[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18568]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 1, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Olympic National Park; Intent To Prepare Two Environmental Impact
Statements; Elwha River Ecosytem Restoration
SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) intends to adopt an existing
environmental impact statement (EIS) and circulate it with supplemental
information concerning removal of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dams (the
projects) from the Elwha River in the state of Washington. The NPS
intends to adopt the March 1991 draft EIS, as amended in 1993 by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and incorporate by
reference the Congressionally mandated ``Elwha Report,'' as information
for the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on whether to remove the
projects as means to restore the Elwha River ecosystem.
NPS will adopt the FERC 1993 document with supplemental information
as the NPS draft EIS. The supplemental information will include any new
data and findings regarding restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem
gathered since the release of the FERC document. The range of
alternatives and issues analyzed by FERC will essentially be the same;
however, the purpose and need and proposed action will change to fully
restoring the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fishery
through removal of the projects. Should this process conclude with a
decision to remove one or both projects as means to restore the
ecosystem, NPS intends to prepare and issue a second EIS on
alternatives to implement this decision, such as timing, methods for
removing the dams, and managing sediment. NPS intends to work
concurrently on both EIS's; however, if the Secretary, on the basis of
the first EIS, selects an alternative other than removal of both
projects, preparation of the ``Implementation EIS'' will cease.
Extensive public scoping and comment on the FERC EIS occurred in
1991 and 1993 and NPS will make available public comments and FERC's
responses on the 1991 document. NPS intends to ask for public comment
on the adopted EIS and supplemental information when released to the
public in the fall of 1994. Additional public scoping on the
``Implementation EIS'' will also be solicited in the future. Persons
wishing additional information should contact the National Park
Service, Superintendent, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue,
Port Angeles, Washington 98362., attn. Elwha River Restoration Project/
Brian Winter, or at telephone number (206) 452-0302.
Background
The Elwha River, which forms the largest watershed within Olympic
National Park, once supported ten stocks of anadromous salmon trout and
a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. In the early 1900's, two
hydroelectric dams (the projects) were constructed in the lower portion
of the river. These dams were constructed without fish passage
measures, restricting anadromous fish to less than five miles of the
available 75 miles of spawning and rearing habitat.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a draft
EIS in March 1991 and, in response to public comments, amended it in
1993 on licensing the Elwha project and re-licensing the Glines Canyon
project pursuant to the Federal Power Act. FERC evaluated a range of
project alternatives against three primary resource objectives: (1)
restoration of wild, self-sustaining runs of anadromous fish; (2)
restoration of natural Elwha River Basin conditions within Olympic
National Park; and (3) provision of renewable hydroelectric energy.
FERC concluded that removal of both dams would best meet the first two
objectives. FERC's EIS was not finalized and a record of decision was
not issued.
The Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (P.L. 102-
495) was enacted by Congress in October 1992 to legislatively resolve
numerous conflicts surrounding these two projects. It directs the
Department of the Interior to prepare a report (subsequently titled The
Elwha Report) including plans for dam removal, fish restoration, and
protection of local water supplies, and power supply replacement. The
Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire both dams if
determined dam removal is necessary for the full restoration of the
Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries and that funds be
made available for that purpose.
The Elwha Report was prepared by NPS in cooperation with several
federal agencies and the Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribe. It was submitted
to the Office of Management and Budget in December 1993 and to Congress
in June 1994. The report summarizes much of the FERC EIS and added
feasibility and cost analyses for a range of scenarios for dam removal
and mitigation of subsequent impacts. It concludes that removal of both
projects is the only alternative that would achieve the goal of full
restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous
fisheries.
As provided for by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations (40 CFR 1506.3), NPS intends to adopt the amended FERC EIS
and incorporate by reference the 1994 Elwha Report in a draft EIS for
public review and comment. Depending on the outcome of this EIS, a
second ``Implementation EIS'' will address a range of specific dam
removal and sediment management options, analyzing the impacts of each
in more depth.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service will prepare both
EIS's in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of
Reclamation, and Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe. The responsible official
is Charles Odegard, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Regional
Office. The preparation of both EISs and subsequent Record of Decisions
is expected to take about two years. The public will have an
opportunity to review and comment on the first EIS in the fall, 1994. A
final EIS is expected to be released in early 1995. Should the decision
be made to remove the projects, the draft ``Implementation EIS'' would
be released for public review mid-year, 1995, with a final EIS
anticipated in early 1996.
Dated: July 22, 1994.
Denis P. Galvin,
Associate Director, Planning and Development, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 94-18568 Filed 7-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
