Federal Register: November 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 217)
DOCID: fr07no08-70 FR Doc E8-26634
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Reclamation Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr07no08-70
ACTION: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and notice of public scoping meetings.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Folsom Dam Safety of Dams Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD) Modification, California
DATES: A series of scoping meetings will be held to solicit public
input on the scope of the environmental document, alternatives, concerns, and issues to be
[[Page 66255]]
addressed in the EIS/EIR. The scoping meeting dates are:
Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR will be accepted until January 3, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation, the lead Federal agency, and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA), acting as the lead State agency, will prepare a joint EIS/EIR for the proposed Folsom Dam Safety of Dams MIAD Modification (Proposed Action). The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce the seismic and static risk of failure of MIAD. In this way, Reclamation will achieve the existing standards for dam safety and reduce the risk of injury to those people living and working downstream of the Folsom Dam complex.
SUMMARY:
Folsom Dam Safety of Dams Mormon Island Auxiliary Dam (MIAD) Modification, CA,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
The March 2007 Folsom Dam Safety and Flood Damage Reduction EIS/EIR
(Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR) included NEPA/CEQA analysis of modifying MIAD.
The analysis in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR considered several methods to
modify MIAD to achieve Reclamation's risk standards for dam safety. The
May 2007 Record of Decision Folsom Dam Safety of Dams and Security
Upgrades Project documented that the preferred alterative for MIAD
modification was to place an overlay and seepage control filters on the
downstream (terrestrial) side of MIAD and reinforce the MIAD foundation
using a construction technique known as jet grouting. At that time,
some of the required permits and consultations (Endangered Species Act,
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and Sec 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act) were also obtained. Subsequent
investigations into the feasibility of the MIAD Modification Project as
conceived in the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR have indicated that the design
of the MIAD Modification Project will need to be changed to achieve
Reclamation's existing risk standards for dam safety. Specifically, the
utilization of jet grouting to stabilize the foundation of MIAD is unlikely to meet those risk standards.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce the seismic and static risk of failure of MIAD. In this way, Reclamation will achieve the existing standards for dam safety and reduce the risk of injury to those people living and working downstream of the Folsom Dam complex. This proposed project is a feature of the Folsom Dam Safety of Dams Project, and the analysis will tier from the March 2007 NEPA/CEQA environmental analysis, the Folsom DS/FDR EIS/EIR.
At this time, there are no known or possible Indian trust assets or environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Action. Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings
If special assistance is required to participate in the public hearings, please contact Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez at 9169897192, TDD 9169897285, or email evasquez@mp.usbr.gov. Please notify Ms. Vasquez as far in advance as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be notified. A telephone device for the hearing impaired (TDD) is available at 9169897285.
Public Disclosure
Before including your name, address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should
be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying
informationmay be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Dated: October 28, 2008.
Michael Chotkowski,
Acting Regional Environmental Officer, MidPacific Region.
[FR Doc. E826634 Filed 11608; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310MNP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ms. Elizabeth Vasquez, Central California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, at the CCAO general telephone number 9169881707, email at: FolsomDamMods@mp.usbr.gov.