82 FR 46804 - Klickitat Hatchery Upgrades
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)
Bonneville Power Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)
| Page Range | 46804-46805 | |
| FR Document | 2017-21575 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 46804-46805] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-21575] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration Klickitat Hatchery Upgrades 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 assessment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BPA intends to prepare an EIS to determine whether to fund the Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation's proposal to upgrade facilities at the Klickitat Hatchery. The hatchery produces spring and fall Chinook salmon and coho salmon, and is funded by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Mitchell Act. It is operated jointly by the Yakama Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The hatchery is located in Klickitat County on property owned by WDFW, about seven miles east of Glenwood, Washington. The hatchery was built in 1954 and most of the facilities have not been renovated since then. The one-time upgrades would include improving surface and groundwater water intakes, discharge piping, and pumps; rebuilding the pollution abatement system; updating sections of the hatchery building; and adding rearing tanks, a storage building, and possibly staff residences. The proposed upgrades would update old facilities and would facilitate increased production of spring Chinook by the Yakama Nation. BPA is not proposing to fund fish production or to take over any Mitchell Act funding for the hatchery. NMFS will be a cooperating agency on the EIS. In accordance with U.S. Department of Energy floodplain and wetland regulations, BPA will analyze impacts to floodplains and wetlands as well as measures to avoid or minimize potential effects to these resources. The assessment will be included in the EIS. With this Notice of Intent, BPA is initiating the public scoping process for the EIS. BPA is requesting comments about potential environmental impacts that should be considered as an EIS is prepared. In addition, BPA is also providing notice of cancellation of DOE/ EIS-0424 Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program. Based on public comments on the 2011 draft DOE/EIS-0424, as well as changes in agencies' funding of various activities described in the EIS, BPA is canceling that environmental review process and will focus on the proposed Klickitat Hatchery Upgrades EIS. DATES: Written comments are due to the address below no later than November 27, 2017. Comments may also be made at the scoping meeting to be held on October 25, 2017 at the address below. ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed scope of the Draft EIS and requests to be placed on the project mailing list may be mailed by letter to Bonneville Power Administration, Public Affairs Office--DKE-7, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621, or sent by fax to 503-230-4019. You may also call BPA's toll-free comment hotline at 1-800-622-4519 and leave a message (please include the name of the project), or submit comments online at www.bpa.gov/comment. All comments received will be accessible from the project Web site at www.bpa.gov/goto/KlickitatHatcheryUpgrades. On October 25, 2017, a scoping meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community Center, Highway 14 and Third Street, Lyle, Washington 98365. At this informal open-house meeting, BPA will provide project information and maps and will make members of the project team available to answer questions and accept oral and written comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Kennedy, Executive Manager Environmental Planning and Analysis, Bonneville Power Administration, EC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1- 800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-3769; or email [email protected]. Additional information can be found at the project Web site: www.bpa.gov/goto/KlickitatHatcheryUpgrades. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Yakama Nation is proposing the Klickitat Hatchery upgrades to update old facilities and to facilitate a possible increase in production of spring Chinook salmon. Although the Klickitat population of spring Chinook is not listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), WDFW considers it depressed due to chronically low adult returns. On average, the Klickitat spring Chinook run comprises approximately 75% hatchery and 25% natural-origin fish. In addition, since 1994, low hatchery productivity has limited the average annual harvest in sport and Tribal fisheries in the Klickitat basin to 840 fish, although the overall project goal for in-basin sport and Tribal harvest is 3,000 adults annually. BPA's proposed funding of the Klickitat Hatchery upgrades would [[Page 46805]] support efforts to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife affected by the development and operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System in the mainstem Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Klickitat River, under the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980 (Act) (16 U.S.C. 839b(h)(10)). Under the Act, BPA funds fish and wildlife protection, mitigation, and enhancement actions consistent with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (Council) Fish and Wildlife Program. Under this program, the Council makes recommendations to BPA concerning which fish and wildlife projects to fund. The Klickitat Hatchery upgrades are being reviewed by the Council for recommendation to BPA for funding. In addition, on May 2, 2008, BPA, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the 2008 Columbia Basin Fish Accords Memorandum of Agreement with the Three Treaty Tribes: The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation. The agreement includes funding for this hatchery project, subject to compliance with NEPA and other environmental review requirements. The proposal is also consistent with the policy direction in BPA's Fish and Wildlife Implementation Plan EIS, which calls for protecting weak stocks while sustaining overall populations of fish for their economic and cultural value, including long-term harvest opportunities. Upgrades at the existing hatchery would include rehabilitating existing water intakes at Upper and Lower Indian Ford Springs, updating and rerouting water supply and discharge piping, refurbishing a pump station at an existing surface water intake in the Klickitat River, demolishing the existing pollution abatement pond and converting an existing fall Chinook rearing pond to a pollution abatement pond, replacing the existing adult holding and spawning building, adding circular rearing tanks, building a chemical storage shed, and renovating the existing hatchery building to improve usable space, security, and operations monitoring systems. The total disturbed area would be approximately 16 acres. In addition, BPA might also fund construction of two staff residences. Upgrades would improve rearing conditions for spring Chinook, would provide the capacity to increase production from 600,000 spring Chinook smolts to 800,000 smolts, and would help the spring Chinook program transition from using only hatchery-raised fish for broodstock (a ``segregated'' or ``isolated'' program) to a program that incorporates natural-origin fish in the broodstock (an ``integrated'' program). Currently, natural-origin spring Chinook from the Klickitat basin have higher survival rates than hatchery fish. Incorporating natural-origin fish into the broodstock is expected to increase the fitness, productivity, survival, and harvest of this species. Upgrades to the water system would increase the operational flexibility of the facility. Adding river water to the water supply would allow operators to release smolts later in the spring when conditions in the Columbia River are more favorable to smolts migrating to the ocean. The water system upgrades also would reduce long-term maintenance and improve the quality of the hatchery effluent. Energy efficiency measures would be incorporated as possible into facility upgrade designs. BPA is not proposing to fund fish production or to take over any Mitchell Act funding for the hatchery. BPA will be the lead agency for preparation of the EIS. Cooperating agencies in addition to NMFS may be identified as the proposed project proceeds through the NEPA process. Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. In the EIS, BPA is currently considering two alternatives: To fund proposed upgrades that would improve hatchery facilities, would allow the transition to an integrated program, and would provide additional capacity for spring Chinook smolt production to increase from 600,000 to 800,000; and a no action alternative of not funding the proposal. Other reasonable alternatives identified during the scoping process may also be evaluated in the EIS. Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. The potential environmental issues identified so far for this project include effects of construction activity on water quality, Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed fish, and rare and sensitive plants and wildlife; and the operational effects of changes to the water supply and discharge system on water quality. The effects of changes to the spring Chinook program that could be facilitated by the upgrades will also be evaluated, including the risk of competition between increasing numbers of naturally spawning spring Chinook and ESA-listed fish such as bull trout and steelhead; the effects of additional activities and facilities required to monitor a changed hatchery program; and the effects of increases in harvest opportunities. BPA has established an extended seven-week scoping period during which concerned members of the public, interest groups, state and 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 are addressed in the EIS and will help to identify significant or potentially significant impacts that may result from the proposed project. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold at least one public comment meeting to solicit comments on the Draft EIS. BPA will consider and respond in the Final EIS to comments received on the Draft EIS. BPA's subsequent decision will be documented in a Record of Decision. Issued in Portland, Oregon, on September 28, 2017. Elliot E. Mainzer, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer. [FR Doc. 2017-21575 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
![46804 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices
SUMMARY: Copies of the Bonneville DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY described in the EIS, BPA is canceling
Purchasing Instructions (BPI), which that environmental review process and
contain the policy and establish the Bonneville Power Administration will focus on the proposed Klickitat
procedures that BPA uses in the Hatchery Upgrades EIS.
solicitation, award, and administration Klickitat Hatchery Upgrades DATES: Written comments are due to the
of its purchases of goods and services, AGENCY: Bonneville Power address below no later than November
including construction, are available in Administration (BPA), Department of 27, 2017. Comments may also be made
printed form or at the following Internet Energy (DOE). at the scoping meeting to be held on
address: http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/ October 25, 2017 at the address below.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
business/bpi. ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Copies of the Bonneville Financial and notice of floodplain and wetlands scope of the Draft EIS and requests to be
Assistance Instructions (BFAI), which assessment. placed on the project mailing list may
contain the policy and establish the be mailed by letter to Bonneville Power
procedures that BPA uses in the SUMMARY: In accordance with the Administration, Public Affairs Office—
solicitation, award, and administration National Environmental Policy Act DKE–7, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR
of financial assistance instruments (NEPA), BPA intends to prepare an EIS 97208–3621, or sent by fax to 503–230–
(principally grants and cooperative to determine whether to fund the 4019. You may also call BPA’s toll-free
agreements), are available in printed Confederated Tribes of the Yakama comment hotline at 1–800–622–4519
form or available at the following Nation’s proposal to upgrade facilities at and leave a message (please include the
Internet address: http://www.bpa.gov/ the Klickitat Hatchery. The hatchery name of the project), or submit
corporate/business/bfai. produces spring and fall Chinook comments online at www.bpa.gov/
salmon and coho salmon, and is funded comment. All comments received will
ADDRESSES: Unbound copies of the BPI by National Marine Fisheries Service be accessible from the project Web site
or BFAI may be obtained by sending a (NMFS) under the Mitchell Act. It is at www.bpa.gov/goto/
request to the Head of the Contracting operated jointly by the Yakama Nation KlickitatHatcheryUpgrades.
Activity, Routing CGP–7, Bonneville and Washington Department of Fish and On October 25, 2017, a scoping
Power Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Wildlife (WDFW). The hatchery is meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to
Portland, Oregon 97208–3621. located in Klickitat County on property 8:00 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: owned by WDFW, about seven miles Center, Highway 14 and Third Street,
Head of the Contracting Activity (503) east of Glenwood, Washington. The Lyle, Washington 98365. At this
230–5498. hatchery was built in 1954 and most of informal open-house meeting, BPA will
the facilities have not been renovated provide project information and maps
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BPA was since then. and will make members of the project
established in 1937 as a Federal Power The one-time upgrades would include team available to answer questions and
Marketing Agency in the Pacific improving surface and groundwater accept oral and written comments.
Northwest. BPA operations are financed water intakes, discharge piping, and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
from rate payer revenues rather than pumps; rebuilding the pollution David Kennedy, Executive Manager
annual appropriations. BPA’s abatement system; updating sections of Environmental Planning and Analysis,
purchasing operations are conducted the hatchery building; and adding Bonneville Power Administration, EC–
under 16 U.S.C. 832 et seq. and related rearing tanks, a storage building, and 4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208–
statutes. Pursuant to these special possibly staff residences. The proposed 3621; toll-free telephone 1–800–282–
authorities, the BPI is promulgated as a upgrades would update old facilities 3713; direct telephone 503–230–3769;
statement of purchasing policy and as a and would facilitate increased or email dkkennedy@bpa.gov.
body of interpretative regulations production of spring Chinook by the Additional information can be found at
governing the conduct of BPA Yakama Nation. BPA is not proposing to the project Web site: www.bpa.gov/goto/
purchasing activities, and reflects BPA’s fund fish production or to take over any KlickitatHatcheryUpgrades.
private sector approach to purchasing Mitchell Act funding for the hatchery. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
the goods and services that it requires. NMFS will be a cooperating agency on Yakama Nation is proposing the
BPA’s financial assistance operations the EIS. Klickitat Hatchery upgrades to update
are conducted under 16 U.S.C. 832 et In accordance with U.S. Department old facilities and to facilitate a possible
seq. and 16 U.S.C. 839 et seq. The BFAI of Energy floodplain and wetland increase in production of spring
express BPA’s financial assistance regulations, BPA will analyze impacts to Chinook salmon. Although the Klickitat
policy. The BFAI also comprise BPA’s floodplains and wetlands as well as population of spring Chinook is not
rules governing implementation of the measures to avoid or minimize potential listed under the Endangered Species Act
principles set forth in 2 CFR 200. effects to these resources. The (ESA), WDFW considers it depressed
BPA’s solicitations and contracts assessment will be included in the EIS. due to chronically low adult returns. On
include notice of applicability and With this Notice of Intent, BPA is average, the Klickitat spring Chinook
availability of the BPI and the BFAI, as initiating the public scoping process for run comprises approximately 75%
appropriate, for offerors to obtain the EIS. BPA is requesting comments hatchery and 25% natural-origin fish. In
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
information on particular purchases or about potential environmental impacts addition, since 1994, low hatchery
financial assistance transactions. that should be considered as an EIS is productivity has limited the average
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on September prepared. annual harvest in sport and Tribal
20, 2017. In addition, BPA is also providing fisheries in the Klickitat basin to 840
notice of cancellation of DOE/EIS–0424 fish, although the overall project goal for
Nicholas M. Jenkins,
Klickitat Hatchery Complex Program. in-basin sport and Tribal harvest is
Manager, Purchasing/Property Governance. Based on public comments on the 2011 3,000 adults annually.
[FR Doc. 2017–21576 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am] draft DOE/EIS–0424, as well as changes BPA’s proposed funding of the
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P in agencies’ funding of various activities Klickitat Hatchery upgrades would
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices 46805
support efforts to protect, mitigate, and Chinook smolts to 800,000 smolts, and and the effects of increases in harvest
enhance fish and wildlife affected by would help the spring Chinook program opportunities.
the development and operation of the transition from using only hatchery- BPA has established an extended
Federal Columbia River Power System raised fish for broodstock (a seven-week scoping period during
in the mainstem Columbia River and its ‘‘segregated’’ or ‘‘isolated’’ program) to a which concerned members of the
tributaries, including the Klickitat River, program that incorporates natural-origin public, interest groups, state and local
under the Pacific Northwest Electric fish in the broodstock (an ‘‘integrated’’ governments, and any other interested
Power Planning and Conservation Act of program). Currently, natural-origin parties are invited to comment on the
1980 (Act) (16 U.S.C. 839b(h)(10)). spring Chinook from the Klickitat basin scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will
Under the Act, BPA funds fish and have higher survival rates than hatchery help BPA ensure that a full range of
wildlife protection, mitigation, and fish. Incorporating natural-origin fish issues related to this proposal are
enhancement actions consistent with into the broodstock is expected to addressed in the EIS and will help to
the Northwest Power and Conservation increase the fitness, productivity, identify significant or potentially
Council’s (Council) Fish and Wildlife survival, and harvest of this species. significant impacts that may result from
Program. Under this program, the Upgrades to the water system would the proposed project.
Council makes recommendations to increase the operational flexibility of the When completed, the Draft EIS will be
BPA concerning which fish and wildlife facility. Adding river water to the water circulated for review and comment, and
projects to fund. The Klickitat Hatchery supply would allow operators to release BPA will hold at least one public
upgrades are being reviewed by the smolts later in the spring when comment meeting to solicit comments
Council for recommendation to BPA for conditions in the Columbia River are on the Draft EIS. BPA will consider and
funding. more favorable to smolts migrating to respond in the Final EIS to comments
In addition, on May 2, 2008, BPA, the the ocean. The water system upgrades received on the Draft EIS. BPA’s
Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. also would reduce long-term subsequent decision will be
Army Corps of Engineers signed the maintenance and improve the quality of documented in a Record of Decision.
2008 Columbia Basin Fish Accords the hatchery effluent. Energy efficiency Issued in Portland, Oregon, on September
Memorandum of Agreement with the measures would be incorporated as 28, 2017.
Three Treaty Tribes: The Confederated possible into facility upgrade designs. Elliot E. Mainzer,
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, BPA is not proposing to fund fish
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
production or to take over any Mitchell [FR Doc. 2017–21575 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am]
Indian Reservation, and the Act funding for the hatchery.
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
BPA will be the lead agency for
Reservation. The agreement includes
preparation of the EIS. Cooperating
funding for this hatchery project, subject
agencies in addition to NMFS may be
to compliance with NEPA and other ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
identified as the proposed project
environmental review requirements. AGENCY
The proposal is also consistent with proceeds through the NEPA process.
Alternatives Proposed for [FRL–9968–99–OECA]
the policy direction in BPA’s Fish and
Wildlife Implementation Plan EIS, Consideration. In the EIS, BPA is
currently considering two alternatives: Production of Confidential Business
which calls for protecting weak stocks Information in Pending Enforcement
while sustaining overall populations of To fund proposed upgrades that would
improve hatchery facilities, would allow Litigation; Transfer of Information
fish for their economic and cultural Claimed as Confidential Business
value, including long-term harvest the transition to an integrated program,
and would provide additional capacity Information to the United States
opportunities. Department of Justice and Party to
Upgrades at the existing hatchery for spring Chinook smolt production to
increase from 600,000 to 800,000; and a Certain Litigation
would include rehabilitating existing
water intakes at Upper and Lower no action alternative of not funding the AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Indian Ford Springs, updating and proposal. Other reasonable alternatives Agency (EPA).
rerouting water supply and discharge identified during the scoping process ACTION: Notice.
piping, refurbishing a pump station at may also be evaluated in the EIS.
an existing surface water intake in the Public Participation and SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Klickitat River, demolishing the existing Identification of Environmental Issues. Agency (‘‘EPA’’) is providing notice of
pollution abatement pond and The potential environmental issues disclosure of information which has
converting an existing fall Chinook identified so far for this project include been submitted to EPA by renewable
rearing pond to a pollution abatement effects of construction activity on water fuel producers, renewable identification
pond, replacing the existing adult quality, Endangered Species Act (ESA)- number (‘‘RIN’’) generators, third party
holding and spawning building, adding listed fish, and rare and sensitive plants engineers, obligated parties, and RIN
circular rearing tanks, building a and wildlife; and the operational effects owners that is claimed to be, or has been
chemical storage shed, and renovating of changes to the water supply and determined to be, confidential business
the existing hatchery building to discharge system on water quality. The information (‘‘CBI’’), in civil
improve usable space, security, and effects of changes to the spring Chinook enforcement litigation against NGL
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
operations monitoring systems. The program that could be facilitated by the Crude Logistics, LLC (f/k/a Gavilon,
total disturbed area would be upgrades will also be evaluated, LLC) and Western Dubuque Biodiesel,
approximately 16 acres. In addition, including the risk of competition LLC. Disclosure is in response to
BPA might also fund construction of between increasing numbers of discovery requests from NGL Crude
two staff residences. naturally spawning spring Chinook and Logistics, LLC (f/k/a Gavilon, LLC) in
Upgrades would improve rearing ESA-listed fish such as bull trout and the litigation styled United States of
conditions for spring Chinook, would steelhead; the effects of additional America v. NGL Crude Logistics, LLC (f/
provide the capacity to increase activities and facilities required to k/a Gavilon, LLC) and Western Dubuque
production from 600,000 spring monitor a changed hatchery program; Biodiesel, LLC, Case No. 2:16–cv–1038–
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Document Created: 2017-10-06 00:09:06
Document Modified: 2017-10-06 00:09:06
| 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 intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and notice of floodplain and wetlands assessment. | |
| Contact | David Kennedy, Executive Manager Environmental Planning and Analysis, Bonneville Power Administration, EC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1- 800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-3769; or email [email protected] Additional information can be found at the project Web site: www.bpa.gov/goto/KlickitatHatcheryUpgrades. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 46804 |
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