Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Detroit Dam Downstream Passage Project, 55830-55831 [2017-25398]

Download as PDF 55830 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 225 / Friday, November 24, 2017 / Notices including, but not limited to, being posted on the RFPB’s Web site. Dated: November 20, 2017. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2017–25431 Filed 11–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Detroit Dam Downstream Passage Project Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The purpose of this EIS is to analyze effects to the human environment associated with the Corps efforts to enhance juvenile passage of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Upper Willamette River (UWR) spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead through Detroit Dam to reaches downstream of the dam; and to modify temperatures in the North Santiam and main stem Santiam Rivers, below Detroit Dam, with the objective of replicating pre-reservoir water temperatures. These actions are part of the Corps implementation of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2008 Biological Opinions (BiOp) for the continued operations and maintenance of the Willamette Valley Project. The Corps will serve as the lead federal agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). DATES: Written comments for consideration in the development of the scope of the NEPA EIS are due to the addresses below no later than January 8, 2018. Comments may also be made at the public scoping meetings as noted below. SUMMARY: Mailed comments may be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, P.O. Box 2946, Attn: CENWP–PM–E, Portland, Oregon 97208–2946. Email comments to: detroit.fish.passage@usace.army.mil. All comments and materials received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:19 Nov 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 For questions regarding the Project, the EIS, or special accommodations for scoping process participation, please contact Kelly Janes, Environmental Resources Specialist; (503) 808–4771. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project Background. The Corps’ Detroit and Big Cliff dams and reservoirs are located in Linn and Marion Counties in the Oregon Cascades, in the North Santiam River sub-basin of the Willamette River basin near the city of Detroit, Oregon. The Detroit and Big Cliff dams, both completed in 1953, form a complete barrier to upstream fish passage. This lack of access for UWR spring Chinook salmon and steelhead to the highquality habitat upstream is a critical limiting factor for the recovery and contributes to a high or very high extinction risk. Additionally, the dam poses a significant barrier and risk for downstream migrating juvenile fish. Finally, construction and operation of Detroit Dam has altered the pre-dam seasonal thermal regimes in the North Santiam River. Detroit Dam operations have resulted in cooler downstream water temperatures in the spring and summer then were experienced before the dam was built. Detroit Dam operations also result in warmer downstream temperatures in the fall and winter compared to pre-dam conditions. The altered temperature regime negatively affects the productivity of UWR spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead in the lower North Santiam River, and has been identified as one of the most critical limiting factors for species recovery. Detroit and Big Cliff dams and reservoirs are included in the 13 multipurpose dams and reservoirs the Corps operates and maintains in the Willamette River Basin in Oregon, collectively referred to as the Willamette Project. The listing of several species under the ESA required the Corps to perform an assessment of the effects of operating the Willamette Project on listed species. Based on this assessment, the NMFS released a BiOp in 2008, which identified measures that it believed would avoid jeopardizing the existence of ESA listed fish in the Willamette basin, referred to as measures in the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA). Measure 4.12.3 of the RPA requires downstream fish passage at Detroit Dam. Measure 5.2 of the RPA requires the minimization of water quality effects associated with operations of Detroit and Big Cliff dams by making structural modifications or major operational changes. The BiOp FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 acknowledges that, if feasible, there might be cost-savings and reduced effects if addressing both RPA measures were be achieved through one construction project. Proposed Project. The Corps is developing a project to provide downstream juvenile fish passage for UWR Chinook and steelhead as well as to provide temperature control at Detroit Dam. The purposes of the proposed project is to enhance juvenile passage of UWR spring Chinook and winter steelhead on the North Santiam to reaches downstream of the dams; and to modify temperatures on the North Santiam and main stem Santiam Rivers, below Detroit Dam, with the objective of replicating pre-reservoir water temperatures for UWR spring Chinook and UWR winter steelhead habitat. Alternatives. The project will be developed in a manner that is consistent with sound engineering practice and meets all applicable federal environmental laws. In addition to the No Action Alternative, in which case dam operations will continue in the absence of the Project, structural and operational alternatives considered will include, but are not limited to: Optimizing operations, upgrading current structures, and constructing new structures adjacent to the Detroit Dam in Detroit Reservoir. Additional alternatives could be developed during the scoping and evaluation process. Scoping Process/Public Involvement. The Corps invites all affected federal, state, and local agencies, affected Native American Tribes, other interested parties, and the general public to participate in the NEPA process during development of the EIS. The purpose of the public scoping process is to provide information to the public, narrow the scope of analysis to significant environmental issues, serve as a mechanism to solicit agency and public input on alternatives and issues of concern, and ensure full and open participation in scoping of the Draft EIS. Two public scoping meetings are scheduled for December 2017. The specific dates, times, and locations of the meetings are provided below. Upon completion of the scoping process, the Draft EIS will be circulated for public review and comment. The Corps expects to release the Draft EIS for public review and comment in 2019. The Corps will issue a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register announcing the release of the Draft EIS for public comment through the local news media. Documents and other important information related to the EIS will be available for review on the Corps’ project Web site. E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 225 / Friday, November 24, 2017 / Notices Public Scoping Meetings: • Thursday, December 14, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the South Salem High School Library located at 1910 Church Street SE., Salem, OR 97302. • Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Gates Fire Hall located at 140 East Sorbin Street, Gates, Oregon 97346. Additional information related to the public scoping process will be provided through advertisements placed in regional newspapers of general circulation, Public Notice, and on the project Web site at https://nwp.usace. army.mil/Willamette/Detroit/fishpassage/. Aaron L. Dorf, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander. [FR Doc. 2017–25398 Filed 11–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED–2017–ICCD–0143] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Nominee Presentation Form Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO), Department of Education (ED). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 23, 2018. ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED– 2017–ICCD–0143. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 216–32, Washington, DC 20202–4537. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:19 Nov 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Andrea Falken, 202–503–8985. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Nominee Presentation Form. OMB Control Number: 1860–0509. Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,443. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 6,021. Abstract: U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED– GRS) is a recognition award that honors schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions that are exemplary in three Pillars: (1) Reducing environmental impact and costs, including waste, water, energy use and alternative transportation; (2) improving the health and wellness of students and staff, including environmental health of premises, nutrition and fitness; and (3) providing effective sustainability education, including STEM, civic skills and green career pathways. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55831 The award is a tool to encourage state education agencies, stakeholders and higher education officials to consider matters of facilities, health and environment comprehensively and in coordination with state health, environment and energy agency counterparts. In order to be selected for federal recognition, schools, districts and postsecondary institutions must be high achieving in all three of the above Pillars, not just one area. Schools, districts, colleges and universities apply to their state education authorities. State authorities can submit up to six nominees to ED, documenting achievement in all three Pillars. This information is used at the Department to select the awardees. Dated: November 20, 2017. Stephanie Valentine, Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management. [FR Doc. 2017–25394 Filed 11–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER–FRL–9036–3] Environmental Impact Statements; Notice of Availability Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Activities, General Information (202) 564–7146 or https://www2.epa.gov/ nepa/. Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) Filed 11/13/2017 Through 11/17/2017 Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9 Notice Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act requires that EPA make public its comments on EISs issued by other Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters on EISs are available at: https:// cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-nepa-public/ action/eis/search. EIS No. 20170229, Final, USACE, AZ, ADOPTION—South Mountain Freeway (Loop 202), Contact: Jesse Rice (602) 230–6854. EIS No. 20170230, Final, BPA, WA, Melvin R. Sampson Hatchery, Yakima Basin Coho Project, Review Period Ends: 12/26/2017, Contact: Dave Goodman (503) 230–4764. EIS No. 20170231, Final, USFS, OR, Antelope Grazing Allotments AMP, Review Period Ends: 01/08/2018, Contact: Benjamin Goodin (541) 947– 6251. EIS No. 20170232, Draft, BR, CA, Pure Water San Diego Program, North City E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 225 (Friday, November 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55830-55831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25398]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Detroit Dam Downstream Passage Project

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The purpose 
of this EIS is to analyze effects to the human environment associated 
with the Corps efforts to enhance juvenile passage of Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) listed Upper Willamette River (UWR) spring Chinook 
salmon and winter steelhead through Detroit Dam to reaches downstream 
of the dam; and to modify temperatures in the North Santiam and main 
stem Santiam Rivers, below Detroit Dam, with the objective of 
replicating pre-reservoir water temperatures. These actions are part of 
the Corps implementation of the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2008 Biological 
Opinions (BiOp) for the continued operations and maintenance of the 
Willamette Valley Project. The Corps will serve as the lead federal 
agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: Written comments for consideration in the development of the 
scope of the NEPA EIS are due to the addresses below no later than 
January 8, 2018. Comments may also be made at the public scoping 
meetings as noted below.

ADDRESSES: Mailed comments may be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Portland District, P.O. Box 2946, Attn: CENWP-PM-E, 
Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Email comments to: 
detroit.fish.passage@usace.army.mil. All comments and materials 
received, including names and addresses, will become part of the 
administrative record and may be released to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the Project, 
the EIS, or special accommodations for scoping process participation, 
please contact Kelly Janes, Environmental Resources Specialist; (503) 
808-4771.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Project Background. The Corps' Detroit and Big Cliff dams and 
reservoirs are located in Linn and Marion Counties in the Oregon 
Cascades, in the North Santiam River sub-basin of the Willamette River 
basin near the city of Detroit, Oregon. The Detroit and Big Cliff dams, 
both completed in 1953, form a complete barrier to upstream fish 
passage. This lack of access for UWR spring Chinook salmon and 
steelhead to the high-quality habitat upstream is a critical limiting 
factor for the recovery and contributes to a high or very high 
extinction risk. Additionally, the dam poses a significant barrier and 
risk for downstream migrating juvenile fish. Finally, construction and 
operation of Detroit Dam has altered the pre-dam seasonal thermal 
regimes in the North Santiam River. Detroit Dam operations have 
resulted in cooler downstream water temperatures in the spring and 
summer then were experienced before the dam was built. Detroit Dam 
operations also result in warmer downstream temperatures in the fall 
and winter compared to pre-dam conditions. The altered temperature 
regime negatively affects the productivity of UWR spring Chinook salmon 
and winter steelhead in the lower North Santiam River, and has been 
identified as one of the most critical limiting factors for species 
recovery.
    Detroit and Big Cliff dams and reservoirs are included in the 13 
multipurpose dams and reservoirs the Corps operates and maintains in 
the Willamette River Basin in Oregon, collectively referred to as the 
Willamette Project. The listing of several species under the ESA 
required the Corps to perform an assessment of the effects of operating 
the Willamette Project on listed species. Based on this assessment, the 
NMFS released a BiOp in 2008, which identified measures that it 
believed would avoid jeopardizing the existence of ESA listed fish in 
the Willamette basin, referred to as measures in the Reasonable and 
Prudent Alternative (RPA). Measure 4.12.3 of the RPA requires 
downstream fish passage at Detroit Dam. Measure 5.2 of the RPA requires 
the minimization of water quality effects associated with operations of 
Detroit and Big Cliff dams by making structural modifications or major 
operational changes. The BiOp acknowledges that, if feasible, there 
might be cost-savings and reduced effects if addressing both RPA 
measures were be achieved through one construction project.
    Proposed Project. The Corps is developing a project to provide 
downstream juvenile fish passage for UWR Chinook and steelhead as well 
as to provide temperature control at Detroit Dam. The purposes of the 
proposed project is to enhance juvenile passage of UWR spring Chinook 
and winter steelhead on the North Santiam to reaches downstream of the 
dams; and to modify temperatures on the North Santiam and main stem 
Santiam Rivers, below Detroit Dam, with the objective of replicating 
pre-reservoir water temperatures for UWR spring Chinook and UWR winter 
steelhead habitat.
    Alternatives. The project will be developed in a manner that is 
consistent with sound engineering practice and meets all applicable 
federal environmental laws. In addition to the No Action Alternative, 
in which case dam operations will continue in the absence of the 
Project, structural and operational alternatives considered will 
include, but are not limited to: Optimizing operations, upgrading 
current structures, and constructing new structures adjacent to the 
Detroit Dam in Detroit Reservoir. Additional alternatives could be 
developed during the scoping and evaluation process.
    Scoping Process/Public Involvement. The Corps invites all affected 
federal, state, and local agencies, affected Native American Tribes, 
other interested parties, and the general public to participate in the 
NEPA process during development of the EIS. The purpose of the public 
scoping process is to provide information to the public, narrow the 
scope of analysis to significant environmental issues, serve as a 
mechanism to solicit agency and public input on alternatives and issues 
of concern, and ensure full and open participation in scoping of the 
Draft EIS. Two public scoping meetings are scheduled for December 2017. 
The specific dates, times, and locations of the meetings are provided 
below.
    Upon completion of the scoping process, the Draft EIS will be 
circulated for public review and comment. The Corps expects to release 
the Draft EIS for public review and comment in 2019. The Corps will 
issue a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register announcing the 
release of the Draft EIS for public comment through the local news 
media. Documents and other important information related to the EIS 
will be available for review on the Corps' project Web site.

[[Page 55831]]

    Public Scoping Meetings:
     Thursday, December 14, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the 
South Salem High School Library located at 1910 Church Street SE., 
Salem, OR 97302.
     Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the 
Gates Fire Hall located at 140 East Sorbin Street, Gates, Oregon 97346.
    Additional information related to the public scoping process will 
be provided through advertisements placed in regional newspapers of 
general circulation, Public Notice, and on the project Web site at 
https://nwp.usace.army.mil/Willamette/Detroit/fish-passage/.

Aaron L. Dorf,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2017-25398 Filed 11-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

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