2022-11-28-minutes-public-works-study-session

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Finding of No Significant Impact Air Resources—There would be temporary and localized fugitive dust, greenhouse gas emissions, and other air pollutants. Reclamation would minimize these using standard dust control and other best management practices (BMPs). These measures are described in Chapter 3 and Appendix B of the EA. There would be no significant effects. Water Resources—There would be the potential for decreased water quality, increased sedimentation, and the potential for impacts on flows during modification of the conduit. There would be no significant effects on the dam's ability to meet water demands. Reclamation would mitigate other effects through design features, BMPs, and other environmental commitments. The project would require a Clean Water Act (CWA) 404 permit and possibly a CWA 401 water quality permit, as well as an associated dewatering plan, erosion -control plan, revegetation plan, and BMPs. Reclamation's Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application QARPA) form includes a copy of the revegetation plan, prepared by the US Forest Service Region 6 Restoration Services Team. Revegetation techniques for this project would be guided by a restoration approach developed by the Federal Highway Administration, the US Forest Service, and other collaborators. Plant material would be collected from the appropriate provisional seed zone to ensure the use of locally adapted, genetically appropriate native plants in the project area. Parallel to the wetland, planting would occur in a higher density to act as a long-term filtration buffer. Reclamation's dewatering plan is attached both to its BA and to its JARPA form. It details the Kachess River flow management schedule for dewatering and fish recovery as well as the methods that would be used to capture, hold, and release fish to avoid impacts on their species. These documents also incorporate the measures that would be used to mitigate or eliminate impacts on the site, including culvert design development, and filling and reseeding of the slopes after construction. As a result, there would be no significant effects. Geology and Soils—There would be the potential for effects related to disturbance caused during construction. Erosion -control measures and other BMPs, including the developed revegetation plan and the conservation measures found therein, would eliminate or reduce such effects. These effects are enumerated in Chapters 2 and 3 of the EA and in elements of the JARPA form and State Environmental Policy Act checklist. Overall, there would be no significant effects. Biological Resources—There would be the potential for effects related to flow changes and effects related to vegetation removal. Conditions of the CWA permit, the revegetation plan, and the dewatering plan, and consultation efforts with the USFWS and NMFS would avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on wetlands and aquatic habitats. Project -specific coordination and consultation will remain ongoing to ensure no significant effects. The NMFS and USFWS have found that the details of the revegetation and dewatering plans and the BMPs found in the BA to reduce sediment disturbance during construction will ensure the project would have minimal effects on Middle Columbia River steelhead and the ability of critical habitat to support steelhead in the project area (NMFS 2022; USFWS 2022). The NMFS and USFWS have determined that measures included in the revegetation and dewatering plans and the BMPs found in the BA or BO designed to avoid, minimize, Kochess Safety of Dams Final Environmental Assessment