83 FR 15377 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environment Impact Statement for the Proposed Alamo Dam Water Control Plan Update; Alamo Lake, Mojave and La Paz Counties, Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 69 (April 10, 2018)

This notice advises the public that the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE-SPL), as lead agency, is gathering information necessary to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection with the update proposed for Alamo Dam's Water Control Plan. This notice opens the public scoping phase and invites interested parties to identify potential issues, concerns, and reasonable alternatives that should be considered in an EIS.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15377-15378]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07310]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environment Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Alamo Dam Water Control Plan Update; Alamo Lake, 
Mojave and La Paz Counties, Arizona

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Los Angeles District 
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE-SPL), as lead agency, is 
gathering information necessary to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) in connection with the update proposed for Alamo Dam's 
Water Control Plan. This notice opens the public scoping phase and 
invites interested parties to identify potential issues, concerns, and 
reasonable alternatives that should be considered in an EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand deliver written comments to Alamo Dam 
WCP Update, Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: 
CESPL-AMO Alamo, 915 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 930, Los Angeles, California 
90017. Advance arrangements will need to be made to hand deliver 
comments. Please include your name, return address, and ``NOI Comments, 
Alamo Dam Water Control Plan Update'' on the first page of your written 
comments. Comments may also be submitted via email to 
[email protected]. If emailing comments, please use ``NOI 
Comments, Alamo Dam Water Control Plan Update'' as the subject of your 
email. Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by email: [email protected]; or mail: 
Alamo Dam WCP Update, Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, ATTN: CESPL-AMO, 915 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 930, Los Angeles, 
CA 90017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Project Description. The proposed update would provide greater 
flexibility in operations to support maintenance activities, 
minimization of anoxic sediment build up at the outlet works, and fish 
and wildlife benefits downstream of the dam in support of the 
sustainable rivers MOU. The action would also potentially result in a 
reallocation of water storage space to prevent the probable maximum 
flood overtopping the Dam. The action would also address Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) compliance regarding newly listed species and 
critical habitat designated downstream of the Dam since the 2003 Water 
Control Plan was completed.
    2. Alternatives. The EIS will address an array of alternatives 
based on the project's authorized purpose and need. USACE-SPL must 
identify the ``overall'' project purpose and evaluate practicable 
alternatives. USACE-SPL has identified the following potential 
alternatives:
    A. No Action--Under this alternative, USACE-SPL would continue 
existing operations at Alamo Dam in accordance with the 2003 Water 
Control Plan.
    B. Maintenance Facilitation--Under this alternative, USACE-SPL 
would lower the target water surface elevation (WSE) to allow access to 
original equipment used for regular maintenance inspections. 15.4 feet 
of the existing unclaimed water conservation pool storage would be 
reallocated to the flood control pool.
    C. Unified Flow Release--Under this alternative, USACE-SPL would 
maintain the current target WSE but alter release schedules to create a 
more natural flow regime below the Dam. 15.4 feet of the existing 
unclaimed water conservation pool storage would be reallocated to the 
flood control pool.
    D. Unified Flow Release and increased Recreation--Under this 
alternative, USACE-SPL would raise the target water surface elevation 
to increase

[[Page 15378]]

the pool allowing for more recreational opportunities. The release 
schedule would be modified to create a more nature flow regime below 
the Dam. 15.4 feet of the existing unclaimed water conservation pool 
storage would be reallocated to the flood control pool.
    E. Original Operation Plan--Under this alternative, USACE-SPL would 
drop the target water surface elevation to the original elevation 
listed in the 1973 Water Control Manual. The release schedule would be 
returned to the release schedule from the 1973 Water Control Manual.
    3. Scoping. Scoping is the NEPA process utilized for seeking public 
involvement in determining the range of alternatives and significant 
issues to be addressed in the EIS. USACE-SPL invites full public 
participation to promote open communication on the issues surrounding 
the proposed action. The public will be involved in the scoping and 
evaluation process through advertisements, notices, and other means. 
Project information will also be available on USACE-SPL's website at 
http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/. All individuals, NGOs, affected Indian 
Tribes, and local, state, and Federal agencies that have an interest 
are urged to participate in the scoping process. Public scoping 
meetings will be held to present information to the public and to 
receive comments from the public. The meetings will be held in Lake 
Havasu and Phoenix. The date, time and exact location are to be 
determined. Notice of the public scoping meetings will be posted on the 
Los Angeles District Public Notice web page: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/. Comments will also be 
accepted via email ([email protected]) or postal mail (Los 
Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CESPL-AMO, 915 
Wilshire BLVD, Suite 930, Los Angeles, CA 90017). In addition to the 
two proposed public scoping meetings, the USACE-SPL scoping process for 
this action will include potential additional public scoping meeting(s) 
and workshop(s) (exact number TBD) with affected Federal, state, and 
local agencies.
    Public Scoping Meeting: The date, time and exact location are to be 
determined. Notice of the public scoping meetings will be posted on the 
Los Angeles District Public Notice web page: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/.
    4. Potentially Significant Issues. The EIS will analyze the 
potential impacts on the human and natural environment resulting from 
the project. The scoping, public involvement, and interagency 
coordination processes will help identify and define the range of 
potential significant issues that will be considered. Important 
resources and issues evaluated in the EIS could include, but are not 
limited to, the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects on fish and 
wildlife, recreation, land use, hydrology and hydraulics, property 
values, and induced flooding. USACE-SPL will also consider issues 
identified and comments made throughout scoping, public involvement, 
and interagency coordination. USACE-SPL expects to better define the 
issues of concern and the methods that will be used to evaluate those 
issues through the scoping process.
    5. Environmental Consultation and Review. USACE-SPL is requesting 
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Recreation, 
U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Department of Game and Fish, 
and the Arizona State Park Department act as cooperating agencies on 
this EIS. In addition to the federal interests noted above for general 
development of the EIS, USFWS will assist in documenting existing 
conditions and assessing effects of project alternatives through the 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act consultation procedures. 
Consultation will be completed with USFWS concerning threatened and 
endangered species and their critical habitat per the Endangered 
Species Act.
    6. The USACE-SPL will consult with the Arizona State Historic 
Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the appropriate Tribal Historic 
Preservation Officers (THPO), per the National Historic Preservation 
Act.
    7. Availability. The DEIS is presently scheduled to be available 
for public review and comment by: May 2019. All comments received 
throughout the review process will become part of the administrative 
record for the proposed project and subject to public release.

    Dated: March 20, 2018.
Kirk E. Gibbs,
Colonel, U.S. Army, Commander and District Engineer.

Notes

     Text to be double-spaced. Use block format.
     Place local billing code number at the top of the first 
page on all three copies.
     Margins--one inch on top, bottom and right side; and 
one and one-half inches on the left side.
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     Refer to 33 CFR 230, Appendix C for additional 
guidance.

[FR Doc. 2018-07310 Filed 4-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P