Columbian White-Tailed Deer Land Acquisitions and Translocations Project

Clatsop, Columbia, and Multnomah counties, Oregon
Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania counties, Washington 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are proposing to implement a programmatic environmental review for land acquisitions, habitat improvements, and translocations of Columbian white-tailed deer (CWTD) on multiple properties along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington below Bonneville Dam. These actions would be implemented by the Service to facilitate recovery of Endangered Species Act-listed CWTD and would be funded by BPA and assisted by the Corps to mitigate for effects of the development and operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) on fish and wildlife. 

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA, in cooperation with the Corps and the Service, may prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to programmatically evaluate the environmental impacts of future land acquisitions, habitat improvements, and CWTD translocations.  Currently, these actions are reviewed under NEPA on an individual basis.  If BPA determines that an EA should be prepared, the EA will describe anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and include mitigation measures that would help avoid or minimize impacts.  BPA is asking for your comments to help determine the issues that should be addressed in the environmental review. During this process, BPA will work with Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Tribes; and interest groups.  The proposed schedule for the environmental review process is as follows:

Scoping comment period         July 15, 2022 thru August 15, 2022
Draft EA available for public comment (if warranted) Fall 2022
Final EA (if warranted) Winter 2022-2023
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) Winter 2022-2023
If decision to act, actions would start Winter 2022-2023

CURRENT STATUS

BPA has concluded scoping and the comment period closed on August 15, 2022. BPA is now considering comments to help determine if an Environmental Assessment is warranted and the issues that should be addressed in the environmental review. 

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Rob Shull        Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Environmental Protection Specialist        Direct line: 503-230-3962
CorSource Technology Group        Email: rwshull@bpa.gov 
Bonneville Power Administration – ECF-4
PO Box 3621


For project information, contact:
Chad Hamel Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist Direct line: 503-230-5564
Bonneville Power Administration – ECF-4 Email: cjhamel@bpa.gov 
PO Box 3621
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621

DOCUMENTS 

SCOPING
Scoping comments received 
Public Letter (July 15, 2022)
Comment Form (July 15, 2022)