Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD) Modification Project, Sacramento and El Dorado Counties, CA, 24965-24966 [2010-10716]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Reclamation Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24965-24966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10716]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD) Modification Project, 
Sacramento and El Dorado Counties, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation), the lead Federal agency and the Sacramento Area Flood 
Control Agency (SAFCA), the CEQA lead agency, have prepared a Final 
Supplemental EIS/EIR for the MIAD Modification Project. The Final 
Supplemental EIS/EIR contains responses to comments received on the 
Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR.
    A Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR was 
published in the Federal Register on Friday, November 27, 2009 (74 FR 
62346). The public review period on the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR 
ended on January 18, 2010.
    The MIAD Modification Project is a feature of the larger Folsom Dam 
Safety/Flood Damage Reduction (DS/FDR) Project currently underway by 
Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the Corps' 
non-Federal sponsors, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and 
SAFCA, to address hydrologic, static, and seismic issues at Folsom Dam 
and Reservoir. The analysis in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR considered 
several methods to modify MIAD to achieve Reclamation's risk standards 
for dam safety. Subsequent investigations have shown that the preferred 
alternative's design approaches and construction techniques 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 will not meet Reclamation's dam safety standards. 
The MIAD Supplemental EIS/EIR analyzes additional techniques to 
stabilize the MIAD foundation to meet the existing risk standards for 
dam safety.
    Additionally, the supplement addresses potential environmental 
effects associated with completing mitigation for the Folsom DS/FDR 
Project at the Mississippi Bar site. The two mitigation alternatives 
include the improvement of up to 80 acres of seasonal wetland and 
riparian habitat and the no action alternative. The environmental 
effects of the mitigation were not addressed in the previous 
environmental document as the location for mitigation had not been 
determined.

DATES: SAFCA will complete a CEQA Findings on the Final Supplemental 
EIS/EIR within 30 days of the document's release. No Federal decision 
will be made until 30 days after the release of the Final Supplemental 
EIS/EIR. After this 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a 
Record of Decision (ROD) for the MIAD modifications. A second ROD is 
anticipated for the habitat mitigation actions at Mississippi Bar. The 
RODs and CEQA Findings will identify the recommended action to be 
implemented, including any measures found necessary to avoid, reduce, 
or mitigate any significant adverse project effects.

ADDRESSES: Send requests for a compact disk or a bound copy of the 
Final Supplemental EIS/EIR to Mr. Matthew See, Bureau of Reclamation, 
7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630 (e-mail: msee@usbr.gov; 
telephone: 916-989-7198). The MIAD Final Supplemental EIS/EIR will also 
be available at: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=3472.
    See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where 
copies of the Final Supplemental EIS/EIR are available for public 
review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew See at 916-989-7198, TDD 
916-989-7285, e-mail msee@usbr.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Folsom Facility consists of 12 
structures (dams and dikes), that impound the American River forming 
Folsom Reservoir. As part of their responsibilities, Reclamation and 
the Corps have determined that the Folsom Facility requires structural 
improvements to increase overall public safety above existing 
conditions including addressing dam safety and security issues. Both 
Reclamation and the Corps share in the responsibility of ensuring that 
the Folsom Facility is maintained and operated under their respective 
agency dam safety regulations and guidelines, as defined by Congress. 
The improvements will enhance the facility's ability to reduce flood 
damages posed by hydrologic (flood), seismic (earthquake), and static 
(seepage) events. These events have a low probability of occurrence in 
a given year; however, due to the large population downstream of Folsom 
Dam, modifying the facilities is prudent and necessary to improve 
public safety above current baseline conditions and meet current safety 
standards.

[[Page 24966]]

    Reclamation has identified the need for expedited action to reduce 
hydrologic, static, and seismic risks under its Safety of Dams (SOD) 
Program and security issues under its Security Program. These 
identified risks are among the highest risks for all dams in 
Reclamation's inventory, and the Folsom Facility is among Reclamation's 
highest priorities within its SOD Program. Both Reclamation and the 
Corps have conducted engineering studies to identify potential 
corrective measures for the Folsom Facility to alleviate seismic, 
static, and hydrologic dam safety issues and flood management concerns. 
These two Federal agencies have combined their efforts resulting in (1) 
a Joint Federal Project for addressing Reclamation's dam safety 
hydrologic risk and the Corps' flood damage reduction objectives and 
(2) other stand-alone flood damage reduction and dam safety actions to 
be completed by the respective agencies in a coordinated manner. The 
MIAD Modification Project Final Supplemental EIS/EIR discusses the 
project background, purpose and need, project description, and proposed 
action. Responses to all comments received from interested 
organizations and individuals on the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR during 
the public review period and at the public meetings are addressed in 
the Final Supplemental EIS/EIR.
    The Final Supplemental EIS/EIR addresses the impacts of project 
construction on aquatic resources, terrestrial vegetation and wildlife, 
hydrology, water quality, flood control, groundwater, water supply, 
socioeconomics, cultural resources, soils, minerals, geological 
resources, visual resources, transportation and circulation, land use, 
planning and zoning, recreation resources, public services and 
utilities, air quality, public health and safety, growth inducement, 
noise, environmental justice, and Indian trust assets. There is the 
potential for significant impacts to air quality, recreation resources, 
and visual resources.
    The MIAD Modification Project proposed action considered by the 
lead agencies is the alternative that includes:
     Cellular open excavation as the preferred method to 
excavate and replace the downstream MIAD foundation to reduce seismic 
(earthquake) risks associated with the downstream foundation.
     Placement of an overlay on the downstream side of MIAD to 
address seismic (earthquake) risks associated with the upstream 
foundation and installation of filters and drains to reduce static 
(seepage and piping) risks.
     Creation of up to 80 acres of riparian habitat mitigation 
and 5 acres of seasonal wetland mitigation at Mississippi Bar.
    Copies of the MIAD Modification Project Final Supplemental EIS/EIR 
are available for public review at the following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional Office 
Library, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1825, Sacramento, CA 95825-1989.
     El Dorado County Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 
95667-5699.
     Folsom Public Library, 411 Stafford Street, Folsom, CA 
95630.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001.
     Roseville Public Library, 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA 
95678.
     Sacramento Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 
95814-2589.

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: March 19, 2010.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-10716 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P