[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 160 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20378]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 19, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part VI





Department of the Interior





_______________________________________________________________________



Bureau of Indian Affairs



_______________________________________________________________________



Final Environmental Impact Statement for Renovation of Crow Creek Dam 
on Crow Creek Indian Reservation, South Dakota; Notice
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

 

Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for Renovation of Crow Creek Dam on Crow Creek Indian Reservation, 
South Dakota

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Spillway at Crow Creek Dam is on the verge of failure. 
Failure of the spillway could lead to the catastrophic failure of the 
dam, endangering lives and property in the floodplain between the dam 
and Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River. During its 55-year life, 
the reservoir has trapped approximately 5,000 acre-feet of sediment 
which has reduced its water-storage capacity from 7,000 to 2,000 acre-
feet. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was necessary to address 
the impact of controlled or catastrophic release of the sediment. Six 
alternatives for renovation are considered in the document.
    This Notice is published in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations found in Parts 1500-1508 of 
40 CFR.

DATES: The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the 
Federal Register on September 21, 1992. Two scoping meetings were held 
on September 30, 1992. The draft EIS was released on December 31, 1993. 
A public hearing was held on April 13, 1994; and a tribal council 
informational meeting was held on April 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Don Whitener, Acting 
Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 115 4th Avenue, S.W., 
Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Leonard Alberts, Safety of Dams 
Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Natural Resources, 115 
4th Avenue, S.W., Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401. Telephone (605) 226-
7621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe has a contract 
with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to perform Safety of Dams 
activities at Crow Creek Dam. The Tribe contracted the EIS work to 
Morrison-Maierle/CSSA of Helena, MT; a private engineering consultant.
    Six alternatives were considered, including No Action. The BIA has 
chosen Alternative 6 as a preferred alternative. Alternative 6 will 
breach the dam, drain the reservoir, naturally stabilize the reservoir 
sediments, and eventually return the reservoir area to a naturally 
vegetated condition. The existing concrete spillway will be removed and 
the reservoir will be lowered by excavation of the underlying material. 
A period of 5 years will be used to stage the breaching of the dam so 
that the amount of sediment released downstream will be minimized.
    The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe favors Alternative 6 as an interim 
remedy to relieve the existing safety hazard since funding for other 
alternatives is not available. The tribe prefers, as a permanent 
rehabilitation, Alternative 2 which involves rehabilitation of the dam 
with a design flood capacity of 55,000 cfs and operation to flush 
sediment. The five-year phased breaching of the dam will be performed 
in a manner that will allow pursuit of Alternative 2 if funds become 
available. Alternative 2 would include the construction of a new 
spillway, a new outlet works, and possibly installation of roller-
compacted concrete overtopping protection for the dam embankment. The 
outlet works would have a greater capacity for flushing of sediment. 
While sediment flushing would prolong the life of the reservoir, it 
would make establishment of fish populations very difficult. Eventually 
the reservoir would fill with sediment and become wetlands and riparian 
habitat.
    The BIA has committed to monitoring sediment losses from the 
reservoir during the implementation period of Alternative 6. 
Appropriate mitigation will be developed if significant impacts occur 
during the staged breach.

    Dated: August 12, 1994.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-20378 Filed 8-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-M