Electrical Power for Valdez and the Copper River Basin-1981

JA r s. HAIIIIOIilD. 60YfRIIOIINovember 4, 1980Col. Lee R. NunnDistrict Engineer'Alaska uistrict, Corps of EngineersPost Office Box 7002Anchorage, Alaska 99510Dear Colonel Nunn:Re:Electrical Power for Valdez - Draft Feasibility Report andEnvironmental Impact StatementThe Alaska Department of Fish and Game has reviewed the referenced draftfeasibility report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).In general. we feel the report and EIS provide an adequate descriptionof the proposed project, potential environme'1tal impacts and mitigationmeasures.1. Our biggest concern re1~tes to the potential impacts on the anadromousfisheries resources in Allison Creek. While we have no objection to theproject as proposed this Department will require measures to mitigateconflicts. We support the concept of the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Servicerecommendations; however, we feel the additional studies described inboth the Coordination Act Report (page 17) and the EIS (page EIS-16)should be conducted before any specific recommendation on mitigation ismade. The Department of Fish and Game desires to participate in both'the scoping and actual conduct of the studies which should be accom- .plished during the advanced engineering and design phase of the project.~, The ~laska District will be gathering additional physical and bio10 icallnformatl0n,durlng the,Advanced Engineering and Design (AE&D) phase /streamgage on All1son Creek 1S now operational and two intergrave1 recordint~erm?grap~s are p~oposed for installation in the near future. The A~askaD1strlct w11l cont~n~e close coordination of all future studies with yourdep~rtment and SOllC1t your recommendations to assure the project isenv1ronmenta11yacceptab1e.In addition to these general comments on the report and EIS we have somespecific input which will be transmitted directly to your staff.