Notice2025-01440
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Odessa Subarea Special Study Project in Adams, Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln Counties, Washington
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Published
January 22, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentNatural Resources Conservation Service
Abstract
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Washington State Office, in coordination with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), announces its intent to prepare an SEIS for the Odessa Subarea Special Study Project. The SEIS is necessary to evaluate modification of a component of Alternative 4A that would install a buried pipeline irrigation across lands that were not evaluated in FEIS. Installation of this pipeline would require blasting which was not addressed in FEIS. The intended effect of this action would result in the most economically viable way of providing surface water irrigation to specific cultivated lands in the Study Area in lieu of groundwater irrigation. The SEIS will examine an irrigation delivery system designated East Low Canal (EL) 11.8 that would serve approximately 7,638 acres of land currently served by groundwater in the northeastern portion of the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) in Grant County. NRCS is accepting comments regarding significant issues, potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action from all interested individuals, Federal and State agencies, and Tribes.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7654-7656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01440]
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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 22, 2025 /
Notices
[[Page 7654]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Odessa Subarea Special Study Project in Adams,
Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln Counties, Washington
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS).
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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Washington
State Office, in coordination with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology),
announces its intent to prepare an SEIS for the Odessa Subarea Special
Study Project. The SEIS is necessary to evaluate modification of a
component of Alternative 4A that would install a buried pipeline
irrigation across lands that were not evaluated in FEIS. Installation
of this pipeline would require blasting which was not addressed in
FEIS. The intended effect of this action would result in the most
economically viable way of providing surface water irrigation to
specific cultivated lands in the Study Area in lieu of groundwater
irrigation. The SEIS will examine an irrigation delivery system
designated East Low Canal (EL) 11.8 that would serve approximately
7,638 acres of land currently served by groundwater in the northeastern
portion of the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) in Grant
County. NRCS is accepting comments regarding significant issues,
potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the
proposed action from all interested individuals, Federal and State
agencies, and Tribes.
DATES: We will consider comments that are received by February 21,
2025. We will consider comments received after this period to the
extent possible.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice.
You may submit your comments through the method below:
<bullet> Mail or Hand Delivery: Farmers Conservation Alliance, 102
State Street, Hood River, OR 97031; or Phone: (541) 716-6085. In your
comments, specify the SEIS for EL 11.8.
<bullet> Electronic Submittal: Comments may be submitted online at
<a href="https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan">https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan</a>.
All comments received will be posted without change and made
publicly available on the project web page <a href="https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan">https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jules Riley, telephone: (509) 507-
0178; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58322d343d2b762a31343d21182d2b3c39763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fc968990998fd28e95909985bc898f989dd29b938a">[email protected]</span></a> for questions related to submitting
comments; or visit the project website at <a href="https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan">https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan</a>.
Individuals who require alternative means for communication should
contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone [TTY]) or dial 711 for
Telecommunications Relay service (both voice and text telephone users
can initiate this call from any telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need
The project area is located within the Odessa Subarea in Adams,
Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln Counties, Washington. The Reclamation and
Ecology 2012 Final EIS (FEIS) was published in a local newspaper on
August 31, 2012. Reclamation selected Alternative 4A, the Modified
Partial-Replacement-Banks with Limited Spring Diversion Scenario. This
alternative delivers surface water from the Columbia Basin Project
(CBP) to irrigated lands that currently rely on declining groundwater
supply in the Odessa Subarea Special Study Area (Study Area).
The primary purpose for the proposed action is to maintain economic
viability by providing surface water from CBP to replace groundwater
from declining wells currently used for irrigation in the Study Area.
Watershed planning is authorized under the Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Pub. L. 83-566), as amended, and the
Flood Control Act of 1944 (Pub. L. 78-534). This SEIS will analyze a
distribution system route that traverses lands not included in the 2012
FEIS Study Area.
This action is needed to address declining groundwater supply in
the Study Area and avoid economic loss to the region's agricultural
sector. Located in central Washington State, ECBID is the largest
irrigation district in the State, with authorization to irrigate
472,000 acres. Currently, 167,365 acres are irrigated and managed by
4,500 landowners within CBP. Additionally, ECBID provides
infrastructure to deliver irrigation surface water for 87,638 acres
associated with the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program.
Under Alternative 4A, ECBID would provide CBP surface water for
irrigation to replace groundwater irrigation to approximately 70,000
acres of lands north and south of I-90. The proposed action is
essential to deliver CBP water to lands currently irrigated with
groundwater. The 2012 FEIS conceptually analyzed alternatives for
alignments that would deliver surface water from CBP to the lands to be
served by the proposed EL 11.8 distribution system, specifically within
alternatives analyzed in detail and not selected.
Water delivery to these lands was proposed to be served by a new
canal, designated the East High Canal. With the selection of
Alternative 4A as the preferred alternative, the East High Canal was
not chosen for construction to service those lands. However, due to the
flexibility afforded in the 2012 FEIS, and due to the irrigator's need
for surface water in that area, a new alignment was subsequently
designed from EL to ensure the delivery of surface water to the area.
The lands that will be analyzed in the SEIS Study Area include a
mix of undeveloped and agricultural lands within the Odessa Groundwater
Management Subarea and the Odessa Subarea Special Study Area boundaries
in Grant County. A portion of the lands that the distribution system
would cross from EL to the delivery point were not analyzed in the 2012
FEIS Study Area,
[[Page 7655]]
and the SEIS will consider the impacts of construction and operation of
EL 11.8 on these lands. The construction of EL 11.8 is anticipated to
require blasting in the first 5.5 miles of the alignment. The 2012 FEIS
did not analyze noise and vibration effects associated with blasting
because the distribution alignments anticipated at the time were not
expected to require blasting. NRCS will, therefore, analyze the effects
of noise and vibration within the anticipated affected area. The lands
that the distribution system would serve were analyzed in the 2012 FEIS
Study Area, and NRCS has determined that additional analysis of these
lands is not needed.
If selected as the SEIS preferred alternative after finalization of
the SEIS, EL 11.8 would become a component of Alternative 4A. This
would be formalized by amending the NRCS 2024 ROD for Alternative 4A to
include this distribution system. A map of the EL 11.8 distribution
system is available at: <a href="http://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan">http://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan</a>.
The EL 11.8 would be included in the watershed plan being written by
NRCS for Alternative 4A to be eligible for funding under Public Law 83-
566.
Estimated Federal funds required for the construction of the
proposed action that would become a component of Alternative 4A will
exceed $25 million. Consistent with section 2 of the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, (16 U.S.C. 1002), given
that the Federal construction cost are estimated to be greater than $25
million, the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee of the
Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
will be notified that the Chief of NRCS plans to authorize this project
for implementation.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives, Including No Action
The SEIS objective is to formulate and evaluate alternatives for
the avoidance of economic loss to the region's agricultural sector
along with impacts to domestic and municipal water supplies. The SEIS
will analyze a distribution system route that was not included in
Alternative 4A for delivery of surface water from the CBP to replace
groundwater irrigation in lands in the Odessa Subarea Special Study
Area. The SEIS is expected to evaluate two alternatives: one no action
alternative and one action alternative.
The alternatives that may be considered for detailed analysis
include:
<bullet> Alternative 1--No Action Alternative: Taking no action
would consist of activities conducted if no Federal action or funding
were provided for the proposed action. If the No Action Alternative is
selected, the irrigators in the Study Area would not be able to
maintain economic viability because they would not be able to access
irrigation water. The groundwater levels in the Study Area are
declining. Due to that decline, irrigation water quantities are
expected to become insufficient to support agricultural needs, which
would lead to economic loss in the project area. Declining groundwater
levels may also impact area domestic and municipal water supply. No
Federal action or funding would be associated with the proposed action
with the No Action Alternative.
<bullet> Alternative 2--Proposed Action--EL 11.8. The proposed
action would include the construction and operation of EL 11.8, which
is a surface water distribution system alignment north of I-90 and east
of Ephrata, Washington that would provide irrigation surface water from
EL to lands 5 to 10 miles east along road W NE. The proposed EL 11.8
system would include a new canal turnout infrastructure, a large-scale
canal pump station, and 10.5 miles of large-diameter pipeline (60-inch-
through 44-inch-diameter mainline). The EL 11.8 system would serve
approximately 7,638 acres of land currently served by groundwater. If
EL 11.8 is chosen as the preferred alternative in the supplemental EIS,
these lands would be a portion of the overall 70,000 acres of land
authorized under Alternative 4A for one-to-one replacement of
groundwater irrigation with CBP surface water. The lands that the
distribution system would serve were analyzed in the 2012 FEIS study
area; however, a portion of the pipeline alignment for the distribution
system is proposed to cross lands that were not analyzed in the 2012
FEIS. The SEIS Study Area includes a mix of undeveloped and
agricultural lands within the Odessa Groundwater Management Subarea and
the Odessa Subarea Special Study Area boundaries in Grant County.
Ownership of lands in the project area consists of private, State and
Federal landholders.
Summary of Expected Impacts
If the proposed action is chosen as the preferred alternative in
the supplemental EIS, it will become a component of Alternative 4A.
The SEIS will be prepared as required by section 102(2)(C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, (42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(C))); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500 through 1508); and NRCS regulations that implement NEPA in 7
CFR part 650.
Resource concerns for the scope of resource effects analysis for
the SEIS will be similar to that documented in the 2012 FEIS. The SEIS
will analyze construction and operational impacts on the previously
unanalyzed area that the EL 11.8 distribution system will cross, and
the effects of blasting (noise and vibration) in the blast effect zone
that will be used to construct the distribution system. Additionally,
NRCS solicited comments from the public and coordinated with agency and
tribal interested parties during the 2024 FEIS adoption process to
ascertain relevant resource concerns. Environmental resources in the
project area consist of the natural and human-made environment.
Resource concerns to be identified and addressed in the SEIS include:
the presence of Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed species including
candidate species; biological resources such as shrub-steppe habitat;
geology and soils; noise and vibration related to potential blasting
during construction; and cultural resources.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
The following permits, authorizations, or consultation processes
are anticipated to be required or have previously been fully addressed
as noted below:
<bullet> ESA. Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
would be conducted as required by ESA.
<bullet> ESA. Based on coordination with National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) for the 2024 adoption of the FEIS by NRCS, NMFS decided
that additional consultation or reinitiation of ESA under its
jurisdiction was not needed since no additional withdrawals of CBP
water would occur under the proposed action.
<bullet> Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES). The project would require permitting under
section 402 of the NPDES for stormwater discharge from a construction
site.
<bullet> National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106.
Consultation with Tribal Nations and interested parties would be
conducted as required by the NHPA.
<bullet> Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
Coordination for SEPA approval would be required for construction and
operation of EL 11.8 within non-Federal lands. As a cooperating agency,
it is anticipated that Ecology will adopt the supplemental EIS for SEPA
needs in accordance with Washington Administrative Code 197-11-610.
[[Page 7656]]
<bullet> Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA). Consultation with WDFW and potential
HPA permits would be required for projects in or near State waters.
<bullet> Local Grading and Storm Permit. Consultation for potential
grading and storm permits would be required with Grant County for all
construction work within non-Federal lands.
Schedule of Decision-Making Process
A draft SEIS (DSEIS) will be prepared and circulated for review and
comment by agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and the public for 45
days as required by the regulations in 40 CFR 1503.1, 1502.20, 1506.11,
and 1502.17, and 7 CFR 650.13. The DSEIS is anticipated to be published
in the Federal Register, approximately 12 months after publication of
this NOI. A Final SEIS is anticipated to be published within 6 months
of completion of the public comment period for the DSEIS.
NRCS will decide whether to implement or withdraw the proposed
action alternatives as evaluated in the SEIS. A DSEIS will be completed
and will be publicly available for comments. The Responsible Federal
Official (RFO) and decision-maker for NRCS is the Washington State
Conservationist. Reclamation, as a cooperating Federal agency, will
make a decision to issue its own ROD in a similar manner. The decision-
maker and RFO for Reclamation is the Regional Director, Columbia-
Pacific Northwest Region.
Public Scoping Process
Public scoping is not a requirement for an SEIS (40 CFR 1502.9
(d)(3)). Public scoping was conducted for the 2012 FEIS and is
documented in the 2012 FEIS and associated ROD. For the 2024 adoption
of the FEIS, NRCS solicited public comments and conducted agency and
tribal outreach and coordination. Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who commented, are part of the public
record and are documented in the NRCS 2024 ROD for the FEIS adoption.
Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and Analyses
NRCS invites agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and individuals
that have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest to provide
written comments concerning the scope of the analysis and
identification of potential alternatives, information, and analyses
relevant to the Proposed Action.
The information about historic and cultural resources within the
area potentially affected by the proposed project will assist NRCS in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of
both NEPA and NHPA.
NRCS will invite Native American Tribes to consult on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with the regulations in 36 CFR 800.2
and 800.3, Executive Order 13175, and other policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources and historic properties, will be given due
consideration.
Authorities
This document is published as specified by the NEPA regulations
regarding publication of an NOI to issue a SEIS (40 CFR 1501).
Watershed planning is authorized under the Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act of 1954, as amended and the Flood Control Act of
1944.
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal Assistance Program as found in
the Assistance Listing \1\ to which this document applies is 10.904,
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention. The Regional Conservation
Partnership Program is a potential funding source in addition to other
funding opportunities that may arise, for which the title and number of
the Federal Assistance Program is: 10.932--Regional Conservation
Partnership Program.
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\1\ See <a href="https://sam.gov/content/assistance-listings">https://sam.gov/content/assistance-listings</a>.
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Executive Order 12372
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,'' requires consultation with State and local officials that
would be directly affected by proposed Federal financial assistance.
The objectives of the Executive Order are to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism, by relying
on State and local processes for State and local government
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and
direct Federal development. This project is subject to the provisions
of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation
with State and local officials.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees,
and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family or parental
status, income derived from a public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in
any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases
apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by
program or incident.
Individuals who require alternative means of communication for
program information (for example, braille, large print, audiotape,
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or
USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and telephone) or dial 711
for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text telephone
users can initiate this call from any phone). Additionally, program
information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> and
at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by: (1) mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax to (202) 690-7442; or by
(3) email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a6a68757d687b773473746e7b717f5a6f697e7b347d756c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98e8eaf7ffeaf9f5b6f1f6ecf9f3fdd8edebfcf9b6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Roylene Comes At Night,
Washington State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-01440 Filed 1-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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