81 FR 75142 - Fisheries and Habitat Conservation; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ballville Dam Project on the Sandusky River, Sandusky County, Ohio

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 209 (October 28, 2016)

Page Range		75142-75143
FR Document		2016-26101

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) that has been prepared to evaluate the Ballville Dam Project, in Sandusky County, Ohio, in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We are also requesting public comments.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 209 (Friday, October 28, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 209 (Friday, October 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75142-75143]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26101]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-FHC-2016-N108; FXFR13340300000-145-FF03F00000]


Fisheries and Habitat Conservation; Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Ballville Dam Project on the 
Sandusky River, Sandusky County, Ohio

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a final supplemental environmental impact statement 
(SEIS) that has been prepared to evaluate the Ballville Dam Project, in 
Sandusky County, Ohio, in accordance with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We are also requesting public 
comments.

DATES: Submitting Comments: We will consider all comments regarding the 
final SEIS received or postmarked by November 28, 2016 and respond to 
them as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: A hard copy of the draft SEIS and 
associated documents will be available for review at the Birchard 
Public Library, 423 Croghan Street, Fremont, Ohio 43420, as well as 
online at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/fisheries/ballville-dam.html.
    You may submit comments on the final SEIS by any one of the 
following methods:
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Jessica Hogrefe, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Fisheries, 5600 American Boulevard West, Suite 990, 
Bloomington, MN 55437-1458.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (612) 713-5289 (Attention: Jessica Hogrefe).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Hogrefe, (612) 713-5102. 
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of a final 
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) that has been 
prepared to evaluate the Ballville Dam Project, in Sandusky County, 
Ohio, in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA). We are also requesting public comments.

[[Page 75143]]

Background

    Ballville Dam was built in 1913 for hydroelectric power generation. 
The City of Fremont purchased the dam in 1959 from the Ohio Power 
Company for the purpose of supplying water to the city. With the 
construction of a raw water reservoir, the dam is no longer required 
for this purpose. Moreover, in 2007, the Ohio Department of Natural 
Resources issued a Notice of Violation to the City, stating that the 
dam was being operated in violation of the law as a result of its 
deteriorated condition.
    Ballville Dam is currently a complete barrier to upstream fish 
passage and impedes hydrologic processes. The purpose for the issuance 
of Federal funds and preparation of this final SEIS is to remove 
Ballville Dam and restore natural hydrological processes over a 40-mile 
stretch of the Sandusky River, reopen fish passage to 22 miles of 
additional habitat, restore flow conditions for fish access to habitat 
above the impoundment, and improve overall conditions for native fish 
communities in the Sandusky River system, restoring self-sustaining 
fish resources.
    We published a final EIS in the Federal Register on August 1, 2014 
(79 FR 44856), for the Ballville Dam Project that addressed the 
environmental, economic, cultural and historical, and safety issues 
associated with the proposed removal of the dam and a suite of 
alternatives. The final EIS analyzed four alternatives for the removal: 
(1) Proposed Action--Incremental Dam Removal with Ice Control 
Structure; (2) No Federal Action; (3) Fish Elevator Structure; and (4) 
Dam Removal with Ice Control Structure. The final EIS considered the 
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the alternatives, including 
any measures under the Proposed Action alternative intended to minimize 
and mitigate such impacts. The final EIS also identified additional 
alternatives that were considered, but were eliminated from 
consideration as detailed in Section 2.3 of the final EIS.
    We further published a draft SEIS in the Federal Register on 
February 26, 2016 (81 FR 9877), that provided further discussion of the 
potential significant impacts of the proposed action and an analysis of 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, specifically within the 
context of additional information made available since completion of 
final EIS for this project. This additional information addressed 
estimates of total quantity of sediment impounded by Ballville Dam, the 
potential impacts of the proposed alternative on harmful algal blooms 
(HABs) in the Sandusky River and Lake Erie due to the proposed sediment 
release, the potential impacts of the proposed alternative on 
downstream habitats due to sediment release, the accuracy of cost 
estimates of sediment removal within the EIS, and evaluation of a 
bypass and excavation alternative provided in comments on the final 
EIS. Although we concluded that these topics were sufficiently 
addressed in the final EIS, we provided additional review and 
assessment in the draft SEIS to help further clarify the issues. To 
complete this aspect of the draft SEIS, we consulted subject matter 
experts to help review final EIS materials and clearly articulate our 
understanding of them. The resulting additional information and 
explanation was incorporated within the draft SEIS.
    This final SEIS further incorporates information received during 
the public comment period for the draft SEIS, and finalizes the 
analyses and conclusions in the document.

Public Comments

    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. To ensure that the full range 
of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all 
significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited 
from all interested parties.
    We request data, comments, new information, or suggestions from the 
public, concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, 
tribes, industry, or any other interested party on this notice. We 
specifically request comments regarding the additional information and 
analyses presented in the final SEIS.
    You may submit your comments and materials considering this notice 
by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments and materials we receive in response to this request 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may 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.

Authority

    This notice is being furnished as provided for by NEPA and its 
implementing Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22). The intent of the 
notice is to obtain suggestions and additional information from other 
agencies and the public on the final SEIS. Comments and participation 
in this process are solicited.

Todd Turner,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-26101 Filed 10-27-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

75142 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 209 / Friday, October 28, 2016 / Notices

Unsuitable Properties Landholding Agency: COE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Property Number: 31201640006
Building
Status: Unutilized Fish and Wildlife Service
California Comments: Documented deficiencies: high
Shop/Storage/Maintenance Facility Lake concentrations of mold; severe mold [FWS–R3–FHC–2016–N108;
Isabella Lake Isabella CA damage throughout entire property due to FXFR13340300000–145–FF03F00000]
Landholding Agency: COE consistent water leakage; friable asbestos
Property Number: 31201640003
present as well; clear threat to physical Fisheries and Habitat Conservation;
Status: Unutilized
Comments: Public access denied and no safety Final Supplemental Environmental
alternative method to gain access without Reasons: Extensive deterioration; Impact Statement for the Ballville Dam
compromising national security Contamination Project on the Sandusky River,
Reasons: Secured Area Oregon Sandusky County, Ohio
Administration Building Wildlife Area Vault Toilet
Lake Isabella AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ferry Rd. Interior.
Lake Isabella CA
Landholding Agency: COE Umatilla OR 97882
Landholding Agency: COE ACTION: Notice of availability; request
Property Number: 31201640004
Property Number: 31201640005 for comments.
Status: Unutilized
Comments: Public access denied and no Status: Underutilized
alternative method to gain access without
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Comments: Documented deficiencies: old
compromising national security dilapidated floor, wall, roof; clear threat to
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
Reasons: Secured Area physical safety
availability of a final supplemental
Florida Reasons: Extensive deterioration environmental impact statement (SEIS)
that has been prepared to evaluate the
1523; Naval Air Station Pensacola 362 Jordan Texas Ballville Dam Project, in Sandusky
Rd.
Pensacola FL 32508
Laughlin Air Force, County, Ohio, in accordance with the
Landholding Agency: Navy 2.66 acres of improved land requirements of the National
Property Number: 77201640001 78843 Mitchell Blvd. Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We
Status: Unutilized Del Rio TX 78843 are also requesting public comments.
Comments: Public access denied and no Landholding Agency: Air Force
DATES: Submitting Comments: We will
alternative method to gain access without Property Number: 18201640001
compromising national security
consider all comments regarding the
Status: Unutilized
Reasons: Secured Area final SEIS received or postmarked by
Comments: Public access denied and no
November 28, 2016 and respond to them
New York alternative method to gain access without
as appropriate.
Building 904, Electrician Work Area; compromising national security
Brookhaven National Lab Reasons: Secured Area ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: A
Upton NY 11973 Sam Rayburn Lake hard copy of the draft SEIS and
Landholding Agency: Energy 18981 FM 1751 associated documents will be available
Property Number: 41201640001 Pineland TX 75930 for review at the Birchard Public
Status: Excess Library, 423 Croghan Street, Fremont,
Landholding Agency: COE
Comments: Research facilities on site where Ohio 43420, as well as online at http://
public access denied and no alternative Property Number: 31201640002
Status: Unutilized www.fws.gov/midwest/fisheries/
method to gain access without
compromising national security Comments: Documented deficiencies: ballville-dam.html.
Reasons: Secured Area structurally unsound; masonry exterior You may submit comments on the
North Dakota separated from wooden substructure; final SEIS by any one of the following
wooden sill plates & base of studs in wall methods:
Sentinel Butle Radio Building
Sentinel Butle
deteriorated; clear threat to physical safety • U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Jessica
Sentinel Butle ND 58654 Reasons: Extensive deterioration Hogrefe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Landholding Agency: Agriculture Virginia Fisheries, 5600 American Boulevard
Property Number: 15201640004 West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN
Structure R22 on JEBLC–FS
Status: Unutilized 55437–1458.
Special Area
Comments: Documented deficiencies:
JEBLCFS • Email: Ballvilledam@fws.gov.
significant roof damage; clear threat to
Wallops Island VA • Fax: (612) 713–5289 (Attention:
physical safety
Reasons: Extensive deterioration Landholding Agency: Navy Jessica Hogrefe).
Oklahoma Property Number: 77201640003 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Status: Unutilized Jessica Hogrefe, (612) 713–5102.
SWT-Keystone Lake
Comments: Public access denied and no Individuals who are hearing impaired or
23115 West Wekiwa Rd.
Sand Springs OK 74063 alternative method to gain access without speech impaired may call the Federal
Landholding Agency: COE compromising national security Relay Service at (800) 877–8337 for TTY
Property Number: 31201640001 Reasons: Secured Area assistance.
Status: Unutilized [FR Doc. 2016–25773 Filed 10–27–16; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We
Comments: Documented deficiencies: severe
announce the availability of a final
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
water damage; numerous holes in interior
walls, cracks, & vandalism; severely supplemental environmental impact
infested by pest; clear threat to physical statement (SEIS) that has been prepared
safety to evaluate the Ballville Dam Project, in
Reasons: Extensive deterioration Sandusky County, Ohio, in accordance
Arcadia Lake with the requirements of the National
Edmond Park Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We
Edmond OK 73034 are also requesting public comments.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 209 / Friday, October 28, 2016 / Notices 75143

Background algal blooms (HABs) in the Sandusky to withhold your personal identifying
Ballville Dam was built in 1913 for River and Lake Erie due to the proposed information from public review, we
hydroelectric power generation. The sediment release, the potential impacts cannot guarantee that we will be able to
City of Fremont purchased the dam in of the proposed alternative on do so.
1959 from the Ohio Power Company for downstream habitats due to sediment
release, the accuracy of cost estimates of Authority
the purpose of supplying water to the
sediment removal within the EIS, and This notice is being furnished as
city. With the construction of a raw
evaluation of a bypass and excavation provided for by NEPA and its
water reservoir, the dam is no longer
alternative provided in comments on implementing Regulations (40 CFR
required for this purpose. Moreover, in
the final EIS. Although we concluded 1501.7 and 1508.22). The intent of the
2007, the Ohio Department of Natural
that these topics were sufficiently notice is to obtain suggestions and
Resources issued a Notice of Violation
addressed in the final EIS, we provided additional information from other
to the City, stating that the dam was
additional review and assessment in the agencies and the public on the final
being operated in violation of the law as
draft SEIS to help further clarify the SEIS. Comments and participation in
a result of its deteriorated condition.
Ballville Dam is currently a complete issues. To complete this aspect of the this process are solicited.
barrier to upstream fish passage and draft SEIS, we consulted subject matter
Todd Turner,
impedes hydrologic processes. The experts to help review final EIS
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries,
purpose for the issuance of Federal materials and clearly articulate our
Midwest Region.
funds and preparation of this final SEIS understanding of them. The resulting
[FR Doc. 2016–26101 Filed 10–27–16; 8:45 am]
is to remove Ballville Dam and restore additional information and explanation
BILLING CODE P
natural hydrological processes over a was incorporated within the draft SEIS.
This final SEIS further incorporates
40-mile stretch of the Sandusky River,
information received during the public
reopen fish passage to 22 miles of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
comment period for the draft SEIS, and
additional habitat, restore flow
finalizes the analyses and conclusions Bureau of Land Management
conditions for fish access to habitat
in the document.
above the impoundment, and improve [LLNVB00000.LF3100000.DD0000.
overall conditions for native fish Public Comments LFHFJF500000; 13–08807; MO#
communities in the Sandusky River Letters describing the proposed action 4500079713]
system, restoring self-sustaining fish and soliciting comments will be sent to
resources. appropriate Federal, State, and local Notice of Availability of the Final
We published a final EIS in the agencies, and to private organizations Environmental Impact Statement for
Federal Register on August 1, 2014 (79 and citizens who have previously the 3 Bars Ecosystem and Landscape
FR 44856), for the Ballville Dam Project expressed or are known to have interest Restoration Project in Eureka County,
that addressed the environmental, in this proposal. To ensure that the full NV
economic, cultural and historical, and range of issues related to this proposed
safety issues associated with the AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
action are addressed and all significant Interior.
proposed removal of the dam and a issues identified, comments and
suite of alternatives. The final EIS ACTION: Notice.
suggestions are invited from all
analyzed four alternatives for the interested parties. SUMMARY: In accordance with the
removal: (1) Proposed Action— We request data, comments, new National Environmental Policy Act of
Incremental Dam Removal with Ice information, or suggestions from the 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land
Control Structure; (2) No Federal public, concerned governmental Management (BLM) has prepared a
Action; (3) Fish Elevator Structure; and agencies, the scientific community, Final Environmental Impact Statement
(4) Dam Removal with Ice Control tribes, industry, or any other interested (EIS) for the 3 Bars Ecosystem and
Structure. The final EIS considered the party on this notice. We specifically Landscape Restoration Project (3 Bars
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects request comments regarding the Project) and by this notice is
of the alternatives, including any additional information and analyses announcing its availability.
measures under the Proposed Action presented in the final SEIS. DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
alternative intended to minimize and You may submit your comments and
mitigate such impacts. The final EIS decision on the proposal for a minimum
materials considering this notice by one of 30 days from the date that the
also identified additional alternatives of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
that were considered, but were Environmental Protection Agency
section. publishes its Notice of Availability in
eliminated from consideration as
detailed in Section 2.3 of the final EIS. Public Availability of Comments the Federal Register.
We further published a draft SEIS in All comments and materials we ADDRESSES: Copies of the 3 Bars Project
the Federal Register on February 26, receive in response to this request will Final EIS are available for public
2016 (81 FR 9877), that provided further be available for public inspection, by inspection at the Bureau of Land
discussion of the potential significant appointment, during normal business Management, Mount Lewis Field Office,
impacts of the proposed action and an hours at the address listed in the 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain,
analysis of reasonable alternatives to the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Nevada, during regular business hours
proposed action, specifically within the Before including your address, phone of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

context of additional information made number, email address, or other through Friday, except holidays.
available since completion of final EIS personal identifying information in your Interested persons may also view the
for this project. This additional comment, you should be aware that Final EIS at: http://on.doi.gov/1NlY62v.
information addressed estimates of total your entire comment—including your FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
quantity of sediment impounded by personal identifying information—may Todd Erdody, Fire Ecologist 775–635–
Ballville Dam, the potential impacts of be made publicly available at any time. 4109, Bureau of Land Management,
the proposed alternative on harmful While you can ask us in your comment Mount Lewis Field Office, 50 Bastian

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Document Created: 2018-02-13 16:39:51
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 16:39:51

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability; request for comments.
Dates		Submitting Comments: We will consider all comments regarding the final SEIS received or postmarked by November 28, 2016 and respond to them as appropriate.
Contact		Jessica Hogrefe, (612) 713-5102. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY assistance.
FR Citation		81 FR 75142

81 FR 75142 - Fisheries and Habitat Conservation; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ballville Dam Project on the Sandusky River, Sandusky County, Ohio

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 209 (October 28, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service