[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 9319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4692]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Keechelus Dam Safety of Dams Modification, Yakima Project, 
Washington

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Keechelus Dam Safety of Dams Modification, Yakima Project, Washington.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Department of the Interior, Bureau 
of Reclamation (Reclamation), has prepared a Record of Decision 
identifying the alternative to be implemented for the Keechelus Dam 
Safety of Dams Modification Project, located in the Yakima River basin 
in central Washington. The project is the subject of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), INT-FES-01-29, Federal Register 
Notice of Availability, dated September 25, 2001 (66 FR 49039, Sep. 25, 
2001).
    The decision is to proceed with the preferred alternative to modify 
Keechelus Dam along the existing alignment to correct identified safety 
deficiencies as documented in the FEIS. In addition, Reclamation will 
seek funding under existing authorities to conduct a feasibility study 
for fish passage at all of the storage dams which are part of the 
Yakima Project.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available for public inspection and 
review at the following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Room 7455, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC 20240.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Denver 
Federal Center, Building 67, Room 167, Denver, Colorado 80225.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 
1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, 1917 
Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington 98901.

Libraries

Carpenter Memorial Library, 302 N Pennsylvania Ave., Cle Elum, WA 
98922; (509) 674-2313
Central Washington University Library, 700 E 8th Ave., Ellensburg WA 
98926; (509) 963-1777
Ellensburg Public Library, 209 N Ruby, Ellensburg WA 98926; (509) 962-
7250
Yakima Valley Regional Library, 102 N 3rd St, Yakima WA 98901; (509) 
452-8541
University of Washington Campus, Suzzallo Library, Government 
Publications Division, Seattle WA 98195; (206) 543-1937

Internet

    The ROD is also available on the Internet at: http://www.pn.usbr.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dave Kaumheimer at (509) 575-5848, 
extension 232. Those wishing to obtain a copy of the ROD in the form of 
a printed document may contact Mr. Kaumheimer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Keechelus Dam was completed in 1917 as part 
of Reclamation's Yakima Project, storing Yakima River water in central 
Washington for irrigation as part of 443,400 acres of prime farmland 
and for flood control. Recent investigations have shown that the wooden 
railroad trestle, used to deliver earth material and rocks while 
constructing the dam, has deteriorated, forming vertical paths where 
earthen materials within the dam can move, leaving voids in the dam. 
Examination of the seepage problems indicates the material is 
internally unstable and is subject to failure, with an associated 
potential for loss of life and property downstream. Because of the 
deficiencies identified, Keechelus Lake has been operated at a 
restricted pool elevation 7 feet below the normal full pool elevation 
of 2517 feet since November 1998, with increased monitoring and 
surveillance at the dam. This was identified as the No Action 
alternative in the FEIS, and elevation 2510 was used in comparing 
impacts of the other alternatives.
    The Safety of Dams Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-578) and amendments of 
1984 (Pub. L. 98-404) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
analyze existing Reclamation dams for changes in the state-of-the-art 
criteria and additional hydrologic and seismic data developed since the 
dams were constructed. For dams where a safety concern exists, the 
Secretary is authorized to modify the structure to ensure its continued 
safety. Section 3 of the Safety of Dams Act states that construction 
authorized by the Act shall be for dam safety and not for specific 
purposes of providing additional conservation storage capacity or 
developing benefits over and above those provided by the original dams 
and reservoirs.

    Dated: January 18, 2002.
J. William McDonald,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 02-4692 Filed 2-27-02; 8:45 am]
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