[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11261]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Bonneville Power Administration

 

Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for Idaho Wildlife 
Mitigation Projects

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), DOE.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: BPA proposes to fund and implement the Wildlife Mitigation 
Agreement for Dworshak Dam (Dworshak Agreement) in floodplains and 
wetlands located in Nez Perce, Lewis, and Latah Counties, Idaho. The 
purpose of the Dworshak Agreement is to establish an arrangement 
whereby BPA would provide funds to the State of Idaho and the Nez Perce 
Tribe to mitigate wildlife and wildlife habitat losses within the State 
of Idaho that resulted from construction of Dworshak Dam and its 
reservoir.
    In addition to the Dworshak Wildlife Mitigation Project, BPA is 
also proposing to fund and implement the South Fork Snake River 
Programmatic Management Plan in floodplains and wetlands located in 
Bonneville, Jefferson, and Madison Counties, Idaho. The purpose of the 
project is to mitigate wildlife and wildlife habitat losses that 
resulted from construction of Palisades Dam and its reservoir.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR part 1022), BPA 
will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and will perform 
these proposed actions in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential 
harm to or within the affected floodplains and wetlands.
    The assessment will be included in the environmental assessments 
(EAs) being prepared for the proposed projects in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. A floodplain 
statement of findings will be included in any finding of no significant 
impact that may be issued following the completion of the EAs.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than June 2, 
1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy B. Fox, PG, Bonneville Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, phone 
number 503-230-4261, fax number 503-230-3752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Activities for the Dworshak Wildlife 
Mitigation Project would be conducted by two different entities: the 
State of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe. The State would conduct 
activities within the Pene Lands area. This project area consists of 
24,000 hectares (60,000 acres) in the Craig Mountains located southeast 
of Lewiston, Idaho. This area ranges from 335 to 1,585 meters (1,100 to 
5,200 feet) in elevation and is located between the Salmon and Snake 
Rivers. As specified in the proposed Dworshak Agreement, the State 
would only implement wildlife and wildlife habitat protection, 
mitigation, and enhancement activities. The types of activities that 
may be implemented include: fencing to exclude livestock to protect 
wetlands, riparian areas, and water quality; planting native plant 
species to increase the quantity and quality of native plant 
communities; rehabilitating and enhancing riparian areas and wetlands; 
planting riparian vegetation to compensate for vegetation adversely 
affected by livestock grazing; as well other activities that would 
benefit wildlife and wildlife habitat.
    The Tribe is focusing on the lower Clearwater River drainage 
between Hatwai Creek and Kooskia, Idaho. All activities that the Tribe 
would implement would take place within an approximate 117 kilometer 
(73-mile) segment of the Clearwater River from Hatwai Creek to the 
Middle Fork of the Clearwater River near Kooskia, Idaho. The types of 
activities that may be implemented include: protecting island habitat 
for Canada geese along the Clearwater River and its tributaries; 
creating perch sites for raptors; as well as other activities that 
would benefit wildlife and wildlife habitat.
    All activities for the South Fork Snake River Programmatic 
Management Plan would take place within the river corridor of the 104 
kilometer (65 mile) segment of the South Fork Snake River starting 
downstream of the Palisades Dam and ending at the confluence of the 
South Fork with the Henry's Fork. Proposed mitigation activities 
include: (1) Land and easement purchases which would have no effect on 
wetlands or floodplains; (2) fencing riparian areas to protect riparian 
vegetation from livestock grazing; (3) planting riparian vegetation 
(e.g., cottonwoods) in suitable areas to compensate for vegetation 
adversely affected by the operation of Palisades Dam and livestock 
grazing; (4) improving bald eagle nest sites by tree topping, pruning, 
thinning, planting, and installing artificial nest structures; and (5) 
revegetating agricultural lands with riparian or upland vegetation. 
These activities may take place within the 100-year floodplains of the 
South Fork Snake River and its tributaries, as well as within riparian 
wetlands along the river. Because the activities are expressly for the 
purpose of protecting and enhancing riparian areas, there are no 
alternatives to conducting them in these areas other than the No-Action 
Alternative.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on April 15, 1994.
Roy B. Fox,
NEPA Compliance Officer, Office of Power Sales.
[FR Doc. 94-11261 Filed 5-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450--01-P