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<br />nOJ793 <br /> <br />Morrow Point Trash Rack Cleaning Project FONSI <br /> <br />8/5/2002 <br />W ACO-GJ-FONSI-02-01 <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br />Power Office <br /> <br />FINDING OF NO SIGNIFlCANT IMPACT <br /> <br />MORROW POINT TRASH RACK CLEANING PROJECT <br /> <br />In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of I 969, as amended, and <br />based on the following, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has determined that the <br />proposed Morrow Point Trash Rack Cleaning Project will not result in a significant <br />impact on the human environment. <br /> <br />Reclamation identified a need to lower the surface elevation of Morrow Point Reservoir <br />to an elevation of7,I29 ft. to facilitate cleaning of the Power Plant's inlet trash racks. A <br />controlled reservoir draw down at a nite of I to 3 ft. per day would begin in August 2002. <br />A target date of September 4,2002 was established to reach a reservoir elevation of7,129 <br />ft. A dive team would be used to remove trash and debris from the Power Plant's inlet <br />trash racks. The reservoir would be held at or above 7,129 ft. while trash removal is <br />completed. It is anticipated that cleaning would take approximately::: weeks to complete. <br />Once the trash racks are cleaned, the reservoir would be refilled to normal operating <br />elevations. <br /> <br />The purpose of the project is to conduct dam and power plant maintenance activities to <br />ensure continued operation of the Aspinall Unit to meet Congressionally authorized <br />purposes. <br /> <br />Reclamation identified issues and concerns with the participation from individuals, <br />agencies, and organizations potentially affected by the project. The Morrow Point Trash <br />Rack Cleaning project was first presented to the general public at the January 2001 <br />Aspinall operations meeting. On January 25,2001, a public scoping letter was mailed to <br />interested parties and was published in the Grand Junction Dai(v Sentinal. Comments <br />received identified concerns with the project's potential to impact water quality, trout <br />fisheries, and downstream recreational uses on the Gunnison River. Concerns with <br />associated impacts to hydropower generation and revenues were also identified. <br /> <br />A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared and distributed for public <br />comment on June 7, 2002. Comments from the public, agencies and organizations were <br />used to prepare a final EA in July 2002. Comments received and responses are included <br />in the final EA. Coordination on the project included informal consultation with the U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Army <br />Corps of Engineers, and Western Area Power Administration. <br /> <br />The EA evaluated No Action and Proposed Action Alternatives. <br /> <br />Page I 0 f 4 <br />