96-9979. Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration Implementation, Olympic National Park, WA

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17911-17912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9979]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Elwha River Ecosystem 
Restoration Implementation, Olympic National Park, WA

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a draft 
environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the restoration of the Elwha 
River Ecosystem in Olympic National Park, Washington. This notice also 
announces public meetings for the purpose of receiving comments on the 
draft document.

DATES: There will be a 60-day public review period for comment on this 
document. Comments on the DEIS should be received no later than June 
26, 1996. Public meetings will be held in Seattle, Washington, on 
Tuesday, May 21, 1996, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at The Mountaineer's 
Building, Olympus Room, 300 3rd Ave. West; and in Port Angeles, 
Washington, on Wednesday, May 22, 1996, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. and from 
5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. 4th 
Street.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be submitted to: Sarah Bransom, 
National Park Service--RP, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287.
    Public reading copies of the DEIS will be available for review at 
the following locations:

Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th & C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20240, Telephone: (202) 
208-6843
Columbia/Cascades System Support Office, National Park Service, Rm. 
650, 909 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-1060, Telephone: [phone]
Olympic National Park, National Park Service, 600 E. Park Ave., Port 
Angeles, WA 98362, Telephone: [phone]
North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles Branch, 207 S. Lincoln St., 
Port Angeles, WA, Telephone: [phone]
Government Documents, Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave., Seattle, 
WA 98104-1193, Telephone [phone]
Government Publications, Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA 98195, Telephone: [phone]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Winter, Elwha River Restoration Coordinator, Olympic National 
Park, 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362, Telephone: (360) 452-
0302. A limited number of copies of the DEIS are available on request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1994 and 1995, draft and final EISs were 
released which determined the Department of the Interior's policy on 
Elwha River Restoration. The Record of Decision on that EIS process, 
documenting the decision to purse removal of the dams, is available 
from the Superintendent, Olympic National Park at the above address.
    This document and analysis has resulted from the passage of Public 
Law 102-495, the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act of 
1992. The DEIS has been completed by the National Park Service in 
cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Lower Elwha Klallam 
Tribe.
    This draft environmental impact statement on implementing ecosystem 
restoration describes and analyzes a

[[Page 17912]]

proposed action and two alternatives. Under the proposed action, the 
Secretary of the Interior would remove both the Elwha and Glines Canyon 
dams, and allow natural river erosion to transport accumulated 
reservoir sediments to the ocean. The other alternatives are: remove 
both dams and dredge accumulated sediments into a slurry pipeline for 
transport to the ocean; and no action--continue to operate the dams 
without anadromous fish mitigation.
    Impacts are analyzed on the following topics: fluvial processes and 
sediment transport, flooding, groundwater, surface water, native 
anadromous and resident fisheries, vegetation, wildlife, species of 
special concern, living marine resources, air quality and noise, 
cultural resources, socioeconomics, public health and safety, traffic, 
Indian trust resources, recreation, land use, and aesthetics.
    All review comments received will become part of the public record 
and copies of comments, including names, addresses and telephone 
numbers provided by respondents, may be released for public inspection.

    Dated: April 8, 1996
William C. Walters,
Deputy Field Director, Pacific West Area, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 96-9979 Filed 4-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M