Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the Watershed Management Program

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and

Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement for the Watershed

Management Program

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy

(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS), and Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare an EIS on

proposed funding of the planning and implementation of watershed

conservation and rehabilitation projects throughout the Columbia River

Basin (Basin). This action proposes to mitigate the loss of anadromous

and resident fish habitat caused by the construction and operation of

Federal hydroelectric projects in the Basin. In accordance with the

Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act

(Northwest Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 839), specific fish mitigation

activities that BPA would implement under the program are developed

through Pacific Northwest Power Planning Council (Council) procedures

and proposed in the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program. Although BPA

decisions on these specific actions are often independent of one

another, preparation of this EIS recognizes their similarity of

impacts, methods of implementation, and subject matter. This action

involves land resources planning that may affect floodplains and

wetlands throughout the Basin, including various parts of Oregon,

Idaho, Montana and Washington. A floodplain/wetland assessment will be

included in the EIS being prepared for the proposed project in

accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

BPA invites public comment on the range of actions, alternatives,

and impacts to be addressed in the Watershed Conservation Program EIS.

DATES: BPA has established a scoping period during which affected

landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local

governments, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on

the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help BPA ensure that a full

range of issues related to this proposal is addressed in the EIS, and

also will identify significant or potentially significant impacts that

may result from the proposed project. Please send written comments to

the address below by May 31, 1996.

When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and

comment, and BPA will hold a public comment meeting for the Draft EIS.

BPA will consider and respond to comments received on the Draft EIS in

the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: BPA invites comments and suggestions on the proposed scope

of the Draft EIS. Send comment letters and requests to be placed on the

project mailing list to the Public Involvement and Information Manager,

Bonneville Power Administration--CKP, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon,

97212. The phone number of the Public Involvement and Information

Office is 503-230-3478 in Portland; toll-free 1800-622-4519 outside of

Portland. Comment at our internet address at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Eric N. Powers--ECN at (503) 230-5823

or Mark Shaw--EWP at (503) 230-5239, Bonneville Power Administration,

P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

BPA proposes to establish standards and guidelines for funding the

planning and implementation of watershed conservation and

rehabilitation projects throughout the Basin. This action is proposed

to mitigate the loss of anadromous and resident fish habitat based on

four elements: (1) increase salmon survival in the rivers; (2) improve

harvest management; (3) improving hatcheries and production practices;

and (4) protect and improve habitat. A primary objective of this action

is to implement principles that will be the most cost-effective and

efficient means of obtaining fish mitigation goals. General issues the

socioeconomic impacts, fish and wildlife management, vegetation

management, threatened and endangered species management, cultural

resources management, recreation management, and water quality

management. Identification of additional issues may result from the

public scoping process, and scoping may also eliminate some issues from

in-depth analysis. The proposed program standards and guidelines may

establish

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criteria for implementing specific mitigation actions without further

review, or with limited site-specific analysis tiered to the Program

EIS.

Process to Date

BPA has funded, over the last several years, a number of small

demonstration projects under a ``model'' watershed program. The model

watersheds include the Grand Ronde and its subbasins in Oregon, the

Tucannon, Pataha, and Asotin in Washington, and the Lemhi, Pahsimeroi,

and East Fork Salmon in Idaho. To date, BPA has categorically excluded

these model watershed demonstration projects under NEPA. However, with

the culmination of planning for many of the model watersheds and

potential for expansion of the watershed program to include additional

watersheds beyond the model watersheds, BPA has decided to prepare an

EIS to discuss the potential cumulative impacts, both positive and

negative, of a larger-scope watershed program.

Alternatives Proposed for Consideration

Alternatives to be considered in the BPA Watershed Management

Program EIS would include alternative standards and guidelines for each

management issue addressed. The EIS will also consider a No Action

alternative, i.e., program implementation without defined program-wide

standards and guidelines.

Identification of Environmental Issues

The environmental issues associated with fish mitigation activities

include changes in land use, vegetation patterns, fish and wildlife

populations, recreational opportunities, and water use and quality.

Further information is available from BPA at the address above.

Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 14, 1996.

Randall W. Hardy,

Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-7269 Filed 3-25-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6540-01-P