[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-18568] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: August 1, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Olympic National Park; Intent To Prepare Two Environmental Impact Statements; Elwha River Ecosytem Restoration SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) intends to adopt an existing environmental impact statement (EIS) and circulate it with supplemental information concerning removal of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dams (the projects) from the Elwha River in the state of Washington. The NPS intends to adopt the March 1991 draft EIS, as amended in 1993 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and incorporate by reference the Congressionally mandated ``Elwha Report,'' as information for the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on whether to remove the projects as means to restore the Elwha River ecosystem. NPS will adopt the FERC 1993 document with supplemental information as the NPS draft EIS. The supplemental information will include any new data and findings regarding restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem gathered since the release of the FERC document. The range of alternatives and issues analyzed by FERC will essentially be the same; however, the purpose and need and proposed action will change to fully restoring the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fishery through removal of the projects. Should this process conclude with a decision to remove one or both projects as means to restore the ecosystem, NPS intends to prepare and issue a second EIS on alternatives to implement this decision, such as timing, methods for removing the dams, and managing sediment. NPS intends to work concurrently on both EIS's; however, if the Secretary, on the basis of the first EIS, selects an alternative other than removal of both projects, preparation of the ``Implementation EIS'' will cease. Extensive public scoping and comment on the FERC EIS occurred in 1991 and 1993 and NPS will make available public comments and FERC's responses on the 1991 document. NPS intends to ask for public comment on the adopted EIS and supplemental information when released to the public in the fall of 1994. Additional public scoping on the ``Implementation EIS'' will also be solicited in the future. Persons wishing additional information should contact the National Park Service, Superintendent, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362., attn. Elwha River Restoration Project/ Brian Winter, or at telephone number (206) 452-0302. Background The Elwha River, which forms the largest watershed within Olympic National Park, once supported ten stocks of anadromous salmon trout and a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. In the early 1900's, two hydroelectric dams (the projects) were constructed in the lower portion of the river. These dams were constructed without fish passage measures, restricting anadromous fish to less than five miles of the available 75 miles of spawning and rearing habitat. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a draft EIS in March 1991 and, in response to public comments, amended it in 1993 on licensing the Elwha project and re-licensing the Glines Canyon project pursuant to the Federal Power Act. FERC evaluated a range of project alternatives against three primary resource objectives: (1) restoration of wild, self-sustaining runs of anadromous fish; (2) restoration of natural Elwha River Basin conditions within Olympic National Park; and (3) provision of renewable hydroelectric energy. FERC concluded that removal of both dams would best meet the first two objectives. FERC's EIS was not finalized and a record of decision was not issued. The Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (P.L. 102- 495) was enacted by Congress in October 1992 to legislatively resolve numerous conflicts surrounding these two projects. It directs the Department of the Interior to prepare a report (subsequently titled The Elwha Report) including plans for dam removal, fish restoration, and protection of local water supplies, and power supply replacement. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire both dams if determined dam removal is necessary for the full restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries and that funds be made available for that purpose. The Elwha Report was prepared by NPS in cooperation with several federal agencies and the Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribe. It was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget in December 1993 and to Congress in June 1994. The report summarizes much of the FERC EIS and added feasibility and cost analyses for a range of scenarios for dam removal and mitigation of subsequent impacts. It concludes that removal of both projects is the only alternative that would achieve the goal of full restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries. As provided for by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1506.3), NPS intends to adopt the amended FERC EIS and incorporate by reference the 1994 Elwha Report in a draft EIS for public review and comment. Depending on the outcome of this EIS, a second ``Implementation EIS'' will address a range of specific dam removal and sediment management options, analyzing the impacts of each in more depth. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service will prepare both EIS's in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe. The responsible official is Charles Odegard, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Regional Office. The preparation of both EISs and subsequent Record of Decisions is expected to take about two years. The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the first EIS in the fall, 1994. A final EIS is expected to be released in early 1995. Should the decision be made to remove the projects, the draft ``Implementation EIS'' would be released for public review mid-year, 1995, with a final EIS anticipated in early 1996. Dated: July 22, 1994. Denis P. Galvin, Associate Director, Planning and Development, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 94-18568 Filed 7-29-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P