[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20273]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 11346-001, IA]

 

FORIA Hydro Corporation; Notice of Environmental Assessment 
Scoping\1\

August 12, 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 (mandatory or recommended 
license terms and conditions, or prescriptions) 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.
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    \1\This supersedes the Notice of Environmental Assessment 
Scoping previously issued July 15, 1994, 59 FR 37229, July 21, 1994.
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    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 to install a new flat trashrack (with 2-inch clear 
bar spacing) at the project intake.
    The Applicant proposes the following measures relating to project 
operation to protect environmental resources in the project area. A 34-
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 
environmental measures not proposed by the Applicant. The staff will 
review and consider alternative recommendations for additional resource 
protection, or environmental 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 would maintain the existing environment or 
status quo at the project. There would be no enhancement of existing 
environmental resources.

Scope of the Environmental Analysis

Cumulative Effects

a. Geographic Scope
    We believe that water quality and resident fisheries can be 
affected in a cumulative manner by the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project 
being analyzed in this Environmental Assessment (EA) and by other 
activities on the Des Moines River. These activities include sediment 
and nutrient concentrations in the Des Moines River and associated 
tributaries due to channel straightening, land cultivation, and water 
treatment by the City of Fort Dodge.
    The geographic scope of analysis defines the physical limits or 
boundaries of the proposed action's effect on the resources. Since the 
proposed action affects the resources differently, the geographic scope 
for each resource may vary. In this case, for water quality and fishery 
resources, the geographic scope of analysis will encompass the mainstem 
of the Des Moines River from river mile 387 upstream to the confluence 
of the Raccoon River with the Des Moines River. We chose this 
geographic scope for these resources because the effects of project 
operation are limited to this area and, in this case, these resources 
are directly and indirectly affected by project operation.
b. Temporal Scope
    The temporal scope includes a discussion of the past, present, and 
future actions and their effects on water quality and the fishery 
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 
of potential future water withdrawals within the project vicinity). The 
historical discussion will, by necessity, be limited to the amount of 
available information for each resource.
    We are seeking further information from Federal, state, and other 
agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) pertaining to past, 
present, and future actions and effects on the resources (in the form 
of previous studies, present plans, and future plans, goals or 
forecasts).

Environmental Issues

    A preliminary list of environmental issues identified by the staff 
for coverage in an 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:
     Potential effects on geology and soils resources due to 
dredging upstream and downstream of the dam.
     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.
     Consider the need for measures to enhance recreational 
opportunities.
    The EA will assess the project-specific effects on the above 
resources and whether these effects contribute adversely or 
beneficially to the affected environment.

EA Preparation Schedule

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

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                Milestones                           Target date        
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Scoping...................................                  Summer 1994.
Draft EA..................................           September 30, 1994.
Final EA..................................            November 30, 1994.
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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, NGO's and other interested groups, and the 
general public are requested to file with the Commission 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 of the Fort Dodge Mill 
Dam Project being analyzed in this EA. 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 EA, 
environmental impact statement, or similar document or study (previous, 
on-going, or planned) relevant to the proposed licensing activity in 
the mainstem of the Des Moines River.
     Existing information and any data that would aid in 
describing the past and present actions and effects of the project on 
water quality and the fisheries. For example, fish stocking/management 
histories of the Des Moines River, 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.
     Identification of any federal, state, or local resource 
plans and future project proposals that encompass the mainstem of the 
Des Moines River 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 
project does not or does 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 mainstem of the Des Moines River. Documentation should 
include, but is not limited to: how the project interacts with other 
projects and other developmental activities; results from studies; 
resource management policies; and reports from Federal, state, and 
local agencies.
    To be useful in preparing the EA, the requested information must be 
filed with 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, D.C. 
20426.
    All filings 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 
Secretary of the Commission 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 (HL 20.1), 825 North Capitol Street, NE, 
Washington, D.C. 20426.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-20273 Filed 8-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P