[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21202-21203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09146]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Supplemental Final 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 Final 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 has prepared
a
[[Page 21203]]
Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) 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 SFEIS recommends implementing modifications to the existing
stilling basin to prevent scour that could result in spillway
instability and thus dam failure. Proposed modifications include
alteration to the existing stilling basin to include installation of a
protective concrete apron and larger baffles among other features
described in the SFEIS. This SFEIS also addresses the impacts
associated with prolonged construction duration of modification
features described in the original EIS and ROD.
DATES: The review period will be open from May 1, 2017 to May 30, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments 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 Order (EO) 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, hydropower
development, low flow augmentation, and fish and wildlife enhancement.
The project began operation in 1949 and helps control a 4,600 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 SFEIS and Dam Safety Modification report (DSMR) have
considered 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 SFEIS and DSMR has
recommended 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 proposed include, alteration to the existing stilling basin
to include installation of a protective concrete apron and larger
baffles among other features described in the SFEIS. 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 SFEIS will be made available to the
public for thirty (30) days for review and comment. A Notice of
Availability will be advertised in affected area newspapers informing
the general public about the SFEIS public review period. The SFEIS and
draft final ROD can be viewed at: http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicReview.aspx. Copies of the SFEIS and draft final ROD may
be obtained by contacting the Huntington District Office of the U.S.
Army 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 SFEIS review and comment period. Upon
the close of the comment period, USACE will consider all comments.
4. Schedule: The Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement
is scheduled to be released for public review and comment on or about
May 1, 2017.
Rebecca A. Rutherford,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Section, Planning Branch.
[FR Doc. 2017-09146 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P