20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION AmerenUE Project No. 2 277 NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (August 14, 2007) In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) regulations contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (18 CFR Part 380), the Office of Energy Projects has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) regarding AmerenUE’s request to rebuild th e upper reservoir of the Taum Sauk Pumped Storage Project (FERC No. 2277) , located on the East Fork Black River, in Reynolds County , Missouri . T he F EA analyzes the environmental effects of the reconstruction of the upper reservoir and contains measures to minimize those effects. The FEA concludes that the proposed reconstruction, with recommended mitigation measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. A copy of the FEA is available f or review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room, or it may be viewed on the Commission ’s website at http://www.ferc.gov using the e -Library link. Enter the docket number “P -2277” in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call (202) 502 -8222 or (202) 502 -8659 (for TTY). For further information regarding this notice , please contact Thomas LoVullo at (202) 502 -8900. Kimberly D. Bose Secretary 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 This page intentionally left blank . 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REBUILDING THE TAUM SAUK PUMPED STORAGE PROJECT’S UPPER RESERVOIR Taum Sauk Pumped Storage Project FERC No. 2 27 7 Missouri Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects Division o f Hydropower Administration and Compliance 888 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20426 August 2007 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 This page intentionally left blank. 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………........iii LIST OF TABL ES………………………………………………………………………..iv ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………………...v SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………… ....vi 1.0 APPLICATION ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 1 1.1 Background ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 1 2.0 PURPOSE OF ACTION AND NEED FOR POWER ................................ ............ 4 2.1 Purpose of Action ................................ ................................ ................................ .4 2.2 Need for Power ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 4 3.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ................................ .................... 5 3.1 Description of the Original Uppe r Dam ................................ ............................... 5 3.2 Proposed Action ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 3.2.1 Construction Schedule ................................ ................................ ................... 8 3.2. 2 Proposed Environmental Measures ................................ ............................... 8 3.2.2.1 Erosion Control Plan ................................ ................................ ............ 8 3.2.2.2 Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Pla n ........................ 10 3.2.2.3 Measures to Prevent Overfilling ................................ ........................ 12 3.3 No Action Alternative ................................ ................................ ......................... 15 3.4 Staff Preferred Alternative ................................ ................................ .................. 16 3.5 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis ........................ 17 4.0 CONSULTATION AND COMPLIANCE ................................ ........................... 18 4.1 Scoping and Comments ................................ ................................ ...................... 18 4.2 Agency Consultation ................................ ................................ .......................... 20 4.3 Compliance ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 21 4.3.1 Water Quality Certification ................................ ................................ ......... 21 4.3.2 Section 404 Permit ................................ ................................ ...................... 21 4.3.3 Essential Fish Habitat ................................ ................................ .................. 22 4.3.4 Endangered Species Act ................................ ................................ .............. 22 4.3.5 National Historic Preservation Act ................................ ............................. 22 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ................................ ................................ ........ 23 5.1 General Description of the River Basin ................................ .............................. 23 5.2 Cumulatively Affected Resources ................................ ................................ ...... 24 5.3 Engineering Review of Proposed Action ................................ ........................... 24 5.4 Resourc e Issues and Mitigation Alternatives ................................ ..................... 26 5.4.1 Geological and Soil Resources ................................ ................................ .... 26 5.4.2 Water and Fisheries Resources ................................ ................................ ... 39 5.4.2.1 Water Quantity ................................ ................................ ................... 40 5.4.2.2 Water Quality ................................ ................................ .................... 47 5.4.2.3 Fisheries Resources ................................ ................................ ........... 53 i 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 5.4.2.4 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ................................ .............................. 58 5.4.2.5 Effects of a Release from the Proposed Overflo w Release Structure on Water, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ................................ ...... 63 5.4.3 Terrestrial Resources ................................ ................................ ................... 66 5.4.3.1 Wetlands ................................ ................................ ............................. 75 5.4.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................ ........................... 77 5.4.5 Cultural and Historic Resources ................................ ................................ .. 82 5.4.6 Recreation ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 85 5.4.7 Aesthetic, Air Quality and Noise Issues ................................ ...................... 89 5.4.7.1 Aesthetic Resources ................................ ................................ ........... 89 5.4.7.2 Air Quality ................................ ................................ ........................ 90 5.4.7.3 Noise ................................ ................................ ................................ .91 5.4.8 Socioeconomics ................................ ................................ ........................... 93 6.0 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ................................ ....................... 96 7.0 LITERATURE USED OR CITED ................................ ................................ ........ 97 8.0 LIST OF PREPARERS ................................ ................................ ....................... 101 APPENDIX A ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. A-1 ii 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 -1. General location of the Taum Sauk Project. ………………………… 2 Figure 1 -2. Pre -event s atellite photograph showing project area………………… 2 Figure 5 -1. Shaded relief map of area ……………………………………………. 28 Figure 5 -2. Shaded topographic map of project ………………………………… 28 Figure 5 -3. View of upper reservoir prior to the breach ………………………… 30 Figure 5 -4. View of bedrock immediately below failed embankmen t…………. 30 Figure 5 -5. View of bedrock within failed embankment section ………………. 31 Figure 5 -6. Weathered rock and discontinuous c lay seam in foundation dike…. 32 Figure 5 -7. Downstream v iew of breach ………………………………………… 35 Figure 5 -8. Looking upstream from debris dam………………………………… 35 Figure 5 -9. Upper reservoir showing rockfill material…………………………. 36 Figure 5 -10. Preparation of laydown area 1……………………………………… 37 Figure 5 -11. Areas of lan d disturbance………… ………………………………… 70 iii 20070814-3028 Issued by FERC OSEC 08/14/2007 in Docket#: P-2277-000 LIST OF TABLES Table 5-1. Monthly flows , East Fork Black River above the Taum Sauk Project … 42 Table 5-2. Monthly flows, East Fork Black River below the Taum Sauk Project … 43 Table 5-3. Fish species collected from Taum Sauk P roject’s lower reservoir …….. 54 Table 5-4. Fish species collected in 2006 from the Project’s lower reservoir …….. 55