proposed
SEIS/Amendment include those
provided or recommended by the U.S.
District Court: Phased CBNG
development, the inclusion of the
proposed Tongue River Railroad in the
cumulative impact analysis, and a
discussion on how private water well
mitigation agreements help alleviate the
impacts of methane migration and
groundwater drawdown. The Notice of
Intent to plan for the Draft SEIS/
Amendment was published in the
Federal Register in Volume 70 FR
Number 150, p. 45417, August 5, 2005.
The Draft SEIS/Amendment analyzed
three new alternatives (F, G and H) to
consider phased CBNG development.
Under Alternative F, the BLM would
limit the number of Federal applications
for permit to drill (APD) approved each
year cumulatively and in each fourthorder watershed. The BLM would also
limit the percentage of disturbance
within identified crucial wildlife
habitat. Further, the BLM would place
a limit on the volume of untreated water
discharged to surface waters from
Federal CBNG wells within each fourthorder watershed.
Under Alternative G, development of
CBNG on Federal leases in the Billings
and Powder River RMP areas would be
done following the same management
actions as described under Alternative
F. However, while the BLM would limit
the number of Federal APDs approved
each year cumulatively, development
would be limited to a low range of
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:04 Nov 06, 2008
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predicted wells based on the Statewide
Document’s Reasonably Foreseeable
Development scenario.
Alternative H, the BLM’s preferred
alternative, contained three key
components. First, a phased
development approach would be
implemented where a CBNG proposal
would be reviewed against four filters or
screens to determine if the proposal
needed to be modified. Second, this
alternative would include extensive
requirements that an operator must meet
when submitting a project Plan of
Development (POD). Third, mitigation
measures, and subsequent modifications
to existing operations via adaptive
management, would be considered and
applied to each POD, as appropriate.
The 90-day public comment period on
the Draft SEIS/Amendment ended May
2, 2007. During the comment period, the
EPA notified the BLM of air analysis
deficiencies in the Draft SEIS/
Amendment. As a result, the BLM
prepared a draft supplement to the Draft
SEIS/Amendment to demonstrate that
predicted visibility effects in Class I and
II areas could be mitigated. The 90-day
public comment period for the
additional air quality analyses ended
March 13, 2008.
Public comments on the Draft SEIS/
Amendment and supplemental air
analyses were considered in the
preparation of the Proposed SEIS/
Amendment. Public comments resulted
in changes to the Air Quality and
Wildlife screens in the Draft SEIS/
Amendment (Alternative H). The Air
Quality Screen was modified to allow
for better monitoring of air quality. The
BLM also received comments on climate
change, which have been addressed in
the Proposed SEIS/Amendment.
Consideration of climate change
analysis did not result in any additional
changes to the Air Quality Screen. The
Wildlife Screen was modified to include
population threshold levels for
pronghorn, mule deer, and sage-grouse
habitat. If the BLM management of
habitat results in declines in the
populations of these species, based on
the established threshold levels, the
BLM would implement mitigation
measures to minimize impacts to
wildlife habitat and maintain wildlife
populations. The Wildlife Screen was
also modified to include provisions that
would allow for the implementation of
protective measures for other species’
habitats.
The Assistant Secretary, Land and
Minerals Management, in the
Department of the Interior is the
responsible official for this proposed
plan amendment on public lands. The
Federal Land Policy and Management
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Act and its implementing regulations
provide land use planning authority to
the Secretary, as delegated to the
Assistant Secretary. Because the Record
of Decision will be signed by the
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals
Management, it will be the final
decision for the Department of the
Interior. This decision is not subject to
administrative review (protest) under
the BLM or the Department of the
Interior regulations (43 CFR 1610.5–2).
The BLM has initiated activities to
coordinate and consult with the
Montana Governor. Prior to the issuance
of the Record of Decision and approval
of the proposed land use plan
amendment, the Governor will be given
the opportunity to identify any
inconsistencies between the Proposed
SEIS/Amendment and state or local
plans and to provide recommendations
in writing during the 60-day consistency
review period required by the BLM land
use planning regulations (43 CFR
1610.3–2).
Gene R. Terland,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E8–26473 Filed 11–6–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Folsom Dam Safety of Dams Mormon
Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD)
Modification, California
Bureau of Reclamation,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR)
and notice of public scoping meetings.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation,
the lead Federal agency, and the
Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
(SAFCA), acting as the lead State
agency, will prepare a joint EIS/EIR for
the proposed Folsom Dam Safety of
Dams MIAD Modification (Proposed
Action). The purpose of the Proposed
Action is to reduce the seismic and
static risk of failure of MIAD. In this
way, Reclamation will achieve the
existing standards for dam safety and
reduce the risk of injury to those people
living and working downstream of the
Folsom Dam complex.
DATES: A series of scoping meetings will
be held to solicit public input on the
scope of the environmental document,
alternatives, concerns, and issues to be
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 217 / Friday, November 7, 2008 / Notices
addressed in the EIS/EIR. The scoping
meeting dates are:
• Tuesday, December 2, 2008. 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m., Folsom, CA.
• Tuesday, December 2, 2008. 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m., Folsom, CA.
• Thursday, December 4, 2008. 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m., El Dorado Hills, CA.
Written comments on the scope of the
EIS/EIR will be accepted until January
3, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The public scoping
meetings will be held at:
• Folsom: Folsom Community Center,
52 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630.
• El Dorado Hills: El Dorado Hills
Community Services District, 1021
Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills, CA
95762.
Written comments on the scope of the
EIS/EIR document should be sent to Ms.
Elizabeth Vasquez, Central California
Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation,
7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA
95630–1799; or e-mailed to
FolsomDamMods@mp.usbr.gov.
Ms.
Elizabeth Vasquez, Central California
Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, at
the CCAO general telephone number
916–988–1707, e-mail at:
FolsomDamMods@mp.usbr.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ebenthall on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
Background
The March 2007 Folsom Dam Safety
and Flood Damage Reduction EIS/EIR
(Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR) included
NEPA/CEQA analysis of modifying
MIAD. The analysis in the Folsom DS/
FDR EIS/EIR considered several
methods to modify MIAD to achieve
Reclamation’s risk standards for dam
safety. The May 2007 Record of Decision
Folsom Dam Safety of Dams and
Security Upgrades Project documented
that the preferred alterative for MIAD
modification was to place an overlay
and seepage control filters on the
downstream (terrestrial) side of MIAD
and reinforce the MIAD foundation
using a construction technique known
as jet grouting. At that time, some of the
required permits and consultations
(Endangered Species Act, Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, and Sec 106
of the National Historic Preservation
Act) were also obtained. Subsequent
investigations into the feasibility of the
MIAD Modification Project as conceived
in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR have
indicated that the design of the MIAD
Modification Project will need to be
changed to achieve Reclamation’s
existing risk standards for dam safety.
Specifically, the utilization of jet
grouting to stabilize the foundation of
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MIAD is unlikely to meet those risk
standards.
The purpose of the Proposed Action
is to reduce the seismic and static risk
of failure of MIAD. In this way,
Reclamation will achieve the existing
standards for dam safety and reduce the
risk of injury to those people living and
working downstream of the Folsom Dam
complex. This proposed project is a
feature of the Folsom Dam Safety of
Dams Project, and the analysis will tier
from the March 2007 NEPA/CEQA
environmental analysis, the Folsom DS/
FDR EIS/EIR.
At this time, there are no known or
possible Indian trust assets or
environmental justice issues associated
with the Proposed Action.
Special Assistance for Public Scoping
Meetings
If special assistance is required to
participate in the public hearings,
please contact Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez at
916–989–7192, TDD 916–989–7285, or
e-mail evasquez@mp.usbr.gov. Please
notify Ms. Vasquez as far in advance as
possible to enable Reclamation to secure
the needed services. If a request cannot
be honored, the requestor will be
notified. A telephone device for the
hearing impaired (TDD) is available at
916–989–7285.
Public Disclosure
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.
Dated: October 28, 2008.
Michael Chotkowski,
Acting Regional Environmental Officer, MidPacific Region.
[FR Doc. E8–26634 Filed 11–6–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
Black Mesa Project Final
Environmental Impact Statement,
OSM–EIS–033
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
AGENCY:
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66255
Notice of availability of the final
environmental impact statement for the
Black Mesa Project.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (we or
OSM), as lead Federal agency,
announces the availability of the final
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the proposed Black Mesa Project.
The proposed project consists of
Peabody Western Coal Company’s
(Peabody’s) operation and reclamation
plans for coal mining at the Black Mesa
Complex near Kayenta, Arizona.
DATES: The waiting period for OSM’s
and the Bureau of Land Management’s
(BLM’s) records of decision on the
proposed project ends on December 8,
2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
OSM, Western Region, P.O. Box 46667,
Denver, CO 80201, Dennis Winterringer,
Black Mesa Project EIS Leader,
telephone (303) 293–5048 or by e-mail
at BMKEIS@osmre.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2006,
under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), we prepared
and made available for public review a
draft EIS analyzing the effects of the
Black Mesa Project. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) published the
notice of availability on December 1,
2006 (71 FR 69562). The proposed
project consisted of (1) Peabody’s
operation and reclamation plans for coal
mining at the Black Mesa Complex near
Kayenta, Arizona; (2) Black Mesa
Pipeline Incorporated’s (BMPI’s) coal
slurry preparation plant at the Black
Mesa Complex; (3) BMPI’s
reconstruction of the 273-mile-long coal
slurry pipeline across northern Arizona
from the coal slurry preparation plant to
the Mohave Generating Station in
Laughlin, Nevada; and (4) the Mohave
Generation Station co-owners’
construction and operation of a water
supply system consisting of water wells
in the Coconino aquifer (C aquifer) near
Leupp, Arizona, and of a water supply
pipeline running 108 miles across the
Navajo and Hopi Reservations from the
wells to the coal slurry preparation
plant. Peabody proposed to continue
supplying coal to the Navajo Generating
Station and the Mohave Generating
Station. The coal slurry preparation
plant, coal-slurry pipeline, and
Coconino aquifer water-supply system
were associated with supplying coal to
the Mohave Generating Station.
Since the draft EIS was issued, the
scope of the proposed project has been
reduced to Peabody’s operation and
reclamation plans for coal mining at the
Black Mesa Complex for supplying coal
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 217 (Friday, November 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66254-66255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26634]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Folsom Dam Safety of Dams Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD)
Modification, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and notice of public scoping
meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of
Reclamation, the lead Federal agency, and the Sacramento Area Flood
Control Agency (SAFCA), acting as the lead State agency, will prepare a
joint EIS/EIR for the proposed Folsom Dam Safety of Dams MIAD
Modification (Proposed Action). The purpose of the Proposed Action is
to reduce the seismic and static risk of failure of MIAD. In this way,
Reclamation will achieve the existing standards for dam safety and
reduce the risk of injury to those people living and working downstream
of the Folsom Dam complex.
DATES: A series of scoping meetings will be held to solicit public
input on the scope of the environmental document, alternatives,
concerns, and issues to be
[[Page 66255]]
addressed in the EIS/EIR. The scoping meeting dates are:
Tuesday, December 2, 2008. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Folsom, CA.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Folsom, CA.
Thursday, December 4, 2008. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., El Dorado
Hills, CA.
Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR will be accepted until
January 3, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The public scoping meetings will be held at:
Folsom: Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma Street, Folsom,
CA 95630.
El Dorado Hills: El Dorado Hills Community Services
District, 1021 Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.
Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR document should be
sent to Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez, Central California Area Office, Bureau
of Reclamation, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630-1799; or e-
mailed to FolsomDamMods@mp.usbr.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez, Central
California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, at the CCAO general
telephone number 916-988-1707, e-mail at: FolsomDamMods@mp.usbr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The March 2007 Folsom Dam Safety and Flood Damage Reduction EIS/EIR
(Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR) included NEPA/CEQA analysis of modifying MIAD.
The analysis in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR considered several methods to
modify MIAD to achieve Reclamation's risk standards for dam safety. The
May 2007 Record of Decision Folsom Dam Safety of Dams and Security
Upgrades Project documented that the preferred alterative for MIAD
modification was to place an overlay and seepage control filters on the
downstream (terrestrial) side of MIAD and reinforce the MIAD foundation
using a construction technique known as jet grouting. At that time,
some of the required permits and consultations (Endangered Species Act,
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and Sec 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act) were also obtained. Subsequent
investigations into the feasibility of the MIAD Modification Project as
conceived in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR have indicated that the design
of the MIAD Modification Project will need to be changed to achieve
Reclamation's existing risk standards for dam safety. Specifically, the
utilization of jet grouting to stabilize the foundation of MIAD is
unlikely to meet those risk standards.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce the seismic and
static risk of failure of MIAD. In this way, Reclamation will achieve
the existing standards for dam safety and reduce the risk of injury to
those people living and working downstream of the Folsom Dam complex.
This proposed project is a feature of the Folsom Dam Safety of Dams
Project, and the analysis will tier from the March 2007 NEPA/CEQA
environmental analysis, the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR.
At this time, there are no known or possible Indian trust assets or
environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Action.
Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings
If special assistance is required to participate in the public
hearings, please contact Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez at 916-989-7192, TDD
916-989-7285, or e-mail evasquez@mp.usbr.gov. Please notify Ms. Vasquez
as far in advance as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the
needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be
notified. A telephone device for the hearing impaired (TDD) is
available at 916-989-7285.
Public Disclosure
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.
Dated: October 28, 2008.
Michael Chotkowski,
Acting Regional Environmental Officer, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. E8-26634 Filed 11-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P
