Fisheries and Habitat Conservation; Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Demolition of the Ballville Dam on the Sandusky River, Fremont, OH, 65526-65527 [2011-27244]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2011 / Notices
Public Meetings and Availability of
Comments
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The Service will carry out open house
public meetings during the public
review period. District staff will be
available during those public meetings
to address questions from the attending
public and provide printed or electronic
copies (on compact discs) of the draft
plan to anyone requesting them. Please
visit the following Web sites for dates
and other details regarding the
upcoming public meetings.
Huron WMD: https://www.fws.gov/
huronwetlands/.
Madison WMD: https://www.fws.gov/
madisonwetlands/.
Sand Lake WMD: https://www.fws.gov/
sandlake/.
Before including your 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. We will not consider anonymous
comments. We will always make
submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives of or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
The environmental review of this
project will be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508); Department of Interior
NEPA regulations; other appropriate
Federal laws and regulations; Executive
Order 12996 ‘‘Management and General
Public Use of the National Wildlife
Refuge System’’; the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997; and Service policies and
procedures for compliance with those
laws and regulations.
Dated: July 21, 2011.
Noreen E. Walsh,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2011–27263 Filed 10–20–11; 8:45 am]
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[FWS–R3–FHC–2011–N187; 30140–1335–
0000–W4]
Fisheries and Habitat Conservation;
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Proposed Demolition of the
Ballville Dam on the Sandusky River,
Fremont, OH
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement
of meeting; request for comments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), advise the
public that we intend to prepare a draft
environmental impact statement (EIS) to
evaluate the impacts of the proposed
demolition of the Ballville Dam, located
on the Sandusky River, near the City of
Fremont in Sandusky County, Ohio. We
are also announcing a public meeting
and requesting public comments.
DATES: The public scoping period begins
with publication of this notice in the
Federal Register and will continue
through November 21, 2011. The
Service will consider all comments
defining the scope of the EIS received or
postmarked by this date. Comments
received or postmarked after this date
will be considered to the extent
practicable. The Service will conduct a
public scoping meeting in Fremont,
Ohio, on October 27, 2011, from 7 to
9 p.m. The scoping meeting will provide
the public with an opportunity to
present comments, ask questions, and
discuss issues with Service staff
regarding the draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place
at Vanguard Vocational School Tech
Center, 1220 Cedar Street, Fremont, OH
43420.
You may submit comments by any
one of the following methods:
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Brian
Elkington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Fisheries, 5600 American
Boulevard West, Suite 990,
Bloomington, MN 55437–1458.
• E-mail: Ballvilledam@fws.gov.
• Fax: (612) 713–5289 (Attention:
Brian Elkington).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Elkington, 612–713–5168.
Individuals who are hearing impaired or
speech impaired may call the Federal
Relay Service at 800–877–8337 for TTY
assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We
publish this notice in compliance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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4321 et seq.), and its implementing
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). The
Service, in cooperation with the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources
(ODNR) and the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency (OEPA), will prepare
a draft environmental impact statement
(EIS) on a proposal to remove the
Ballville Dam from the Sandusky River.
The purpose of the draft EIS is to
address the environmental, economic,
cultural and historical, and safety issues
associated with removal of the dam.
Ballville Dam is currently a complete
barrier to upstream fish passage for the
commercially and recreationally
valuable Sandusky River walleye stock.
Removal of the dam will restore access
to approximately 22 miles of previously
unavailable riverine habitat, including
an estimated 300 acres of suitable
walleye spawning habitat. Removal of
the dam is anticipated to restore the
designated beneficial uses to this
segment of the river. Additionally,
ODNR has identified a number of safety
hazards associated with the condition of
the 97-year old structure. Removal of
the dam will alleviate these hazards.
Current funding for the dam removal is
being provided through grants from the
Service, through the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (GLRI) under the
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act (GLFWRA); the OEPA’s
Water Resource Restoration Sponsor
Program; and the Clean Water Act’s
section 319 nonpoint source pollution
prevention program, which is
administered by OEPA.
Letters describing the proposed action
and soliciting comments will be sent to
appropriate Federal, State, and local
agencies, and to private organizations
and citizens who have previously
expressed or are known to have interest
in this proposal. After the draft EIS is
released, a public meeting will be held
at a place to be determined to solicit
comments. To ensure that the full range
of issues related to this proposed action
are addressed and all significant issues
identified, comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested parties.
Public Comments
The Service requests data, comments,
new information, or suggestions from
the public, concerned governmental
agencies, the scientific community,
Tribes, industry, or any other interested
party on this notice. These comments
will be considered in the development
of the draft EIS.
You may submit your comments and
materials considering this notice by one
of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2011 / Notices
Public Availability of Comments
All comments and materials we
receive in response to this request will
be available for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business
hours at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Before including your 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.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
Ballville Dam was built in 1913 for
hydroelectric power generation. The
City of Fremont purchased the dam in
1959 from the Ohio Power Company,
which no longer used the dam for
generating electricity, for the purpose of
supplying raw water to the city. With
the construction of a raw water
reservoir, completion expected by the
end of 2011, the dam will no longer be
required for this purpose. In 2007, the
ODNR issued a Notice of Violation
(NOV) to the City, stating that the dam
was being operated in violation of the
law as a result of its deteriorated
condition. The Ballville Dam cannot be
rendered safe without expenditure of
large sums of money. Removal of the
dam will achieve the objective of
opening approximately 22 miles of
riverine habitat, including an estimated
300 acres of suitable walleye spawning
habitat, that is currently inaccessible,
thereby increasing walleye populations
and stimulating the sport fishing and
tourism industries. It will also help to
restore impaired water quality in the
project area.
Environmental Review
The Service will conduct an
environmental review to analyze
alternatives for implementing the
proposed action and the associated
impacts of each. The draft EIS will
evaluate alternatives that are developed
and the impact of each of those
alternatives, including a no action
alternative. Following completion of the
environmental review, the Service will
publish a notice of availability and a
request for comments on the draft EIS.
Authority
This notice is being furnished as
provided for by NEPA and its
implementing Regulations (40
CFR1501.7 and 1508.22). The intent of
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18:11 Oct 20, 2011
Jkt 226001
the notice is to obtain suggestions and
additional information from other
agencies and the public on the scope of
issues to be considered. Comments and
participation in this scoping process are
solicited.
Mike Weimer,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries,
Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–27244 Filed 10–20–11; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2011–N144; 80221–1112–
81420–F2]
Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural
Community Conservation Plan for Yolo
County, CA: Environmental Impact
Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of
public meeting; request for comments.
AGENCY:
Under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
advise the public that we intend to
gather information necessary to prepare,
in coordination with the Yolo County
Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural
Community Conservation Plan Joint
Powers Agency (Joint Powers Agency), a
joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for the
Yolo County Natural Heritage Program
Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural
Community Conservation Plan (Plan).
This document is being prepared under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, and the California Natural
Community Conservation Planning Act.
The Joint Powers Agency and the local
partners intend to apply for a 50-year
incidental take permit from the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service. This
permit is needed to authorize the
incidental take of threatened and
endangered species that could result
from activities covered under the Plan.
We announce meetings and invite
comments.
DATES: We must receive written
comments on or before December 5th,
2011. Two public scoping meetings will
be held on November 7th 2011, the first
from 3 to 5 p.m., and the second from
6 to 8 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be
held at the West Sacramento City Hall
Galleria, 1110 West Capitol Avenue,
West Sacramento, CA 95691. Submit
written comments to Cori Mustin,
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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65527
Senior Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento
Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage
Way, Room W–2605, Sacramento, CA
95825. Comments may alternatively be
sent by facsimile to (916) 414–6713. In
addition, a traveling information kiosk
will be available to the public
throughout the 45-day comment period.
The kiosk will include a computer
station, on which maps and related
information will be available for
viewing and comments can be
submitted. For kiosk locations, dates,
and times, see https://
www.yoloconservationplan.org/kiosk/
schedule.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cori
Mustin, Senior Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, or Mike Thomas, Chief,
Habitat Conservation Planning Division,
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, by
phone at (916) 414–6600 or by U.S. mail
at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Yolo
County Habitat Conservation Plan/
Natural Community Conservation Plan
Joint Powers Agency (Joint Powers
Agency) is composed of members
representing Yolo County; the cities of
Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and
Woodland; and the University of
California at Davis (local partners).
The EIS will be a joint EIS/
Environmental Impact Report (EIR), for
which the Service, Joint Power Agency
(JPA), and California Department of Fish
and Game (CDFG), intend to gather
information necessary for preparation.
The Plan will be prepared to meet the
requirements of section 10 of the Act
and the Natural Community
Conservation Planning (NCCP) Act. The
Service will serve as the administrative
lead for all actions related to this
Federal Register notice for the EIS
component of the EIS/EIR. The JPA will
serve as the State lead agency under the
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) for the EIR component.
The Joint Powers Agency, in
accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act, is
publishing a similar notice.
The Joint Powers Agency and the
local partners intend to apply for a 50year incidental take permit from the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This
permit is needed to authorize the
incidental take of threatened and
endangered species that could result
from activities covered under the habitat
conservation plan (Plan).
The Fish and Wildlife Service
provides this notice to (1) describe the
proposed action and potential
alternatives; (2) advise other Federal
and State agencies, affected Tribes, and
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65526-65527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27244]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-FHC-2011-N187; 30140-1335-0000-W4]
Fisheries and Habitat Conservation; Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Demolition of the Ballville Dam on the
Sandusky River, Fremont, OH
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of meeting; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the
public that we intend to prepare a draft environmental impact statement
(EIS) to evaluate the impacts of the proposed demolition of the
Ballville Dam, located on the Sandusky River, near the City of Fremont
in Sandusky County, Ohio. We are also announcing a public meeting and
requesting public comments.
DATES: The public scoping period begins with publication of this notice
in the Federal Register and will continue through November 21, 2011.
The Service will consider all comments defining the scope of the EIS
received or postmarked by this date. Comments received or postmarked
after this date will be considered to the extent practicable. The
Service will conduct a public scoping meeting in Fremont, Ohio, on
October 27, 2011, from 7 to 9 p.m. The scoping meeting will provide the
public with an opportunity to present comments, ask questions, and
discuss issues with Service staff regarding the draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at Vanguard Vocational School
Tech Center, 1220 Cedar Street, Fremont, OH 43420.
You may submit comments by any one of the following methods:
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Brian Elkington, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Fisheries, 5600 American Boulevard West, Suite 990,
Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.
E-mail: Ballvilledam@fws.gov.
Fax: (612) 713-5289 (Attention: Brian Elkington).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Elkington, 612-713-5168.
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8337 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We publish this notice in compliance with
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
The Service, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA),
will prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal
to remove the Ballville Dam from the Sandusky River. The purpose of the
draft EIS is to address the environmental, economic, cultural and
historical, and safety issues associated with removal of the dam.
Ballville Dam is currently a complete barrier to upstream fish
passage for the commercially and recreationally valuable Sandusky River
walleye stock. Removal of the dam will restore access to approximately
22 miles of previously unavailable riverine habitat, including an
estimated 300 acres of suitable walleye spawning habitat. Removal of
the dam is anticipated to restore the designated beneficial uses to
this segment of the river. Additionally, ODNR has identified a number
of safety hazards associated with the condition of the 97-year old
structure. Removal of the dam will alleviate these hazards. Current
funding for the dam removal is being provided through grants from the
Service, through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) under
the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA); the OEPA's
Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program; and the Clean Water Act's
section 319 nonpoint source pollution prevention program, which is
administered by OEPA.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are
known to have interest in this proposal. After the draft EIS is
released, a public meeting will be held at a place to be determined to
solicit comments. To ensure that the full range of issues related to
this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues
identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
parties.
Public Comments
The Service requests data, comments, new information, or
suggestions from the public, concerned governmental agencies, the
scientific community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party
on this notice. These comments will be considered in the development of
the draft EIS.
You may submit your comments and materials considering this notice
by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section.
[[Page 65527]]
Public Availability of Comments
All comments and materials we receive in response to this request
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal
business hours at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
notice.
Before including your 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.
Background
Ballville Dam was built in 1913 for hydroelectric power generation.
The City of Fremont purchased the dam in 1959 from the Ohio Power
Company, which no longer used the dam for generating electricity, for
the purpose of supplying raw water to the city. With the construction
of a raw water reservoir, completion expected by the end of 2011, the
dam will no longer be required for this purpose. In 2007, the ODNR
issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the City, stating that the dam
was being operated in violation of the law as a result of its
deteriorated condition. The Ballville Dam cannot be rendered safe
without expenditure of large sums of money. Removal of the dam will
achieve the objective of opening approximately 22 miles of riverine
habitat, including an estimated 300 acres of suitable walleye spawning
habitat, that is currently inaccessible, thereby increasing walleye
populations and stimulating the sport fishing and tourism industries.
It will also help to restore impaired water quality in the project
area.
Environmental Review
The Service will conduct an environmental review to analyze
alternatives for implementing the proposed action and the associated
impacts of each. The draft EIS will evaluate alternatives that are
developed and the impact of each of those alternatives, including a no
action alternative. Following completion of the environmental review,
the Service will publish a notice of availability and a request for
comments on the draft EIS.
Authority
This notice is being furnished as provided for by NEPA and its
implementing Regulations (40 CFR1501.7 and 1508.22). The intent of the
notice is to obtain suggestions and additional information from other
agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be considered.
Comments and participation in this scoping process are solicited.
Mike Weimer,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-27244 Filed 10-20-11; 8:45 am]
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