Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2013/10/30/2013-25689.html
Timestamp: 2020-06-06 05:40:50
Document Index: 754652477

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 1500', 'art 46', 'arts 1500', 'art 46', 'arts 1500', 'art 46']

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Public Scoping Meetings for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Inactive Storage, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, Kittitas County, Washington, 64975-64976 [2013-25689] :: Department Of The Interior :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of The Interior Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Public Scoping Meetings for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Inactive Storage, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, Kittitas County, Washington, 64975-64976 [2013-25689]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Public Scoping Meetings for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Inactive Storage, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, Kittitas County, Washington, 64975-64976 [2013-25689]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 210 / Wednesday, October 30, 2013 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [XXXR0680R1 RR.R0336A1R5WRMP01.03 RR01113000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Public Scoping Meetings for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Inactive Storage, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, Kittitas County, Washington Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:58 Oct 29, 2013 Jkt 232001 The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is issuing this notice pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508; the Department of the Interior’s NEPA regulations, 43 CFR Part 46, and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Reclamation intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and the Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage projects. The Washington State Department of Ecology will be a joint lead agency with the Bureau of Reclamation in the preparation of this EIS. The Bureau of Reclamation is requesting public comment and agency input to identify significant issues or other alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the EIS on or before December 16, 2013. Two scoping meetings, combined with open houses each day, will be held on the following dates and times: • November 20, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Yakima, WA. • November 21, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Cle Elum, WA. ADDRESSES: Send written scoping comments, requests to be added to the mailing list, or requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other special assistance needs to Ms. Candace McKinley, Environmental Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, ColumbiaCascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; or email yrbwep@ usbr.gov. The scoping meetings and open houses will be located at: • Yakima—Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Way, Yakima, WA 98901. • Cle Elum—U.S. Forest Service (Cle Elum Ranger District Conference Room), 803 W 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace McKinley, Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area SUMMARY: Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; telephone (509) 575–5848, ext. 232; facsimile (509) 454–5650; email yrbwep@usbr.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1–800–877–8339 TTY/ ASCII to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FedRelay 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. Information on this project may also be found at: http:// www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/ index.html. Background On July 9, 2013, the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Programmatic EIS (PEIS) for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (Integrated Plan) was signed. In the ROD, the Reclamation selected the Integrated Plan Alternative for implementation. The Integrated Plan Alternative is comprised of seven elements which were considered in the PEIS: 1. Reservoir Fish Passage; 2. Structural and Operational Changes; 3. Surface Water Storage; 4. Groundwater Storage; 5. Habitat/Watershed Protection and Enhancement; 6. Enhanced Water Conservation; and 7. Market Reallocation of Water Resources. As described in the PEIS, Reclamation and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will complete projectlevel, site-specific environmental review for actions within the Integrated Plan once the agencies are ready to move forward each action or groups of actions. For instance, with regard to the present NOI, Reclamation and Ecology have determined that it is appropriate to initiate the environmental review process with regard to the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage projects. PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64975 These actions were previously evaluated at a programmatic level of analysis in the Integrated Plan PEIS (see chapters 2 through 5 of the PEIS available at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/ programs/yrbwep/reports/FPEIS/ fpeis.pdf). That PEIS examined the effects of the overall Integrated Plan Alternative, which included the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and the Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage projects. Now the agencies will prepare a project-level EIS for the Keechelus Reservoir-toKachess Reservoir Conveyance and the Kachess Reservoir Interactive Storage projects and will tier to the Integrated Plan PEIS as provided for in the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1502.20, Tiering). The projectlevel environmental analysis to be conducted in this EIS will expand upon and add detail to those analyses already completed in the Integrated Plan PEIS. The proposed, site specific actions to be evaluated in the Keechelus Reservoirto-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage EIS are: 1. Transfer water through a tunnel from the Keechelus watershed to Kachess Reservoir. Two alternatives have been identified for a tunnel to convey water from Keechelus watershed to Kachess Reservoir. One would include construction of a new outlet works at the north end of Keechelus Dam connecting to a 10–12 footdiameter, 3.7-mile-long, gravity flow tunnel. The other would include construction of a diversion structure on the Yakima River about 8,000 feet downstream of Keechelus Dam, connecting to a 10–12 foot-diameter, 3.2-mile-long, gravity flow tunnel. Both tunnel alternatives would discharge into Kachess Reservoir through a new structure located on the west shore; and 2. Release an additional 200,000 acrefeet of water from Kachess Reservoir during severe droughts by accessing inactive storage through additional outlet facilities. A substantial volume of water stored in Kachess Reservoir is currently inaccessible because it is below the elevation of the outlet works. This is referred to as inactive storage. An alternative being considered to access the inactive storage in Kachess Reservoir includes a new outlet works at a lower elevation in the reservoir connected by a tunnel to a pump station that would discharge to the Kachess River. The objectives of these proposed actions are to increase the total water supply available from the Keechelus watershed for irrigation and instream flow, provide additional water for E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM 30OCN1 64976 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 210 / Wednesday, October 30, 2013 / Notices proratable irrigation districts during severe drought conditions, and create more normal flows in the upper Yakima River between Keechelus Dam and Lake Easton to improve fish habitat. At this time, there are no known Indian Trust Assets or environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Actions. Special Assistance for Public Scoping and Open House Meetings If special assistance is required to participate in the public scoping and open house meetings, please contact Ms. Candace McKinley, Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; telephone (509) 575–5848, ext. 232; facsimile (509) 454–5650; email yrbwep@usbr.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1–800–877–8339 TTY/ ASCII to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FedRelay 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. All meeting facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 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 may 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: October 24, 2013. Lorri J. Lee, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region. [FR Doc. 2013–25689 Filed 10–29–13; 8:45 am] emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:58 Oct 29, 2013 Jkt 232001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [XXXR0680R1 RR.R0336A1R5WRMP01.03 RR01113000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Public Scoping Meetings for the Cle Elum Reservoir Pool Raise, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, Kittitas County, Washington Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Bureau of Reclamation intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Cle Elum Reservoir Pool Raise project. The Washington State Department of Ecology will be a joint lead agency with the Bureau of Reclamation in the preparation of this EIS, which also will be used to comply with requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The Bureau of Reclamation is requesting public comment and agency input to identify significant issues or other alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the environmental impact statement on or before December 16, 2013. Two scoping meetings, combined with open houses each day, will be held on the following dates and times: • November 20, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Yakima, WA. • November 21, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Cle Elum, WA. ADDRESSES: Send written scoping comments, requests to be added to the mailing list, or requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other special assistance needs to Ms. Candace McKinley, Environmental Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, ColumbiaCascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; or email yrbwep@ usbr.gov. The scoping meetings and open houses will be located at: • Yakima—Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Way, Yakima, WA 98901. • Cle Elum—U.S. Forest Service (Cle Elum Ranger District Conference Room), 803 W 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace McKinley, Bureau of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; telephone (509) 575–5848, ext. 232; facsimile (509) 454–5650; email yrbwep@usbr.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1–800–877–8339 TTY/ ASCII to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FedRelay 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. Information on this project may also be found at http:// www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/ index.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is issuing this notice pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; the Department of the Interior’s NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 46, and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act. Background On July 9, 2013, the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Programmatic EIS (PEIS) for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (Integrated Plan) was signed. In the ROD, the Reclamation selected the Integrated Plan Alternative for implementation. The Integrated Plan Alternative is comprised of seven elements which were considered in the PEIS: 1. Reservoir Fish Passage; 2. Structural and Operational Changes; 3. Surface Water Storage; 4. Groundwater Storage; 5. Habitat/Watershed Protection and Enhancement; 6. Enhanced Water Conservation; and 7. Water Market Reallocation of Water Resources. As described in the PEIS, the Reclamation and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will complete project-level, site-specific environmental review for actions within the Integrated Plan once the agencies are ready to move forward each action or groups of actions. Reclamation and Ecology have determined that it is appropriate to initiate the environmental review process with regard to the Cle Elum Reservoir Pool Raise. This action was previously evaluated at a programmatic level of analysis in E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM 30OCN1
[Pages 64975-64976]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25689]
[[Page 64975]]
[XXXR0680R1 RR.R0336A1R5WRMP01.03 RR01113000]
Public Scoping Meetings for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess
Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Inactive Storage, Yakima River Basin
Water Enhancement Project, Integrated Water Resource Management Plan,
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir
Conveyance and the Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage projects. The
Washington State Department of Ecology will be a joint lead agency with
the Bureau of Reclamation in the preparation of this EIS. The Bureau of
Reclamation is requesting public comment and agency input to identify
significant issues or other alternatives to be addressed in the EIS.
DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the EIS on or before
Two scoping meetings, combined with open houses each day, will be
November 20, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m., Yakima, WA.
November 21, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m., Cle Elum, WA.
ADDRESSES: Send written scoping comments, requests to be added to the
mailing list, or requests for sign language interpretation for the
hearing impaired or other special assistance needs to Ms. Candace
McKinley, Environmental Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation,
Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; or
email yrbwep@usbr.gov.
The scoping meetings and open houses will be located at:
Yakima--Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Way, Yakima,
WA 98901.
Cle Elum--U.S. Forest Service (Cle Elum Ranger District
Conference Room), 803 W 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Candace McKinley, Bureau of
Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA
98901; telephone (509) 575-5848, ext. 232; facsimile (509) 454-5650;
email yrbwep@usbr.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for
the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1-800-877-
8339 TTY/ASCII to contact the above individual during normal business
hours. The FedRelay is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to
a reply during normal business hours. Information on this project may
also be found at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/index.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is
issuing this notice pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on
Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR
Parts 1500 through 1508; the Department of the Interior's NEPA
regulations, 43 CFR Part 46, and the Washington State Environmental
Policy Act.
On July 9, 2013, the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final
Programmatic EIS (PEIS) for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water
Resource Management Plan (Integrated Plan) was signed. In the ROD, the
Reclamation selected the Integrated Plan Alternative for
implementation. The Integrated Plan Alternative is comprised of seven
elements which were considered in the PEIS:
1. Reservoir Fish Passage;
2. Structural and Operational Changes;
3. Surface Water Storage;
4. Groundwater Storage;
5. Habitat/Watershed Protection and Enhancement;
6. Enhanced Water Conservation; and
7. Market Reallocation of Water Resources.
As described in the PEIS, Reclamation and the Washington State
Department of Ecology (Ecology) will complete project-level, site-
specific environmental review for actions within the Integrated Plan
once the agencies are ready to move forward each action or groups of
actions. For instance, with regard to the present NOI, Reclamation and
Ecology have determined that it is appropriate to initiate the
environmental review process with regard to the Keechelus Reservoir-to-
Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage
These actions were previously evaluated at a programmatic level of
analysis in the Integrated Plan PEIS (see chapters 2 through 5 of the
PEIS available at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/reports/FPEIS/fpeis.pdf). That PEIS examined the effects of the overall
Integrated Plan Alternative, which included the Keechelus Reservoir-to-
Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and the Kachess Reservoir Inactive Storage
projects. Now the agencies will prepare a project-level EIS for the
Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and the Kachess
Reservoir Interactive Storage projects and will tier to the Integrated
Plan PEIS as provided for in the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR 1502.20, Tiering). The project-level environmental
analysis to be conducted in this EIS will expand upon and add detail to
those analyses already completed in the Integrated Plan PEIS.
The proposed, site specific actions to be evaluated in the
Keechelus Reservoir-to-Kachess Reservoir Conveyance and Kachess
Reservoir Inactive Storage EIS are:
1. Transfer water through a tunnel from the Keechelus watershed to
Kachess Reservoir. Two alternatives have been identified for a tunnel
to convey water from Keechelus watershed to Kachess Reservoir. One
would include construction of a new outlet works at the north end of
Keechelus Dam connecting to a 10-12 foot-diameter, 3.7-mile-long,
gravity flow tunnel. The other would include construction of a
diversion structure on the Yakima River about 8,000 feet downstream of
Keechelus Dam, connecting to a 10-12 foot-diameter, 3.2-mile-long,
gravity flow tunnel. Both tunnel alternatives would discharge into
Kachess Reservoir through a new structure located on the west shore;
2. Release an additional 200,000 acre-feet of water from Kachess
Reservoir during severe droughts by accessing inactive storage through
additional outlet facilities. A substantial volume of water stored in
Kachess Reservoir is currently inaccessible because it is below the
elevation of the outlet works. This is referred to as inactive storage.
An alternative being considered to access the inactive storage in
Kachess Reservoir includes a new outlet works at a lower elevation in
the reservoir connected by a tunnel to a pump station that would
discharge to the Kachess River.
The objectives of these proposed actions are to increase the total
water supply available from the Keechelus watershed for irrigation and
instream flow, provide additional water for
[[Page 64976]]
proratable irrigation districts during severe drought conditions, and
create more normal flows in the upper Yakima River between Keechelus
Dam and Lake Easton to improve fish habitat.
At this time, there are no known Indian Trust Assets or
environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Actions.
Special Assistance for Public Scoping and Open House Meetings
If special assistance is required to participate in the public
scoping and open house meetings, please contact Ms. Candace McKinley,
Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road,
Yakima, WA 98901; telephone (509) 575-5848, ext. 232; facsimile (509)
454-5650; email yrbwep@usbr.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1-
800-877-8339 TTY/ASCII to contact the above individual during normal
business hours. The FedRelay is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
will receive a reply during normal business hours. All meeting
facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities.
[FR Doc. 2013-25689 Filed 10-29-13; 8:45 am]