Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume II Appendix K, Part 1

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VOLUME II APPENDIX K, PART 1 LETTERS OF COMMENT ON THE REVISED DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT AND FERC STAFF RESPONSES Background The Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement ( RDEIS) was published in the Federal Register on April 8, 1994. The Supplement to the RDEIS was issued in November 1994. The RDEIS and Supplement were mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, and individuals for comments. FERC staff provided a Biological Assessment to FWS in February, 1996. FWS published a Final Biological Opinion in July 1997, in which it concluded that the staff alternative identified in the RDEIS, the Modified Nebraska Plan, would likely jeopardize the continued existence of the endangered whooping crane, least tern, and pallid sturgeon, and the threatened piping plover. Included in the Biological Opinion was a basin -wide Cooperative Agreement endorsed by the Districts, Interior, and the states of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. NGPC, the Trust and the Conservation Intervenors subsequently also endorsed the conditions and various measures outlined in the Cooperative Agreement, including the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) proposed by FWS as adequate to avoid jeopardizing the federally listed species. Additional description of project history is provided in the Introduction to the FEIS. As a result of the comments received pertaining to the RDEIS and its Supplement, the Biological Opinion, and in particular the Cooperative Agreement, FERC staff reevaluated the alternative operating plans presented in the RDEIS and modified its recommendations to the Commission. The staff, the Districts, Interior, NGPC and others endorsing the Cooperative Agreement now all agree that the RPA as described in the Agreement will adequately protect and enhance the human and natural resources of the Platte River and portions of the North Platte and South Platte Rivers affected by Project Nos. 1417 and 1835. The FEIS reflects the staff's revised analyses and provides revised recommendations.