[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 88 (Friday, May 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21666-21667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10731]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Rescission of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed 
Dam Powerhouse Rehabilitations and Possible Operational Changes at the 
Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams, Kentucky and Tennessee

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the

[[Page 21667]]

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Nashville District published its 
intention to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement relating to 
proposed dam powerhouse rehabilitations and possible operational 
changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in 
Kentucky and Tennessee. Instead, the Corps has decided to evaluate 
impacts associated with Center Hill Dam powerhouse rehabilitation with 
an Environmental Assessment (EA). Separate EAs will also be prepared 
for powerhouse rehabilitations at Wolf Creek and Dale Hollow Dams in 
the future. Each of these rehabilitation projects are unconnected 
stand-alone projects that will occur at different times and in 
different geographic areas.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposed project to Chip Hall, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville 
District, P.O. Box 1070, Nashville, TN 37202-1070. Electronic mail: 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on the 
mailing list should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chip Hall, Telephone: 615-736-7666.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background. The hydropower major rehabilitation evaluation study 
for Center Hill Dam was conducted under the authorities of ER 1130-
2.500, December 27, 1996, Partners and Support (Work Management 
Policies), Chapter 3--Major Rehabilitation Program; EP 1130-2.500, 
December 27, 1996, Partners and Support (Work Management Policies), 
Chapter 3--Major Rehabilitation Program; and EC 11-2-179, March 13, 
2000, Corps of Engineers Civil Works Directorate Program, Program 
Development Guidance, Fiscal Year 2000. Key proposed project features 
or issues that were evaluated in the DEIS included the following:
    a. Rehabilitation of turbines including installation of Auto 
Venting Turbines to improve dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the 
tailwaters.
    b. Providing minimum releases to ensure continuous flows between 
periods of generation.
    c. Evaluating the effects of increased tailwater flows on 
downstream resources, and changes to the hydraulics and hydrology of 
the rivers.
    d. Other alternatives to be studied included: No Action; 
restoration to the ``original'' 1948 condition; refurbishing existing 
units; oxygenating water in the dam forebays prior to release; and 
releasing water through the sluice gates.
    2. Public Participation. This study was originally initiated in 
2003, at which time a Scoping Letter was issued to all known interested 
individuals and a Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal 
Register on September 25, 2003 (68 FR 55376). Due to funding 
constraints the study was stopped in 2004 before a Draft EIS could be 
prepared. The study was reinitiated in November 2007 and a second NOI 
published in the Federal Register on November 26, 2007 (72 FR 65950). A 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was distributed to 
pertinent federal and state agencies and a Notice of Availability was 
placed in the Federal Register in April 11, 2008 (73 FR 19834).
    3. Changes during the Environmental Review Process. Since the DEIS 
was distributed to the public, it was determined that turbine 
operations, post proposed power plant rehabilitations, would be subject 
to the existing Water Control Manuals which govern how each Dam and 
Reservoir Project and the Cumberland System as a whole is operated. The 
turbines would be capable of discharging more water; however, turbine 
gate settings will limit discharges under non-spilling operations to 
previously existing rates. This significantly reduces the potential 
impacts of the alternatives being evaluated as flows during normal 
hydropower generation would be unchanged. However, during extreme flood 
control situations, it is possible that water that was previously 
spilled from the project could be passed through a turbine. At the 
onset of the DEIS, potentially higher hydropower discharge rates were 
being considered for normal post-rehab operations. The DEIS did not 
take this limitation on flows into account.
    It was also determined that because Dale Hollow Dam did not have 
any specific recommendations or proposals for rehab, it is premature 
for it to have been included with Center Hill and Wolf Creek projects. 
Therefore, it was determined that the DEIS should be rescinded and that 
an Environmental Assessment should be prepared to determine any 
significant impacts related to Center Hill Hydropower Rehabilitation 
Project.
    4. Schedule. It is anticipated that an Environmental Assessment 
will be prepared for the Center Hill Hydropower Rehabilitation Project 
and will be available for Public Review by June 2009.

Bernard R. Lindstrom,
Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E9-10731 Filed 5-7-09; 8:45 am]
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