DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Asian Carp Deterrent System, Lake Barkley Lock and Dam, Lyon/Livingston County, Kentucky
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DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Asian Carp Deterrent System, Lake Barkley Lock and Dam, Lyon/Livingston County, Kentucky December 20, 2018 For Further Information Contact: Cody A. Flatt, Biologist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Project Planning Branch Telephone: (615) 736-7954 Draft Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Asian Carp Deterrent System Lake Barkley Lock and Dam Contents 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ...................................................................... 1 1.1 Authorization ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Issues and Opportunities ....................................................................................... 2 2.0 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED............................................................................... 3 2.1 Alternative 1- No Action Alternative ....................................................................... 3 2.2 Alternative 2 – (Installation of BAFF System) ........................................................ 3 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................. 4 3.1 Climate, Physiology, Soils and Land Use .............................................................. 4 3.2 Aquatic Resources ................................................................................................ 4 3.3 Water Quality ........................................................................................................ 6 3.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................... 7 3.5 Terrestrial Resources ............................................................................................ 7 3.6 Archeological and Historic Resources ................................................................... 8 3.7 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................... 9 3.8 Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste .......................................................... 11 3.9 Health and Safety ................................................................................................ 11 3.10 Recreation and Scenic Resources .................................................................... 12 3.11 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................ 12 3.12 Air Quality .......................................................................................................... 14 3.13 Navigation ......................................................................................................... 14 4.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ........................................................................................ 15 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS, PERMITS, AND APPROVALS ................... 17 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ......................................................................... 17 6.1 Executive Order 11990-Wetlands ....................................................................... 17 6.2 Farmland Policy Protection Act (FPPA) ............................................................... 17 6.3 Executive Order 11988-Floodplain Management ................................................ 17 6.4 Clean Water Act .................................................................................................. 18 6.5 Endangered Species Act ..................................................................................... 18 i Draft Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Asian Carp Deterrent System Lake Barkley Lock and Dam 6.6 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act....................................................................... 18 6.7 National Historic Preservation Act ....................................................................... 18 6.8 Executive Order 13514 – Environmental Justice ................................................. 19 6.9 Clean Air Act ....................................................................................................... 19 6.10 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act .... 20 6.11 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ........................................................ 20 6.12 Executive Order 13653 (Climate Change) ......................................................... 20 7.0 PUBLIC AND AGENCY COORDINATION .............................................................. 20 7.1 Public and Agency Involvement .......................................................................... 20 7.1.1 Public Notice/Scoping Letter ............................................................................ 21 7.1.1.1 Public Comments .......................................................................................... 21 7.1.1.2 Federal Agency Comments ......................................................................... 21 8.0 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 21 Table 1. Federal and State Listed Species in Livingston/Lyon Counties, Kentucky ...... 10 Appendix A: Vicinity Map Appendix B: Illustration of Bio-Acoustic Fish Fence Appendix C: Scoping Notice for Proposed Installation of Asian Carp Deterrent System Appendix D: Cultural 106 Appendix E: Scoping Notice Public Comments Appendix F: KDFWR Asian Carp Deterrent System Press Release ii Draft Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Asian Carp Deterrent System Lake Barkley Lock and Dam 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Geological Survey, University of Minnesota, and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) are proposing to install and evaluate a three-year test or demonstration to determine the effectiveness of a fish deterrent system at restricting or reducing movement of Asian carp through the Barkley Lock chamber, owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). A vicinity map of the project area is located in Appendix A. The proposed project would test a bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) installed in the downstream Barkley Lock approach channel. Modification or monitoring of fish movement through the Barkley Lock filling and emptying system may also be implemented for this demonstration. Information gathered from this research would inform possible installations of BAFF systems at other sites in the Mississippi and Ohio River basins. The proposed project supports a recommendation of the National “Management and Control Plan for Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver Carps in the United States (2007)”. Funding for the installation and operation of the BAFF during this trial would be provided by the USFWS, including funding Corps labor for design review and construction oversight. The USFWS is the lead agency in management efforts to control Asian carp by law. The BAFF is considered a “technology test” and it is recognized that Asian carp are already present upstream of Barkley Lock and Dam. Permanent installation of a BAFF would require additional approval. If successful and approved, BAFF placement could become permanent at Barkley Lock or at other navigation locks on the Tennessee or Cumberland Rivers. 1.1 Authorization This Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared by the Nashville District (Corps) to provide NEPA coverage for the Corps’ Real Estate License allowing the USFWS to install the BAFF at the Barkley project. Authorization is provided by Public Law 85-624 which states Fish/Wildlife is an Authorized Purpose of Barkley Lock and Dam. In addition, section 1039(b)1 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, provides authorization to slow the spread of Asian carp in the upper Mississippi and Ohio river basins and tributaries. Barkley Dam and Lake Barkley is a multiple-purpose project that was originally authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1954 and the River and Harbor Act of September 4, 1954 (Public Law 780, 84rd Congress, 2nd Session) for the purposes of navigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power. Additional authorized project purposes added by subsequent legislation include water quality, recreation, and fish/wildlife. This EA is prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR, 1500–1508), and the Corps Engineer Regulation (ER) 200-2-2, 1988, Procedures for Implementing NEPA. 1 Draft Environmental Assessment U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Asian Carp Deterrent System Lake Barkley Lock and Dam 1.2 Purpose and Need The purpose and need for this EA is to consider potential environmental or other impacts from the installation of an Asian carp deterrent system. Asian carp have become a major concern in the Mississippi River basin. Movement through lock systems are the primary means of upstream reservoir access for invasive fish such as Asian carp. The BAFF uses customized sound signals, directional strobe lighting, and an air bubble curtain to produce an underwater linear deterrent for movement of fish through the lower miter gate opening of the Lock. Additional modifications are being considered to address or monitor movement of Asian carp through the lock discharge port system, as well. While the BAFF is in place, fisheries researchers would use existing telemetry receivers and other electronic devices to