[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36039-36040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17412]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
For Howard Hanson Dam Additional Water Storage Project Feasibility
Study
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: Seattle District, US Army Corps of Engineers is proposing an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a study of alternatives for
restoration of anadromous fisheries and wildlife habitat and for
municipal water supply
[[Page 36040]]
at the Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River, King County, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be answered by: Mike
McNeely, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning
Branch, PO Box 3755, Seattle, Washington 98124-2255, Telephone (206)
764-3624; fax (206) 764-4470.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action
Howard A Hanson Dam was originally authorized as the Eagle Gorge
Dam and Reservoir by the Flood Control Act of 1950. Construction was
completed in 1962. It is an earthfill and rockfill structure which
provides winter flood control and summer low flow augmentation. The dam
is located at river mile 64.5 on the Green River, King County,
Washington, 35 miles southeast of Seattle, and 35 miles northeast of
Tacoma. The dam and reservoir provide approximately 106,000 acre feet
of winter flood control storage reservoir and 26,000 acre feet of
summer conservation storage (seasonally from March through September).
This 26,000 acre feet of conservation storage provides a minimum
instream flow of 110 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 98 percent
reliability. The Additional Water Storage Project Feasibility Study
purposes are water supply and environmental restoration. Potential
benefits are: municipal and industrial (M&I) water supply and
downstream low flow augmentation through added storage; and higher fish
and wildlife survival through improved downstream fish passage at the
dam and improved habitat.
2. Alternatives
The Corps of Engineers is currently examining four alternatives.
a. No action.
b. Water supply only via pool raise to elevation 1169.
c. Water supply/restoration via pool raise to elevation 1177.
d. Adaptive management water supply/restoration via phased pool
raise to maximum elevation 1177.
3. Scoping and Public Involvement
Public involvement will be sought during the scoping process and
throughout the course of the project in accordance with NEPA
procedures. A public scoping process has been begun to clarify issues
of major concern, identify any information sources that might be
available to analyze and evaluate impact, and obtain public input on
the range and acceptability of alternatives. This Notice of Intent
formally commences the scoping process under NEPA. As part of the
scoping process, all affected Federal, state and local agencies, Indian
Tribes, general public and other interested private organizations,
including environmental interest groups, are invited to comment on the
scope of the EIS. Comments are requested concerning project
alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant environmental
impacts, and permits or other approvals that may be required.
The following key areas have been identified to be analyzed in
depth in the draft EIS:
(1) Geology and Engineering Design.
(2) Water Management.
(3) Water Quality.
(4) Fisheries.
(5) Wildlife.
(6) Wetlands.
(7) Cultural Resources.
(8) Socioeconomic Resources.
A scoping meeting has been scheduled for: July 18, 1996, in Auburn
City Hall Council Chambers, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, Washington at
6 p.m.
4. Schedule
The draft EIS is scheduled for release on April 1, 1997.
Donald T. Wynn,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 96-17412 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]
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