[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 202 (Friday, October 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72530-72531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23140]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_OR_FRN_MO4500173143]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Hult Reservoir and Dam Safety 
Environmental Impact Statement in Lane County, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
announces the availability of the Hult Reservoir and Dam Safety Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

DATES: To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the 
Final EIS, please ensure that the BLM receives your comments within 45 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS in the 
Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on Fridays. The 
BLM will hold at least one public meeting in Blachly, Horton, or 
Triangle Lake; the date(s) and location(s) of public meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance on the BLM National NEPA Register 
at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/99598/510. 
Interested parties can also register for email notifications of the 
scoping meetings by submitting an email request to: 
[email protected].

ADDRESSES: The Draft EIS is available for review on the BLM ePlanning 
project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/99598/510.
    Written comments related to the Hult Reservoir and Dam Safety Draft 
EIS may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/99598/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Northwest Oregon 
District, ATTN: Hult Reservoir and Dam Safety EIS, 3106 Pierce Parkway, 
Springfield, OR 97477.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/99598/510 and at the 
Siuslaw Field Office, 3106 Pierce Pkwy., Springfield, OR 97477.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dianne Olson, Public Involvement Lead, 
at (971) 213-4970 or [email protected]. Individuals in 
the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a 
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Olson. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hult Reservoir and Hult Pond Dam are 
located near the community of Horton, Oregon. The reservoir is fed by 
Lake Creek and smaller tributaries. The earthen embankment dam was 
built in the 1930s or 1940s to create a log holding pond for the Hult 
Lumber Company sawmill. Today, the 54-acre reservoir and surrounding 
area are primarily used as a recreation destination. The dam serves no 
other water retention purposes and provides no flood protection. The 
average lifespan for an earthen embankment dam is 50 years, which the 
Hult Dam has exceeded by over 3 decades. The BLM believes that the dam 
it is at the end of its lifecycle.
    When the BLM took ownership of the reservoir and dam in a 1994 land 
exchange, the dam had been poorly maintained, but a 1990 Bureau of 
Reclamation inspection found it was in no immediate danger of failing. 
Since then, the BLM has made improvements to the dam, including 
repairs, reinforcement, and installation of

[[Page 72531]]

monitoring equipment. BLM staff continuously monitor the reservoir 
level and adjust the dam outlet during winter weather events to avoid 
overtopping.
    In 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) inspected the dam 
and found multiple failure points due to its age and condition. The 
2018 USACE report based on this inspection described that flooding 
resulting from dam failure could impact 70 to 130 people downstream and 
cause damage to Oregon Highway 36, as well as potential loss of life.
    The project's purpose and need is to decommission the current Hult 
Dam structure to reduce the potential for failure of the aging 
structure and associated loss of life and critical services, and to be 
fiscally responsible to the public in managing the costs associated 
with the dam.
    The Draft EIS includes a No Action Alternative (Alternative 1) 
analyzing continued management and standard maintenance of Hult Dam 
under the current conditions. The BLM analyzed three action 
alternatives in detail:
    Alternative 2 (Remove the Existing Dam and Build a New Dam to 
Maintain Hult Reservoir) responds to public comments received during 
the EIS scoping period. This alternative would remove all existing dam 
infrastructure and build a new dam that meets necessary safety 
standards and a new bridge. The poorly functioning fish ladder would be 
replaced with a roughened channel to allow fish passage. Construction 
would take place over 3 years, and dam construction would happen during 
summer months when water levels would be lowest.
    This alternative includes the creation of a developed camp host 
site and cultural design features including signage with information 
about the area's original indigenous inhabitants and the lumber mill 
previously located near the reservoir.
    Alternative 3 (Remove Hult Reservoir; Add Little Log Pond) would 
permanently remove existing dam infrastructure and drain Hult 
Reservoir, allowing a natural stream course to reestablish through the 
former reservoir footprint. A new bridge would span the stream channel 
near the current dam, replacing the existing bridge and road across the 
dam.
    A 5-acre pond for recreational use would be created downstream by 
building a smaller dam across Lake Creek. This pond could be used for 
fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating. A roughened channel south 
of the pond would be created to allow fish passage. This work would 
take place over approximately 2 years, during summer months, when water 
levels would be lowest.
    Project design features would include:
     Riparian and wetland restoration in the former reservoir 
area, with the creation of habitat for fish, western pond turtles, and 
beavers;
     Improved recreation amenities, including a new day-use 
area near the pond, a developed camp host site and a group campsite, 
and a multi-use trail adjacent to the pond and restoration area; and
     Cultural design features, including signage with 
information about the area's original indigenous inhabitants and the 
lumber mill previously located at the site.
    Alternative 4 (Remove Hult Reservoir) is the preferred alternative 
and would permanently remove existing dam infrastructure. Hult 
Reservoir would be drained, and a natural stream channel would be 
reestablished through the former reservoir footprint. A new bridge 
would span the stream channel near the current dam, replacing the 
existing bridge and road across the dam. This work would take place 
during summer months, when water levels would be lowest.
    Project design features are similar to those for Alternative 3, 
including:
     Riparian and wetland restoration in the former reservoir 
area, with the creation of habitat for fish, western pond turtles, and 
beavers;
     Improved recreation amenities, including a new day-use 
area, a developed camp host site and a group campsite, and a multi-use 
trail adjacent to the restoration area; and
     Cultural design features including signage with 
information about the area's original indigenous inhabitants and the 
lumber mill previously located at the site.
    Nine other alternatives were considered but not analyzed in detail 
because they did not meet the EIS purpose and need or were infeasible.
    The public scoping period for the project was held in January 2022. 
Issues identified by the public included changes to recreation access 
and opportunities such as fishing, swimming, and boating; effects to 
wildlife, plants, ecosystems, fish and fish passage; effects to the 
local economy and community; availability of water for fire 
suppression; impacts on water quality, availability, and rights; and 
impacts on local Tribes.
    Formal cooperating agencies on this EIS include:
     Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw 
Indians of Oregon
     Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
     Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
     Oregon Department of Forestry--Lane County
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Regulatory Branch
    With all formal cooperating agencies, the BLM has signed a 
memorandum of understanding identifying the roles and responsibilities 
of the BLM and the cooperating agency in the planning process.
    The BLM will continue to consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a 
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 
13175, BLM MS 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, 
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to 
cultural resources, will be given due consideration. The Confederated 
Tribes of Umpqua, Coos, and Lower Siuslaw Indians and Confederated 
Tribes of Grand Ronde are cooperators on the project, and the BLM has 
been receiving their input during the EIS process.
    The BLM will be holding at least one public meeting in Blachly, 
Horton, or Triangle Lake; the date(s) and location(s) of public 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance on the BLM 
National NEPA Register at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-Sui/project/99598/510. Interested parties can also register for email 
notifications of the scoping meetings by submitting an email request 
to: [email protected].
    During the 45-day public comment period, written comments on the 
draft EIS may be submitted by mail, email, or on the ePlanning website 
(see Address section above). 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 can 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.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10)

Amanda Hoffman,
Acting District Manager, Northwest Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2023-23140 Filed 10-19-23; 8:45 am]
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