[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 148 (Friday, July 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46174-46175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16512]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR01313000, 18XR0680A1, RX.00036916.5002000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Public Open Houses for the Boise River Basin Feasibility 
Study, Elmore County, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has made available for 
public review and comment the Boise River Basin Feasibility Study Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS describes the 
potential environmental effects of a dam raise at Anderson Ranch Dam.

DATES: Reclamation will be conducting virtual public involvement 
beginning in August 2020 with written comments on the Draft EIS due on 
or before September 14, 2020. The public will have the opportunity to 
participate in the process by providing input through a web-based 
virtual meeting room from July 31, 2020, to September 14, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Provide written comments, requests to be added to the 
mailing list, or requests for sign language interpretation for the 
hearing impaired or other special assistance needs to Ms. Selena Moore, 
Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 
Collins Road, Boise, Idaho 83702 or via email to [email protected]. For comments related to project activities 
that must be authorized by the U.S. Forest Service, be sure to write 
``ATTN: Tawnya Brummett'' to the previously provided address if 
providing a comment through the mail. If sending an email comment, 
include ``ATTN: Tawnya Brummett'' in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Selena Moore, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 Collins Road, Boise, Idaho 
83702; telephone (208) 383-2207; facsimile (208) 383-2210; email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1-
800-877-8339 TTY/ASCII to contact the above individual during normal 
business hours or to leave a message or question after hours. You will 
receive a reply during normal business hours. Information on this 
project may also be found at: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/studies/boisefeasibility/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is issuing this notice pursuant 
to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations 
for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; U.S. Forest 
Service (USFS) NEPA regulations, 36 CFR part 220; USFS pre-decisional 
review regulations, 36 CFR part 218; and the Department of the 
Interior's NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 46.

Background

    Under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Omnibus Act), 
Public Law 111-11, Section 9001, Congress authorized Reclamation to 
conduct feasibility studies on projects that address water shortages 
within the Boise River Basin System and that are considered appropriate 
for study by Reclamation's 2006 Boise/Payette Water Storage Assessment 
Report (2006

[[Page 46175]]

Assessment Report). The action proposed was identified in the 2006 
Assessment Report as appropriate for study and is the subject of an 
ongoing feasibility study pursuant to the Omnibus Act and the Water 
Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016. The WIIN 
Act authorizes Reclamation to enter into agreements with requesting 
states or subdivisions thereof to design, study, construct, or expand 
federally owned storage projects, and Congress has specified that this 
project be studied under WIIN Act authority. Public Law 114-322, 
Section 4007.
    The Draft EIS analyzes three alternatives. Alternative A is the No 
Action. Alternative B is a 6-foot Dam Raise at Anderson Ranch Dam. 
Alternative C is a 3-foot Dam Raise at Anderson Ranch Dam. Reclamation, 
in partnership with the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB), proposes to 
raise Anderson Ranch Dam allowing the ability to capture and store 
additional water. This new space would allow Reclamation to capture 
additional water when available during wet years for supplemental 
supply and to hold over for use during dry years. Potential 
spaceholders include existing Reclamation contractors and the IWRB, 
which could in turn contract water to existing Water District 63 water 
users and/or may offer water through the Idaho water supply bank's 
Water District 63 rental pool.
    Proposed dam structure modifications include:
     Demolish existing spillway crest structure and bridge;
     Construct new crest structure;
     Remove, rehabilitate, and re-install the existing radial 
gates;
     Construct a new two-lane road across the dam; and
     Widen right abutment to improve turning radius for 
traffic.
    The existing road across the dam would be closed during 
construction. An alternative route has been identified that would 
provide safe public transport. There would likely be a reservoir 
restriction of 6-10 feet during spillway construction.
    In addition to work on the dam, the project would include 
modification to structures around the reservoir such as culverts, 
bridges, and recreation sites.
    Reclamation is not presently aware of any known or possible Indian 
Trust Assets or environmental justice issues associated with the 
proposed action but requests any information relative to this issue be 
submitted during the comment period.
    The Draft EIS review process and public open houses identified in 
this notice are intended to inform the public about the project and to 
request public and agency comment on the EIS.
    The USFS is a cooperating agency. Cooperating agencies have 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA 
analysis. The USFS provided input into the analyses, conclusions, and 
recommendations presented in the Draft EIS. Following issuance of the 
Final EIS, the USFS will issue a subsequent decision for the Project in 
accordance with Forest Service regulatory requirements.
    The USFS would also use this Draft EIS to evaluate proposed actions 
and determine compliance with the 2010 Boise National Forest Land and 
Resources Plan that would make provisions for the project activities.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your 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 may 
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.

Lorri J. Gray,
Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Interior Region 9--Columbia-
Pacific Northwest.
[FR Doc. 2020-16512 Filed 7-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P