Seattle District - US Army Corps of Engineers


Federal agencies release draft environmental assessment on Libby and Hungry Horse operations

Contact: Evan Lewis (206) 764-6922 Nov. 15, 2002 SEATTLE - Interim implementation of alternate flood control and fish operations at Montana’s Libby and Hungry Horse Dams is the focus of the draft environmental assessment, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released on Nov. 14. The alternative flood control operation is termed VARQ – an abbreviation of “variable Q,” signifying a variable discharge option. This draft environmental assessment is the agencies’ response to recommendations by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service in their December 2000 biological opinions on operating the Federal Columbia River Power System dams to protect stocks of fish listed as threatened and endangered. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation request that the public review this draft environmental assessment and provide their comments. Comments will be reviewed and incorporated in a final environmental assessment scheduled for completion by the end of this year. “We know this is a topic of considerable interest to the public in the upper Columbia areas of the U.S. and Canada, and we anticipate a number of comments,” said Mr. Evan Lewis of the Corps’ Environmental Resources Section in its Seattle District office. The complete document is available online, under “Upper Columbia Alternative Flood Control and Fish Operations” at http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/ers/doc_table.cfm Copies of the complete document will also be available for public review at many libraries throughout the Upper Columbia River Basin. Requests for a mailed copy of the draft environmental assessment should be sent to Mr. Evan Lewis, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 3755, Seattle, WA 98124-3755. Copies may also be requested by calling (206) 764-6922 or e-mailing uceis@usace.army.mil Comments should be mailed directly to Mr. Lewis at the preceding address, faxed to him at (206) 764-4470, or emailed to uceis@usace.army.mil. To ensure consideration, comments should be sent no later than Dec. 13, 2002. For more information, please contact Mr. Evan Lewis at (206) 764-6922 or uceis@usace.army.mil.