[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17740]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 11346-001, IA]

 

FORIA Hydro Corp.; Environmental Assessment Scoping

July 15, 1994.
    On March 28, 1994, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) issued a notice indicating that staff is ready to conduct 
an environmental analysis (REA Notice) for the proposed Fort Dodge Mill 
Dam Project, located on the Des Moines River, in Webster County, Iowa. 
The REA Notice also requested comments from federal, state, and local 
resource agencies, licensees and developers, Indian tribes, and any 
other interested groups (parties). Parties were given until May 28, 
1994, to file comments.
    The purpose of this notice is to advise all parties as to the scope 
of our environmental analysis and to seek additional information 
pertinent to this analysis. The scope as presented herein is based on 
the information filed with the Commission by FORIA Hydro Corporation 
(the Applicant), comments received from the parties thus far, and the 
staff's independent analysis.

Proposed Action

    The Applicant proposes to install new generating equipment at an 
existing dam, reservoir and powerhouse to be called the Fort Dodge Mill 
Dam Project.
    The proposed project would include the following features: (1) an 
existing dam 372 feet long and 18 feet high; (2) an existing 
impoundment with a surface area of 90 acres with a normal surface 
elevation of approximately 990 feet above mean sea level; (3) an 
existing powerhouse containing two new turbine-generator units at a 
total installed capacity of 1,260 kilowatts; and (4) a proposed 13.8-
kilovolt transmission line.
    In addition to the proposed two new turbine-generator units, the 
Applicant proposes install a new flat trashrack (with 2.75-3.5-inch 
clear bar spacing) above the project intake.
    To enhance public recreation, the Applicant proposes to develop a 
new boat ramp at the Fort Dodge Park, located adjacent to proposed 
project.
    The Applicant proposes measures relating to project operation to 
protect environmental resources in the project area. A 24-cubic feet 
per second minimum flow over the project dam is proposed to protect 
water quality and fishery resources in the downstream pool area and 
side channel. The project would be operated in a run-of-river mode, 
with only minor fluctuations in the headpond elevation to account for 
natural variations in river flow. In the operational plan for the Fort 
Dodge Mill Dam Project, the Applicant also proposes to implement a plan 
to verify run-of-river operation and a seasonal water quality 
monitoring program for the impoundment.

Project Alternatives

    The Commission staff will consider alternatives, including 
enhancement measures not proposed by the Applicant. The staff will 
review and consider alternative recommendations for additional resource 
protection, or enhancement measures that may be appropriate to include 
in an original license. Modifications could include recommendations by 
the agencies, the general public, and the staff.
    In addition to these alternatives, the staff will evaluate the no-
action alternative, which maintains the existing environment or status 
quo at the project.

Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement

    The geographic scope of analysis defines the physical limits or 
boundaries of the proposed actions' effects on the resources. Since the 
proposed actions affect each resource differently, the geographic scope 
for each resource varies. For fishery resources, flow analysis, water 
quality, flood control, and power, the geographic scope of analysis 
will encompass the mainstem Des Moines River.
    The temporal scope includes a discussion of the past, present, and 
future actions and their effects on the resources. Based on the license 
term, the temporal scope will look 30 to 50 years into the future, 
concentrating on the effect on the resource from reasonably foreseeable 
future actions (e.g., the effect on water quality from potential future 
water withdrawals within the basin). The historical discussion will, by 
necessity, be limited to the amount of available information for each 
resource.

Environmental Issues

    A preliminary list of environmental issues identified by the staff 
for coverage in an Environmental Assessment (EA) is presented in this 
section. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or final, but is an 
initial listing of issues that have been raised and appear to be 
important. The staff will review all issues raised during the scoping 
process and make decisions as to the level of analysis needed. If 
preliminary analysis indicates that any issues presented in this 
scoping document have little potential for causing significant impacts, 
the issue or issues will be identified and the reasons for not 
providing a more detailed analysis will be given.
    The following issues apply to the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project:
     An evaluation of the project's potential effect on 
dissolved oxygen (DO) downstream of the project and the need for 
additional studies of DO.
     Effects of project operation and non-project factors on 
vegetation and wildlife.
     Effects of project operation on any federally listed 
threatened or endangered species in the project area.
     Probability of eligibility of dam and powerhouse on the 
National Register of Historic Places.
     Opportunities for recreational facility improvements and 
public access enhancements.
    The EA will assess the project-specific impacts on the above 
resources and whether these impacts contribute to significant adverse 
impacts. Both project-specific impacts and cumulative effects will 
weigh in selecting an action to recommend for the licensing decision on 
the project.

EIS Preparation Schedule

    The preliminary schedule for preparing the EA for the Fort Dodge 
Mill Dam Project is: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Milestones                           Target date            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Scoping.....................  Summer 1994.                       
Draft EA...........................  September 30, 1994.                
Final EA...........................  November 30, 1994.                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Comments

    The Commission's scoping objectives are to:
     identify significant environmental issues,
     determine the depth of analysis appropriate to each issue,
     identify the resource issues not requiring detailed 
analysis, and
     identify reasonable project alternatives.
    Federal, state, and local resource agencies, licensees and 
developers, Indian tribes, other interested groups, and the general 
public are invited to forward to the Commission any information that 
they believe will assist the Commission staff in conducting an accurate 
and thorough analysis of the site-specific and cumulative environmental 
effects of the proposed licensing activities on the Des Moines River. 
The types of information sought include:
     Information, quantified data, or professional opinion that 
may contribute to defining the geographical and temporal scope of the 
analysis and identifying significant environmental issues.
     Identification of and information from any other 
environmental assessment, environmental impact statement, or similar 
document or study (previous, on-going, or planned) relevant to the 
proposed licensing activities in the Des Moines River Basin.
     Existing information and any data that would aid in 
describing the past and present actions and effects of the projects and 
other developmental activities on the physical/chemical, biological, 
and socioeconomic environments. For example, fish stocking/management 
histories, historic water quality data and the reasons for improvement 
or degradation of the quality, any wetland habitat losses or proposals 
to develop land and water resources within the basin.
     Identification of any federal, state, or local resource 
plans and future project proposals that encompass the Des Moines River 
Basin with information on when they will be implemented, if known. For 
example, proposals to construct or operate water treatment facilities, 
recreation areas, water diversions, or implement fishery management 
programs.
     Documentation that would support a conclusion that the 
actions or a project(s) does or does not contribute to cumulative 
adverse or beneficial effects on resources and therefore should be 
excluded from further study or excluded from further consideration of 
cumulative effects within the Des Moines River Basin. Documentation 
should include, but is not limited to: how the projects interact with 
other projects within the river basin and other developmental 
activities; results from studies; resource management policies; and 
reports from federal, state, and local agencies.
    To be useful in preparing the draft EA, the requested information 
must be received by the Commission no later than 30 days past the date 
of this notice. Address all communications to: Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426.
    All correspondence must clearly show at the top of the first page 
``Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project, FERC No. 11346''.
    When filing scoping comments, you should submit an original and 8 
copies; this will assure that staff receives your information quickly. 
Parties to the proceedings (as identified on the official Service List 
for the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project) must also send copies of their 
filings, and all attachments, to the other parties listed on the 
official service list. The official service list is available from the 
Commission Secretary at the same address above.
    Any questions concerning the scoping process should be directed to 
Mary Golato (202-219-2804) at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
Office of Hydropower Licensing, 825 North Capitol Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
 Lois D. Cashell,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-17740 Filed 7-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P