[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24965-24966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10716]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD) Modification Project,
Sacramento and El Dorado Counties, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR).
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation), the lead Federal agency and the Sacramento Area Flood
Control Agency (SAFCA), the CEQA lead agency, have prepared a Final
Supplemental EIS/EIR for the MIAD Modification Project. The Final
Supplemental EIS/EIR contains responses to comments received on the
Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR.
A Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR was
published in the Federal Register on Friday, November 27, 2009 (74 FR
62346). The public review period on the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR
ended on January 18, 2010.
The MIAD Modification Project is a feature of the larger Folsom Dam
Safety/Flood Damage Reduction (DS/FDR) Project currently underway by
Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the Corps'
non-Federal sponsors, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and
SAFCA, to address hydrologic, static, and seismic issues at Folsom Dam
and Reservoir. The analysis in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR considered
several methods to modify MIAD to achieve Reclamation's risk standards
for dam safety. Subsequent investigations have shown that the preferred
alternative's design approaches and construction techniques need to be
changed to achieve Reclamation's existing risk standards for dam
safety. Specifically, the utilization of jet grouting to stabilize the
foundation of MIAD will not meet Reclamation's dam safety standards.
The MIAD Supplemental EIS/EIR analyzes additional techniques to
stabilize the MIAD foundation to meet the existing risk standards for
dam safety.
Additionally, the supplement addresses potential environmental
effects associated with completing mitigation for the Folsom DS/FDR
Project at the Mississippi Bar site. The two mitigation alternatives
include the improvement of up to 80 acres of seasonal wetland and
riparian habitat and the no action alternative. The environmental
effects of the mitigation were not addressed in the previous
environmental document as the location for mitigation had not been
determined.
DATES: SAFCA will complete a CEQA Findings on the Final Supplemental
EIS/EIR within 30 days of the document's release. No Federal decision
will be made until 30 days after the release of the Final Supplemental
EIS/EIR. After this 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a
Record of Decision (ROD) for the MIAD modifications. A second ROD is
anticipated for the habitat mitigation actions at Mississippi Bar. The
RODs and CEQA Findings will identify the recommended action to be
implemented, including any measures found necessary to avoid, reduce,
or mitigate any significant adverse project effects.
ADDRESSES: Send requests for a compact disk or a bound copy of the
Final Supplemental EIS/EIR to Mr. Matthew See, Bureau of Reclamation,
7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630 (e-mail: [email protected];
telephone: 916-989-7198). The MIAD Final Supplemental EIS/EIR will also
be available at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=3472.
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where
copies of the Final Supplemental EIS/EIR are available for public
review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew See at 916-989-7198, TDD
916-989-7285, e-mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Folsom Facility consists of 12
structures (dams and dikes), that impound the American River forming
Folsom Reservoir. As part of their responsibilities, Reclamation and
the Corps have determined that the Folsom Facility requires structural
improvements to increase overall public safety above existing
conditions including addressing dam safety and security issues. Both
Reclamation and the Corps share in the responsibility of ensuring that
the Folsom Facility is maintained and operated under their respective
agency dam safety regulations and guidelines, as defined by Congress.
The improvements will enhance the facility's ability to reduce flood
damages posed by hydrologic (flood), seismic (earthquake), and static
(seepage) events. These events have a low probability of occurrence in
a given year; however, due to the large population downstream of Folsom
Dam, modifying the facilities is prudent and necessary to improve
public safety above current baseline conditions and meet current safety
standards.
[[Page 24966]]
Reclamation has identified the need for expedited action to reduce
hydrologic, static, and seismic risks under its Safety of Dams (SOD)
Program and security issues under its Security Program. These
identified risks are among the highest risks for all dams in
Reclamation's inventory, and the Folsom Facility is among Reclamation's
highest priorities within its SOD Program. Both Reclamation and the
Corps have conducted engineering studies to identify potential
corrective measures for the Folsom Facility to alleviate seismic,
static, and hydrologic dam safety issues and flood management concerns.
These two Federal agencies have combined their efforts resulting in (1)
a Joint Federal Project for addressing Reclamation's dam safety
hydrologic risk and the Corps' flood damage reduction objectives and
(2) other stand-alone flood damage reduction and dam safety actions to
be completed by the respective agencies in a coordinated manner. The
MIAD Modification Project Final Supplemental EIS/EIR discusses the
project background, purpose and need, project description, and proposed
action. Responses to all comments received from interested
organizations and individuals on the Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR during
the public review period and at the public meetings are addressed in
the Final Supplemental EIS/EIR.
The Final Supplemental EIS/EIR addresses the impacts of project
construction on aquatic resources, terrestrial vegetation and wildlife,
hydrology, water quality, flood control, groundwater, water supply,
socioeconomics, cultural resources, soils, minerals, geological
resources, visual resources, transportation and circulation, land use,
planning and zoning, recreation resources, public services and
utilities, air quality, public health and safety, growth inducement,
noise, environmental justice, and Indian trust assets. There is the
potential for significant impacts to air quality, recreation resources,
and visual resources.
The MIAD Modification Project proposed action considered by the
lead agencies is the alternative that includes:
Cellular open excavation as the preferred method to
excavate and replace the downstream MIAD foundation to reduce seismic
(earthquake) risks associated with the downstream foundation.
Placement of an overlay on the downstream side of MIAD to
address seismic (earthquake) risks associated with the upstream
foundation and installation of filters and drains to reduce static
(seepage and piping) risks.
Creation of up to 80 acres of riparian habitat mitigation
and 5 acres of seasonal wetland mitigation at Mississippi Bar.
Copies of the MIAD Modification Project Final Supplemental EIS/EIR
are available for public review at the following locations:
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67,
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225.
Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional Office
Library, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1825, Sacramento, CA 95825-1989.
El Dorado County Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA
95667-5699.
Folsom Public Library, 411 Stafford Street, Folsom, CA
95630.
Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC
20240-0001.
Roseville Public Library, 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA
95678.
Sacramento Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA
95814-2589.
Public Disclosure
Before including your name, 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.
Dated: March 19, 2010.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-10716 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
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