NEPA Activity

Environmental Compliance Branch
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Activity

These NEPA activity tables only reference active NEPA projects. There are many other ongoing compliance actions that are not referenced here. For more information, contact Ms. Sandy Simmons (sandy.l.simmons@usace.army.mil).

Point of Contact: Ms. Linda Carter
linda.s.carter@usace.army.mil
509-527-7262

Project Title: Coppei Creek Flood Control Project

Compliance Document: Environmental Assessment

Compliance Action Status: Evaluation of the alternatives and public comments has been completed. It has been determined that this project will have no significant impact to the environment. A decision document, "Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)" has been signed by Lt. Col. Kertis. The "Comment Package" and signed FONSI were distributed in December 2002.

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to reduce Coppei Creek flood damage to the City of Waitsburg. To accomplish this, the Corps proposes to build levees that are offset from the north (right) bank of Coppei Creek. A new, long span and higher bridge over Coppei Creek at SR 12 is also proposed. Floodwalls would create the transition from the setback levees to the bridge abutments.

Project Title: Grande Ronde River, Stream Restoration

Compliance Document: Environmental Assessment

Compliance Action Status: Consultation with National Marine Fisheries Service is on-going.

Project Description: Restore a 2.2-mile stretch of the Grande Ronde River through LaGrande, Oregon. Restoration activities would include the riverbed and the associated riparian areas. A goal of the proposed environmental restoration work is to meet specific habitat needs of three fish species/stocks listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Project Title: Indian Creek Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Compliance Document: Environmental Assessment

Compliance Action Status: Environmental assessment being developed. Activities include "Eyes on Indian Creek," an event to help celebrate Water Quality Monitoring day, routine meetings with the City, Park Service, Albertson College, Idaho Fish and Game, and other resource agencies.

Project Description: The Corps of Engineers and the City of Caldwell propose to uncover (daylight) Indian Creek through downtown Caldwell, Idaho. The restored stream corridor would include native emergent, riparian, and upland plant species.

Project Title: McNary Modernization. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration are teaming up to explore ways to modernize the hydroelectric facilities at McNary Dam. This will be a long-term effort that will take many years to complete.

Compliance Document: Categorical exclusion for construction, installation, and operation of a prototype turbine. An environmental assessment is anticipated to assist with the final modernization determination.

Compliance Action Status: The environmental compliance will be a joint effort with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers taking the lead role and Bonneville Power Administration in a cooperating agency role.

Project Description: More information is available at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/mcn-mod/

Project Title: Eagle Island, Section 1135 - Modifications for Improvement of the Environment

Compliance Document: Environmental assessment

Compliance Action Status: Document format being developed. Data collection is underway.

Project Description: Restore the upstream portion of Eagle Island to a more natural area, and maintain adequate stream flows in both the north and south channels of the Lower Boise River.

Point of Contact: Mr. Stan Heller
stanley.g.heller@usace.army.mil
509-527-7258

Project Title: Salmon River at Challis (Round Valley), Idaho, Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Compliance Document: Environmental Assessment

Compliance Action Status: The review period for the Environmental Assessment closed 31 January 2005. To view the EA, see www.nww.usace.army.mil/SalmonRiver/dpr-ea.htm. Completion of the comment response package and FONSI will likely not be completed until after 1 October 2005 due to the lack of program funds.

Project Description: The US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is partnering with a variety of agencies, organizations, and landowners in the Challis area to find ways to improve habitat for fish and return the Salmon River and its floodplain to the most healthy, naturally-functioning system possible. The area of focus is the 12-mile reach that flows through the Round Valley. Custer Soil and Water Conservation District is the project sponsor, utilizing funding from Bonneville Power Administration.

Project Title: Avian Predation Deterrent Program for Lower Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers at Corps Dams

Compliance Document: Environmental Assessment

Compliance Action Status: Environmental assessment and FONSI were signed on 5 October 2005. To view the EA or request a copy, see www.nww.usace.army.mil/reports/avian/default.htm

Project Description: The US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla and Portland Districts, are evaluating the program used to implement the requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Final Biological Opinion on the Reinitiation of Consultation on Operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) (2000) Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) action 101. The RPA states the Corps shall implement and maintain an effective means of discouraging avian predation at the FCRPS dams where avian predator activity is observed. The environmental assessment (EA) describes the Corps of Engineers Avian Predation Deterrent (APD) Program and the alternatives and methods examined to implement this program in compliance with the RPA.

Point of Contact: Mr. Scott Ackerman
scott.m.ackerman@usace.army.mil
509-527-7272

Project Title: Jackson Hole Environmental Restoration

Compliance Document: Endangered Species Act (ESA) update for proposed work at Site 9.

Compliance Action Status: ESA compliance should be completed by July 2004

Project Description: Work is scheduled to begin at Site 9 on August 1, 2004 (off-site), and on-site mobilization and in-river work would begin September 7, 2004.

Point of Contact: Mr. James "Red" Smith
red.s.smithr@usace.army.mil
509-527-7244

Project Title: Walla Walla River Basin Feasibility Study

Compliance Document: Environmental Impact Statement

Compliance Action Status: Scoping meetings were conducted in Fall 2002. Measures are currently being identified and screened for use in the development of alternatives. A draft Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement is under development, and is expected to be available around July 2004.

Project Description: The Corps, in cooperation with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (the local project sponsor), are studying the feasibility of conducting aquatic ecosystem restoration in the Walla Walla River Basin (WWRB) in Oregon and Washington. The study is focusing on restoration of fish habitat quality as its main objective, with primary emphasis placed upon options for increasing flows. The primary goal is to increase flows through implementation of measures to lessen the amount of water withdrawn from ground and surface waters, thus allowing more water to remain in stream. Measures currently under consideration for increasing flows include: 1) Exchange (piping water from another drainage); 2) Storage reservoirs (store water when it is available and release it during periods of low flow); 3) Irrigation efficiency (e.g., improve canal lining systems, consolidate existing irrigation delivery systems to reduce seepage losses, and improve application efficiency); 4) Water right acquisition (possible acquisition of existing surface and groundwater rights from willing sellers); and Channel modification (if the benefits of increased flow are not realized).

Point of Contact: Ms. Linda Carter linda.s.carter@usace.army.mil 509-527-7262
Project Title:	Coppei Creek Flood Control Project
Compliance Document:	Environmental Assessment
Compliance Action Status:	Evaluation of the alternatives and public comments has been completed. It has been determined that this project will have no significant impact to the environment. A decision document, "Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)" has been signed by Lt. Col. Kertis. The "Comment Package" and signed FONSI were distributed in December 2002.
Project Description:	The purpose of this project is to reduce Coppei Creek flood damage to the City of Waitsburg. To accomplish this, the Corps proposes to build levees that are offset from the north (right) bank of Coppei Creek. A new, long span and higher bridge over Coppei Creek at SR 12 is also proposed. Floodwalls would create the transition from the setback levees to the bridge abutments.

Project Title:	Grande Ronde River, Stream Restoration
Compliance Document:	Environmental Assessment
Compliance Action Status:	Consultation with National Marine Fisheries Service is on-going.
Project Description:	Restore a 2.2-mile stretch of the Grande Ronde River through LaGrande, Oregon. Restoration activities would include the riverbed and the associated riparian areas. A goal of the proposed environmental restoration work is to meet specific habitat needs of three fish species/stocks listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Project Title:	Indian Creek Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Compliance Document:	Environmental Assessment
Compliance Action Status:	Environmental assessment being developed. Activities include "Eyes on Indian Creek," an event to help celebrate Water Quality Monitoring day, routine meetings with the City, Park Service, Albertson College, Idaho Fish and Game, and other resource agencies.
Project Description:	The Corps of Engineers and the City of Caldwell propose to uncover (daylight) Indian Creek through downtown Caldwell, Idaho. The restored stream corridor would include native emergent, riparian, and upland plant species.

Project Title:	McNary Modernization. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration are teaming up to explore ways to modernize the hydroelectric facilities at McNary Dam. This will be a long-term effort that will take many years to complete.
Compliance Document:	Categorical exclusion for construction, installation, and operation of a prototype turbine. An environmental assessment is anticipated to assist with the final modernization determination.
Compliance Action Status:	The environmental compliance will be a joint effort with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers taking the lead role and Bonneville Power Administration in a cooperating agency role.
Project Description:	More information is available at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/mcn-mod/

Project Title:	Eagle Island, Section 1135 - Modifications for Improvement of the Environment
Compliance Document:	Environmental assessment
Compliance Action Status:	Document format being developed. Data collection is underway.
Project Description:	Restore the upstream portion of Eagle Island to a more natural area, and maintain adequate stream flows in both the north and south channels of the Lower Boise River.

Point of Contact: Mr. Stan Heller stanley.g.heller@usace.army.mil 509-527-7258
Project Title:	Salmon River at Challis (Round Valley), Idaho, Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Compliance Document:	Environmental Assessment
Compliance Action Status:	The review period for the Environmental Assessment closed 31 January 2005. To view the EA, see www.nww.usace.army.mil/SalmonRiver/dpr-ea.htm. Completion of the comment response package and FONSI will likely not be completed until after 1 October 2005 due to the lack of program funds.
Project Description:	The US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is partnering with a variety of agencies, organizations, and landowners in the Challis area to find ways to improve habitat for fish and return the Salmon River and its floodplain to the most healthy, naturally-functioning system possible. The area of focus is the 12-mile reach that flows through the Round Valley. Custer Soil and Water Conservation District is the project sponsor, utilizing funding from Bonneville Power Administration.

Project Title:	Avian Predation Deterrent Program for Lower Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers at Corps Dams
Compliance Document:	Environmental Assessment
Compliance Action Status:	Environmental assessment and FONSI were signed on 5 October 2005. To view the EA or request a copy, see www.nww.usace.army.mil/reports/avian/default.htm
Project Description:	The US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla and Portland Districts, are evaluating the program used to implement the requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Final Biological Opinion on the Reinitiation of Consultation on Operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) (2000) Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) action 101. The RPA states the Corps shall implement and maintain an effective means of discouraging avian predation at the FCRPS dams where avian predator activity is observed. The environmental assessment (EA) describes the Corps of Engineers Avian Predation Deterrent (APD) Program and the alternatives and methods examined to implement this program in compliance with the RPA.

Point of Contact: Mr. Scott Ackerman scott.m.ackerman@usace.army.mil 509-527-7272
Project Title:	Jackson Hole Environmental Restoration
Compliance Document:	Endangered Species Act (ESA) update for proposed work at Site 9.
Compliance Action Status:	ESA compliance should be completed by July 2004
Project Description:	Work is scheduled to begin at Site 9 on August 1, 2004 (off-site), and on-site mobilization and in-river work would begin September 7, 2004.

Point of Contact: Mr. James "Red" Smith red.s.smithr@usace.army.mil 509-527-7244
Project Title:	Walla Walla River Basin Feasibility Study
Compliance Document:	Environmental Impact Statement
Compliance Action Status:	Scoping meetings were conducted in Fall 2002. Measures are currently being identified and screened for use in the development of alternatives. A draft Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement is under development, and is expected to be available around July 2004.
Project Description:	The Corps, in cooperation with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (the local project sponsor), are studying the feasibility of conducting aquatic ecosystem restoration in the Walla Walla River Basin (WWRB) in Oregon and Washington. The study is focusing on restoration of fish habitat quality as its main objective, with primary emphasis placed upon options for increasing flows. The primary goal is to increase flows through implementation of measures to lessen the amount of water withdrawn from ground and surface waters, thus allowing more water to remain in stream. Measures currently under consideration for increasing flows include: 1) Exchange (piping water from another drainage); 2) Storage reservoirs (store water when it is available and release it during periods of low flow); 3) Irrigation efficiency (e.g., improve canal lining systems, consolidate existing irrigation delivery systems to reduce seepage losses, and improve application efficiency); 4) Water right acquisition (possible acquisition of existing surface and groundwater rights from willing sellers); and Channel modification (if the benefits of increased flow are not realized).