Klickitat Hatchery Upgrades

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.