[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 237 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65783-65784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29605]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

 [INT-DES 09-56]


Minidoka Dam Spillway Replacement Minidoka County, ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Meetings on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for Minidoka Dam Spillway Replacement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) on the proposed Minidoka Dam Spillway Replacement. Alternatives 
considered in the DEIS are the No Action, as required under NEPA; total 
replacement of the spillway and headgate structures; and replacement of 
just the spillway. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a cooperating 
agency under NEPA.

DATES: Public meetings with an opportunity to provide oral comments 
will be held on the following dates and times:
     Idaho Falls, ID: January 12, 2010: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
     Pocatello, ID: January 13, 2010: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
     Burley, ID: January 14, 2010: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    Written comments will be accepted through February 5, 2010. Please 
direct requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing 
impaired or other auxiliary aids, to Ms. Allyn Meuleman by December 28, 
2009, at the telephone or fax numbers listed under the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests to be added to the mailing list may be 
submitted to Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, Attention: 
Allyn Meuleman, Activity Manager, 230 Collins Road, Boise, ID 83702-
4520. Comments may also be submitted electronically to [email protected].
    The public meetings will be held at the following locations which 
are physically accessible to people with disabilities.
     Red Lion Inn, 475 River Parkway, Idaho Falls, ID 83402.
     Cotton Tree Inn, 1415 Bench Road, Pocatello, ID 83201.
     Fairfield Inn, 230 West 7th Street North, Burley, ID 
83318.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Allyn Meuleman, (208) 383-
2258, fax: (208) 383-2237. Information on this project can also be 
found at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/minidokadam/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minidoka Dam impounds Lake Walcott and is a 
feature of Reclamation's Minidoka Project. They are located on the main 
stem Snake River about 18 miles northeast from the city of Burley, ID 
within the Minidoka Wildlife Refuge. After over 103 years of continued 
use, the over 2000 feet long concrete spillway at the Minidoka Dam has 
reached the end of its functional lifespan. The concrete that forms the 
spillway crest and the piers of the pier-and-stoplog structure shows 
extensive visible deterioration at numerous locations. In addition, the 
potential for ice damage to the stoplog piers requires that reservoir 
water levels be dropped each winter. The headgate structures at the 
North Side Canal and South Side Canal also show serious concrete 
deterioration similar to that seen along the spillway. The current 
conditions of the Minidoka Dam spillway and headgate structures present 
increasingly difficult reliability and maintenance

[[Page 65784]]

problems. If structural problems are not corrected there is potential 
of partial or complete failure of the spillway and headgates. If these 
failures occur, Reclamation may not be able to meet contractual 
obligations for water delivery, power generation and Reclamation's 
commitments to deliver flow augmentation water under the Nez Perce 
Settlement Agreement and the Endangered Species Act.

Public Involvement

    Reclamation will conduct public meetings to solicit input on the 
DEIS. If you wish to comment, you may provide your comments as 
indicated under the ADDRESSES section. Before including your name, 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, 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 comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

J. William McDonald,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. E9-29605 Filed 12-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P