81 FR 69850 - Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan for the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam, Page, Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 195 (October 7, 2016)

The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) for the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and related non-flow actions. The LTEMP would provide a framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations over the next 20 years consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 and other provisions of applicable Federal law.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69850-69853]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24338]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02013000, XXXR5537F3, RX.19871110.1000000]

National Park Service

[PPIMIMRO3L, PPMRSNR1Y.AR0000, FPDEFAULT]


Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan for the 
Operation of Glen Canyon Dam, Page, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of 
Reclamation and National Park Service, has prepared a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Long-Term Experimental 
and Management Plan (LTEMP) for the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and 
related non-flow actions. The LTEMP would provide a framework for 
adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations over the next 20 years 
consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 and other 
provisions of applicable Federal law.

DATES: The Department of the Interior will not issue a final decision 
on the proposed action for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of 
Weekly Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements in the Federal 
Register. After the 30-day public review period, the Department of the 
Interior will complete a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will state 
the action that will be implemented and discuss all factors leading to 
that decision.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the FEIS are available at the Glen 
Canyon Dam LTEMP EIS Web site located at: http://ltempeis.anl.gov/. See 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for a list of locations where 
compact disc copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katrina Grantz, Chief, Adaptive 
Management Group, Bureau of Reclamation, [email protected], 801-524-
3635; or Mr. Rob Billerbeck, Colorado River Coordinator, National Park 
Service, [email protected], 303-987-6789.
    Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call 
the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individuals during normal business hours. The Service is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, in order to leave a message or question 
with the above named individuals. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
and the National Park Service (NPS) jointly prepared the FEIS for the 
LTEMP in cooperation with 15 cooperating agencies including three 
Federal agencies, six non-Federal agencies, and six American Indian 
tribes. A primary function of the LTEMP will be the implementation of 
monthly, daily, and hourly releases from Glen Canyon Dam and related 
non-flow actions as part of an experimental adaptive management program 
in accordance with the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (GCPA) and 
in coordination with the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. 
This will be the first EIS completed on the monthly, daily, and hourly 
operations of Glen Canyon Dam since 1995, which was a major point of 
demarcation in attempting to achieve a balance between project purposes 
and natural resources protection.
    The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the LTEMP was 
filed with the Environmental Protection Agency and issued to the public 
on January 8, 2016, and a Notice of Availability of the DEIS was 
published in the Federal Register on that same date (81 FR 963). A 122-
day public review and comment period for the DEIS ended on May 9, 2016 
(extended 32 days from the original 90-day comment period which ended 
on April 7, 2016). During the public comment period, two public 
meetings and two public web-based meetings were held to present 
information and answer any clarifying questions. Public reaction 
determined through the scoping process and subsequent outreach efforts 
has been instrumental in assuring a full range of alternatives. The 
FEIS contains responses to all comments received on the DEIS.

Proposed Federal Action

    The proposed Federal action is the development and implementation 
of a structured, long-term experimental and management plan for 
operations of Glen Canyon Dam. The LTEMP and the Secretary of the 
Interior's (Secretary) decision would provide a framework for 
adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations and other management and 
experimental actions over the next 20 years consistent with the GCPA 
and other provisions of applicable Federal law.
    The LTEMP would determine specific options for dam operations 
(including hourly, daily, and monthly release patterns), non-flow 
actions, and appropriate experimental and management actions that will 
meet the GCPA's requirements, maintain or improve hydropower production 
to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with improvement of 
downstream resources, including those of importance to American Indian 
tribes.

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Federal Action

    The proposed Federal action will help determine specific dam 
operations and actions that could be implemented to improve conditions 
and continue to meet the GCPA's requirements and to minimize--
consistent with law--adverse impacts on the downstream natural, 
recreational, and cultural resources in Glen Canyon National Recreation 
Area and Grand Canyon National Park, including resources of importance 
to American Indian tribes.
    The need for the proposed Federal action stems from the need to use 
scientific information developed since the 1996 ROD to better inform 
the public of Department of the Interior decisions on dam operations 
and other management and experimental actions so that the Secretary may 
continue to meet statutory responsibilities for protecting downstream 
resources for future generations, conserving species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act, avoiding or mitigating impacts on National 
Register of Historic Places--eligible historic properties, and 
protecting the interests of American Indian tribes, while meeting 
obligations for water delivery and the generation of hydroelectric 
power.

The FEIS Analyzes Seven Alternatives

    The FEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of seven 
alternatives being considered: The No-Action Alternative (Alternative 
A) and six Action Alternatives (Alternatives B, C, D, E, F, and G), 
which are described below. There are a number of experimental and 
management actions that would be incorporated into all of

[[Page 69851]]

the LTEMP Action Alternatives, except where noted:
     High-flow experimental releases for sediment 
conservation--Implementation of high-flow experiments (HFEs) under all 
alternatives are patterned after the current HFE Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (adopted 
in 2012), but some alternatives include specific modifications related 
to the frequency of spring and fall HFEs, the duration of fall HFEs, 
the triggers for HFEs, and the overall process for implementation of 
HFEs, including implementation considerations and conditions that would 
result in discontinuing specific experiments.
     Non-native fish control actions--Implementation of control 
actions for non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout 
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) are patterned after those identified in the Non-
native Fish Control EA and FONSI (adopted in 2012), but some 
alternatives include specific modifications related to the area where 
control actions would occur, the specific actions to be implemented, 
and the overall process for implementation of control actions, 
including implementation considerations and conditions that would 
result in discontinuing specific experiments. Non-native fish control 
actions are not included in Alternative F. For Alternative D, 
components of the Non-native Fish Control EA and FONSI were modified 
and integrated with other actions in a tiered approach for humpback 
chub (Gila cypha) conservation.
     Conservation measures established by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service in previous biological opinions--Conservation measures 
identified in the 2011 Biological Opinion on operations of Glen Canyon 
Dam included the establishment of a humpback chub refuge, evaluation of 
the suitability of habitat in the lower Grand Canyon for the razorback 
sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), and establishment of an augmentation 
program for the razorback sucker, if appropriate. Other measures 
include humpback chub translocation; Bright Angel Creek brown trout and 
rainbow trout control; Kanab ambersnail (Oxyloma haydeni kanabensis) 
monitoring; determination of the feasibility of flow options to control 
trout including increasing daily down-ramp rates to strand or displace 
age-0 trout, and high flow followed by low flow to strand or displace 
age 0 trout; assessments of the effects of actions on humpback chub 
populations; sediment research to determine effects of equalization 
flows; and Asian tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) monitoring. 
Most of these conservation measures are ongoing and are elements of 
existing management practices, while others are being considered for 
further action under the LTEMP. Additional conservation measures were 
developed for the preferred alternative during Endangered Species Act 
Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
     Non-flow experimental and management actions at specific 
sites such as non-native plant removal, revegetation with native 
species, and mitigation at specific and appropriate cultural sites. 
These actions would also have involvement from tribes to capture 
concerns regarding culturally significant native plants, and would 
provide an opportunity to integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge in 
a more applied manner into the long-term adaptive management program.
     Preservation of historic properties through a program of 
research, monitoring, and mitigation to address erosion and 
preservation of archeological and ethnographic sites and minimize loss 
of integrity at National Register historic properties.
     Continued adaptive management under the Glen Canyon Dam 
Adaptive Management Program, including a research and monitoring 
component.

Alternative A: The No-Action Alternative

    Alternative A represents continued operation of Glen Canyon Dam as 
guided by the 1996 ROD for operations of Glen Canyon Dam: Modified low 
fluctuating flow, as modified by recent Department of the Interior 
decisions, including those specified in the 2007 ROD on Colorado River 
Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations 
for lakes Powell and Mead (Interim Guidelines) (until 2026), the HFE 
EA, and the Non-native Fish Control EA (both expiring in 2020). As is 
the case for all alternatives, Alternative A also includes 
implementation of existing and planned NPS management activities, with 
durations as specified in NPS management documents.
    Under Alternative A, daily flow fluctuations would continue to be 
determined according to monthly volume brackets as follows: 5,000 cubic 
feet per second (cfs) daily range for monthly volumes less than 600 
thousand acre-feet (kaf); 6,000 cfs daily range for monthly volumes 
between 600 kaf and 800 kaf; and 8,000 cfs for monthly volumes greater 
than 800 kaf.
    Under Alternative A, the current HFE protocol would be followed 
until it expired in 2020. Under this protocol, high-flow releases may 
be made in spring (March and April) or fall (October and November). HFE 
magnitude would range from 31,500 cfs to 45,000 cfs. The duration would 
range from less than 1 hour to 96 hours. Frequency of HFEs would be 
determined by tributary sediment inputs, resource conditions, and a 
decision process carried out by the Department of the Interior. The HFE 
protocol uses a ``store and release'' approach in which sediment inputs 
are tracked over two accounting periods, one for each seasonal HFE: 
Spring (December through June) and fall (July through November). Under 
the protocol, the maximum possible magnitude and duration of HFE that 
would achieve a positive sand mass balance in Marble Canyon, as 
determined by modeling, would be implemented.
    Under Alternative A, the current non-native fish control protocol 
would be followed until it expired in 2020. Mechanical removal would 
primarily consist of the use of boat-mounted electrofishing equipment 
to remove all non-native fish captured. Captured non-native fish would 
be removed alive and potentially stocked into areas that have an 
approved stocking plan, unless live removal fails, in which case fish 
would be euthanized and used for later beneficial use.

Alternative B

    The objective of Alternative B is to increase hydropower generation 
while limiting impacts on other resources and relying on flow and non-
flow actions to the extent possible to mitigate impacts of higher 
fluctuations. Alternative B focuses on non-flow actions and experiments 
to address sediment resources, non-native fish control, and on native 
and non-native fish communities.
    Under Alternative B, monthly volumes would be the same as under 
current operations, but daily flow fluctuations would be higher than 
under current operations in most months. Compared to current 
operations, the hourly up-ramp rate would remain unchanged at 4,000 
cfs/hour, but the hourly down-ramp rate would be increased to 4,000 
cfs/hour in November through March and 3,000 cfs/hour in other months.
    Alternative B includes implementation of the non-native fish 
control protocol and HFE protocol through the entire LTEMP period, but 
HFEs would be limited to a maximum of one in spring or fall every other 
year.

[[Page 69852]]

In addition to these experimental actions, Alternative B would test 
trout management flows and hydropower improvement flows. With trout 
management flows, high flows (e.g., 20,000 cfs) would be maintained for 
2 or 3 days followed by a very sharp drop in flows to a minimum level 
(e.g., 5,000 cfs) for the purpose of reducing annual recruitment of 
trout. Hydropower improvement experiments would test maximum powerplant 
capacity flows up to four times during the LTEMP period, but only in 
years with annual volumes <=8.23 million acre-feet (maf).

Alternative C

    The objective of Alternative C is to adaptively operate Glen Canyon 
Dam to achieve a balance of resource objectives with priorities placed 
on humpback chub, sediment, and minimizing impacts on hydropower. 
Alternative C features a number of condition-dependent flow and non-
flow actions that would be triggered by resource conditions. The 
alternative uses decision trees to identify when experimental changes 
in base operations or other planned action is needed to protect 
resources. Operational changes or implementation of non-flow actions 
could be triggered by changes in sediment input, humpback chub numbers 
and population structure, trout numbers, and water temperature.
    Monthly release volumes under Alternative C in August through 
November would be lower than those under most other alternatives to 
reduce sediment transport rates during the monsoon period. Release 
volumes in the high power demand months of December, January, and July 
would be increased to compensate for water not released in August 
through November, and volumes in February through June would be 
patterned to follow the monthly hydropower demand as defined by the 
contract rate of delivery. Under Alternative C, the allowable within-
day fluctuation range from Glen Canyon Dam would be proportional to 
monthly volume (7 x monthly volume in kaf). The down-ramp rate would be 
increased to 2,500 cfs/hour, but the up-ramp rate would remain 
unchanged at 4,000 cfs/hour.
    Experimentation under Alternative C includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered spring and fall HFEs 
through the entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (3) extension of 
the possible duration of fall HFEs while maintaining a maximum total 
volume of a 96-hour 45,000 cfs release, (4) reducing fluctuations 
before and after HFEs, (5) mechanical removal of trout near the Little 
Colorado River confluence, (6) trout management flows, and (7) low 
summer flows during the entire LTEMP period to allow greater warming.

Alternative D: The Preferred Alternative

    Alternative D is the preferred alternative for the LTEMP. The 
objective of Alternative D is to adaptively operate Glen Canyon Dam to 
best meet the resource goals of the LTEMP. Like Alternative C, 
Alternative D features a number of condition-dependent flow and non-
flow actions that would be triggered by resource conditions.
    Under Alternative D, the total monthly release volume of October, 
November, and December would be equal to that under Alternative A to 
avoid the possibility of the operational tier differing from that of 
Alternative A, as established in the 2007 Interim Guidelines. The 
August volume was set to a moderate volume level (800 kaf in an 8.23 
maf release year) to balance sediment conservation prior to a potential 
HFE and to address power production and capacity concerns. January 
through July monthly volumes were set at levels that roughly track 
Western Area Power Administration's contract rate of delivery. This 
produced a redistribution of monthly release volumes under Alternative 
D that would result in the most even distribution of flows of any 
alternative except for Alternative G. The allowable within-day 
fluctuation range from Glen Canyon Dam would be proportional to the 
volume of water scheduled to be released during the month (10 x monthly 
volume in kaf in the high-demand months of June, July, and August and 9 
x monthly volume in kaf in other months). The down-ramp rate under 
Alternative D would be limited to no greater than 2,500 cfs/hour, which 
is 1,000 cfs/hour greater than what is allowed under Alternative A. The 
up-ramp rate would be 4,000 cfs/hour, and this is the same as what is 
allowed under Alternative A.
    Experimentation under Alternative D includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered spring and fall HFEs 
through the entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (3) extension of 
the duration of up to 45,000 cfs fall HFEs for as many as 250 hours 
depending on sediment availability, (4) mechanical removal of trout 
near the Little Colorado River confluence, (5) trout management flows, 
(6) low summer flows in the second 10 years of the LTEMP period to 
allow greater warming, and (7) sustained low flows to improve the 
aquatic food base.

Alternative E

    The objective of Alternative E is to provide for recovery of the 
humpback chub while protecting other important resources including 
sediment, the rainbow trout fishery at Lees Ferry, aquatic food base, 
and hydropower resources. Alternative E features a number of condition-
dependent flow and non-flow actions that would be triggered by resource 
conditions.
    Under Alternative E, monthly volumes would closely follow the 
monthly hydropower demand as defined by the contract rate of delivery. 
The total monthly release volume of October, November, and December, 
however, would be equal to that under Alternative A to minimize the 
possibility of the operational tier differing from that of Alternative 
A as established in the Interim Guidelines. In addition, lower monthly 
volumes (relative to Alternative A) would be targeted in August and 
September to reduce sediment transport during the monsoon period, when 
most sediment is delivered by the Paria River. The allowable within-day 
fluctuation range from Glen Canyon Dam would be proportional to the 
volume of water scheduled to be released during the month (12 x monthly 
volume in kaf in high power demand months of June, July, and August, 
and 10 x monthly volume in kaf in other months).
    Experimentation under Alternative E includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered fall HFEs through the 
entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) sediment-triggered spring HFEs only in 
the second 10 years of the LTEMP period, (3) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (4) reducing 
fluctuations before fall HFEs, (5) mechanical removal of trout near the 
Little Colorado River confluence, (6) trout management flows, and (7) 
low summer flows in the second 10 years of the LTEMP period to allow 
greater warming.

Alternative F

    The objective of Alternative F is to provide flows that follow a 
more natural pattern of high spring, and low summer, fall, and winter 
flows while limiting sediment transport and providing for warming in 
summer months. In keeping with this objective, Alternative F does not 
feature some of the flow and non-flow actions of the other 
alternatives.
    Under Alternative F, peak flows would be lower than pre-dam

[[Page 69853]]

magnitudes to reduce sediment transport and erosion given the reduced 
sand supply downstream of the dam. Peak flows would be provided in May 
and June, which corresponds well with the timing of the pre-dam peak. 
The overall peak flow in an 8.23 maf year would be 20,000 cfs (scaled 
proportionately in drier and wetter years), and would include a 24 hour 
45,000 cfs flow at the beginning of the spring peak period (e.g., on 
May 1) if there was no triggered spring HFE in same year, and a 168 
hour (7 day) 25,000 cfs flow at the end of June. Following this peak, 
there would be a rapid drop to the summer base flow. The initial annual 
45,000 cfs flow would serve to store sediment above the flows of the 
remainder of the peak, thus limiting sand transport further downstream 
and helping to conserve sandbars. The variability in flows within the 
peak would also serve to water higher elevation vegetation. There would 
be no within-day fluctuations in flow under Alternative F.
    Low base flows would be provided from July through January. These 
low flows would provide for warmer water temperatures, especially in 
years when releases are warm, and would also serve to reduce overall 
sand transport during the remainder of the year.
    Other than testing the effectiveness of sediment-triggered HFEs, 
which would continue through the entire LTEMP period, there would be no 
explicit experimental or condition-dependent triggered actions under 
Alternative F.

Alternative G

    The objective of Alternative G is to maximize the conservation of 
sediment, in order to maintain and increase sandbar size. Under 
Alternative G, flows would be delivered in a steady pattern throughout 
the year with no monthly differences in flow other than those needed to 
adjust operations in response to changes in forecast and other 
operating requirements such as equalization. In an 8.23 maf year, 
steady flow would be approximately 11,400 cfs.
    Experimentation under Alternative G includes testing the effects of 
the following actions: (1) Sediment-triggered spring and fall HFEs 
through the entire 20-year LTEMP period, (2) 24-hour proactive spring 
HFEs in high volume years (>=10 maf release volume), (3) extension of 
the duration of up to 45,000 cfs fall HFEs for as many as 250 hours 
depending on sediment availability, (4) mechanical removal of trout 
near the Little Colorado River confluence, and (5) trout management 
flows.

Locations To Inspect Copies of the FEIS

    Compact disc copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection 
at the following locations:
     J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, 295 South 
1500 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.
     Cline Library, Northern Arizona University, 1001 S. Knoles 
Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-6022.
     Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 North Central Avenue, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
     Page Public Library, 479 South Lake Powell Boulevard, 
Page, Arizona 86040.
     Grand County Library, Moab Branch, 257 East Center Street, 
Moab, Utah 84532.
     Sunrise Library, 5400 East Harris Avenue, Las Vegas, 
Nevada 89110.
     Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway, 
Denver, Colorado 80204.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001.

    Dated: October 3, 2016.
Thomas M. Iseman,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Water and Science.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2016-24338 Filed 10-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P; 4312-CB-P