BISMARCK, N.D. – The Bureau of Reclamation is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the funding and construction of a Safety of Dams Modification Project for Heart Butte Dam.
Reclamation is the lead Federal agency responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and related federal environmental and cultural resource legislation. Reclamation will use this EA to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with construction of the project.
Reclamation has performed a Corrective Action Study to evaluate alternatives to ensure the continued safe condition of the dam. The selected design alternative includes conduit joint repair, a seepage cutoff system, and a seepage blanket filtration system constructed at the downstream toe of the dam. Construction is expected to require up to two years and a reduction of Lake Tschida to the minimum water elevation of 2,030 feet. The reduction in reservoir elevation is necessary to reduce the water table in the vicinity of the project and to reduce the potential for uncontrolled spillway flow during the construction period.
We are requesting your input about the proposed action and information or concerns you may have regarding potential project effects. If no significant issues are identified during scoping or preparation of the EA, Reclamation would issue a Finding of No Significant Impact. Conversely, if any significant issues are identified, Reclamation would consider whether to proceed with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. The Draft EA will be available for review and comment in fall 2024, and, if no significant impacts are identified, construction is expected to begin in 2027.
Please respond with any comments, concerns, or information regarding this project by June 17, 2024. Questions or comments regarding the preparation of the EA may be directed to Ashley Persinger, Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist at (701) 221-1282 or at apersinger@usbr.gov, or in writing to:
Bureau of Reclamation, Area Manager,
304 East Broadway Avenue.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501
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