[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20273]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 18, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 11346-001, IA]
FORIA Hydro Corporation; Notice of Environmental Assessment
Scoping\1\
August 12, 1994.
On March 28, 1994, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) issued a notice indicating that staff is ready to conduct
an environmental analysis (REA Notice) for the proposed Fort Dodge Mill
Dam Project, located on the Des Moines River, in Webster County, Iowa.
The REA Notice also requested comments (mandatory or recommended
license terms and conditions, or prescriptions) from federal, state,
and local resource agencies, licensees and developers, Indian tribes,
and any other interested groups (Parties). Parties were given until May
28, 1994, to file comments.
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\1\This supersedes the Notice of Environmental Assessment
Scoping previously issued July 15, 1994, 59 FR 37229, July 21, 1994.
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The purpose of this notice is to advise all Parties as to the scope
of our environmental analysis and to seek additional information
pertinent to this analysis. The scope as presented herein is based on
the information filed with the Commission by FORIA Hydro Corporation
(the Applicant), comments received from the Parties thus far, and the
staff's independent analysis.
Proposed Action
The Applicant proposes to install new generating equipment at an
existing dam, reservoir and powerhouse to be called the Fort Dodge Mill
Dam Project.
The proposed project would include the following features: (1) An
existing dam 372 feet long and 18 feet high; (2) an existing
impoundment with a surface area of 90 acres with a normal surface
elevation of approximately 990 feet above mean sea level; (3) an
existing powerhouse containing two new turbine-generator units at a
total installed capacity of 1,260 kilowatts; and (4) a proposed 13.8-
kilovolt transmission line.
In addition to the proposed two new turbine-generator units, the
Applicant proposes to install a new flat trashrack (with 2-inch clear
bar spacing) at the project intake.
The Applicant proposes the following measures relating to project
operation to protect environmental resources in the project area. A 34-
cubic-feet-per-second minimum flow over the project dam is proposed to
protect water quality and fishery resources in the downstream pool area
and side channel. The project would be operated in a run-of-river mode,
with only minor fluctuations in the headpond elevation to account for
natural variations in river flow. In the operational plan for the Fort
Dodge Mill Dam Project, the Applicant also proposes to implement a plan
to verify run-of-river operation and a seasonal water quality
monitoring program for the impoundment.
Project Alternatives
The Commission staff will consider alternatives, including
environmental measures not proposed by the Applicant. The staff will
review and consider alternative recommendations for additional resource
protection, or environmental measures that may be appropriate to
include in an original license. Modifications could include
recommendations by the agencies, the general public, and the staff.
In addition to these alternatives, the staff will evaluate the no-
action alternative, which would maintain the existing environment or
status quo at the project. There would be no enhancement of existing
environmental resources.
Scope of the Environmental Analysis
Cumulative Effects
a. Geographic Scope
We believe that water quality and resident fisheries can be
affected in a cumulative manner by the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project
being analyzed in this Environmental Assessment (EA) and by other
activities on the Des Moines River. These activities include sediment
and nutrient concentrations in the Des Moines River and associated
tributaries due to channel straightening, land cultivation, and water
treatment by the City of Fort Dodge.
The geographic scope of analysis defines the physical limits or
boundaries of the proposed action's effect on the resources. Since the
proposed action affects the resources differently, the geographic scope
for each resource may vary. In this case, for water quality and fishery
resources, the geographic scope of analysis will encompass the mainstem
of the Des Moines River from river mile 387 upstream to the confluence
of the Raccoon River with the Des Moines River. We chose this
geographic scope for these resources because the effects of project
operation are limited to this area and, in this case, these resources
are directly and indirectly affected by project operation.
b. Temporal Scope
The temporal scope includes a discussion of the past, present, and
future actions and their effects on water quality and the fishery
resources. Based on the license term, the temporal scope will look 30
to 50 years into the future, concentrating on the effect on the
resource from reasonably foreseeable future actions (e.g., the effect
of potential future water withdrawals within the project vicinity). The
historical discussion will, by necessity, be limited to the amount of
available information for each resource.
We are seeking further information from Federal, state, and other
agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) pertaining to past,
present, and future actions and effects on the resources (in the form
of previous studies, present plans, and future plans, goals or
forecasts).
Environmental Issues
A preliminary list of environmental issues identified by the staff
for coverage in an EA is presented in this section. The list is not
intended to be exhaustive or final, but is an initial listing of issues
that have been raised and appear to be important. The staff will review
all issues raised during the scoping process and make decisions as to
the level of analysis needed. If preliminary analysis indicates that
any issues presented in this scoping document have little potential for
causing significant impacts, the issue or issues will be identified and
the reasons for not providing a more detailed analysis will be given.
The following issues apply to the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project:
Potential effects on geology and soils resources due to
dredging upstream and downstream of the dam.
An evaluation of the project's potential effect on
dissolved oxygen (DO) downstream of the project and the need for
additional studies of DO.
Effects of project operation and non-project factors on
vegetation and wildlife.
Effects of project operation on any federally listed
threatened or endangered species in the project area.
Probability of eligibility of dam and powerhouse on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Consider the need for measures to enhance recreational
opportunities.
The EA will assess the project-specific effects on the above
resources and whether these effects contribute adversely or
beneficially to the affected environment.
EA Preparation Schedule
The preliminary schedule for preparing the EA for the Fort Dodge
Mill Dam Project is:
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Milestones Target date
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Scoping................................... Summer 1994.
Draft EA.................................. September 30, 1994.
Final EA.................................. November 30, 1994.
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Request for Comments
The Commission's scoping objectives are to:
Identify significant environmental issues,
Determine the depth of analysis appropriate to each issue,
Identify the resource issues not requiring detailed
analysis, and
Identify reasonable project alternatives.
Federal, state, and local resource agencies, licensees and
developers, Indian tribes, NGO's and other interested groups, and the
general public are requested to file with the Commission information
that they believe will assist the Commission staff in conducting an
accurate and thorough analysis of the site-specific and cumulative
environmental effects of the proposed licensing of the Fort Dodge Mill
Dam Project being analyzed in this EA. The types of information sought
include:
Information, quantified data, or professional opinion that
may contribute to defining the geographical and temporal scope of the
analysis and identifying significant environmental issues.
Identification of, and information from, any other EA,
environmental impact statement, or similar document or study (previous,
on-going, or planned) relevant to the proposed licensing activity in
the mainstem of the Des Moines River.
Existing information and any data that would aid in
describing the past and present actions and effects of the project on
water quality and the fisheries. For example, fish stocking/management
histories of the Des Moines River, historic water quality data and the
reasons for improvement or degradation of the quality, any wetland
habitat losses or proposals to develop land and water resources.
Identification of any federal, state, or local resource
plans and future project proposals that encompass the mainstem of the
Des Moines River with information on when they will be implemented, if
known. For example, proposals to construct or operate water treatment
facilities, recreation areas, water diversions, or implement fishery
management programs.
Documentation that would support a conclusion that the
project does not or does contribute to cumulative adverse or beneficial
effects on resources and therefore should be excluded from further
study or excluded from further consideration of cumulative effects
within the mainstem of the Des Moines River. Documentation should
include, but is not limited to: how the project interacts with other
projects and other developmental activities; results from studies;
resource management policies; and reports from Federal, state, and
local agencies.
To be useful in preparing the EA, the requested information must be
filed with the Commission no later than 30 days past the date of this
notice. Address all communications to: Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, D.C.
20426.
All filings must clearly show at the top of the first page ``Fort
Dodge Mill Dam Project, FERC No. 11346''.
When filing scoping comments, you should submit an original and 8
copies; this will assure that staff receives your information quickly.
Parties to the proceedings (as identified on the official Service List
for the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project) must also send copies of their
filings, and all attachments, to the other parties listed on the
official service list. The official service list is available from the
Secretary of the Commission at the same address above.
Any questions concerning the scoping process should be directed to
Mary Golato (202-219-2804) at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Office of Hydropower Licensing (HL 20.1), 825 North Capitol Street, NE,
Washington, D.C. 20426.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-20273 Filed 8-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
