[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 103 (Friday, May 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34142-34144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13294]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Jackson County Lake Project

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
and Notice of Public Meeting.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 
is issuing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Jackson 
County Lake Project. The Draft EIS was prepared pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (U.S.C. 4231 et seq.) 
in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508) and RUS regulations (7 CFR part 1940, Subpart G). RUS 
invites comments on the Draft EIS.
    The purpose of the EIS is to evaluate the potential environmental 
impacts of and alternatives to the Jackson County Empowerment Zone (EZ) 
Community, Incorporated and Jackson County Water Association's (JCWA) 
applications for financial assistance to provide water supply for the 
residents of Jackson County and parts of surrounding counties. The 
project, known as the Jackson County Lake Project, proposes to 
construct a roller-compacted concrete dam to create a reservoir within 
Jackson County, Kentucky, and to construct a raw water transmission 
main from the proposed reservoir to the JCWA Treatment Plant. A 300-
foot buffer zone surrounding the reservoir horizontally from the normal 
pool level has been proposed to protect the water quality of the 
reservoir by restricting development and certain land uses in this 
area. Also included in the proposal is the construction of a water 
intake structure and a pump house to pump water out of the reservoir. 
Proposed recreational development around the reservoir may include a 
boat ramp, boat dock, public beach, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a 
primitive campground.

DATES: Written comments on this Draft EIS will be accepted on or before 
July 10, 2000. A public meeting will be held on June 27, 2000. The 
public meeting will be held in two sessions, one beginning at 10 a.m. 
and one beginning at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: To send comments or for more information, contact: Mark S. 
Plank, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, Engineering and Environmental 
Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, Mail Stop 1571, Washington DC 20250, 
telephone (202) 720-1649, fax (202) 720-0820, or email: 
[email protected]. Further information can also be obtained from: 
Thomas G. Fern, State Director, USDA, Rural Development State Office, 
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, telephone (606) 
224-7300, or fax (606) 224-7340. The public meeting will be held in the 
gymnasium of Jackson County High School, located on U.S. 421.
    A copy of the Draft EIS can be obtained or viewed online at http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/deis-jc.htm. The files are in a portable 
document format (pdf); in order to review or print the document, users 
need to obtain a free copy of Acrobat Reader. The Acrobat Reader can be 
obtained from http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html.
    Copies of the Draft EIS will be available for public review during 
normal business hours at the following locations:

Jackson County Public Library, Courthouse Square, PO Box 160, McKee, KY 
40447, (606) 287-8113
Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Highway 421 South, McKee, 
KY 40447, (606) 287-8311
Jackson County Extension Service, 263 U.S. Highway 421 South, PO Box 
188, McKee, KY 40447, (606) 287-7693
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, 362 Old Whitley Road, 
London, KY 40741, (606) 864-5175
Jackson County EZ Community, Incorporated, McCammon Ridge Road, PO Box 
280, McKee, KY 40447, (606) 287-8395
USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 
40503, (606) 224-7300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Subchapter C, Part 1 
(Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities and Rural Development 
Investment Areas) of Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1993, Jackson County, Kentucky is located in an area designated 
as an Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) (see Federal 
Register Vol. 60, No. 24, February 6, 1995). The purpose of the EZ/EC 
initiative is to empower rural communities and their residents to 
create opportunities for economic development as part of a Federal-
State-local and private sector partnership. The proposed action is an 
integral component of the EZ/EC initiative as identified in the 
Kentucky Highland Empowerment Zone's Strategic Plan. The proposed 
action will improve the area's water supply necessary for promoting 
economic development in the area.
    The Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. and the JCWA have applied for 
financial assistance for the Jackson County Lake Project from the 
following: RUS; Appalachian Regional Commission; U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Economic Development Administration; Department of Housing 
and Urban Development; Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone; and 
Kentucky Tobacco Settlement money. In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.5, 
Lead Agencies, the RUS is the lead Agency for the EIS and the U.S. 
Forest Service is the Cooperating Agency.
    A number of alternatives were evaluated in the EIS and were 
determined to be unreasonable or inefficient due to environmental or 
economic reasons or due to an insufficient yield to meet the projected 
water needs of Jackson County. These alternatives included eleven 
reservoir sites throughout Jackson County, groundwater development, the 
expansion of existing surface water storage facilities within Jackson 
County, water conservation, and importing water from existing surface 
water resources in surrounding counties to the JCWA Treatment Plan.
    Three alternative sites for the dam and reservoir were determined 
to be reasonable for further consideration,

[[Page 34143]]

and are evaluated in the EIS along with the No Action alternative. 
these alternative reservoir sites include the War Fork and Steer Fork 
site, the Sturgeon Creek, 8.5 million gallons per day (mgd) site, and 
the Sturgeon Creek, 2.5 mgd site.
    The War Fork and Steer Fork dam site is located about 0.5 miles 
southwest of Turkey Foot in eastern Jackson County. The dam would be 
situated on War Fork, 0.75 miles north of the confluence with Steer 
Fork. The dam would be about 87 to 107 feet tall, 760 to 790 feet long, 
and 102 to 122 feet wide, creating a reservoir with an average yield of 
2.5 mgd of raw water. At a normal pool elevation of 980 feet above mean 
sea level (MSL), the surface area of this reservoir would be about 116 
acres. At a potential maximum floor elevation of 1,000 feet above MSL, 
the surface area of the reservoir would be approximately 162 acres. The 
total acreage for a reservoir at maximum flood level at this site, with 
a 300-foot buffer extending from normal pool level, would be about 337 
acres of land. As much of this land is currently part of the Daniel 
Boone National Forest, land acquisition at this site would require a 
land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service. the War Fork and Steer Fork 
reservoir site has been identified as the Lead Agency's Preferred 
Alternative.
    The Sturgeon Creek, 8.5 mgd dam site is located near the Jackson/
Owsley County boundary line in eastern Jackson County. The dam would be 
situated on Sturgeon Creek, just below the confluence with Blackwater 
Creek. The dam would be about 84 to 100 feet tall, 825 to 850 feet 
long, and 99 to 115 feet wide, creating a reservoir with an average 
yield of 8.5 mgd of raw water. Due to this greater yield, a reservoir 
at this site might be used as a regional water supply source to serve 
the needs of neighboring counties in addition to Jackson County. At a 
normal pool elevation of 990 feel above MSL, the surface area of this 
reservoir would be about 467 acres. At a potential maximum flood 
elevation of 1,010 feet above MSL, the surface of the reservoir would 
be approximately 740 acres. The total acreage for a reservoir at 
maximum flood level at this site, with a 300-foot buffer extending from 
normal pool level, would be about 1,119 acres of land. all of this land 
is currently privately owned. Implementation of the project at this 
site would require the relocation of residents currently living on the 
project at this site would require the relocation of residents 
currently living on the project site and the demolition or relocation 
of existing structures in this area, including homes, barns, and 
outbuildings. There would also be connected actions associated with the 
project at this site, such as plugging water and oil wells in the 
project area, closing existing septic and storage tanks, and relocating 
roadways, such as KY 30.
    The Sturgeon Creek, 3.5 mgd dam site is located near the Jackson/
Owsley County boundary line in eastern Jackson County. The dam would be 
situated on Sturgeon Creek, about 0.6 miles above the confluence with 
Blackwater Creek. The dam would be about 64 to 67 feet tall, 500 to 600 
feet long, and 104 to 107 feet wide, creating a reservoir with an 
average yield of 3.5 mgd of raw water. At a normal pool elevation of 
980 feet above MSL, the furace area of this reservoir would be about 
264 acres. At a potential maximum flood elevation of 1,000 feet above 
MSL, the surface area of the reservoir would be approximately 440 
acres. The total acreage for a reservoir at maximum flood level at this 
site, with a 300-foot buffer extending from normal pool level, would be 
about 643 acres of land. All of this land is currently privately owned. 
Implementation of the project at this site would require the relocation 
of residents currently living on the project site and the demolition or 
relocation of existing structures in this area, including homes, barns, 
and outbuildings. There would also be connected actions associated with 
the project at this site, such as plugging water and oil wells in the 
project area, closing existing septic and storage tanks, and relocating 
roadways, such as KY 30.
    Some major potential environmental impacts associated with the 
implementation of the proposed action that are common to all three dam 
and reservoir sites include a significant, beneficial increase in 
recreational opportunities provided by the reservoir, moderately 
significant changes in property values in the vicinity of and increases 
in business development induced by the proposed reservoir, moderately 
significant impacts to downstream aquatic biota and riparian vegetation 
due to decreased water quality; and significant impacts on the visual 
quality of the area, both adverse and beneficial.
    There are also major potential site-specific environmental impacts 
associated with the implementation of the project. The project at the 
War Fork and Steer Fork site would have slightly greater adverse 
impacts on downstream water quality as a result of construction 
activities, due to the Wild and Scenic Study River status of the 
downstream river segment. In addition, there would be a more 
significant adverse impact on terrestrial plants and wildlife due to 
permanent elimination of forest habitat at this site. The Federally-
endangered India bat (Myotis sodalis) is also more likely to utilize 
this site for foraging than either of the Sturgeon Creek sites, 
although it is unlikely that the project will have an adverse effect on 
the local population of these bats.
    Major potential environmental impacts are similar at both of the 
Sturgeon Creek reservoir sites. Implementation of the project at these 
sites would result in a significant loss of Prime and other important 
farmland, moderately significant changes to roadway structure due to 
the necessary relocation of KY 30, and moderately significant permanent 
changes in land uses within the project area. The project would likely 
result in significant disruption of community structure and social 
relations due to necessary residential relocations from either of the 
project areas. There would also be a more significant adverse impact on 
human health and safety in the event of a dam failure at either of the 
Sturgeon Creek sites. In addition, a preliminary cultural resources 
survey indicated a potentially significant archeological site within 
the boundaries of both Sturgeon Creek reservoir sites, which would 
require Phase II testing, and the potential for historic sites and 
undisturbed, intact cultural deposits to be located there.
    With this notice, RUS invites any affected Federal, State, and 
local Agencies and other interested persons to comment on the Draft 
EIS. RUS will hold a public meeting on June 27, 2000, in the gymnasium 
of Jackson County High School, located on U.S. 421. This public meeting 
will be held in two sessions, one beginning at 10 a.m. and one 
beginning at 7 p.m. In accordance with 40 CFR Section 1503.1, Inviting 
Comments, the purpose of the meeting will be to solicit comments from 
interested parties on the Draft EIS for the Jackson County Lake 
Project.
    Throughout the Jackson County Lake Project EIS, two definitions of 
the No Action alternative were analyzed. The first definition, 
identified in the EIS as the No Change alternative, describes a 
situation in which nothing is done to meet the projected water and 
recreation needs of Jackson County. The No Change alternative was 
determined to be unreasonable due to the documented need for water in 
Jackson County. Therefore, a second definition, identified as the No 
Action alternative in the EIS, was also analyzed. The No Action 
alternative assumes that, although a dam and reservoir will not be 
constructed to meet the needs of Jackson County, other activities will 
occur to

[[Page 34144]]

increase the current water supply, although in insufficient amounts to 
meet the projected needs. These activities may include drilling 
additional water wells throughout Jackson County, constructing water 
transmission lines from existing resources, such as intermittent 
streams, within the County to the JCWA Treatment Plant, or water 
conservation.
    The major environmental and human health and safety impacts that 
would result from implementation of the No Action alternative include: 
Significant, continued lack of recreation needs within Jackson County 
and the surrounding region; a moderately significant adverse impact on 
human health and safety due to an insufficient water supply; a 
significant impediment to growth of industry, residential devleopment, 
and employment in Jackson County; an impediment to other development 
goals of the EZ/EC; and a significant potential to adversely and 
disproportionately affect minority or low-income groups due to further 
economic degradation and due to adverse health impacts associated with 
an insuficient water supply.

    Dated: May 22, 2000.
John P. Romano,
Deputy Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-13294 Filed 5-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-M