82 FR 21202 - Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Dam Safety Modification Report, Bluestone Dam, Hinton, Summers County, WV
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 86 (May 5, 2017)
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 86 (May 5, 2017)
| Page Range | 21202-21203 | |
| FR Document | 2017-09146 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 21202-21203] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-09146] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Dam Safety Modification Report, Bluestone Dam, Hinton, Summers County, WV AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement--Public and agency comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Huntington District has prepared a [[Page 21203]] Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) to disclose potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment resulting from modifications to Bluestone Dam. The original EIS was published in 1998 and a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 1999 concluding the NEPA process allowing the Corps to initiate implementation of the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance (DSA) Project. When completed, the current modifications under construction will strengthen the dam's stability and allow for increased discharge capacity through the use of hydropower penstocks substantially reducing risk. However, physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during project construction indicated the downstream bedrock is vulnerable to an unacceptable degree of erosion during high flow events. The Corps has also recognized potential for unacceptable erosion associated with overtopping of areas of the dam not designed to be overtopped. After a full consideration of alternatives to achieve acceptable risk levels, this SFEIS recommends implementing modifications to the existing stilling basin to prevent scour that could result in spillway instability and thus dam failure. Proposed modifications include alteration to the existing stilling basin to include installation of a protective concrete apron and larger baffles among other features described in the SFEIS. This SFEIS also addresses the impacts associated with prolonged construction duration of modification features described in the original EIS and ROD. DATES: The review period will be open from May 1, 2017 to May 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposed project to Rebecca Rutherford, Chief, Environmental Analysis Section, Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 502 Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701-2070. Telephone: 304-399-5924. Electronic mail: [email protected]. Requests to be placed on the mailing list should also be sent to this address. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Authority: Bluestone Dam and Reservoir was authorized by Executive Order (EO) 7183 in 1935 and the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938 for the purposes of flood control, low flow augmentation, and hydroelectric power development. The purposes were later expanded to include recreational activities under the Flood Control Act of 1944 and fish and wildlife enhancement under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) of 1958. 2. Background: a. Guidance for this study is provided in USACE Engineer Regulation (ER) 1110-2-1156 (October 2011). This guidance details agency policy and procedures for the study and implementation process addressing dam safety issues. b. Bluestone Lake is a multipurpose component of the Kanawha River basin system which provides for flood control, recreation, hydropower development, low flow augmentation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. The project began operation in 1949 and helps control a 4,600 square mile drainage area. c. The ROD, signed in 1999, completed the NEPA process for the DSA project permitting the Huntington District to begin detailed design and subsequent construction of the recommended alternative which included a 13 foot cantilever wall on top of the dam, an additional concrete monolith on the east abutment, a floodgate closure across WV Rt. 20, removable closures at each end of the spillway, high strength anchors placed into the dam itself, massive concrete blocks placed against the downstream face of the dam, and a pavement for scour protection downstream of the hydropower penstocks. The majority of the ongoing construction on these measures will continue through the year 2019. The ROD for this work anticipated construction would be completed 2005. d. Physical modeling and expert analysis conducted during project construction has shown the downstream bedrock is vulnerable to erosion during high flow events as a result of deficiencies with the current stilling basin configuration. This potential erosion creates an unacceptable level of risk according to guidelines established in ER 1110-2-1156, under which this study is being conducted. e. The SFEIS and Dam Safety Modification report (DSMR) have considered the structural integrity of the dam, its ability to accommodate flood waters as well as transportation, noise, terrestrial, aquatic, economic, environmental justice and cultural resource issues associated with the performance of the dam. The SFEIS and DSMR has recommended any modifications necessary to ensure the long-term safe performance of the structure as originally intended. f. Modifications to meet current acceptable risk guidelines per ER 1110-2-1156 proposed include, alteration to the existing stilling basin to include installation of a protective concrete apron and larger baffles among other features described in the SFEIS. The No Action alternative will also be considered. As required by NEPA and Corps planning guidance, the No Action alternative will form a benchmark from which alternatives are evaluated and compared. 3. Public Participation: a. The SFEIS will be made available to the public for thirty (30) days for review and comment. A Notice of Availability will be advertised in affected area newspapers informing the general public about the SFEIS public review period. The SFEIS and draft final ROD can be viewed at: http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicReview.aspx. Copies of the SFEIS and draft final ROD may be obtained by contacting the Huntington District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (304) 399-5924 (See ADDRESSES). All persons and organizations that have an interest in the Bluestone Dam Project are urged to participate in this SFEIS review and comment period. Upon the close of the comment period, USACE will consider all comments. 4. Schedule: The Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement is scheduled to be released for public review and comment on or about May 1, 2017. Rebecca A. Rutherford, Chief, Environmental Analysis Section, Planning Branch. [FR Doc. 2017-09146 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![21202 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices
Written Statements: Pursuant to 41 SUMMARY: The Department of Defense through 102–3.165, and the availability
CFR 102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of (DoD) is publishing this notice to of space, this meeting is open to the
the Federal Advisory Committee Act of announce that the following Federal public. Seating is on a first-come basis.
1972, the public or interested Advisory Committee meeting of the Written Statements: Pursuant to 41
organizations may submit written National Security Education Board will CFR 102–3.140 and sections 10(a)(3) of
comments to the Panel about its mission take place. the Federal Advisory Committee Act of
and topics pertaining to this public DATES: The meeting will last one day in 1972, the public or interested
session. Written comments must be duration, Thursday, June 8, 2017 organizations may submit written
received by the JPP at least five (5) beginning at 8:30 a.m. and adjourning at statements to the Department of Defense
business days prior to the meeting date 4:15 p.m. National Security Education Board
so that they may be made available to ADDRESSES: Institute of International about its mission and functions. Written
the Judicial Proceedings Panel for their Education, 1400 K Street NW., statements may be submitted at any
consideration prior to the meeting. Washington, DC 20005. time or in response to the stated agenda
Written comments should be submitted FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of the planned meeting. All written
via email to the Judicial Proceedings Michael Nugent, (571) 256–0702 statements shall be submitted to the
Panel at whs.pentagon.em.mbx.judicial- (Voice), (703) 692–2615 (Facsimile), Designated Federal Official for the
panel@mail.mil in the following michael.a.nugent22.civ@mail.mil National Security Education Board, and
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comments will be treated as public security-education-board. The most up- the GSA’s FACA Database—http://
documents and will be made available to-date changes to the meeting agenda facadatabase.gov/. Statements being
for public inspection. If members of the can be found on the Web site. submitted in response to the agenda
public are interested in making an oral SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This mentioned in this notice must be
statement pertaining to the agenda for meeting is being held under the received by the Designated Federal
the public meeting, a written statement provisions of the Federal Advisory Official at the address listed in FOR
must be submitted as above along with Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least
a request to provide an oral statement. U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the five calendar days prior to the meeting
After reviewing the written comments Government in the Sunshine Act of that is the subject of this notice. Written
and the oral statement, the Chair and 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and statements received after this date may
the Designated Federal Official will 41 CFR 102–3.140 and 102–3.150. not be provided to or considered by the
determine who will be permitted to Committee’s Point of Contact: Alison National Security Education Board until
make an oral presentation of their issue Patz, Alternate Designated Federal its next meeting. The Designated
during the public comment portion of Official, (571) 256–0771, Federal Official will review all timely
this meeting. This determination is at Alison.m.patz.civ@mail.mil. submissions with the National Security
the sole discretion of the Chair and Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose Education Board and ensure they are
Designated Federal Official, will depend of the meeting is to review and make provided to all members of the National
on the time available and relevance to recommendations to the Secretary of Security Education Board before the
the Panel’s activities for that meeting, Defense concerning requirements meeting that is the subject of this notice.
and will be on a first-come basis. When established by the David L. Boren Dated: May 1, 2017.
approved in advance, oral presentations National Security Education Act, Title Aaron Siegel,
by members of the public will be VII of Public Law 102–183, as amended. Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
permitted from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Agenda: Officer, Department of Defense.
May 19, 2017, in front of the Panel 8:30 a.m.—Welcome and Chair Opening [FR Doc. 2017–09057 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
members. Remarks.
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
Dated: May 1, 2017.
9:00 a.m.—NSEP Programmatic
Updates.
Aaron Siegel,
9:30 a.m.—Retrospective: A Decade of
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Executing the Defense Language
Officer, Department of Defense. Transformation Roadmap.
[FR Doc. 2017–09071 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
Department of the Army, U.S. Army
11:00 a.m.—Break. Corps of Engineers
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 11:15 a.m.—10 Years of Project GO:
Opportunities, Achievements, and Supplemental Final Environmental
the Next 10 Years. Impact Statement for the Dam Safety
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 12:15 p.m.—Working Lunch Modification Report, Bluestone Dam,
1:00 p.m.—Class of 2017 Boren Scholars
Office of the Secretary Hinton, Summers County, WV
and Fellows.
1:30 p.m.—Intelligence Community AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
National Security Education Board; Engagement: Reflections from
SRADOVICH on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Interagency Chief Human Capital ACTION: Supplemental Final
Meeting Officers. Environmental Impact Statement—
AGENCY: Under Secretary of Defense for 3:00 p.m.—National Language Service Public and agency comment period.
Personnel and Readiness, Department of Corps.
Defense. 3:15 p.m.—Board Discussion. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
4:15 p.m.—Adjourn. Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory
Meeting Accessibility: Pursuant to 5 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps),
Committee meeting.
U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR 102–3.140 Huntington District has prepared a
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices 21203
Supplemental Final Environmental under the Fish and Wildlife features described in the SFEIS. The No
Impact Statement (SFEIS) to disclose Coordination Act (FWCA) of 1958. Action alternative will also be
potential impacts to the natural, 2. Background: a. Guidance for this considered. As required by NEPA and
physical, and human environment study is provided in USACE Engineer Corps planning guidance, the No Action
resulting from modifications to Regulation (ER) 1110–2–1156 (October alternative will form a benchmark from
Bluestone Dam. The original EIS was 2011). This guidance details agency which alternatives are evaluated and
published in 1998 and a Record of policy and procedures for the study and compared.
Decision (ROD) was signed in 1999 implementation process addressing dam 3. Public Participation: a. The SFEIS
concluding the NEPA process allowing safety issues. will be made available to the public for
the Corps to initiate implementation of b. Bluestone Lake is a multipurpose thirty (30) days for review and
the Bluestone Dam Safety Assurance component of the Kanawha River basin comment. A Notice of Availability will
(DSA) Project. When completed, the system which provides for flood control, be advertised in affected area
current modifications under recreation, hydropower development, newspapers informing the general
construction will strengthen the dam’s low flow augmentation, and fish and public about the SFEIS public review
stability and allow for increased wildlife enhancement. The project period. The SFEIS and draft final ROD
discharge capacity through the use of began operation in 1949 and helps can be viewed at: http://
hydropower penstocks substantially control a 4,600 square mile drainage www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/
reducing risk. However, physical area. PublicReview.aspx. Copies of the SFEIS
modeling and expert analysis conducted c. The ROD, signed in 1999, and draft final ROD may be obtained by
during project construction indicated completed the NEPA process for the contacting the Huntington District
the downstream bedrock is vulnerable DSA project permitting the Huntington Office of the U.S. Army Corps of
to an unacceptable degree of erosion District to begin detailed design and Engineers at (304) 399–5924 (See
during high flow events. The Corps has subsequent construction of the ADDRESSES). All persons and
also recognized potential for recommended alternative which organizations that have an interest in
unacceptable erosion associated with included a 13 foot cantilever wall on top
the Bluestone Dam Project are urged to
of the dam, an additional concrete
overtopping of areas of the dam not participate in this SFEIS review and
monolith on the east abutment, a
designed to be overtopped. After a full comment period. Upon the close of the
floodgate closure across WV Rt. 20,
consideration of alternatives to achieve comment period, USACE will consider
removable closures at each end of the
acceptable risk levels, this SFEIS all comments.
spillway, high strength anchors placed
recommends implementing 4. Schedule: The Supplemental Final
into the dam itself, massive concrete
modifications to the existing stilling Environmental Impact Statement is
blocks placed against the downstream
basin to prevent scour that could result scheduled to be released for public
face of the dam, and a pavement for
in spillway instability and thus dam review and comment on or about May
scour protection downstream of the
failure. Proposed modifications include 1, 2017.
hydropower penstocks. The majority of
alteration to the existing stilling basin to the ongoing construction on these Rebecca A. Rutherford,
include installation of a protective measures will continue through the year
concrete apron and larger baffles among Chief, Environmental Analysis Section,
2019. The ROD for this work anticipated Planning Branch.
other features described in the SFEIS. construction would be completed 2005. [FR Doc. 2017–09146 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
This SFEIS also addresses the impacts d. Physical modeling and expert
associated with prolonged construction BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
analysis conducted during project
duration of modification features construction has shown the downstream
described in the original EIS and ROD. bedrock is vulnerable to erosion during
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DATES:The review period will be open high flow events as a result of
from May 1, 2017 to May 30, 2017. deficiencies with the current stilling [Docket No. ED–2017–ICCD–0061]
ADDRESSES: Send written comments basin configuration. This potential
erosion creates an unacceptable level of Agency Information Collection
concerning this proposed project to Activities; Comment Request;
Rebecca Rutherford, Chief, risk according to guidelines established
in ER 1110–2–1156, under which this Independent Living Services for Older
Environmental Analysis Section, Individuals Who Are Blind
Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of study is being conducted.
Engineers, Huntington District, 502 e. The SFEIS and Dam Safety AGENCY: Office of Special Education and
Eighth Street, Huntington, WV 25701– Modification report (DSMR) have Rehabilitative Services (OSERS),
2070. Telephone: 304–399–5924. considered the structural integrity of the Department of Education (ED).
Electronic mail: BluestoneDamDSA@ dam, its ability to accommodate flood
ACTION: Notice.
usace.army.mil. Requests to be placed waters as well as transportation, noise,
on the mailing list should also be sent terrestrial, aquatic, economic, SUMMARY: In accordance with the
to this address. environmental justice and cultural Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
resource issues associated with the proposing a revision of an existing
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: performance of the dam. The SFEIS and information collection.
1. Authority: Bluestone Dam and DSMR has recommended any
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
Reservoir was authorized by Executive modifications necessary to ensure the
SRADOVICH on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Order (EO) 7183 in 1935 and the Flood submit comments on or before July 5,
long-term safe performance of the
Control Acts of 1936 and 1938 for the 2017.
structure as originally intended.
purposes of flood control, low flow f. Modifications to meet current ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
augmentation, and hydroelectric power acceptable risk guidelines per ER 1110– documents related to the information
development. The purposes were later 2–1156 proposed include, alteration to collection listed in this notice, please
expanded to include recreational the existing stilling basin to include use http://www.regulations.gov by
activities under the Flood Control Act of installation of a protective concrete searching the Docket ID number ED–
1944 and fish and wildlife enhancement apron and larger baffles among other 2017–ICCD–0061. Comments submitted
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Document Created: 2018-11-08 08:39:42
Document Modified: 2018-11-08 08:39:42
| 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 | Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement--Public and agency comment period. | |
| Dates | The review period will be open from May 1, 2017 to May 30, 2017. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 21202 |
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