Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan for the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam, Page, Arizona, 963-966 [2015-33274]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service
• Bureau of Reclamation

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 963-966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33274]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02013000, XXXR5537F3, RX.19871110.1000000]

National Park Service

[PPIMIMRO3L, PPMRSNR1Y.AR0000, FPDEFAULT]


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Long-Term Experimental and 
Management Plan for the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam, Page, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of 
Reclamation and National Park Service (NPS), has made available for 
public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan for the 
Operation of Glen Canyon Dam (LTEMP). The LTEMP would determine 
specific options for dam operations (including hourly, daily, and 
monthly release patterns), non-flow actions, and appropriate 
experimental and management actions that will meet the requirements of 
the Grand Canyon Protection Act, maintain or improve hydropower 
production, and minimize impacts on resources, including those of 
importance to American Indian Tribes.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS should be submitted by April 7, 
2016.
    Public meetings and webinars to provide information and receive 
written comments will be held on:
     Webinar--Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. MST;
     Meeting--Monday, February 22, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. MST, 
Flagstaff, Arizona;
     Meeting--Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. MST, 
Phoenix, Arizona; and
     Webinar--Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. MST.
    Staff will be available to take comments and answer questions 
during this time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by the following methods:
     Web site: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/LTEMPEIS.
     Mail: Glen Canyon Dam LTEMP Draft EIS, Argonne National 
Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue--EVS/240, Argonne, Illinois 60439.
    Comments will not be accepted by facsimile, email, or in any other 
way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy 
or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.
    Public meetings will be held at the following locations:
     Flagstaff--USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research 
Center, 2255 N. Gemini Road, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001.
     Phoenix--Embassy Suites Phoenix-Tempe, 4400 S. Rural Road, 
Tempe, Arizona 85282.
    For specific information about the web-based meetings, please refer 
to the LTEMP EIS Web site at: https://ltempeis.anl.gov/.
    The DEIS may be viewed at the LTEMP EIS Web site at: https://ltempeis.anl.gov/. Compact disc copies of the DEIS are available for 
public inspection at several libraries and government offices. To 
request a compact disc of the DEIS, please contact Argonne at the 
address cited above or call 630-252-3169.
    See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for specific locations 
where the DEIS is available for public inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Beverley Heffernan, EIS Project 
Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, bheffernan@usbr.gov, 801-524-3712; or 
Mr. Rob Billerbeck, National Park Service, Rob_P_Billerbeck@nps.gov, 
303-987-6789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the proposed action is to 
provide a comprehensive framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon 
Dam over the next 20 years consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection 
Act and other provisions of applicable Federal law. The proposed action 
will help determine specific dam operations and actions that could be 
implemented to improve conditions and continue to meet the Grand Canyon 
Protection Act's requirements and to minimize--consistent with law--
adverse impacts on the downstream natural, recreational, and cultural 
resources in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon 
National Park, including resources of importance to American Indian 
Tribes.
    The need for the proposed action stems from the need to use 
scientific information developed since the 1996 Record of Decision 
(ROD) to better inform the public of Department of the Interior 
decisions on dam operations and other management and experimental 
actions so that the Secretary of the Interior may continue to meet 
statutory responsibilities for protecting downstream resources for 
future generations, conserving Endangered Species Act-listed species, 
avoiding or mitigating impacts on National Register of Historic 
Properties-eligible properties, and protecting the interests of 
American Indian Tribes, while meeting obligations for water delivery 
and the generation of hydroelectric power.

The DEIS Analyzes Seven Alternatives

    The DEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of seven 
alternatives being considered: The No-Action Alternative (Alternative 
A) and six Action Alternatives (Alternatives B, C, D, E, F, and G), 
which are described below. There are a number of experimental and 
management actions that would be incorporated into all of the LTEMP 
Action Alternatives, except where noted:
     High-flow experimental releases for sediment 
conservation--Implementation of high-flow experiments (HFEs) under all 
alternatives are patterned after the current HFE protocol (adopted in 
2012), but each alternative includes specific modifications related to 
the frequency of spring and fall HFEs, the triggers for HFEs, and the 
overall process for implementation of HFEs, including implementation 
considerations and

[[Page 964]]

conditions that would result in discontinuing specific experiments.
     Nonnative fish control actions--Implementation of control 
actions for nonnative brown and rainbow trout are patterned after those 
identified in the Nonnative Fish Control Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Finding of No Significant Impact (adopted in 2012). Nonnative fish 
control actions are not included in Alternative F.
     Conservation measures identified in the 2011 biological 
opinion on operations of Glen Canyon Dam--Potential measures include 
the establishment of a humpback chub refuge, evaluation of the 
suitability of habitat in the lower Grand Canyon for the razorback 
sucker, and establishment of an augmentation program for the razorback 
sucker, if appropriate. Other measures include humpback chub 
translocation, Bright Angel Creek brown trout control, Kanab ambersnail 
monitoring, determination of the feasibility of flow options to control 
trout including increasing daily down-ramp rates to strand or displace 
age-0 trout and high flow followed by low flow to strand or displace 
age-0 trout, assessments of the effects of actions on humpback chub 
populations, sediment research to determine effects of equalization 
flows, and Asian tapeworm monitoring. Most of these conservation 
measures are ongoing and are elements of existing management practices 
(e.g., brown trout control, humpback chub translocation, and sediment 
research to determine the effects of equalization flows), while others 
are being considered for further action under the LTEMP (e.g., trout 
management flows).
     Experimental and management actions at specific sites such 
as nonnative plant removal, revegetation with native species, and 
mitigation at specific and appropriate cultural sites--included are 
pilot experimental riparian vegetation restoration actions planned by 
the NPS. These actions would also have involvement from tribes to 
capture concerns regarding culturally significant native plants, and 
would provide an opportunity to integrate Traditional Ecological 
Knowledge in a more applied manner into the long-term adaptive 
management program (described in more detail below).
     Preservation of historic properties through a program of 
research, monitoring, and mitigation to address erosion and 
preservation of archeological and ethnographic sites and minimize loss 
of integrity at National Register historic properties.
     Continued adaptive management under the Glen Canyon Dam 
Adaptive Management Program, including a research and monitoring 
component.

Alternative A: The No-Action Alternative

    Alternative A represents continued operation of Glen Canyon Dam as 
guided by the 1996 ROD for operations of Glen Canyon Dam: Modified low 
fluctuating flow, as modified by recent Department of the Interior 
decisions, including those specified in the 2007 ROD on Colorado River 
Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations 
for Lakes Powell and Mead (Interim Guidelines) (until 2026), the HFE 
EA, and the Nonnative Fish Control EA (both expiring in 2020). As is 
the case for all alternatives, Alternative A also includes 
implementation of existing and planned NPS management activities, with 
durations as specified in NPS management documents.
    Under Alternative A, daily flow fluctuations would continue to be 
determined according to monthly volume brackets as follows: 5,000 cubic 
feet per second (cfs) daily range for monthly volumes less than 600 
thousand acre-feet (kaf); 6,000 cfs daily range for monthly volumes 
between 600 kaf and 800 kaf; and 8,000 cfs for monthly volumes greater 
than 800 kaf.
    Under Alternative A, the current HFE protocol would be followed 
until it expired in 2020. Under this protocol, high-flow releases may 
be made in spring (March and April) or fall (October and November). HFE 
magnitude would range from 31,500 cfs to 45,000 cfs. The duration would 
range from less than 1 hour to 96 hours. Frequency of HFEs would be 
determined by tributary sediment inputs, resource conditions, and a 
decision process carried out by the Department of the Interior. The HFE 
protocol uses a ``store and release'' approach in which sediment inputs 
are tracked over two accounting periods, one for each seasonal HFE: 
Spring (December through June) and fall (July through November). Under 
the protocol, the maximum possible magnitude and duration of HFE that 
would achieve a positive sand mass balance in Marble Canyon, as 
determined by modeling, would be implemented.
    Under Alternative A, the current nonnative fish control protocol 
would be followed until it expired in 2020. Mechanical removal would 
primarily consist of the use of boat-mounted electrofishing equipment 
to remove all nonnative fish captured. Captured nonnative fish would be 
removed alive and potentially stocked into areas that have an approved 
stocking plan, unless live removal fails, in which case fish would be 
euthanized and used for later beneficial use.

Alternative B

    The objective of Alternative B is to increase hydropower generation 
while limiting impacts on other resources and relying on flow and non-
flow actions to the extent possible to mitigate impacts of higher 
fluctuations. Alternative B focuses on non-flow actions and experiments 
to address sediment resources, nonnative fish control, and on native 
and nonnative fish communities.
    Under Alternative B, monthly volumes would be the same as under 
current operations, but daily flow fluctuations would be higher than 
under current operations in most months. Compared to current 
operations, the hourly up-ramp rate would remain unchanged at 4,000 
cfs/hour, but the hourly down-ramp rate would be increased to 4,000 
cfs/hour in November through March and 3,000 cfs/hour in other months.
    Alternative B includes implementation of the nonnative fish control 
protocol and HFE protocol through the entire LTEMP period, but HFEs 
would be limited to a maximum of one in spring or fall every other 
year. In addition to these experimental actions, Alternative B would 
test trout management flows and hydropower improvement flows. With 
trout management flows, high flows (e.g., 20,000 cfs) would be 
maintained for 2 or 3 days followed by a very sharp drop in flows to a 
minimum level (e.g., 5,000 cfs) for the purpose of reducing annual 
recruitment of trout. Hydropower improvement experiments would test 
maximum powerplant capacity flows up to four times during the LTEMP 
period, but only in years with annual volumes <=8.23 million acre-feet 
(maf).

Alternative C

    The objective of Alternative C is to adaptively operate Glen Canyon 
Dam to achieve a balance of resource objectives with priorities placed 
on humpback chub, sediment, and minimizing impacts on hydropower. 
Alternative C features a number of condition-dependent flow and non-
flow actions that would be triggered by resource conditions. The 
alternative uses decision trees to identify when experimental changes 
in base operations or other planned action is needed to protect 
resources. Operational changes or implementation of non-flow actions 
could be triggered by changes in sediment input, humpback chub

[[Page 965]]

numbers and population structure, trout numbers, and water temperature.
    Monthly release volumes under Alternative C in August through 
November would be lower than those under most other alternatives to 
reduce sediment transport rates during the monsoon period. Release 
volumes in the high power demand months of December, January, and July 
would be increased to compensate for water not released in August 
through November, and volumes in February through June would be 
patterned to follow the monthly hydropower demand as defined by the 
contract rate of delivery. Under Alternative C, the allowable within-
day fluctuation range from Glen Canyon Dam would be proportional to 
monthly volume (7 x monthly volume in kaf). The down-ramp rate would be 
increased to 2,500 cfs/hour, but the up-ramp rate would remain 
unchanged at 4,000 cfs/hour.
    Experimentation under Alternative C includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered spring and fall HFEs 
through the entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (3) extension of 
the possible duration of fall HFEs while maintaining a maximum total 
volume of a 96-hour 45,000 cfs release, (4) reducing fluctuations 
before and after HFEs, (5) mechanical removal of trout near the Little 
Colorado River confluence, (6) trout management flows, and (7) low 
summer flows during the entire LTEMP period to allow greater warming.

Alternative D: The Preferred Alternative

    Alternative D is the preferred alternative for the LTEMP. The 
objective of Alternative D is to adaptively operate Glen Canyon Dam to 
best meet the resource goals of the LTEMP. Like Alternative C, 
Alternative D features a number of condition-dependent flow and non-
flow actions that would be triggered by resource conditions.
    Under Alternative D, the total monthly release volume of October, 
November, and December would be equal to that under Alternative A to 
avoid the possibility of the operational tier differing from that of 
Alternative A, as established in the Interim Guidelines. The August 
volume was set to a moderate volume level (800 kaf in an 8.23 maf 
release year) to balance sediment conservation prior to a potential HFE 
and to address power production and capacity concerns. January through 
July monthly volumes were set at levels that roughly track Western Area 
Power Administration's contract rate of delivery. This produced a 
redistribution of monthly release volumes under Alternative D that 
would result in the most even distribution of flows of any alternative 
except for Alternative G. The allowable within-day fluctuation range 
from Glen Canyon Dam would be proportional to the volume of water 
scheduled to be released during the month (10 x monthly volume in kaf 
in the high-demand months of June, July, and August and 9 x monthly 
volume in kaf in other months). Up- and down-ramp rates would be the 
same as Alternative C.
    Experimentation under Alternative D includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered spring and fall HFEs 
through the entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (3) extension of 
the duration of up to 45,000 cfs fall HFEs for as many as 250 hours 
depending on sediment availability, (4) reducing fluctuations after 
fall HFEs, (5) mechanical removal of trout near the Little Colorado 
River confluence, (6) trout management flows, (7) low summer flows in 
the second 10 years of the LTEMP period to allow greater warming, and 
(8) sustained low flows to improve the aquatic food base.

Alternative E

    The objective of Alternative E is to provide for recovery of the 
humpback chub while protecting other important resources including 
sediment, the rainbow trout fishery at Lees Ferry, aquatic food base, 
and hydropower resources. Alternative E features a number of condition-
dependent flow and non-flow actions that would be triggered by resource 
conditions.
    Under Alternative E, monthly volumes would closely follow the 
monthly hydropower demand as defined by the contract rate of delivery. 
The total monthly release volume of October, November, and December, 
however, would be equal to that under Alternative A to minimize the 
possibility of the operational tier differing from that of Alternative 
A as established in the Interim Guidelines. In addition, lower monthly 
volumes (relative to Alternative A) would be targeted in August and 
September to reduce sediment transport during the monsoon period, when 
most sediment is delivered by the Paria River. The allowable within-day 
fluctuation range from Glen Canyon Dam would be proportional to the 
volume of water scheduled to be released during the month (12 x monthly 
volume in kaf in high power demand months of June, July, and August, 
and 10 x monthly volume in kaf in other months).
    Experimentation under Alternative E includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered fall HFEs through the 
entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) sediment-triggered spring HFEs only in 
the second 10 years of the LTEMP period, (3) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (4) reducing 
fluctuations before fall HFEs, (5) mechanical removal of trout near the 
Little Colorado River confluence, (6) trout management flows, and (7) 
low summer flows in the second 10 years of the LTEMP period to allow 
greater warming.

Alternative F

    The objective of Alternative F is to a provide flows that follow a 
more natural pattern of high spring, and low summer, fall, and winter 
flows while limiting sediment transport and providing for warming in 
summer months. In keeping with this objective, Alternative F does not 
feature some of the flow and non-flow actions of the other 
alternatives.
    Under Alternative F, peak flows would be lower than pre-dam 
magnitudes to reduce sediment transport and erosion given the reduced 
sand supply downstream of the dam. Peak flows would be provided in May 
and June, which corresponds well with the timing of the pre-dam peak. 
The overall peak flow in an 8.23 maf year would be 20,000 cfs (scaled 
proportionately in drier and wetter years), and would include a 24 hour 
45,000 cfs flow at the beginning of the spring peak period (e.g., on 
May 1) if there was no triggered spring HFE in same year, and a 168 
hour (7 day) 25,000 cfs flow at the end of June. Following this peak, 
there would be a rapid drop to the summer base flow. The initial annual 
45,000 cfs flow would serve to store sediment above the flows of the 
remainder of the peak, thus limiting sand transport further downstream 
and helping to conserve sandbars. The variability in flows within the 
peak would also serve to water higher elevation vegetation. There would 
be no within-day fluctuations in flow under Alternative F.
    Low base flows would be provided from July through January. These 
low flows would provide for warmer water temperatures, especially in 
years when releases are warm, and would also serve to reduce overall 
sand transport during the remainder of the year.
    Other than testing the effectiveness of sediment-triggered HFEs, 
which would continue through the entire LTEMP period, there would be no 
explicit

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experimental or condition-dependent triggered actions under Alternative 
F.

Alternative G

    The objective of Alternative G is to maximize the conservation of 
sediment, in order to maintain and increase sandbar size. Under 
Alternative G, flows would be delivered in a steady pattern throughout 
the year with no monthly differences in flow other than those needed to 
adjust operations in response to changes in forecast and other 
operating requirements such as equalization. In an 8.23 maf year, 
steady flow would be approximately 11,400 cfs.
    Experimentation under Alternative G includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered spring and fall HFEs 
through the entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (3) extension of 
the duration of up to 45,000 cfs fall HFEs for as many as 250 hours 
depending on sediment availability, (4) mechanical removal of trout 
near the Little Colorado River confluence, and (5) trout management 
flows.

Public Review and Where to Find Copies of the DEIS

    The DEIS is available for reviewing on the internet at: https://ltempeis.anl.gov/. Compact disc copies of the DEIS are available for 
public review at the following locations:
     J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, 295 South 
1500 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.
     Cline Library, Northern Arizona University, 1001 S. Knoles 
Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-6022.
     Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 North Central Avenue, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
     Page Public Library, 479 South Lake Powell Boulevard, 
Page, Arizona 86040.
     Grand County Library, Moab Branch, 257 East Center Street, 
Moab, Utah 84532.
     Sunrise Library, 5400 East Harris Avenue, Las Vegas, 
Nevada 89110.
     Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway, 
Denver, Colorado 80204.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001.

Special Assistance for Public Meetings

    If special assistance is required to participate in the public 
meeting, please contact Ms. Jayne Kelleher at 801-524-3680 or via email 
at jkelleher@usbr.gov. Please contact Ms. Kelleher at least 10 working 
days prior to the meeting. A telephone device for the hearing impaired 
(TTY) is available at 1-800-877-8339.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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: December 21, 2015.
Jennifer Gimbel,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Water and Science.
 Michael Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2015-33274 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P 4312-CB-P