Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance, Kittitas and Yakima Counties, Washington, 9553-9554 [2019-04295]

Download as PDF amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 51 / Friday, March 15, 2019 / Notices obtained from private groundwater wells, located at Fly Ranch owned by BRC, for dust abatement and in support of event activities; and • BRC management of vendor and compliance monitoring. The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed Project’s direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition to the Proposed Action (Alternative A), the following alternatives are also analyzed in the document: The Reduced Population (50,000 participants) Alternative B, The Alternate Site Alternative (Alternative C, moves the Event northeast of its’ current location); The No Population Change (80,000 participants) Alternative (Alternative D) would keep the population as it was in 2017 and 2018; and the No Permit Alternative (Alternative E). In December 2017, pre-scoping meetings were held in northern Nevada in Gerlach, Lovelock, and Reno. During those meetings the public was asked to submit comments regarding BRC’s SRP renewal. The pre-scoping comment period received 77 comment letters. On June 20, 2018, an initial Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register inviting scoping comments on the Proposed Action. A total of 327 scoping comment letters were received for the 45-day public scoping period. A total of 404 scoping comment letters were received during the two public scoping periods. Concerns raised included impacts to air quality, cultural resources, environmental justice, and transportation, Native American religious concerns, recreation, visual resources including Night Skies, wastes and materials (hazardous and solid), water resources, vegetation, wildlife, and Public Health and Safety. The BLM has utilized and coordinated the NEPA scoping and comment process to help fulfill the public involvement requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)—and continues to do so. The information about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed Project has assisted the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Title 54 of the NHPA. The BLM has consulted and will continue to consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts to Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources have been analyzed in the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed Project that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the comment process. 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. Mark Hall, Field Manager, Black Rock Field Office. [FR Doc. 2019–04888 Filed 3–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR01113000, XXXR0680R1, RR.R0336A1R.7WRMP0032] Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-toKachess Reservoir Conveyance, Kittitas and Yakima Counties, Washington Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Bureau of Reclamation and Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) have prepared and made available the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action until at least 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of availability for this FEIS in the Federal Register. Following this 30-day period, Reclamation may complete a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will identify all the alternatives considered, including the environmentally preferable alternative and the action selected for implementation, if they are not the same. The ROD will also discuss the factors and rationale used in making the decision; provide information on the adopted means to avoid, minimize and compensate for environmental impacts; SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9553 describe any monitoring and enforcement program to ensure that adopted mitigation is accomplished; and address any significant comments received on the FEIS. ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for copies of the FEIS should be addressed to Ms. Candace McKinley, Bureau of Reclamation, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901, 509–573– 8193 or via email to kkbt@usbr.gov. The FEIS is also accessible on the following websites: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/ programs/eis/kdrpp/ and https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/ kkc/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace McKinley, (509) 573–8193 or by email at kkbt@usbr.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Reclamation published a Notice of Availability of a Draft EIS (DEIS) for the ‘‘Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance’’ in the Federal Register on January 9, 2015 (80 FR 1431). This was previously identified in the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS as the ‘‘Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Inactive Storage.’’ The name was changed to better reflect the proposed action and alternatives evaluated. The public comment period concluded on June 15, 2015. A Supplemental DEIS was released for public comment on April 13, 2018. The public comment period ended July 12, 2018. The FEIS, entitled, ‘‘Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance Final Environmental Impact Statement,’’ addresses the impacts associated with the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant (KDRPP) and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance (KKC) by expanding on the analysis conducted in the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (Integrated Plan) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (March 2012). The FEIS evaluates construction and operation of three alternative designs and locations for KDRPP, including reservoir intakes and tunnels, pumping plants and pump units, pipelines, surge tanks, outlet works, fish screens and barriers, power supply substations, and electric transmission lines. The FEIS also evaluates construction and operation of the KKC as a component of KDRPP, including the Yakima River diversion and intake, fish screen, bored tunnel, and spillway and stilling basin. The primary study area generally encompasses Kachess Reservoir and its E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM 15MRN1 9554 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 51 / Friday, March 15, 2019 / Notices tributaries, Keechelus Reservoir and its tributaries, the Kachess River, the Yakima River between Keechelus Dam and the Easton Diversion Dam near Lake Easton, and the electric transmission line route from near Easton to the Kachess Reservoir pumping plant. The extended study area generally includes the Yakima Project vicinity. Authority The Kachess and Keechelus Reservoirs were authorized on December 12, 1905, by the Secretary of the Interior in connection with the Tieton and Sunnyside Divisions of the Yakima Project. The Secretary was acting under authority of the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902. The Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project was authorized on December 28, 1979 (93 Stat. 1241, Pub. L. 96–162, Feasibility Study—Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project). Title XII of the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 4526 Pub. L. 103–434) authorized fish, wildlife, and recreation as additional purposes of the Yakima Project. Public Review of FEIS Copies of the FEIS are available for public review at the following locations: 1. Bureau of Reclamation, ColumbiaCascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington 98901. 2. Washington State Department of Ecology, 15 W Yakima Avenue, Suite 200, Yakima, Washington 98902. 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. Lorri J. Gray, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region. amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES [FR Doc. 2019–04295 Filed 3–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332–90–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Mar 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement [S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 190S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A00 19XS501520] Notice of Record of Decision for the West Elk Mine Mining Plan Modification device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: I. Background on the Project II. Alternatives III. Environmental Impact Analysis IV. Decision The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announces its decision to adopt the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) for Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC–1362 and COC– 67232 (including on-lease exploration plan) at the West Elk Mine located in Gunnison County, CO. In accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (‘‘NEPA’’), the Council on Environmental Quality’s (‘‘CEQ’’) regulations implementing NEPA, and other applicable authorities, OSMRE has conducted an independent review and evaluation of the USFS’s SFEIS for Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC– 1362 and COC–67232 (including onlease exploration plan) at the West Elk Mine dated August 2017. As a cooperating agency with responsibility for the Federal Lands Program and the preparation of mining plan decision documents for review by the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), OSMRE provided subject matter expertise to the USFS during the environmental review process. Based on its independent review and evaluation, OSMRE has determined the SFEIS, including all supporting documentation, as incorporated by reference, adequately assesses and discloses the environmental impacts for the mining plan modification, and that adoption of the 2017 SFEIS by OSMRE is authorized under 40 CFR 1506.3, Adoption. Accordingly, OSMRE adopts the 2017 SFEIS, and takes full responsibility for the scope and content that addresses the proposed mining plan modification at West Elk Mine. Documents are available on OSMRE’s website: https://www.wrcc. osmre.gov/westElkMine.shtm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the Project, contact: Gretchen Pinkham, OSMRE Project Manager, at 303–293–5088 or by email at osm-nepa-co@osmre.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications I. Background on the Project As established by the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) of 1920, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977, as amended (30 U.S.C. 1201– 1328), and the Cooperative Agreement between the State of Colorado and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in accordance with Section 523(c) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1273(c)), Mountain Coal Company’s (MCC) Permit Application Package (PAP) (also referred to as Permit Revision 15 (PR 15)) must be reviewed by OSMRE and a mining plan modification approved by the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM) before MCC may significantly disturb the environment in order to develop the Federal Coal Leases COC–1362 & COC–67232. The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) is the SMCRA regulatory authority principally responsible for reviewing and approving PAPs. Under the MLA, OSMRE is responsible for making a recommendation to the ASLM about whether the proposed mining plan modification should be approved, disapproved, or approved with conditions (30 CFR 476.13). CDRMS approved the PAP for PR 15 on September 4, 2018. It is OSMRE’s decision to adopt the USFS Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) ‘‘Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC–1362 & COC–67232 (including onlease exploration plan)’’ SFEIS (2017), as allowed under 40 CFR 1506.3. Consistent with the USFS decision, OSMRE is selecting Alternative 3, as described in the SFEIS (Section 2.2.3), based on the agencies consideration of: The purpose and need for the action; the issues; current policies and regulations; the analysis of alternatives contained in the SFEIS; public comments received and other information in the project record. Alternative 3 as analyzed in the SFEIS would modify existing Federal coal leases COC–1362 and COC–67232 by Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. ACTION: Notice of record of decision. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM 15MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9553-9554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04295]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR01113000, XXXR0680R1, RR.R0336A1R.7WRMP0032]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-
to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance, Kittitas and Yakima Counties, 
Washington

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation and Washington State Department of 
Ecology (Ecology) have prepared and made available the Kachess Drought 
Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir 
Conveyance Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action 
until at least 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes a notice of availability for this FEIS in the Federal 
Register. Following this 30-day period, Reclamation may complete a 
Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will identify all the alternatives 
considered, including the environmentally preferable alternative and 
the action selected for implementation, if they are not the same. The 
ROD will also discuss the factors and rationale used in making the 
decision; provide information on the adopted means to avoid, minimize 
and compensate for environmental impacts; describe any monitoring and 
enforcement program to ensure that adopted mitigation is accomplished; 
and address any significant comments received on the FEIS.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for copies of the FEIS should 
be addressed to Ms. Candace McKinley, Bureau of Reclamation, 1917 Marsh 
Road, Yakima, WA 98901, 509-573-8193 or via email to kkbt@usbr.gov. The 
FEIS is also accessible on the following websites: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/kdrpp/ and https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/kkc/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace McKinley, (509) 573-8193 
or by email at kkbt@usbr.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Reclamation published a Notice 
of Availability of a Draft EIS (DEIS) for the ``Kachess Drought Relief 
Pumping Plant and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance'' 
in the Federal Register on January 9, 2015 (80 FR 1431). This was 
previously identified in the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS as the 
``Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess 
Inactive Storage.'' The name was changed to better reflect the proposed 
action and alternatives evaluated. The public comment period concluded 
on June 15, 2015. A Supplemental DEIS was released for public comment 
on April 13, 2018. The public comment period ended July 12, 2018. The 
FEIS, entitled, ``Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and Keechelus 
Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance Final Environmental Impact 
Statement,'' addresses the impacts associated with the Kachess Drought 
Relief Pumping Plant (KDRPP) and Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess 
Reservoir Conveyance (KKC) by expanding on the analysis conducted in 
the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan 
(Integrated Plan) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (March 
2012).
    The FEIS evaluates construction and operation of three alternative 
designs and locations for KDRPP, including reservoir intakes and 
tunnels, pumping plants and pump units, pipelines, surge tanks, outlet 
works, fish screens and barriers, power supply substations, and 
electric transmission lines. The FEIS also evaluates construction and 
operation of the KKC as a component of KDRPP, including the Yakima 
River diversion and intake, fish screen, bored tunnel, and spillway and 
stilling basin.
    The primary study area generally encompasses Kachess Reservoir and 
its

[[Page 9554]]

tributaries, Keechelus Reservoir and its tributaries, the Kachess 
River, the Yakima River between Keechelus Dam and the Easton Diversion 
Dam near Lake Easton, and the electric transmission line route from 
near Easton to the Kachess Reservoir pumping plant. The extended study 
area generally includes the Yakima Project vicinity.

Authority

    The Kachess and Keechelus Reservoirs were authorized on December 
12, 1905, by the Secretary of the Interior in connection with the 
Tieton and Sunnyside Divisions of the Yakima Project. The Secretary was 
acting under authority of the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902. The 
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project was authorized on December 
28, 1979 (93 Stat. 1241, Pub. L. 96-162, Feasibility Study--Yakima 
River Basin Water Enhancement Project). Title XII of the Yavapai-
Prescott Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 
4526 Pub. L. 103-434) authorized fish, wildlife, and recreation as 
additional purposes of the Yakima Project.

Public Review of FEIS

    Copies of the FEIS are available for public review at the following 
locations:
    1. Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh 
Road, Yakima, Washington 98901.
    2. Washington State Department of Ecology, 15 W Yakima Avenue, 
Suite 200, Yakima, Washington 98902.

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.

Lorri J. Gray,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-04295 Filed 3-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P
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