[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62105-62106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21570]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Draft Supplemental 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: Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement--public and 
agency comment period.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District prepared a 
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) 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 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 to achieve acceptable risk levels, 
this SDEIS recommends implementing modifications to the existing 
stilling basin to prevent scour that could result in spillway 
instability and thus dam failure. Modification may include alteration 
to the existing stilling basin to include installation of a concrete 
apron, larger baffles, and would also include non-structural risk 
management measures. This SDEIS also addresses the prolonged 
construction duration of modification features described in the 
original EIS and ROD.

DATES: The review period will be open from September 1, 2016 to October 
17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposed project to Rebecca Rutherford, Chief, Environmental Analysis 
Section, Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington 
District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-
399-5924. Electronic mail: [email protected]. Requests to 
be placed on the mailing list should also be sent to this address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authority: Bluestone Dam and Reservoir was authorized by 
Executive

[[Page 62106]]

Order (E.O.) 7183 in 1935 and the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938 
for the purposes of flood control, low flow augmentation, and 
hydroelectric power development. The purposes were later expanded to 
include recreational activities under the Flood Control Act of 1944 and 
fish and wildlife enhancement under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
Act (FWCA) of 1958.
    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 
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. The majority of the ongoing 
construction on these measures will continue through the year 2019. The 
ROD for this work anticipated construction would be completed 2005.
    d. Physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during project 
construction has shown 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 ER 
1110-2-1156, under which this study is being conducted.
    e. The SDEIS 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 SDEIS 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 planning guidance, the No Action alternative 
will form a benchmark from which alternatives are evaluated and 
compared.
    3. Public Participation: a. The SDEIS will be made available to the 
public in the affected area for forty-five (45) days for review and 
comment. A Notice of Availability will be advertised in affected area 
newspapers informing the general public about the SDEIS public review 
period. The SDEIS and draft ROD can be viewed at: http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicReview.aspx. Copies of the SDEIS 
and draft ROD may be obtained by contacting the Huntington District 
Office of the Corps of Engineers at (304) 399-5924 (See ADDRESSES). All 
persons and organizations that have an interest in the Bluestone Dam 
Project are urged to participate in this SDEIS review and comment 
period. Upon the close of the comment period, USACE will consider all 
comments and if necessary conduct further analysis.
    Additionally, the Corps will conduct public meetings to gain input 
from interested agencies, organizations, and the general public 
concerning the content, issues, and impacts of the SDEIS, a separate 
Notice of Intent will be published in the Federal Register for this 
action. Prior to the meeting, a public notice will be distributed to 
agencies, organizations, and the general public, informing interested 
parties of the date and location for the public meeting. The Corps 
invites full public participation to promote open communication and 
better decision-making.
    4. Schedule: The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
is scheduled to be released for public review and comment on or about 
September 1, 2016. The Final Report and Final Supplemental EIS are 
tentatively scheduled to be completed in May 2017.

Rebecca A. Rutherford,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Section, Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 2016-21570 Filed 9-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P