SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board today released the final supplemental environmental impact statement/environmental impact report for the Folsom Dam Modification Project Approach Channel for review and public comment.
The document outlines the preferred project plan and addresses potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures for constructing the 1,100-foot-long approach channel that connects Folsom Lake to Folsom Dam’s new auxiliary spillway. The Corps anticipates issuing a record of decision, affirming that the document meets National Environmental Policy Act standards, following the 30-day review period of the final SEIS/EIR.
The project will follow a Corps-adopted ‘green’ policy, requiring the use of newer construction equipment to reduce emissions and help meet California air quality standards.
The final SEIS/EIR is being filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a notice of availability will be posted in the Federal Register Dec. 28, officially opening the 30-day public review period. The document, as well as information on the project, can be reviewed on the district’s website at: http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/FolsomDamAuxiliarySpillway.aspx.
It will also be available on the Central Valley Flood Protection Board’s website. Public comments can be submitted from Dec. 28 until Jan. 29, 2013, by email to spk-pao@usace.army.mil or postal mail to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District
Attn: Tyler Stalker / Public Affairs Office
1325 J St., Room 1513
Sacramento, CA 95814
All comments received on the draft document during its 45-day public review period that ended Sept. 10 were addressed and incorporated into the final SEIS/EIR as appropriate.
The Folsom Dam auxiliary spillway Project is a $962-million cooperative effort between the Corps and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, along with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, to improve the safety of Folsom Dam and reduce flood risk for the Sacramento area. The spillway is scheduled to be completed in October 2017.
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