[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 50777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20284]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[INT-FES 10-43]


Minidoka Dam Spillway Replacement, Minidoka County, ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS).

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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) is notifying the public that it has prepared a FEIS on 
the proposed Minidoka Dam Spillway Replacement. The U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Department of Interior) and Rural Development 
(Department of Agriculture) are cooperating agencies under NEPA. 
Alternatives considered in the FEIS are the No Action, as required 
under NEPA; total replacement of the spillway and headgate structures; 
and replacement of just the spillway. Total replacement of the spillway 
and headgate structures is the preferred alternative. Proposed changes 
in operations following construction are also evaluated, as is 
designation of special use areas. Reclamation published a Draft EIS in 
the Federal Register on December 11, 2009 (74 FR 65783) with a public 
comment period ending on February 5, 2010. The Final EIS includes 
written responses to all public comments on the Draft EIS. Revisions 
were made in the FEIS to incorporate responses to comments. In response 
to comments an adaptive management approach, which includes monitoring 
of effects resulting from changes in operations, has been added and 
proposed changes to operations will be made over a 4-year period. These 
revisions do not significantly change the analysis or results presented 
in the Draft EIS. However, if monitoring under the adaptive management 
approach shows different impacts than are documented in this FEIS, and 
changes to proposed operations (as discussed in this FEIS) are made as 
a result of monitoring, additional NEPA compliance will be conducted to 
document those changes and/or impacts.

DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action 
until at least 30 days after filing of the FEIS with the Environmental 
Protection Agency. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will 
complete a Record of Decision. The Record of Decision will identify the 
selected action for implementation and will discuss factors and 
rationale used in making the decision.

ADDRESSES: 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].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Allyn Meuleman, (208) 383-2258, fax: 
(208) 383-2237 or at the above address. The FEIS and other information 
on this project can 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-foot 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 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 Review Locations:
    The FEIS is available for public inspection at the following 
locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 
1150 N Curtis Road, Boise, ID.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 
Collins Road, Boise, ID.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Snake Field Office, 1359 
Hansen Avenue, Burley, ID.

 Timothy L. Personius,
 Acting Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-20284 Filed 8-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P