[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10347-10348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02779]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Centennial Reservoir Project, Nevada and 
Placer Counties, CA, Corps Permit Application Number SPK-2016-00030

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 (Corps), Sacramento District, 
as the lead Federal agency under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed Centennial Reservoir Project (Proposed Action). On April 25, 
2016, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) (applicant) submitted a 
Department of the Army (DA) permit application under Section 404 of the 
Clean Water Act, to discharge dredged and/or fill material into waters 
of the United States (WOUS) for the construction of a new 110,000 acre-
foot water supply reservoir. The Proposed Action is located on the Bear 
River, downstream of Rollins Reservoir and upstream of Combie 
Reservoir, west of the Town of Colfax, Nevada and Placer Counties, 
California. NID's stated purpose for the Proposed Action is to provide 
drought and climate change-mitigation, meet projected future water 
supply needs, and improve water supply reliability for NID's customers.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on or 
before April 10, 2017. Written comments can be submitted at any time 
prior to publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by email at 
[email protected], or by mail at 1325 J Street, Room 
1350, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kara Hellige by telephone at 970-
259-1604, or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two public scoping meetings will be held to 
present an overview of the Proposed Action and the Draft EIS process, 
and to afford all interested parties with an opportunity to provide 
comments. The first meeting will be held on March 1, 2017, from 4:30 
p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Auburn Hotel, 120 Grass Valley 
Highway, Auburn, CA 95603. The second public scoping meeting will be 
held on March 2, 2017, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Gold Miners Inn/
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 121 Bank Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945. 
Project information will also be posted periodically on the internet at 
http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permitting/Environmental-Impact-Statements/. Parties interested in being added to 
the Corps' electronic mail notification list for the Proposed Action 
can obtain a request form at http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/Regulatory-Public-Notices/. Please refer to Department of the Army 
number SPK-2016-00030 in any correspondence.
    The proposed Centennial Reservoir project involves the construction 
of a new 110,000 acre-foot reservoir on the Bear River between the 
existing Rollins and Combie Reservoirs. The Proposed Action would 
extend upriver from just above the existing Combie Reservoir for 
slightly over six miles to a point west of the Town of Colfax, 
approximately two miles downstream of the existing Rollins Dam. The 
Proposed Action would include construction of a new dam and associated 
facilities and infrastructure. The anticipated water depth at the dam 
would be approximately 255 feet and the height of the dam would be 
approximately 275 feet. NID anticipates that low impact public 
recreational opportunities (e.g., 5 mile per hour maximum speed on the 
reservoir, pedestrian trails, swimming, and kayaking) would also be 
included with the Proposed Action. Approximately 2,200 acres of land 
would be affected through inundation and construction activities 
related to the project, which includes over 6 miles of river channel. 
The Proposed Action would permanently impact approximately 0.97 acre of 
WOUS for the construction of the dam and would permanently inundate 
approximately 190 acres of WOUS. Temporary impacts associated with the 
project have not yet been determined. Additional indirect impacts to 
WOUS may occur as a result of the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action 
will also require rerouting of Dog Bar Road along with other smaller 
roadways to maintain traffic flow within and between Nevada and Placer 
Counties. The Corps, as the lead agency responsible for compliance with 
NEPA, determined that the Proposed Action may result in significant 
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to the environment and that 
the preparation of an EIS is required. The Corps identified six 
Federal, state, and local agencies that may have jurisdiction by law 
over the Proposed Action and on June 10, 2016, invited these agencies 
as cooperating agencies on the EIS per 40 CFR 1501.6. To date, the US 
Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Land Management have 
agreed to be cooperating agencies.
    The Draft EIS will include alternatives to the Proposed Action that 
will meet NEPA requirements for a reasonable range of alternatives, and 
will also meet the requirements of the CWA Section 404(b)(1) 
Guidelines. A number of water supply operation alternatives, as well as 
alternative dam sites and types have been/are being considered. 
Additional alternatives include but may not be limited to: (1) 
Alternative storage sites within NID's service area (including 
expansion of existing storage reservoirs); and (2) water supply 
operations alternatives to improve the efficiency of existing water 
supply and conveyance infrastructure which may include but are not be 
limited to lining of existing water supply canals and rehabilitating 
aged infrastructure. The specific alternatives to be evaluated within 
the Draft EIS have not yet been developed, but will, at a minimum, 
include the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action Alternative.
    The Corps' public involvement program includes several 
opportunities

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to provide verbal and written comments on the Proposed Action through 
the EIS process. Affected federal, state, and local agencies, Native 
American tribes, other interested private organizations and parties, 
and the general public are invited to participate. Potentially 
significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the Draft EIS include the 
loss of WOUS (including wetlands) and impacts related to: Aesthetics, 
air quality, agriculture and forestry resources, terrestrial and 
aquatic biological resources, cultural resources, environmental 
justice, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and 
hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and 
planning, noise, public services, recreation, socioeconomics, 
transportation and traffic, and utilities and service systems. The EIS 
will also evaluate the cumulative and indirect effects of the Proposed 
Action, other developed alternatives, and other related projects in the 
study area.
    The Corps will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
National Marine Fisheries Service under Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act for proposed impacts to listed species. The Corps will also 
consult with Native American tribes and with the State Historic 
Preservation Officer to comply with the National Historic Preservation 
Act for proposed impacts to properties listed or potentially eligible 
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as 
appropriate.
    A 45-day public review period will be provided for interested 
parties, individuals, and agencies to review and comment on the draft 
EIS. 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 circulation.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be available for public review and 
comment by January 2018.

    Dated: January 31, 2017.
Michael S. Jewell,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-02779 Filed 2-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P