[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2383-2384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-438]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
Finding of No Significant Impact for Burlington Bottoms Wildlife
Mitigation Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to fund wildlife
management and enhancement activities for the Burlington Bottoms
wetlands mitigation site. Acquired by BPA in 1991, wildlife habitat at
Burlington Bottoms would contribute toward the goal of mitigation for
wildlife losses and inundation of wildlife habitat due to the
construction of Federal dams in the lower Columbia and Willamette River
Basins. BPA has prepared an environmental assessment (DOE/EA-0928)
evaluating the potential environmental effects of the proposed project.
Alternative 1 (Proposed Action) evaluated maintenance and enhancement
of the property with limited public access; Alternative 2 evaluated
maintenance and enhancement of the property with no public access; and
Alternative 3 evaluated the No-Action Alternative. Maintenance and
enhancement under Alternative 1 would not cause significant
environmental impact because: (1) There would be no adverse impacts on
soils, air quality, water quality, wildlife (including no effect on
endangered species), vegetation, fish, and land use; and (2) there
would be no effect on cultural resources. Based on the analysis in the
environmental assessment (EA), BPA has determined that the proposed
action is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment, within the meaning of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Therefore, the preparation of
an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required and BPA is
issuing this FONSI.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND COPIES OF THE EA, CONTACT: John Taves,
Bonneville Power Administration--EC-5, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon
97208-3621, phone number 503-230-4995, or Charles Craig, Bonneville
Power Administration--EWP/State, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-
3621, phone number 503-231-6964; or the Public Involvement and
Information office voice TTY 503-230-3478 in Portland, or toll free 1-
800-622-4519.
Public Availability: This FONSI will be distributed to all persons
and agencies known to be interested in or affected by the proposed
action or alternatives.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under provisions of the Pacific Northwest
Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980 (Northwest Power
Act), BPA has the authority and obligation to fund wildlife mitigation
activities approved by the Northwest Power Planning Council (Council)
and included in the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program (Program). The
initial phase of mitigation planning for wildlife habitat losses was
submitted to the Council for amendment into the Program in 1989. The
Program includes a process for review of habitat losses and design of
mitigation plans for each Federal hydro project in the Willamette and
Columbia River Basins (Section 1002). In 1989, the Council amended the
Program to include wildlife habitat losses resulting from construction
and operation of Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary Dams.
Consistent with section 1003(7) of the Program's Wildlife Mitigation
Rule, BPA proposes to fund projects that are intended to help reach the
Council's mitigation goals. BPA funding would provide management of
habitat management, recreation, hydrology, cultural resources, and
public access to the area.
Under Alternative 1, the proposed action, control or eradication of
non-native invasive plant species and re-establishment or enhancement
of native plants would be beneficial to fish and wildlife and would not
significantly impact other environmental resources.
Control of non-native fish and wildlife populations through
trapping and netting would be beneficial by reducing competition with
native species for resources.
Control of non-native invasive plant species at Burlington Bottoms
may include the burning of vegetation (Reed canary grass) in certain
areas (pasture [[Page 2384]] habitat) and at certain times of the year.
This may cause, for the short term, an increase in carbon monoxide and
smoke particulates. Burning would be coordinated with the Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality to ensure that impacts to air
quality would be minimal.
To avoid adverse impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, management
of public access will include the use of interpretive signs to educate
visitors on the need to stay in designated areas, using vegetation as a
natural barrier to prevent off-trail use, and/or having seasonal
restrictions on visitor access.
Timing and location of management activities (burning of Reed
canary grass, mechanical removal of blackberries, and trapping of
bullfrogs) would occur in such a manner as to minimize disturbance to
native fish and wildlife, especially during such critical periods as
the breeding season for waterfowl.
A cultural resource survey was performed on the Burlington Bottoms
site in September of 1994. No prehistoric materials were observed,
possibly due to twentieth century fill material and dense vegetation
which obscure the ground surface, hindering recognition of these
resources. Any ground-disturbing activities (e.g., excavations or
surface leveling) related to the construction of the trail and wildlife
viewing areas and the placement of interpretive signs will be monitored
by an archaeologist since it is possible that unrecorded prehistoric
sites exist beneath the ground surface.
Determination: Based on the information in the EA, summarized here,
BPA determines that the proposed action is not a major Federal action
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the
meaning of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Therefore, an EIS will not be
prepared and BPA is issuing this FONSI.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on December 28, 1994.
Randall W. Hardy,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-438 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P-M
