[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70295-70296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28031]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare an 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: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District will prepare
a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 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 has 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, this supplemental EIS will
recommend additional modifications to address such risks and to achieve
acceptable risk levels.
DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on December 5, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this
proposed project to Jonathan J. Aya-ay, Planning Branch, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington,
WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5276. Electronic mail:
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on
the mailing list should also be sent to this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Johnson, Environmental
Analysis Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District,
502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5189.
Electronic mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority: Investigation and justification for dam safety
modifications at completed Corps of Engineers projects is authorized
under Section 2033 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub.
L. 110-114).
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
[[Page 70296]]
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. Ongoing construction on these
measures will likely continue through the year 2020.
d. Physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during project
construction has shown that 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
Chapter 5 of ER 1110-2-1156, under which this study is being conducted.
e. The supplemental EIS 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 supplemental EIS 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 of Engineers planning guidance, the No
Action alternative will form a benchmark from which alternatives are
evaluated and compared.
3. Public Participation: a. The Corps of Engineers will conduct a
public scoping meeting on December 5, 2013 to gain input from
interested agencies, organizations, and the general public concerning
the content of the supplemental EIS, issues and impacts to be addressed
in the supplemental EIS, and alternatives that should be analyzed. The
meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Summers County
Memorial Building, 97 Park Avenue, Hinton, WV 25951.
b. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open
communication and better decision-making. All persons and organizations
that have an interest in the Bluestone Dam Project are urged to
participate in this NEPA evaluation process. Assistance will be
provided upon request to anyone having difficulty with learning how to
participate.
c. Public comments are welcomed anytime throughout the NEPA
process. Formal opportunities for public participation include: (1)
Public meeting/s to be held near the community of Hinton; (2) Anytime
during the NEPA process via mail, telephone or email; (3) During Review
and Comment on the Draft EIS; and (4) Review of the Final EIS.
Schedules and locations will be announced in local news media.
Interested parties should submit contact information to be included on
the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and
documents (See ADDRESSES).
4. Schedule: The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
is tentatively scheduled to be released for public review and comment
in June 2015. The Final Report and Final EIS are tentatively scheduled
to be completed in October 2015.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-28031 Filed 11-22-13; 8:45 am]
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