Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Public Hearings for Klamath Facilities Removal, 58833-58834 [2011-24360]

Agencies

• Office of the Secretary
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58833-58834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24360]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Public Hearings for 
Klamath Facilities Removal

AGENCY: Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior and the California Department 
of Fish and Game have prepared a draft environmental impact statement 
and environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) evaluating the effects of 
removing four dams on the Klamath River in southern Oregon and northern 
California. These documents are one part of the total record that will 
inform the decision of the Secretary of the Interior on whether 
removing the dams will advance restoration of the fisheries of the 
Klamath River Basin and will be in the public interest.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before November 21, 2011. We will 
hold six public hearings to solicit comments on the potential effects 
of the proposed action. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 
hearing dates.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez, 
Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, or by e-
mail to KlamathSD@usbr.gov. Written comments also may be submitted 
during the public meetings. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section for meeting addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez, Bureau of Reclamation, 916-978-5040, 
evasquez@usbr.gov; or Mr. Gordon Leppig, California Department of Fish 
and Game, 707-441-2062, KSDcomments@dfg.ca.gov, for technical 
information. For public involvement information, please contact Mr. 
Matt Baun, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 530-841-3119, Matt_Baun@fws.gov. The Draft EIS/EIR may be viewed at https://klamathrestoration.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Interior (Department) 
and the California Department of Fish and Game have prepared an EIS/EIR 
for Klamath Facilities Removal. The draft EIS/EIR evaluates potential 
effects of the proposed removal of four PacifiCorp dams on the Klamath 
River in southern Oregon and northern California (the J.C. Boyle, Copco 
1, Copco 2, and Iron Gate Dams). The proposed removal would be in 
accordance with the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA).
    The KHSA established a process for studies and environmental review 
leading to a Secretarial decision on whether removal of the dams will:
    (1) Advance restoration of salmonid (salmon, steelhead, and trout) 
fisheries of the Klamath River Basin; and
    (2) Be in the public interest, including, but not limited to, 
consideration of potential impacts on affected local communities and 
Tribes.
    This determination will be made based on in-depth studies and the 
EIS/EIR. The Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) provides for 
restoration of native fisheries and sustainable water supplies 
throughout the Klamath River Basin, and under NEPA is connected to dam 
removal and the KHSA. Together, these two agreements attempt to resolve 
long-standing conflicts in the Klamath River Basin.
    The EIS/EIR:
     Will inform the Secretary's decision whether to approve 
removal of the four PacifiCorp dams as well as the connected actions 
contemplated within the KHSA and KBRA.
     Will include analysis and disclosures of the effects on 
the human and physical environment that may occur as a result of 
implementation of the proposed action.
     Will address, among other issues, effects on biological 
resources, historic and archaeological resources, geomorphology, flood 
hydrology, water quality, air quality, public safety, hazardous 
materials and waste, visual resources, socioeconomics, real estate, 
tribal trust, recreation, and environmental justice.
     Will comply with the California Environmental Quality Act 
(CEQA).

Background

    Conflicts over water and other natural resources in the Klamath 
Basin between conservationists, Tribes, farmers, fishermen, and State 
and Federal agencies have existed for decades. In particular, several 
events affecting the Klamath Basin have occurred in recent years:
     In 2001, water deliveries to irrigation contractors in 
Reclamation's

[[Page 58834]]

Klamath Project were substantially reduced.
     In 2002, returning adult salmon suffered a major die-off.
     In 2006, the commercial salmon fishing season was closed 
along 700 miles of the West Coast to protect weak Klamath River stocks 
and other major river salmon stocks.
     In 2010, due to drought conditions, Reclamation's Klamath 
Project had a reduction in water deliveries resulting in short-term 
idling of farmland and increased groundwater pumping.
    The United States; the States of California and Oregon; the 
Klamath, Karuk, and Yurok Tribes; Klamath Project Water Users; and 
other Klamath River Basin stakeholders negotiated the KHSA and the KBRA 
to resolve long-standing disputes regarding a broad range of natural 
resource issues. The Agreements are intended to result in effective and 
durable solutions that:
     Restore and sustain natural fish production and provide 
for full participation in ocean and river harvest of fish species 
throughout the Klamath Basin;
     Establish reliable water and power supplies which sustain 
agricultural uses, communities, and National Wildlife Refuges; and
     Contribute to the public welfare and the sustainability of 
all Klamath Basin communities.

Statement of Purpose and Need and Proposed Action

    The Purpose and Need statement has changed since publication of the 
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS/EIR in the Federal Register on June 
14, 2010 (75 FR 33634) in order to provide further clarification 
regarding the need for action. These changes are not substantive and do 
not warrant consideration of additional alternatives.
    The proposed action is to remove the four lower PacifiCorp dams on 
the Klamath River. The need for the proposed action is to advance 
restoration of the salmonid fisheries in the Klamath Basin consistent 
with the KHSA and the connected KBRA. The purpose is to achieve a free-
flowing river condition and full volitional fish passage as well as 
other goals expressed in the KHSA and KBRA. By the terms of the KHSA, 
the Secretary will determine whether the proposed action is appropriate 
and should proceed. In making this determination, the Secretary will 
consider whether removal of the four facilities will advance the 
restoration of the salmonid fisheries of the Klamath Basin, and is in 
the public interest, which includes, but is not limited to, 
consideration of potential impacts on affected local communities and 
Tribes.
    After public scoping and an initial alternative screening, five 
project alternatives were selected for further analysis in this EIS/
EIR:
     Alternative 1: No Action/No Project Alternative;
     Alternative 2: The Proposed Action;
     Alternative 3: Partial Facilities Removal;
     Alternative 4: Fish Passage at Four Dams; and
     Alternative 5: Remove Copco 1 and Iron Gate Dams, 
Construct Fish Passage at J.C. Boyle and Copco 2 Dams.
    Full implementation of the agreements is dependent on an 
affirmative Secretarial Determination. The KBRA itself is not being 
approved at this time. But KBRA actions and components that would 
require discretionary approval by Federal or State agencies may be 
subject to subsequent National Environmental Policy Act and/or 
California Environmental Quality Act analysis. Other connected actions 
analyzed in the EIS/EIR are the transfer of title of Keno Dam from 
PacifiCorp to the Bureau of Reclamation as well as the re-construction 
of the City of Yreka water supply pipeline.
    Copies of the draft EIS/EIR are available for public inspection at 
libraries and government offices, including the following locations:
     Main Siskiyou County Library, 719 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA 
96097.
     Main Klamath County Library, 126 South Third Street, 
Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
     Arcata Library, 500 Seventh Street, Arcata, CA 95521.
     Main Humboldt County Library, 1313 Third Street, Eureka, 
CA 95501.
     Hoopa Library, Loop Rd. & Orchard Street, Hoopa, CA 95546.
     Willow Creek Library Branch, Junction of Highways 299 & 
96, Willow Creek, CA 95573.
     Main Del Norte County Library, 190 Price Mall, Crescent 
City, CA 95531.
     Medford Library Branch, 205 South Central Avenue, Medford, 
OR 97501.
     Ashland Library Branch, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, 
OR 97520.
     Chetco Community Public Library, 405 Alder Street, 
Brookings, OR 97415.
     Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-152, 
Sacramento, CA 95825.
     California Department of Fish and Game, 619 Second Street, 
Eureka, CA 95501.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001.
    For a full list of locations where the Draft EIS/EIR is available 
for public inspection, or to obtain an electronic copy of the Draft 
EIS/EIR, please visit https://klamathrestoration.gov/.

Public Hearings

    The Department and the California Department of Fish and Game will 
hold six public hearings according to the dates and locations listed 
below. Oral and written comments will be accepted at the public 
hearings.
     Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., County 
Fair Grounds, 3531 South Sixth Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.
     Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., 
Chiloquin Community Center, 140 South First Street, Chiloquin, OR 
97624.
     Thursday, October 20, 2011, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Yreka 
Community Theater, 810 North Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097.
     Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Karuk 
Community Room, 39051 Highway 96, Orleans, CA 95556.
     Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Arcata 
Community Center, 321 Community Park Way, Arcata, CA 95521.
     Thursday, October 27, 2011, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Yurok 
Tribal Administration Office, 190 Klamath Boulevard, Klamath, CA 95548.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, please 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.

Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2011-24360 Filed 9-21-11; 8:45 am]
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