[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26479-26480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4234]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Dam 
Safety Assurance Evaluation Report, Dover Dam, City of Dover, 
Tuscarawas County, OH

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 (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District will prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose potential impacts 
to the natural, physical, and human environment resulting from 
modifications to Dover Dam. This high hazard dam does not conform to 
current design standards related to stability and sliding during a 
probable maximum flood. Modifications will be performed so the Dam will 
meet these standards.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on May 24, 2006 from 7-
8:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposed project to David M. Rieger, PD-R, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 
25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5160. Electronic mail: 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on the 
mailing list should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rodney Cremeans, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 
25701-2070. Telephone: (304) 399-5170. Electronic mail: 
[email protected]. mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authority: Investigation and justification of modifications for 
dam safety assurance to completed Corps of Engineers projects is 
authorized under Section 1203 of the Water Resources Development Act of 
1986 (Pub. L. 99-662).
    2. Background: a. Guidance for this study is provided in USACE 
Engineer Regulation 1110-2-1155 for modifying or developing new 
facilities, raising the dam and/or improving the stability of the dam 
to accommodate currently anticipated flood volumes.
    b. The Corps evaluates structures such as Dover Dam periodically 
throughout their life. These evaluations are important for identifying 
trends in the aging process of the structure as well as offering an 
opportunity to consider developments in the design and weather 
forecasting sciences. Concerns for the stability of the dam have grown 
over the life of Dover Dam. Since the construction of the project in 
the 1930's, the maximum pool recorded was 907.4 (8.6 feet below the 
spillway crest) in January 2005. No significant problems have been 
encountered with the dam, however, inflow is very carefully monitored 
to ensure the safety of the public downstream of the dam.
    c. The Corps will continue to manage stability concerns in the 
event of extreme flooding. However, recent flood events have 
highlighted the need to address on-going concerns and renew 
consideration of potential low-frequency extreme flood events.
    d. The National Weather Service has published details of procedures 
and methods that are used to develop generalized estimates of Probably 
Maximum Precipitation (PMP), the greatest rainfall rates for specified 
durations that are theoretically possible for regions throughout the 
United States. These rainfall estimates are considered extreme, with a 
very low probability of occurrence. However, the worst-case storms 
associated with the PMP events, retain some probability of occurrence. 
These PMP events are used

[[Page 26480]]

to develop flood scenarios and guide design criteria for strucures such 
as Dover Dam. The Corps has determined the dam may not safely 
accommodate flooding during these theoretical probable maximum flood 
(PMF) events.
    e. In the event of a PMF, the pool behind Dover is estimated to 
reach or exceed elevation 940.5 msl. For context, the project will be 
completely overtopped at elevations above 931 msl, the current spillway 
elevation is 916 msl and the project was designed for flood waters 
reaching only 936.8 msl. The concrete gravity dam is also believed to 
be unstable against sliding under these conditions due to known 
faulting and uncertain foundation bedrock quality.
    f. The EIS and Evaluation Report will consider the structural 
integrity of the dam, its ability to accommodate flood waters as well 
as transportation, noise, terrestrial, aquatic, economic, environmental 
justice and cultural resource issues associated with the performance of 
the dam. The EIS and Evaluation Report will recommend any modifications 
necessary to ensure the long-term safe performance of the structure as 
originally intended.
    g. Modifications to meet current design standards could include 
raising the dam height, constructing an auxiliary spillway, modifying 
the existing spillway, constructing a stilling basin downstream of the 
dam, and anchoring the structure to prevent sliding.
    3. Public Participation: a. The Corps of Engineers will conduct a 
public scoping meeting (see DATES) to gain input from interested 
agencies, organizations, and the general public concerning the content 
of the EIS, issues and impacts to be addressed in the EIS, and 
alternatives that should be analyzed. The meeting will be held at the 
McDonald/Marlite Conference Center, 143 McDonald Driver Southwest, New 
Philadelphia, OH. Phone: (330) 308-5009.
    b. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open 
communication and better decision-making. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the Dover Dam Project or the Muskingum 
Watershed Conservancy District system of flood damage reduction and the 
environment are urged to participate in this NEPA evaluation process. 
Assistance will be provided upon request to anyone having difficulty 
with learning how to participate.
    c. Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA 
process. Formal opportunities for public participation include: (1) 
Public meetings to be held near the community of Dover; (2) Anytime 
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or e-mail; (3) During 
Review and Comment on the Draft EIS; and (4) Review of the Final EIS. 
Schedules and locations will be announced in local news media. 
Interested parties should submit contact information to be included on 
the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and 
documents (See ADDRESSES).
    4. Schedule: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is scheduled 
to be released for public review and comment in September 2006. The 
Final Report and Final EIS are scheduled to be completed in March 2007.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-4234 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
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