[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70295-70296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28031]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Dam 
Safety Modification Report, Bluestone Dam, Hinton, Summers County, WV

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District will prepare 
a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose 
potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment 
resulting from modifications to Bluestone Dam. The original EIS was 
published in 1998 and a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 1999 
concluding the NEPA process allowing the Corps to initiate 
implementation of the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance (DSA) Project. 
When completed, the current modifications under construction will 
strengthen the dam's stability and allow for increased discharge 
capacity through the use of hydropower penstocks substantially reducing 
risk. However, physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during 
project construction has indicated the downstream bedrock is vulnerable 
to an unacceptable degree of erosion during high flow events. The Corps 
has also recognized potential for unacceptable erosion associated with 
overtopping of areas of the dam not designed to be overtopped. After a 
full consideration of alternatives, this supplemental EIS will 
recommend additional modifications to address such risks and to achieve 
acceptable risk levels.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on December 5, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposed project to Jonathan J. Aya-ay, Planning Branch, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, 
WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5276. Electronic mail: 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on 
the mailing list should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Johnson, Environmental 
Analysis Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 
502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5189. 
Electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authority: Investigation and justification for dam safety 
modifications at completed Corps of Engineers projects is authorized 
under Section 2033 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub. 
L. 110-114).
    2. Background: a. Guidance for this study is provided in USACE 
Engineer Regulation (ER) 1110-2-1156 (October 2011). This guidance 
details agency policy and procedures for the study and implementation 
process addressing dam safety issues.
    b. Bluestone Lake is a multipurpose component of the Kanawha River 
basin system which provides for flood control, recreation, power 
development, low flow augmentation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. 
The project began operation in 1949 and helps control a 4,565 square 
mile drainage area.
    c. The ROD, signed in 1999, completed the NEPA process for the DSA 
project permitting the Huntington District to begin detailed design and

[[Page 70296]]

subsequent construction of the recommended alternative which included a 
13 foot cantilever wall on top of the dam, an additional concrete 
monolith on the east abutment, a floodgate closure across WV Rt. 20, 
removable closures at each end of the spillway, high strength anchors 
placed into the dam itself, massive concrete blocks placed against the 
downstream face of the dam, and a pavement for scour protection 
downstream of the hydropower penstocks. Ongoing construction on these 
measures will likely continue through the year 2020.
    d. Physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during project 
construction has shown that the downstream bedrock is vulnerable to 
erosion during high flow events as a result of deficiencies with the 
current stilling basin configuration. This potential erosion creates an 
unacceptable level of risk according to guidelines established in 
Chapter 5 of ER 1110-2-1156, under which this study is being conducted.
    e. The supplemental EIS and Dam Safety Modification report (DSMR) 
will consider the structural integrity of the dam, its ability to 
accommodate flood waters as well as transportation, noise, terrestrial, 
aquatic, economic, environmental justice and cultural resource issues 
associated with the performance of the dam. The supplemental EIS and 
DSMR will recommend any modifications necessary to ensure the long-term 
safe performance of the structure as originally intended.
    f. Modifications to meet current acceptable risk guidelines per ER 
1110-2-1156 may include, modification of the existing stilling basin, 
modification of other dam components, construction of an alternative/
auxiliary stilling basin, construction of an alternative/auxiliary 
spillway and non-structural measures or other actions to prevent 
overtopping. The No Action alternative will also be considered. As 
required by NEPA and Corps of Engineers planning guidance, the No 
Action alternative will form a benchmark from which alternatives are 
evaluated and compared.
    3. Public Participation: a. The Corps of Engineers will conduct a 
public scoping meeting on December 5, 2013 to gain input from 
interested agencies, organizations, and the general public concerning 
the content of the supplemental EIS, issues and impacts to be addressed 
in the supplemental EIS, and alternatives that should be analyzed. The 
meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Summers County 
Memorial Building, 97 Park Avenue, Hinton, WV 25951.
    b. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open 
communication and better decision-making. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the Bluestone Dam Project are urged to 
participate in this NEPA evaluation process. Assistance will be 
provided upon request to anyone having difficulty with learning how to 
participate.
    c. Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA 
process. Formal opportunities for public participation include: (1) 
Public meeting/s to be held near the community of Hinton; (2) Anytime 
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or email; (3) During Review 
and Comment on the Draft EIS; and (4) Review of the Final EIS. 
Schedules and locations will be announced in local news media. 
Interested parties should submit contact information to be included on 
the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and 
documents (See ADDRESSES).
    4. Schedule: The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
is tentatively scheduled to be released for public review and comment 
in June 2015. The Final Report and Final EIS are tentatively scheduled 
to be completed in October 2015.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-28031 Filed 11-22-13; 8:45 am]
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