[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29754-29755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11797]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[INT-FES-04-09]


Banks Lake Drawdown, Columbia Basin Project, Washington

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Banks Lake Drawdown final 
environmental impact statement.

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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 final environmental impact 
statement (Final EIS) that examines the impacts of annually lowering 
the water surface elevation of Banks Lake in August.
    The Final EIS evaluates two alternatives. The Action Alternative 
describes the resource conditions that would occur with Banks Lake 
water surface elevations between 1570 feet and 1560 feet, while the No 
Action Alternative describes the conditions that would occur without 
the action, with surface elevation between 1570 feet and 1565 feet. 
Both the No Action and Action Alternatives include four possible 
operational scenarios that could occur within their respective ranges, 
depending upon the hydrology of each year. The Action Alternative 
refills the reservoir to elevation 1565 by September 10 and to 1570 
feet by September 22. The No Action Alternative also refills to 1570 
feet elevation by September 22.
    The Final EIS includes the comment letters received on the Draft 
EIS and Reclamation's responses to those comments, as well as a summary 
of comments from the public hearings. Changes from the Draft EIS 
include minor revisions and additions to the analysis as a result of 
review comments. The No Action Alternative is identified as the 
preferred alternative in the Final EIS.
    A Record of Decision (ROD) identifying the alternative chosen for 
implementation, and discussing factors for its selection, is 
anticipated by June, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS are available for public review and 
inspection at the locations listed in the Supplementary Information 
Section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Blanchard, Special Projects 
Officer, at (509) 754-0226 (relay users may dial 711). Those wishing to 
obtain a copy of the Final EIS in the form of a printed document or a 
compact disk (CD-ROM with reader included), or a summary of the Final 
EIS may contact Mr. Blanchard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since its creation in the early 1950s, Banks 
Lake has been operated and maintained for the storage and delivery of 
irrigation water drawn from the Columbia River to Columbia Basin 
Project (CBP) lands. Reclamation operates the reservoir within 
established constraints on water surface elevation to meet contractual 
obligations, ensure public safety, and protect property. Reclamation 
considers other resource needs as feasible within existing operational 
constraints.
    In December of 2000, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a 
Biological Opinion (BiOp) to the Bureau of Reclamation, Bonneville 
Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the 
operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System. The BiOp's 
Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) included Action 31 that 
advised Reclamation to ``assess the likely environmental effects of 
operation of Banks Lake up to 10 feet down from full pool during 
August.'' Reclamation has completed RPA Action 31 by preparing the 
Banks Lake Drawdown Environmental Impact Statement which describes and 
analyzes the environmental effects of lowering the August surface 
elevation of Banks Lake annually to elevation 1560 feet, which is 10 
feet below full pool.
    Copies of the Final EIS are available for public review and 
inspection 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.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Ephrata Field Office, 32 C Street, 
Ephrata, Washington 98823.

Libraries

     Bridgeport Community Library, Douglas County, 1206 
Columbia St., Bridgeport, WA (509) 686-7281.
     Coulee City Community Library, 405 W. Main St., Coulee 
City, WA (509) 674-2313.
     Des Moines Library, 21620 11th Ave. S, Des Moines, WA 
(206) 824-6066.
     East Wenatchee Community Library, Douglas County, 271 9th 
St, NE., East Wenatchee, WA (509) 886-7404.
     Ephrata Public Library, 45 Alder NW., Ephrata, WA (509) 
754-3971.
     Grand Coulee Community Library, 225 Federal, Grand Coulee, 
WA (509) 633-0972.
     Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E. 5th Ave., Moses Lake, WA 
(509) 765-3489.
     Quincy Community Library, 108 B St., SW., Quincy, WA (509) 
787-2359.
     Royal City Community Library, 356 Camelia, Royal City, WA 
(509) 346-9281.
     Seattle Public Library, 800 Pike St., Seattle, WA (206) 
386-4636.
     Soap Lake Community Library, 32 E. Main, Soap Lake, WA 
(509) 246-1313.

[[Page 29755]]

     Warden Community Library, 305 S. Main, Warden, WA (509) 
349-2226.
     Wenatchee Public Library, Chelan County, 310 Douglas St., 
Wenatchee, WA (509) 662-5021.

Internet

    The DEIS is also available on the Internet at www.usbr.gov/pn.

    Dated: March 11, 2004.
J. William McDonald,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 04-11797 Filed 5-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P