[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 28860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14276]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration


Watershed Management Program Early Action Projects

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

ACTION: Floodplain statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to fund watershed 
rehabilitation projects to improve salmon habitat in floodplains 
located throughout the Columbia River Basin in the states of 
Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022, BPA 
has prepared this Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Watershed 
Management Program Early Action Projects. A Notice of Floodplain and 
Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal Register on May 14, 
1996 (Vol. 61, No. 94, pp. 24297-24298), and a floodplain and wetlands 
assessment was prepared by BPA describing the effects, alternatives, 
and measures designed to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within 
the affected floodplain. The assessment was prepared in conjunction 
with the Categorical Exclusion for this project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Weintraub--ECN, Bonneville Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, phone 
number 503-230-5373, fax number 503-230-5699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Potential floodplain effects would include 
placing new structures or materials in streams that could be dislodged 
in a flood; and disturbing existing streambanks and channels, which 
would make them more susceptible to erosion and failure during flooding 
until stabilized and revegetated.
    The proposed actions would have long-term, net positive effects on 
the floodplains affected. It is necessary for many of the proposed 
actions to be located in floodplains because they are actions that 
would stabilize and rehabilitate streams and streambanks. Alternatives 
to the proposed actions are no action, or revisions in the proposed 
actions that would reduce potential net negative impacts to 
floodplains. The proposed actions would be required to conform to 
applicable Federal, State or local floodplain protection standards. The 
following steps will be taken to avoid or minimize potential harm to or 
within the affected floodplain: (1) the structures will either be 
engineered to withstand flooding, or would be natural materials 
designed to move downstream with the floods to create habitat for fish; 
and (2) channel restoration, revegetation, and erosion control and 
stabilization actions would be designed to lessen the impacts of future 
flooding on lives and property.
    BPA will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after 
publication of this statement of findings before implementing the 
proposed action.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 30, 1996.
Thomas C. McKinney,
NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-14276 Filed 6-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P