Scoping meetings set on Columbia Basin EIS

October 23, 2016

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration have announced their intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the Columbia River System operations and configurations for 14 federal projects in the interior Columbia Basin. In this Columbia River System Operations EIS, the three agencies will present a reasonable range of alternatives for long-term system operations and evaluate then potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts on flood risk management, irrigation, power generation, navigation, fish and wildlife, cultural resources and recreation. The agencies are seeking comments through a public scoping period, which will conclude January 17, that provides anyone who is interested an opportunity to help the agencies identify issues and concerns that could be analyzed in the EIS. As part of the comment period, the agencies will host public scoping meetings throughout the Northwest, to include Bonners Ferry from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 27, at the Kootenai River Inn, 7169 Plaza Street, and one in the Ponderosa Room at Libby City Hall, E952 Spruce Street, Libby, Montana, from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 2. Additionally, two webinars will be held December 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 3 to 4:30 p.m. PST. Information and links to the webinar will be provided on the project website. For more information about the Columbia River System Operations EIS, please visit www.crso.info. Information is also available by calling 800-290-5033, though official comments are not accepted over the phone. Written comments may be submitted at any of the public meetings or mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CRSO EIS, P.O. Box 2870, Portland, Oregon 97208-2870. Emailed comments should be sent to comment@crso.info. When submitting comments, please be aware that your entire comment including your name, address and email will become part of the public record.