[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]
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