News Release Archive

Reclamation Seeks Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment for Fire Station at Grand Coulee Dam

Media Contact: Kelly Bridges, (208) 378-5101, 09/08/2015 10:07
Lynne Brougher, lbrougher@usbr.gov

For Release: September 08, 2015

GRAND COULEE, Wash. — The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking comments on a Draft Environmental Assessment for building a new fire station at the Grand Coulee Power Office. The proposed project involves construction of a fire station to provide a sleeping and dining area, meeting/training space, offices, and a public reception area for Reclamation’s Grand Coulee Power Office Fire Department. The new station would be located within the city limits of the Town of Grand Coulee on federal lands.

The Draft Environmental Assessment analyzes potential environmental impacts of three alternatives, including a preferred alternative:

• No Action – Under the No Action Alternative, the Grand Coulee Power Office Fire Department would not build a new station and would continue to operate out of the John W. Keys III Pump Generating Plant.

• Alternative A – Preferred Alternative – Under the Preferred Alternative, Reclamation would construct a new fire station on lands managed by the Grand Coulee Power Office. The station would be located outside the west Administration/Industrial Area gate, near the intersection of Highway 155 and B Street. Access to the new station would be from Industrial Road, off of either, B Street or Highway 155.

• Alternative B – Under Alternative B, Reclamation would construct a new fire station on lands managed by the National Park Service at Crescent Bay, uphill from the boat launch and adjacent to the ramp access road. Access to the new station would be off Highway 155 at the Crescent Bay boat ramp entrance.

You can download the Draft Environmental Assessment at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/wash/firestation/index.html .

Please send your written comments no later than October 9, 2015, to Lon Ottosen, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Grand Coulee Power Office, P.O. Box 620, Grand Coulee, WA 99133. You may also contact him for additional information or to obtain a hard copy of the Draft Environmental Assessment, at (509) 633-9324 or lottosen@usbr.gov.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Draft Environmental Assessment