[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 141 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36739-36740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17705]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Modification/Removal of the Canal Diversion Dam in Cuyahoga Valley 
National Park, OH

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Modification/Removal of the Canal Diversion Dam in Cuyahoga 
Valley National Park, Ohio.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), the National Park Service 
(NPS) is announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the modification/removal of the Canal Diversion Dam 
in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. The Canal Diversion Dam on the 
Cuyahoga River is owned by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources 
(ODNR). The NPS will be the lead Federal Agency for preparation of the 
EIS, and ODNR and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) will 
be cooperating agencies. The Canal Diversion Dam (alternatively known 
as the Brecksville Dam, Station Road Dam, SR82 Dam, or SUM-3253-1) on 
the Cuyahoga River is 183 feet long, nearly 8 feet high, and feeds 
water into the Ohio and Erie Canal that then drains north through 
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and into Cleveland Metropark's Ohio and 
Erie Canal Reservation. The watered portion of the canal and its 
historic features are a National Historic Landmark.
    The OEPA has concluded that the dam negatively impacts water 
quality and interrupts aquatic communities by restricting fish passage. 
The NPS has concluded that maintaining water in the canal is also 
critical because of the important natural, cultural, and educational 
values associated with the watered portion of the canal. Alternatives 
that seek to improve river water quality and habitat values while 
maintaining a watered canal segment are being evaluated.

DATES: To determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS and 
to identify significant issues related to the modification/removal of 
the Canal Diversion Dam, the NPS and cooperating agencies will conduct 
a public scoping meeting in the area of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. 
Representatives of the NPS and the cooperating agencies will be 
available to discuss issues, resource concerns, and the planning 
process at the public meeting. When the public scoping meeting has been 
scheduled, its location, date, and time will be published in local 
media and on the NPS Web site listed below.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment, 
either in person or by written request, at the headquarters for 
Cuyahoga Valley National Park located at 15610 Vaughn Road, 
Brecksville, Ohio 44141; telephone 216-524-1497. Information will be 
available at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) 
Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cuva. Information will also be 
available from the OEPA, 2110 East Aurora Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087.
    To facilitate sound analysis of environmental impacts, the NPS and 
cooperating agencies are gathering information necessary for the 
preparation of the EIS. Suggestions on environmental issues to be 
analyzed and additional alternatives to consider are being sought from 
other Agencies, Tribes, organizations, and the public. Comments and 
participation in this scoping process are invited and encouraged. If 
you wish to comment on the scoping materials or on any other issues 
associated with the EIS, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods. You may submit your comments online through the PEPC 
Web site: Click on the link titled ``Modification/removal of Canal 
Diversion Dam on the Cuyahoga River at Station Road/SR82.'' You may 
also mail comments to the OEPA at the address given above. To aid in 
the scoping process, comments should be received within 45 days of the 
beginning of the public comment period.
    Interested Agencies and organizations are also invited to arrange 
meetings to provide input directly. Such meetings can be arranged by 
contacting the OEPA at the address and telephone above.
    Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be 
aware that your entire comment (including your personal identifying 
information) may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the scope 
of the EIS and to arrange Agency meetings, requests should be directed 
to: William J. Zawiski, Environmental Scientist, Ohio Environmental 
Protection Agency, 2110 East Aurora Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087; e-
mail: [email protected]; telephone 330-963-1134. Information 
can also be obtained from the Project Contact, Meg Plona, Biologist, 
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, telephone 330-342-0764, extension 2.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cuyahoga River upstream of the dam does 
not meet aquatic community goals set forth in Ohio's Water Quality 
Standards. The Lower Cuyahoga River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 
report, as well as previous OEPA water quality surveys, has indicated 
that a cause of nonattainment of the standards is the dam. The TMDL 
report recommends that the Canal Diversion Dam be modified or removed 
to restore water quality in the Cuyahoga River upstream of the 
structure. Public and stakeholder scoping regarding modification or 
removal of the dam was initiated by the OEPA in August 2002, and 
included public meetings August

[[Page 36740]]

and November 2005. It was unclear whether the proposed action would 
involve NPS lands or adversely affect NPS resources, or whether such 
effects could be appropriately analyzed in another NEPA document until 
more information regarding possible alternatives and impacts became 
available. The NPS managers now believe that an EIS is most appropriate 
given the scope and complexity of the proposed action, and the 
likelihood that alternatives may impact park resources, involve access 
to NPS lands, or utilize NPS funds. All information generated during 
the previous scoping process will be retained for use in this EIS 
process. Anyone who contributed comments to the OEPA regarding the dam 
removal need not resend their comments.
    A preliminary set of alternatives for modification or removal of 
the Canal Diversion Dam has been developed. These include: (1) No 
Action--the dam would remain on the river continuing to adversely 
impact water quality of the Cuyahoga River and provide water to the 
Ohio and Erie Canal; (2) Total Removal--the dam would be removed, 
restoring a free-flowing river and water would be provided to the Ohio 
and Erie Canal to maintain its current watered state; and (3) Partial 
Removal/Modification--the dam would be altered to allow for restoration 
of water quality as well as eliminating existing recreational boating 
hazard. Water would be provided to the Ohio and Erie Canal to maintain 
its current watered state. A variety of background documents have been 
completed and are available for review in the NPS PEPC Web site listed 
above.

    Dated: December 5, 2008.
Ernest Quintana,
Regional Director, Midwest Region.

    Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the 
Federal Register on July 21, 2009.
[FR Doc. E9-17705 Filed 7-23-09; 8:45 am]
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