[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12076-12077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4506]



[[Page 12076]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[FES-12-4]


Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Integrated 
Water Resource Management Plan, Yakima River Basin, Water Enhancement 
Project, Benton, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima Counties, WA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), in cooperation with 
the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), the joint lead 
agency, is notifying the public that they have prepared a final 
programmatic environmental impact statement pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act and have made it available to the public for 
review.

DATES: The Bureau of Reclamation will not make a decision on the 
proposed action until at least 30 days after filing of the Final 
Programmatic Environment Impact Statement (FPEIS) with the 
Environmental Protection Agency. After the 30-day waiting period, 
Reclamation may complete a Record of Decision. The Record of Decision 
will discuss factors and rationale used in making the decision.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the FPEIS should be addressed to 
Candace McKinley, Environmental Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901; or by 
email: [email protected]. This document is also available on the Bureau 
of Reclamation's web site at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/2011integratedplan/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace McKinley at (509) 575-5848, 
ext. 232, or at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 United 
States Code (U.S.C.) Sec.  4332, the FPEIS will comply with 
requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), 
Chapter 43.21C, Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Reclamation published 
a Draft PEIS in the Federal Register on November 16, 2011 (76 FR 71070) 
with a public comment period ending on January 3, 2012. The FPEIS 
includes written responses to all public comments on the Draft PEIS.

Background

    In response to long-standing water resource problems in the basin, 
Reclamation and Ecology have analyzed the elements of the Integrated 
Water Resource Management Plan in the FPEIS. The FPEIS addresses 
impacts that could occur if Reclamation and Ecology implement the 
comprehensive program of water resource and habitat improvements and 
management initiatives intended to restore ecological functions in the 
Yakima River system and to provide more reliable and sustainable water 
resources for the health of the riverine environment, and for 
agriculture and municipal and domestic needs.
    The proposed water resource management plan includes three major 
components (Habitat, Systems Modification, and Water Supply) which are 
comprised of seven elements (listed below). The Habitat Component 
includes a package of projects and actions intended to improve 
conditions for fish and the health of the riverine environment. The 
Habitat Component includes the reservoir fish passage and habitat/
watershed protection and enhancement elements. The Systems Modification 
Component is intended to modify existing facilities and operations in 
order to improve conditions for fish and to improve water supply. The 
Systems Modification Component includes the structural and operational 
changes at existing facilities elements. The third component, Water 
Supply, is intended to improve water supply for agricultural and 
municipal needs as well as for fish. It includes the surface water 
storage, groundwater storage, enhanced water conservation and market 
reallocation elements.
    The plan elements include projects and actions including, but not 
limited to:
    1. Fish Passage (fish passage improvements at Cle Elum, Bumping, 
Clear Lake, Keechelus, Kachess, and Tieton Dams);
    2. Structural/Operational Changes (subordination of power 
generation at Roza and Chandler Power Plants);
    3. Surface Storage (new Wymer Dam and Reservoir, Bumping Reservoir 
enlargement, Kachess inactive storage);
    4. Groundwater Storage (groundwater infiltration prior to storage 
control);
    5. Fish Habitat (mainstem floodplain restoration program);
    6. Enhanced Water Conservation (agricultural water and municipal/
domestic conservation); and
    7. Market-Based Reallocation of Water Resources (institutional 
improvements to facilitate market-based water transfers).

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, email 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.

Public Review Locations

    The FPEIS 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, Columbia Cascades Area Office, 1917 
Marsh Road, Yakima, WA.
     Washington State Department of Ecology, 15 W. Yakima 
Avenue, Suite 200, Yakima, WA.

Libraries

     Carpenter Memorial Library, 302 N Pennsylvania Ave, Cle 
Elum, Washington 98922.
     Ellensburg Public Library, 209 N Ruby St, Ellensburg, 
Washington 98926.
     Roslyn Public Library, 201 S. First St, Roslyn, Washington 
98941.
     Benton City Library, 810 Horne Dr, Benton City, Washington 
99320.
     Kennewick Library, 1620 S Union St, Kennewick, Washington 
99338.
     Kittitas Public Library, 200 N Pierce St, Kittitas, 
Washington 98934.
     Mid-Columbia Library, 405 S Dayton St, Kennewick, 
Washington 99336.
     Pasco Library, 1320 W Hopkins St, Pasco, Washington 99301.
     Prosser Library, 902 7th St, Prosser, Washington 99350.
     Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr, Richland, 
Washington 99352.
     Sunnyside Public Library, 621 Grant Ave, Sunnyside, 
Washington 98944.
     Toppenish Library, 1 S Elm St, Toppenish, Washington 
98948.
     Wapato Library, 119 E 3rd St, Wapato, Washington 98951.
     Washington State Library, Point Plaza East, 6880 Capitol 
Blvd. SE., Tumwater, Washington 98504.
     West Richland Library, 3803 W Van Giesen St, Richland, 
Washington 99353.
     Yakama Nation Library, 100 Spiel-Yi Loop, Toppenish, 
Washington 98948.
     Yakima Valley Regional Library, 102 N 3rd St, Yakima, 
Washington 98901.


[[Page 12077]]


    Dated: February 22, 2012.
Timothy L. Personius,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-4506 Filed 2-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P