96-5605. Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance Program, Hinton, West Virginia

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9681-9682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5605]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance Program, Hinton, West Virginia

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Under the Policy for Evaluating Modifications of Existing Dams 
Related to Hydrologic and seismic adequacy, the Huntington District 
proposes to evaluate alternative measures necessary to modify the 
Bluestone Dam consistent with state-of- the-art design criteria. The 
proposed action is being conducted through the Corps' Dam Safety 
Assurance Program for the evaluation of existing dams. The Huntington 
District has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement is 
required for the proposed study.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the proposed 
action and Environmental Impact Statement should be addressed to: Mr. 
C. Barry Passmore, PD-B, Phone: [phone], Huntington District, 
Corps of 

[[Page 9682]]
Engineers, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, West Virginia 25701-2070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The purpose of the study is to identify the preferred alternative 
to modify the existing dam to meet current hydrologic and seismic 
criteria.

Reasonable Alternatives

    Several alternatives will be considered for modifying the project. 
It has been determined that improvements to the project will be 
necessary to accommodate the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). Three 
alternatives have been identified. Alternative 1 consists of raising 
the dam. Alternative 2 consists of an auxiliary spillway. Alternative 3 
consists of partial overtopping of the dam.

Scoping process

    a. The scoping process for the Bluestone DSA study and DEIS will 
include a series of public involvement meetings and workshops so that 
the proposed actions and alternative corrective measures can receive 
widespread public awareness. Through the public involvement program and 
media announcements, the Federal, state and local agencies as well as 
other affected and concerned organizations will be kept abreast of the 
study by the Corps of Engineers.
    b. Potentially significant issues for NEPA consideration have been 
identified. (1) The capability of the 50-year-old project to adequately 
and safely provide needed services will be reviewed by evaluating the 
design of the project through application of current modern engineering 
design criteria. (2) Potential adjustments to the project will be 
considered and screened to identify a suitable modernization plan for 
the project, and associated operation and construction impacts will be 
assessed with and without adjustment. (3) It is anticipated that the 
potential improvement of the project to increase the capability for 
adequately and safely accommodating extreme events may be regarded as a 
significant Federal action.
    c. The DEIS will be developed under the guidance, requirements, and 
format in 40 CFR 1502.9c and 1502.10. Consultation will be conducted 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental 
Protection Agency during the NEPA process, pursuant to the requirements 
of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Endangered Species Act, 
the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service and State Historic 
Preservation Act, and the Preservation of Historic and Archeological 
Data and EO 11593.

Deis Availability

    It is anticipated that the DEIS will be available for public review 
by June 1997.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
FR Doc. 96-5605 Filed 3-8-96; 8:45 am]
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