[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7173-7174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02530]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Army Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Joint Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the 2007 
Folsom Dam Safety/Flood Damage Reduction Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (USACE) 
intends to prepare a Supplemental Joint Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the 2007 Folsom Dam 
Safety/Flood Damage Reduction EIS/EIR (hereafter referred to as the 
Project). USACE will serve as lead National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) agency and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB) 
will serve as lead agency for compliance with the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Project was originally authorized 
in the 2004 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act (EWDAA) and 
was later reauthorized in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act 
(WRDA). The Project is authorized for 4 components: (1) Emergency 
spillway gate modifications, (2) raising the right and left wings of 
the main dam, Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD), and the reservoir 
dikes (1-8) by 3.5 feet, (3) temperature control shutter automation and 
reconfiguration, and 4) downstream ecosystem restoration of Bushy Lake 
and Woodlake.
    The Supplemental Draft Joint SEIS/SEIR will address two components 
of the authorized project, specifically the emergency spillway gate 
modifications and the 3.5 foot raise. These flood damage reduction 
components of the Project enhance the utilization of the existing 
surcharge flood storage space (temporary water storage space utilized 
during rare flood events), as well as increase the surcharge flood 
storage capacity of the reservoir.

DATES: Written comments regarding the scope of the environmental 
analysis should be received by March 9th, 2014.

[[Page 7174]]


ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning this project and 
requests to be included on the project mailing list may be submitted to 
Tyler Stalker, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Attn: 
Public Affairs Office (CESPK-PAO), 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyler Stalker via telephone at (916) 
557-5107, email at [email protected], or mail at (see 
ADDRESSES). Study information will also be posted periodically on the 
Internet at: http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/FolsomDamRaise.aspx

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action. The Corps is preparing a Supplemental Draft 
EIS/EIR to analyze Project alternatives to improve flood risk 
management, specifically by increasing the height of the right and left 
wings of the main dam, MIAD, and associated dikes by 3.5 feet and 
refining the three emergency spillway gates to withstand probable 
maximum flood conditions. The Project would improve flood risk 
management while also addressing certain dam safety issues associated 
with passing the probable maximum flood.
    2. Alternatives.

Emergency Spillway Gate Modifications Alternatives

     No Action: Under the No Action Alternative, the Federal 
government would not implement the emergency spillway gate 
modifications and improved flood risk management benefits would not 
occur.
     Replacement of Emergency Tainter Gates: Complete 
replacement of the existing three emergency gates with newly 
fabricated, taller tainter gates and associated pier modifications.
     Vertical Top Seal Bulkheads with Existing Emergency 
Tainter Gates: Make use of existing strengthened gates (due to 
Reclamation's structural improvements) and incorporate a top seal 
bulkhead feature that allows the emergency spillway bays to hold back a 
higher flood pool.
     Horizontal Top Seal Bulkheads with Existing Emergency 
Tainter Gates: Adds a top seal feature similar to the ``Vertical Top 
Seal Concept,'' but with a different configuration and includes 
removable steel bulkhead elements with the most significant segment 
mounted horizontally.
     Refined Emergency Gate Replacement: Complete replacement 
of the existing three emergency gates, with newly fabricated, larger 
tainter gates; the gate geometry for this concept would not require 
extensive pier modifications such as those required for the original 
replacement concept.

Dam Raise Alternatives

     No Action: Under the No Action Alternative, the Federal 
government would not implement the 3.5 foot raise and improved flood 
risk management benefits would not occur.
     Earthen Raise: Raise the dams and dikes 3.5 feet through 
placement of fill derived from the auxiliary spillway excavation and/or 
from other borrow sources.
     Concrete Floodwall: Construct a 3.5-foot high reinforced 
concrete floodwall that would be placed near the waterside edge of the 
existing embankment crests.
     Combination Earthen Raise and Concrete Floodwall: Dams and 
dikes would be raised 3.5 feet by either an earthen raise or a concrete 
floodwall, depending on location and feasibility of either option.
     Various Additional 3.5 Foot Raise Options: As the 3.5 foot 
dam raise is further studied, various other options may be analyzed for 
technical feasibility.
    3. Scoping Process.
    a. Two public scoping meetings will be held to present an overview 
of the Dam Raise and the EIS/EIR process, and to afford all interested 
parties with an opportunity to provide comments regarding the scope of 
analysis and potential alternatives. The first public scoping meeting 
will be held at the Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma Street, Folsom, 
CA on February 19th, 2014, from 5:00--7:00 p.m. The second public 
scoping meeting will be held at the Sacramento Library Galleria, 828 I 
Street, Sacramento, CA on February 24th, 2014, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
    b. Potentially significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the 
Supplemental Draft EIS/EIR will include: Hydrology, water quality, air 
quality, special status species, fisheries and aquatic resources, 
terrestrial vegetation and wildlife, soils, recreation, transportation, 
noise, visual resources, utilities, and cultural resources. The 
document will also evaluate cumulative effects.
    c. USACE will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 
comply with the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act. USACE will consult with the State Historic 
Preservation Officer to comply with the National Historic Preservation 
Act.
    d. A 45-day public review period will be provided for individuals, 
interested parties, and agencies to review and comment on the Draft 
EIS/EIR. All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this 
notice and provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the 
Draft EIS/EIR circulation.
    4. Availability. The Draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be available for 
public review and comment in Spring 2015.

     Dated: January 24, 2014.
Michael Farrell,
Colonel, U.S. Army, Commander and District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2014-02530 Filed 2-5-14; 8:45 am]
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