Two federal agencies are seeking public input on changed circumstances and new information regarding Columbia River System operations to inform preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), who are the co-lead agencies for the SEIS, issued a notice of intent in the Federal Register, today, which announced the effort and the need for public input over the next 90 days.
The co-lead agencies intend to supplement the 2020 Columbia River System Operations EIS (CRSO EIS), including the selected alternative, to address new information and circumstances since it was published in 2020.
The 2020 CRSO EIS analyzed the coordinated...
12.18.2024 | PORTLAND, OREGON, US |
Story by Tom Conning
A tugboat steers barges down the Columbia River, May 3, 2024. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, or co-lead agencies, issued a notice of intent in the Federal Register on December 18, 2024 that announced the intent to collect public comment for the next 90 days. The co-lead agencies intend to supplement the 2020 Columbia River System Operation (CRSO) Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), including the selected alternative, to address new information and circumstances since it was published in 2020. The 2020 CRSO EIS analyzed the coordinated operation and maintenance of fourteen Federal multi-purpose dams and related facilities located throughout the Columbia River Basin. As part of scoping, the co-lead agencies will seek input from the public to inform an SEIS as they recognize the need for additional collaborative dialogue about the system.
Geologist Caleb Sims, and drillers Cole Morton and Chase Broksieck of the Kansas City District drill crew, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, share their work at Harlan County Lake, Nebraska, on Dec. 4, 2024. The team tackles geotechnical investigations, dam inspections and safety drilling to protect communities and secure infrastructure.
