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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: November 28, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Bureau of Reclamation Environmental Assessment Kachess Dam <br />Comment Response <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Contact the Bureau's regional engineer assigned to the integrated plan for a discussion <br />about future county comments on pending Bureau actions. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• The Board of County Commissioners (Board) recently provided comments on the <br />proposed environmental assessment for Kachess Dam retrofits proposed by the <br />United Stated Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau). <br />• Bureau comments have been issued. <br />It appears there is a need for discussion with the Bureau regarding Board <br />expectations. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In spring 2022, PW assisted the Board compiling a set of comments on the Bureau's <br />proposed retrofits to the Kachess Dam. The Bureau recently issued a finding of no <br />significant impact on proposed dam modifications (FONSI). The finding is provided as <br />EXHIBIT 1 to this briefing. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />The Board's comments to the Bureau and the Bureau's response to those comments <br />appears as EXHIBIT 2. The Bureau's response appears to lack sensitivity towards Board <br />stated concerns. Of most concern is the verbose response to the Board's request for <br />targeted public outreach. The provided response does not appear to contemplate the <br />unique nature of the relationship of the Board with the Bureau when advocating for <br />Integrated Plan priorities impacting county electorate. It may be appropriate to discuss <br />Board expectations for future such endeavors with the Bureau's regional engineer <br />assigned to the integrated plan. <br />FISCAL IMPACTS: <br />None. <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2022 <br />