[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 178 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52964-52966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21188]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Intake Diversion Dam Modification, Lower Yellowstone 
Project, Montana

AGENCIES: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior, and Corps of Engineers, 
Army.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for the Intake Diversion Dam Modification, Lower Yellowstone 
Project, Montana.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental 
Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions 
of NEPA, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Army, 
Corps of Engineers (Corps) propose to jointly prepare an EIS that 
analyzes and discloses effects associated with modifications to Intake 
Diversion Dam. The proposed Federal action is to modify Intake 
Diversion Dam and canal headworks, features of Reclamation's Lower 
Yellowstone Project, to improve passage and reduce entrainment for 
endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish in the lower 
Yellowstone River.
    Reclamation and the Corps will serve as joint lead Federal agencies 
in the preparation of the Intake Diversion Dam Modification EIS. 
Reclamation will act as administrative lead for NEPA compliance 
activities during preparation of the EIS. Reclamation and the Corps 
will each consider and approve a Record of Decision regarding actions 
and decisions for which the respective agencies are responsible.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in October 2008. See the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for dates and locations of these 
meetings. Written or e-mailed comments on the scope of issues and 
alternatives to be considered in the Draft EIS will be accepted through 
November 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be added to the mailing 
list may be submitted to Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Area Office, 
Attention: Paula Holwegner, P.O. Box 30137, Billings, MT 59107.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Holwegner, Bureau of

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Reclamation, Montana Area Office, P.O. Box 30137, Billings, MT 59107; 
telephone (406) 247-7300; or facsimile to (406) 247-7338. You may 
submit comments, requests, and/or other information by e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Dates of Public Scoping Meetings

     October 21, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Sidney, MT
     October 22, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Glendive, MT
     October 23, 2008, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Billings, MT
Locations of Public Scoping Meetings
     Community Services Building--1201 West Holly, Sidney, MT
     Dawson Community College--300 College Drive--Ullman Center 
Room 102, Glendive, MT
     Montana State University Downtown Campus--207 North 
Broadway, Billings, MT
    The meeting facilities are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. People needing special assistance to attend and/or 
participate in the public hearings should contact Patience Hurley at 
701-221-1204 in the Dakotas Area Office in Bismarck as soon as 
possible. To allow sufficient time to process special requests, please 
call no later than one week before the public hearing of interest.

Background Information

    Reclamation's Lower Yellowstone Project is located in eastern 
Montana and western North Dakota. Intake Diversion Dam is located 
approximately 70 miles upstream of the confluence of the Yellowstone 
and Missouri rivers near Glendive, Montana. The Lower Yellowstone 
Project was authorized by the Secretary of the Interior on May 10, 
1904. Construction of the Lower Yellowstone Project began in 1905 and 
included Intake Diversion Dam (also known as Yellowstone River 
Diversion Dam)--a 12-foot high wood and stone diversion dam that spans 
the Yellowstone River and diverts water into the Main Canal for 
irrigation. The Lower Yellowstone Project was authorized to provide a 
dependable water supply sufficient to irrigate approximately 52,000 
acres of land on the benches above the west bank of the Yellowstone 
River. Water is also supplied to irrigate approximately 830 acres in 
the Intake Irrigation Project and 2,200 acres in the Savage Unit. Both 
of the smaller irrigation projects pump water from the Main Canal. The 
average annual volume of water diverted for these projects is 327,046 
acre-feet.
    The Service listed the pallid sturgeon as endangered under the ESA 
in 1990. The wild population of pallid sturgeon inhabiting the 
Yellowstone River and the Missouri River between Fort Peck Dam and Lake 
Sakakawea are anticipated to be extirpated by 2017 if reproduction and 
recruitment of young fish does not improve. The best available science 
suggests Intake Diversion Dam impedes upstream migration of pallid 
sturgeon and their access to spawning and larval drift habitats. In 
addition, previous entrainment studies on other native fish in the 
Yellowstone River suggest that once passage is provided, pallid 
sturgeon may be entrained in the Main Canal.
    The lower Yellowstone River is considered to provide one of the 
best opportunities for recovery of pallid sturgeon. Section 7(a)(1) of 
the ESA directs Federal agencies to utilize their authorities to 
further the purposes of the ESA by carrying out conservation programs 
for listed species. Reclamation has been in informal consultation with 
the Service to identify potential conservation measures to minimize 
adverse effects to pallid sturgeon associated with continued operation 
of the Lower Yellowstone Project on the Yellowstone River. The Pallid 
Sturgeon Recovery Plan specifically identifies providing passage at 
Intake Diversion Dam to protect and restore pallid sturgeon 
populations. By providing passage at Intake Diversion Dam, 
approximately 160 river miles of spawning and larval drift habitat 
would become available in the Yellowstone River. By installing fish 
entrainment reduction measures, pallid sturgeon entrainment in the Main 
Canal would be minimized.
    The Service recommended in their 2003 amendment to the Missouri 
River Master Manual biological opinion that the Corps assist 
Reclamation in providing passage for pallid sturgeon at Intake 
Diversion Dam as a conservation recommendation. Section 3109 of the 
2007 Water Resources Development Act authorizes the Corps to use 
funding from the Missouri River Recovery and Mitigation Program to 
assist Reclamation with compliance, design, and construction of 
modifications to the Lower Yellowstone Project for purposes of 
ecosystem restoration.
    Reclamation initiated a collaborative effort with the Service; 
Corps; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Lower Yellowstone Irrigation 
District; and The Nature Conservancy through a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) signed on July 8, 2005. Reclamation coordinated a 
value planning study in August 2005 with representatives from parties 
signatory to the MOU to explore and evaluate a broad range of 
alternatives for fish passage and entrainment reduction.
    Reclamation and the Corps will use a broad range of scoping 
activities to fully identify the range of potentially significant 
issues, actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered in the EIS. 
These scoping activities will ensure the public has sufficient 
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Federal action and 
reasonable alternatives for fish passage and entrainment reduction at 
Intake Diversion Dam. Public comments are invited and encouraged to 
assist agencies in identifying the scope of potentially significant 
environmental, social, and economic issues relevant to the proposed 
Federal action and determining reasonable alternatives to be considered 
in the EIS.
    Reclamation and the Corps have scheduled three public scoping 
meetings and are inviting agencies, tribes, non-governmental 
organizations, and the public to participate in an open exchange of 
information and to provide comments on the proposed scope of the EIS.

Preliminary Alternatives

    As required by CEQ's implementing regulations, all reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed Federal action that meet the purpose and 
need will be considered in the EIS. These alternatives will include no 
action and a range of reasonable alternatives for improving fish 
passage and reducing entrainment. Appropriate mitigation measures will 
be incorporated into the proposed action and reasonable alternatives. 
The EIS will analyze and disclose environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed Federal action and alternatives together with engineering, 
operations and maintenance, social, and economic considerations. 
Through MOU partner discussions and evaluations, alternatives for 
passage have been identified, discussed, and analyzed. Preliminary 
alternatives to improve fish passage include the following:
    (1) Passage around the existing diversion dam;
    (2) Relocation of the diversion dam and canal headworks to take 
advantage of hydrology and topography;
    (3) Removing the dam and constructing a single or multiple pumping 
plants; and
    (4) Variations of a low-gradient rock ramp in the river.

The preliminary alternatives for reducing entrainment include:

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    (1) A fish screen structure in the Main Canal with fish bypass to 
river; and
    (2) A rotary drum fish screen on the bank of the river.

The EIS will also include a no action alternative that does not improve 
fish passage or reduce entrainment. The public is invited and 
encouraged to identify other reasonable alternatives to improve fish 
passage and reduce entrainment at the Intake Diversion Dam and canal 
headworks.

Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues

    A range of issues relevant to the proposed Federal action have 
tentatively been identified for consideration and analysis in the EIS. 
This list is preliminary and is intended to facilitate public comment 
on the scope of this EIS. Reclamation and the Corps invite you to 
comment on the following general questions that reflect potentially 
significant issues or questions of widespread public interest believed 
to be relevant to the proposed Federal action. Reclamation and the 
Corps invite and encourage comments that identify other potentially 
significant issues and effects that you believe should be addressed in 
the EIS.
    How would the proposed action affect or address the following:
     Aquatic communities and habitats in the lower Yellowstone 
River?
     Delivery of irrigation water for the Lower Yellowstone 
Project?
     Continued operation and viability of irrigated agriculture 
in the Lower Yellowstone Project?
     Water-based recreation, such as changes to boat ramps and/
or changes to angling opportunities for paddlefish and other fish?
     Economic conditions related to the paddlefish caviar 
industry?
     Social and economic conditions in affected communities 
associated with construction activities and long-term operation and 
maintenance, including paddlefish caviar harvest and concession 
activities?
     Short-term and long-term impacts on surface water quality?
     Floodplain, wetlands, and riparian communities?
     Water quantity associated with operations and climate 
change?
     Land-based recreation, including possible changes to the 
public park area and river access?
     Relevant cumulative environmental impacts to the 
Yellowstone River from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future 
actions?
     Cultural resources such as historic, archaeological, 
architectural, or traditional properties?
     Environmental justice, particularly whether or not water 
management activities have a disproportionate adverse effect on 
minority and low-income populations?
     Compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local 
statutes and regulations and with international agreements and required 
Federal and State environmental permits, consultations, and 
notifications?
     Compliance with all applicable executive orders?

Public Disclosure Statement

    Reclamation and the Corps believe it is important to inform the 
public of the environmental review process. To assist Reclamation and 
the Corps in identifying and considering issues related to the proposed 
Federal action, comments made during formal scoping and later on the 
draft EIS should be as specific as possible. Reviewers must structure 
their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that 
it is meaningful and alerts Reclamation and the Corps to the reviewer's 
position and contentions. It is very important that those interested in 
this proposed Federal action participate by the close of the scoping 
period so that substantive comments and objections are made available 
to Reclamation and the Corps at a time when they can meaningfully 
consider and respond to them.
    If you wish to comment, you may mail or e-mail your comments as 
indicated under the ADDRESSES section. Before including your name, 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment including your personal identifying information may be 
made available to the public at any time.
    While you can request in your comment for us to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: September 5, 2008.
Michael J. Ryan,
Regional Director, Great Plains Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
Witt Anderson,
Director, Programs, Northwestern Division, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E8-21188 Filed 9-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P