[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 22 (Friday, February 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5020-5021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1721]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Operate Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, 
Russell County, KY at Below Normal Pool Levels Due to Emergency 
Conditions and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 30 CFR 230.8, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) is issuing this Notice to document emergency actions and set 
forth the steps to be taken in the future to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Wolf Creek Dam impounds Lake 
Cumberland in south central Kentucky. Several engineering studies have 
identified a high level of risk at Wolf Creek Dam. Accordingly, on 
January 19, 2007, the Corps made the decision to take emergency action 
and begin lowering the lake level to ease the stress on the dam's 
foundation until repairs can be effected. This action has been taken to 
reduce risk to the public's safety and welfare. The temporary target 
elevation will be 680 feet above mean sea level (msl) at Wolf Creek 
Dam. This elevation was selected because it provides the greatest 
reduction in stress to the dam without creating other public health and 
safety concerns. This operation will be in effect until repair of the 
dam or new information allows the pool elevation to be raised. This 
pool elevation may also drop if worsening conditions create the need 
for even further lowering of the pool.
    The Corps believes that the need for action regarding the Wolf 
Creek Dam is so urgent and compelling that there is no time to follow 
the usual NEPA procedures before the Corps makes decisions and begins 
to implement them. The Corps is, therefore, invoking its authority 
``Emergency Actions'' under 33 CFR 230.8 and declaring an emergency, 
making decisions, and taking necessary actions accordingly. The Corps 
has consulted the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regarding alternative arrangements under NEPA pursuant to 40 CFR 
1506.11. This notice serves to initiate the NEPA process. The Corps 
plans to prepare and circulate an EIS which serves to cover any actions 
it deems necessary during the repair of the dam's foundation.

DATES: Written comments, concerning issues to be considered in 
preparing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), must be 
received by the Corps of Engineers on or before March 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on issues to be considered in the DEIS 
shall be mailed to: Chip Hall, Project Planning Branch, Nashville 
District Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 1070 (PM-P), Nashville, TN 37202-
1070. Comments may also be e-mailed to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning 
the notice, please contact Chip Hall, Environmental Analysis Team, 
(615) 736-7666, David Hendrix, Wolf Creek Dam Seepage Major 
Rehabilitation Project Manager, (615) 736-7841, or Public Affairs 
Office, (615) 736-7161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 5021]]

    1. Wolf Creek Dam was designed in the 1930s, constructed in the 
1940s, and completed in the early 1950s. The dam was built on a karst 
geology using accepted engineering practices of the day. Since the 
1960s seepage through the dam's foundation has been a concern. Repairs 
have been implemented at various times including grout injection into 
the foundation and installing a diaphragm wall through about two-thirds 
of the earthen embankment. Those repairs are credited with saving the 
dam; however, some faults remained. Over the last three decades 
problems have increased and the dam is now classed as being in active 
failure mode.
    2. A comprehensive plan for repairs has been approved; however, 
these repairs will take a number of years to implement. Until the 
repairs are sufficiently completed, the Corps has determined that it is 
in the public's interest to lower the lake levels to reduce pressure on 
the weakened foundations. This is necessary to ensure the public's 
health, safety, and welfare. The Corps recognizes, however, that doing 
so will have significant environmental and economic consequences in the 
following areas:
    (1) The cold water fisheries both in the lake and tailwater;
    (2) water quality throughout the Cumberland River;
    (3) federally listed threatened and endangered species;
    (4) designated uses of the waterway including fish and aquatic 
life, livestock watering and wildlife, irrigation;
    (5) and economics including electric power production, municipal 
and industrial water supply, recreation, navigation, flood damage 
reduction, and disruption to communities, jobs, and other related 
factors.
    3. Current Actions to Reduce Risk. Several actions have already 
been taken to reduce the risk. Prior to 2005, spring rains were 
captured in the reservoir to maximize downstream flood protection and 
hydropower generation. Beginning in 2005 the pool was managed more 
aggressively to reduce the peaks and adhere more closely to the 
prescribed guide curves. Recently 24-hour surveillance was initiated at 
the dam. This involves providing patrols of the dam, known wet and 
trouble spots, and downstream areas. Currently, the Corps is 
aggressively grouting the most crucial areas of the embankment to 
further reduce seepage under the dam. Additional coordination and 
exercises have been held with state and local emergency management 
agencies. These agencies have been provided with flood inundation maps 
to help coordinate emergency evacuations if needed. The Corps has 
improved its emergency notification procedures, increased 
instrumentation in and on the dam, and conducted numerous public 
meetings to advise the public of problems with the dam.
    4. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be undertaken to 
review emergency actions taken and to consider other possible 
alternatives. Alternatives that will be considered include but are not 
limited to new dam construction, lowering the lake levels or otherwise 
altering the operational procedures, and investigating methods to 
increase discharge capacity.
    5. This notice serves to solicit comments from the public; Federal, 
State and local agencies and officials; Indian tribes; and other 
interested parties in order to consider and evaluate impacts of these 
proposed activities. Any comments received by us will be considered in 
determining future operations. To make these decisions, comments are 
used to assess impacts on public health and safety, endangered species, 
historic properties, water quality, water supply and conservation, 
economics, aesthetics, wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain values, land 
use, navigation, shore erosion and accretion, recreation, energy needs, 
food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property 
ownership, general environmental effects, and in general, the needs and 
welfare of the people.
    6. Activities proposed that require a review under the guidelines 
promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), under authority of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (40 
CFR Part 230) may include fill placement for water intake extensions, 
and other mitigation actions.
    7. Other Federal, State and local approvals that may be required 
for proposed work are as follows:
    a. Water quality certifications from the Kentucky Division of Water 
and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
    b. Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the 
Endangered Species Act and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
    c. Coordination with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife 
Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
    d. Coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer and 
President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
    8. Significant issues to be analyzed in the DEIS include impacts to 
fisheries, tailwater mussel resources, water quality, recreation, 
navigation, economics, water supply, electric power production, 
economics, and community development. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service has agreed to be a Cooperating Agency on the DEIS and will be 
responsible for preparing much of the evaluations of significant 
natural resources. A DEIS should be available in May 2007.
    9. Public Meetings: At present, no public meetings have been 
scheduled to scope for potential issues to be evaluated in the DEIS. 
Requests for public meetings should be directed to Mr. William Peoples, 
Chief, Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville 
District, Nashville, TN 37202-1070. Mr. Peoples may be reached by 
telephone at (615) 736-7834.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-1721 Filed 2-1-07; 8:45 am]
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