[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55824-55825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22193]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Walla 
Walla District Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Walla Walla River Basin, 
Oregon and Washington

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Walla Walla 
District, intends to prepare, in cooperation with the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indiana Reservation (CTUIR), the project 
sponsor, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS will 
be prepared in conjunction with a study to determine the feasibility of 
conducting aquatic ecosystem restoration within the Walla Walla River 
Basin in Oregon and Washington. The Walla Walla River Basin Feasibility 
Study will concentrate on restoration of fish habitat quality as

[[Page 55825]]

its main objective, with primary emphasis placed upon options for 
increasing flows. Other habitat improvement measures identified during 
the study will be identified in the DEIS and considered for possible 
expansion of the scope of the project or for development of future 
projects. The DEIS will evaluate the environmental effects of 
alternative actions identified during the study. Specific restoration 
actions and proposed restoration sites will be identified and evaluated 
throughout the study process and in the DEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James S. Smith, NEPA Coordinator, 
Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers, CENWW-PD-E, 201 North Third 
Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone (509) 527-7244 or Mr. Chris 
Hyland, Project Manager, Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers CENWW-
PM, 201 Third Avenue, Walla, Walla, WA 99362, phone (509) 527-7264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 10, 2002, the Corps and CTUIR signed 
a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement, the terms of which provide for 
the Corps and CTUIR to share equally in the cost of conducting the 
Feasibility Study and preparing the Feasibility Report and DEIS.
    Alternatives being considered for the proposed action include a 
range of measures to increase flows within the Walla Walla River Basin. 
The following measures have been identified for initial consideration 
during the Study. Related actions include analysis of effects of 
measures upon groundwater and analysis of optimum flows for targeted 
reaches. Actions ultimately proposed for implementation in future years 
may involve a combination of these or other measures.

1. Water Exchange: Piping Water from Another Drainage

    This measure would take water from the Columbia River and transport 
it to existing irrigation delivery systems. In exchange, less water 
would be withdrawn from ground and surface waters for use in the 
irrigation delivery systems.

II. Off-Channel Storage Reservoirs

    This potential measure would involve construction of off-channel 
water storage reservoirs that would store water when it is available 
and release it during periods of low flow. In exchange, less water 
would be withdrawn from ground and surface waters.

III. Irrigation Efficiency

    Potential measures include improved canal lining systems and 
consolidation of existing irrigation delivery system to reduce seepage 
losses, and use of more efficient irrigation application methods.

IV. Water Rights

    This measure would include possible acquisition of existing surface 
and ground water rights issued by the states of Oregon and Washington 
or transfer into trust for environmental purposes. this effort would be 
studied for the purposes of ensuring that flows were met at selected 
sites.

V. Channel Modification

    Potential modifications of the Walla Walla River and other Basin 
river channels may also be studied if the benefits of increased flow 
are not realized. Such studies may, but will not necessarily include 
efforts to reduce seepage and the resulting effects on groundwater 
rejuvenation and/or recharge.

VI. No Action

    The no action alternative identifies the ``without'' project 
condition, or those activities which will occur or continue to occur 
whether or not the proposed actions ultimately identified in the DEIS 
are implemented.
    The public scoping period will run from August 28 through September 
27, 2002. The Corps plans to have formal public meetings during the 
scoping period, with times and exact dates yet to be determined. The 
Corps currently plans to have meetings in Milton-Freewater and Mission, 
Oregon, and in Walla Walla and Dayton, Washington.
    The DEIS should be available for public review in April 2004.

Harry L. Cunningham,
MAJ, EN, Deputy District Commander.
[FR Doc. 02-22193 Filed 8-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3910-GC-M