Omaha, Neb. – A draft environmental assessment (EA) for a Dam Safety Modification Study on Pipestem Dam, located four miles northwest of Jamestown in Stutsman County, North Dakota, is currently available for public review.
The draft EA evaluates the environmental impacts of modifying the emergency spillway to address the risk of erosion during spillway flow. The proposed project would include modifications to the emergency earthen spillway to reduce erosion risk in the event the spillway would need to be used to pass flows. Modifications would consist of (1) a stepped chute structure to convey spillway flow from the higher elevation of the spillway to the lower elevation, (2) a stilling basin to reduce the hydraulic energy of flow exiting the spillway before it enters Pipestem Creek, and (3) dikes on either side of the spillway channel to direct flow into a chute structure to prevent erosion of the spillway.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft EA which is available for viewing at: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Project-Reports/. Comments can be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PMA-C; ATTN: Pipestem DSMS; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than May 22, 2019.
This draft EA is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Corps’ regulations for implementing NEPA (33 CFR 325 and Engineering Regulation 200-2-2) and other applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Release no. 19-039