[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 37095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12704]



[[Page 37095]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Success Dam Seismic Remediation Project, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (Corps), 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Federal action to remediate seismic dam safety concerns at the Lake 
Success Project located on the Tule River, near Porterville, CA. The 
proposed action is being conducted through the Corps' Dam Safety 
Assurance Program for the evaluation of existing dams.

ADDRESSES: Submit questions or comments regarding the subject dam 
safety project to Mr. Matt Davis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1325 J. 
Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922, fax (916) 557-7856, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on a mailing list 
for this project should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matt Davis, (916) 557-6708.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Background Information. Based on current 
engineering knowledge, the Corps has determined that Success Dam near 
Porterville, CA, in Tulare County, has a fairly high likelihood of 
failure in the event of an earthquake. All studies that have been 
conducted show that the dam is likely to fail under relatively low 
levels of earthquake shaking. The estimated probability of a damaging 
earthquake that would breach or overtop the dam in its current 
condition is 1 in 285. Historical records indicate that at least three 
times between 1857 and 1952, earthquakes shook the future Success Dam 
site sufficiently that the current dam would have been seriously 
damaged with a likely release of the reservoir had the dam been 
present. However, no such earthquakes have occurred in the 44 years 
since the dam was built. Given the potential for seismicity at and near 
the Success Dam, along with the characteristics of the materials 
comprising the dam and its foundation, remediation work is required to 
prevent loss of life, extensive downstream damage, functional loss of 
the project, and loss of all project benefits. The project is currently 
being operated at a reduced capacity to deal with the risk until a 
permanent solution is implemented to address the dam safety concern.
    2. Proposed Action and Alternatives. The Corps' tentatively 
preferred alternative is to construct a new roller compacted concrete 
(RCC) dam immediately downstream of the existing earthen dam. In 
addition to the no-action alternative, other alternatives to be 
evaluated include a new earthen embarkment dam immediately downstream 
of the existing dam, and modifications to the existing dam consisting 
of upstream jet grout with removal and replacement of the downstream 
foundation. The proposed RCC dam alternative would not provide any 
additional storage capacity beyond the existing dam. However, 
additional storage for flood protection and irrigation water would be 
provided under the separately authorized dam spillway raise project. 
Construction of the spillway raise project may be integrated into the 
construction of the dam safety project. The exact nature and extent of 
alternatives will be determined based on public and agency input during 
the scoping period and preparation of the Draft EIS.
    3. Issues to be Addressed. The Draft EIS will address environmental 
issues concerning the proposed action. Issues will be identified based 
on public input during the scoping period and during preparation of the 
Draft EIS. Issues identified initially as potentially significant 
include: hydrology, biological resources, recreation, land use, visual 
quality, traffic safety, cultural resources, noise, and air quality.
    4. Public Involvement. The Corps will hold a public scoping meeting 
to receive public comments and to solicit input regarding environmental 
issues of concern to the public and the alternatives that should be 
addressed in the Draft EIS. The public scoping meeting place, data and 
time will be advertised in the Draft EIS. The public scoping meeting 
place, date and time will be advertised in advance in local newspapers, 
and meeting announcement letters will be sent to interested parties. 
Written comments may also be submitted via mail and should be directed 
to Mr. Matt Davis (see ADDRESSES).
    5. Cooperating Agencies. Federal agencies interested in 
participating as a Cooperating Agency are requested to submit a letter 
of intent to Colonel Ronald N. Light, District Engineer (see 
ADDRESSES).
    6. Availability of Draft EIS. The Corps intends to issue the Draft 
EIS in the spring of 2006. The Corps will announce availability of the 
draft in the Federal Register and other media, and will provide the 
public, organizations, and agencies with an opportunity to submit 
comments, which will be addressed in the Final EIS.

    Dated: June 13, 2005.
Ronald N. Light,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-12704 Filed 6-27-05; 8:45 am]
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