[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11198-11199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6575]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Vancouver Lowlands Columbia River Wildlife Mitigation Project

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) and notice of scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare an EIS on 
funding that portion of the Washington Wildlife Mitigation Agreement 
pertaining to the Vancouver Lowlands Columbia River Mitigation Project. 
The proposed action would be to fund the acquisition and improvement of 
privately and publicly owned lands, transfer title of purchased lands 
to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and implement a 
management strategy to contribute toward the goal of mitigation for 
wildlife and wildlife habitat under the Pacific Northwest Power 
Planning and Conservation Act of 1980.
    A Notice of Floodplain/Wetland Involvement for this project was 
published in the Federal Register on August 22, 1994. In accordance 
with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands 
environmental review requirements (10 C.F.R. Part 1022), BPA will 
prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and will perform this 
proposed action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm 
to or within the affected floodplain and wetlands. The assessment and a 
floodplain statement of findings will be included in the EIS being 
prepared for the proposed project in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: BPA has established a 30-day scoping period during which 
affected landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local 
governments, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on 
the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help BPA ensure that a full 
range of issues related to this proposal is addressed in the EIS, and 
also will identify significant or potentially significant impacts that 
may result from the proposed project. Written comments are due to the 
address below no later than April 22, 1996.
    Comments may also be made at an EIS scoping meeting scheduled to be 
held on April 9, 1996, 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Fruit Valley Community 
Center, 3203 Unander Avenue, Vancouver, Washington. Call the number 
below to be put on the mailing list. At the informal meeting, 
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife will present their Management 
Plan with proposed activities for the project area. Written information 
will also be available, and BPA staff will answer questions and accept 
oral and written comments.
    When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and 
comment, and BPA will hold a public comment meeting for the Draft EIS. 
BPA will consider and respond to comments received on the Draft EIS in 
the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: BPA invites comments and suggestions on the proposed scope 
of the Draft EIS. Send comment letters and requests to be placed on the 
project mailing list to the Public Involvement and Information Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--CKP, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon, 
97212. The phone number of the Public Involvement and Information 
Office is 503-230-3478 in Portland; toll-free 1-800-622-4519 outside of 
Portland. Public Involvement Internet: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Smith--ECN, Bonneville Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, phone 
number 503-230-7349, fax number 503-230-5699, internet address 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Proposed Action: BPA proposes to fund implementation of a wildlife 
management strategy that would protect, improve, and restore wildlife 
habitat in the Vancouver Lowlands. Existing wetlands would be 
maintained or restored where possible to improve wildlife habitat. 
Improvement activities could include control or removal of non-native 
fish and plant species, and agricultural cultivation, planting, and 
irrigation. Specific mitigation actions are expected to include fee-
title land acquisition and management, property

[[Page 11199]]
lease and management, conservation easement acquisition and management, 
habitat restoration and improvements, installation of water control 
devices, riparian fencing, and similar wildlife conservation actions.
    Location: The Vancouver Lowlands Wildlife Mitigation Project is 
located along the western border of Clark County, extending north and 
west of the City of Vancouver, Washington. It consists of approximately 
2123 hectares (5245 acres) of riparian, wetland, and pasture habitat 
along the Columbia River floodplain. The Columbia River borders the 
southern and western boundaries of the project area. Major riparian and 
wetland features of the area include the Columbia River; Vancouver 
Lake; Lake River; Buckmire and Matthew Sloughs; Shillapoo Lakebed; and 
Post Office, Round, Green, Curtis, and Campbell Lakes. Several smaller 
wetlands occur throughout the project area. Land ownership within the 
project area includes Washington Department of Wildlife, Clark County, 
Port of Vancouver, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and 
several private landowners.
    Process to Date: A Draft Environmental Assessment was published in 
March 1995. Since that time, it has been determined that the project 
area lies within a Cultural Resource District containing a large number 
of identified cultural resource sites. Therefore, this notice announces 
BPA's intention to prepare an EIS to evaluate and disclose the 
environmental effects of funding the proposed wildlife management 
strategy.
    Alternatives Proposed for Consideration: Alternatives to be 
considered in the Vancouver Lowlands Wildlife Mitigation EIS would 
include alternative management strategies for improving existing State-
owned properties and/or acquisition lands, including wildlife habitat 
management/improvement, access and/or recreation management, operation 
and maintenance, and cultural resource management. The EIS would also 
consider a No Action alternative, i.e., BPA would not fund the 
acquisition of land or the improvement of wildlife habitat within the 
Vancouver Lowlands area.
    Identification of Environmental Issues: The environmental issues 
associated with the proposed wildlife mitigation activities include 
changes in land use, vegetation patterns, wildlife populations, and 
water use and quality. Additional environmental issues concern 
protection of historic and cultural resources, recreational 
opportunities, and introduction of herbicides into the environment.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 7, 1996.
Randall W. Hardy,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-6575 Filed 3-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6540-01-P