[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 113 (Monday, June 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33634-33635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14174]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, Including Secretarial
Determination on Whether to Remove Four Dams on the Klamath River in
California and Oregon
AGENCY: Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and notice of public scoping
meetings.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), the Department of the Interior (Department), through the Bureau
of Reclamation (Reclamation), and the California Department of Fish and
Game (CDFG) intend to prepare an EIS/EIR. The Department and CDFG will
conduct public scoping meetings to solicit comments concerning the
issues, alternatives, and analyses to be considered in the evaluation
of whether to remove four dams on the Klamath River pursuant to the
terms of the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA). Section
3.3.1 of the KHSA states: ``Based upon the record, environmental
compliance and other actions described in Section 3.2, and in
cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce and other Federal agencies
as appropriate, the Secretary shall determine whether, in his judgment,
the conditions of Section 3.3.4 have been satisfied, and whether, in
his judgment, Facilities Removal (i) will advance restoration of the
salmonid fisheries of the Klamath Basin, and (ii) is in the public
interest, which includes but is not limited to consideration of
potential impacts on affected local communities and Tribes.''
In light of this potential determination by the Secretary of the
Interior (Secretary) pursuant to the KHSA, the public and agencies are
invited to comment on the scope of the EIS/EIR and potential
alternatives including, but not limited to: (1) How other potential
actions within the KHSA should be analyzed in this EIS/EIR, and (2) the
nature and extent to which the potential environmental impacts of
implementing the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) should be
analyzed in this EIS/EIR.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR and potential
alternatives to be analyzed are requested within 30 days of the
publication of this notice. Oral comments will also be accepted during
the public scoping meetings. Please see the Supplementary Information
section for public scoping meeting dates and locations.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Ms. Tanya Sommer, Bureau of
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, or by e-mail to
[email protected]. Written comments may also be submitted during the
public scoping meetings. Please see the Supplementary Information
section for meeting locations and dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tanya Sommer, Bureau of
Reclamation, 916-978-6153, [email protected], for technical information.
For public involvement information, please contact Mr. Matt Baun, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 530-841-3119, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Conflicts over water and other natural resources in the Klamath
Basin between conservationists, tribes, farmers, fishermen, and State
and Federal agencies have existed for decades. In particular, several
developments affecting the Klamath Basin have occurred in the last
several years. These developments include:
--In 2001, water deliveries to irrigation contractors to Reclamation's
Klamath Project were substantially reduced.
--In 2002, returning adult salmon suffered a major die-off.
--In 2006, the commercial salmon fishing season was closed along 700
miles of the West Coast to protect weak Klamath River stocks.
--In 2010, due to drought conditions, the project is forecasting a
curtailment of deliveries that could result in the potential short-term
idling of farmland and increased groundwater pumping.
--In 2010, the c'waam (Lost River suckers) fishery for the Klamath
Tribes has been closed for the 24th year, limiting the Tribes to only a
ceremonial harvest.
Since 2003, the United States has spent over $500 million in the
Klamath Basin for irrigation, fisheries, National Wildlife Refuges, and
other resource enhancements and management actions. Consequently, the
United States, the States of California and Oregon, the Klamath, Karuk,
and Yurok Tribes, Klamath Project Water Users, and other Klamath River
Basin stakeholders negotiated the KBRA and the KHSA (including the
Secretarial Determination) to resolve long-standing disputes between
them regarding a broad range of natural resource issues. The agreements
are intended to result in effective and durable solutions which: (1)
Restore and sustain natural fish production and provide for full
participation in ocean and river harvest of fish species throughout the
Klamath Basin; (2) establish reliable water and power supplies which
sustain agricultural uses, communities, and National Wildlife Refuges;
and (3) contribute to the public welfare and the sustainability of all
Klamath Basin communities. It is the conclusion of the United States
that in order to reach these goals, both agreements must be authorized
and implemented.
Ongoing programs that may be expanded include habitat restoration
and fish population monitoring
[[Page 33635]]
activities being conducted by Federal, Tribal, and State governments
and agencies, fish disease research activities, continued
implementation of Reclamation's Pilot Water Bank Program, and programs
to improve fish passage and screen irrigation diversions.
New programs that may be established by the KBRA include a
Fisheries Restoration Plan, Fisheries Reintroduction Plan, Fisheries
Monitoring Plan, Water Diversion Limitation and Pumping Plan, Water
Rights Purchase Plan, Drought Plan, Environmental Water Plan, Counties'
Impacts-Mitigation and Benefits Program, Tribal Programs, establishment
of wildlife refuge water allocation, and additional water conservation
and storage actions.
The KHSA lays out the process for additional studies, environmental
review, and a decision by the Secretary regarding whether removal of
four dams owned by PacifiCorp: (1) Will advance the restoration of the
salmonid fisheries of the Klamath Basin, and (2) is in the public
interest, which includes, but is not limited to, consideration of
potential impacts on affected local communities and tribes.
Purpose and Need and Proposed Action
The purpose of the proposed Federal action is to advance
restoration of the salmonid fisheries in the Klamath Basin that is in
the public interest, and is consistent with the KHSA and the KBRA.
Pursuant to the KHSA, the Secretary needs to make a determination
whether to proceed with the removal of the four PacifiCorp Dams on the
Klamath River. The proposed action is to make a determination, pursuant
to the KHSA, as to whether removal of the four lower dams on the
Klamath River to achieve a free-flowing condition and allow full
volitional passage of fish is in the public interest, will advance
restoration of the salmonid fishery and is consistent with statutory
obligations and tribal rights. The potential impacts of any connected
actions, including any such actions under the KBRA, will be analyzed.
Environmental Issues and Resources To Be Examined
The EIS/EIR will be used to inform the Secretary when making his
decision regarding implementation of the KHSA and any potential follow-
on programs that may be implemented as part of the KBRA. If, pursuant
to the KHSA, the Secretary's decision is affirmative, the EIS/EIR will
be used by the Governors of the States of California and Oregon to
inform each whether to concur in that determination. The EIS/EIR will
include analysis and disclosures of the effects on the quality of the
human and physical environment that may occur as a result of
implementation of the KHSA and any potential follow-on programs
including those programs in the KBRA. Issues to be addressed may
include, but are not limited to, impacts on biological resources,
historic and archaeological resources, geomorphology, hydrology, water
quality, air quality, safety, hazardous materials and waste, visual
resources, socioeconomics, including real estate, and environmental
justice.
Public Scoping Sessions
The Department and CDFG will hold six public information and
scoping meetings according to the dates and locations listed below.
Oral and written comments will be accepted at the public meetings.
Dates, Times, and Locations:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Copco
Community Center, 27803 Copco Road, Montague, CA 96064.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 pm, Yreka Community
Center, 810 N. Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097.
Thursday, July 8, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Klamath County
Fairgrounds, 3531 S. 6th Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.
Friday, July 9, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Chiloquin
Community Center, 140 First Street, Chiloquin, OR 97624.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Chetco
Activities Center, 550 Chetco Way, Brookings, OR 97415.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Arcata
Community Center, 321 Community Park Way, Arcata, CA 95521.
Thursday July 15, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Karuk Tribe
Community Room, 39051 Highway 96, Orleans, CA 95556.
Public Disclosure
Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address,
or other personal identifying information in your comment, please 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: June 7, 2010.
Dennis Lynch,
Program Manager, Klamath Basin Secretarial Determination.
[FR Doc. 2010-14174 Filed 6-11-10; 8:45 am]
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