PORTLAND, Oregon -- About 300 people attended one of seven scoping meetings regarding the operation of 14 federal hydropower projects in the Columbia Basin. Nine more meetings and two webinars will be convened before the public comment period closes January 17, 2017, on the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the open-house style meetings include more than a dozen learning stations, staffed by agency subject matter experts. The public comment period began on Sept. 30, 2016. Together the Corps, Reclamation, and BPA are using the scoping meetings to solicit public input on CRSO impacts such as flood risk management, irrigation, power generation, navigation, fish and wildlife, cultural resources, recreation and socioeconomic interests.
The agencies will accept comments until January 17, 2017, after which they will analyze the comments and develop a reasonable range of alternatives for long-term system operations. The range of alternatives will be further analyzed in the EIS draft that is expected to be completed by 2020 with a final due in 2021.
To date, the agencies have hosted scoping meetings at Wenatchee and Coulee Dam, Washington; Priest River and Bonners Ferry, Idaho and Kalispell, Libby and Missoula, Montana. A meeting in Pasco, Washington was added to the schedule.
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Nov. 14
- The Historic Davenport Hotel
- 10 South Post St.
- Spokane, Wash.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Nov. 16
- Red Lion Lewiston
- Seaport Room
- 621 21st St.
- Lewiston, Idaho
- 4-7 p.m.
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Nov. 17
- Courtyard Walla Walla
- The Blues Room
- 550 West Rose Street
- Walla Walla, Wash.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Nov. 21
- Holiday Inn Express
- Vineyard Ballroom
- 4525 Convention Place
- Pasco, Wash.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Nov. 29
- The Grove Hotel
- 245 S. Capitol Blvd.
- Boise, Idaho
- 4-7 p.m.
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Dec. 1
- Town Hall
- Great Room
- 1119 8 th Ave.
- Seattle, Wash.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Dec. 6
- The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
- River Gallery Room
- 5000 Discovery Drive
- The Dalles, Ore.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Dec. 7
- Oregon Convention Center
- 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- Portland, Ore.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Dec. 8
- The Loft at the Red Building
- 20 Basin St.
- Astoria, Ore.
- 4-7 p.m.
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Two webinars, December 13, 2016 from 10-11:30 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. PDT are being hosted for those who are unable to attend one of the 16 meetings. Information and links to the webinars will be provided on the project website (www.crso.info).
For more information about the CRSO EIS, please visit www.crso.info. Information is also available by calling 800-290-5033. Although 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.