[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 60311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29942]



[[Page 60311]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Mid-Columbia Coho Restoration Feasibility Project

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

ACTION: Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to implement various 
studies and research projects in the Methow, Wenatchee, and Entiat 
River watersheds, located in the State of Washington in Chelan and 
Okanogan Counties. These projects will focus on the feasibility of 
restoring coho salmon to the mid-Columbia tributaries, including the 
release of coho fingerlings and smolts into these tributaries and the 
possible initiation of a local broodstock development program. In 
accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and 
wetlands environmental review requirements, 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 will be 
included in the environmental assessment being prepared for the 
proposed project in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. A floodplain statement of findings will be 
included in any finding of no significant impact that may be issued 
following the completion of the environmental assessment.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than November 24, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Communications, Bonneville Power 
Administration--ACS-7, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon 97212. Internet 
address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Nancy Weintraub--ECN-4, Bonneville 
Power Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, 
phone number 503-230-5373, fax number 503-230-4089.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project would involve work in the 
Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow watersheds. The work would include mostly 
activities with minimal impacts, such as snorkeling, seining, 
electroshocking, screw trapping, spawning surveys, and placement of 
fish into these rivers and their tributaries. It may also involve the 
construction of low-impact, low-technology acclimation ponds or the 
netting-off of side channels to provide sites for coho acclimation. 
Placement of temporary weirs into streams may also occur. Exact 
locations for these activities have not yet been identified, but 
existing facilities will be used as much as possible. The only 
alternative identified to date is the no-action alternative.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on November 2, 1998.
Thomas C. McKinney,
NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-29942 Filed 11-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P