Reclamation releases final Environmental Assessment for construction at Heart Butte Dam

BISMARCK, N.D. - The Bureau of Reclamation has completed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Heart Butte Safety of Dams Modification Project Heart Butte Unit, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, North Dakota Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf Region.

No significant issues were identified during initial public scoping or through the release of the draft EA; therefore, Reclamation has signed the FONSI and will proceed with Reclamation's preferred alternative.

The need for corrective actions at Heart Butte Dam arises from Reclamation's duty to ensure that Reclamation dams do not present unreasonable risks to people, property, and the environment. Persistent seepage issues into the conduit and in the relic river channel area and the lack of an engineered filter contribute to the risk of dam failure at Heart Butte Dam. Currently, the risk of dam failure is at an unsatisfactory level and corrective actions are needed to reduce the risk of dam failure.

As the lead Federal agency, Reclamation is responsible for ensuring compliance with the

National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and related environmental and cultural resource legislation. The construction of the project in accordance with the environmental commitments would ensure there are no significant impacts to the human or natural environment. All comments received during the project scoping process have been considered and where appropriate, incorporated into the final EA.

A digital copy of the FONSI and Final EA is available at: https://www.usbr.gov/gp/dkao/heart_butte/index.html. Hardcopies of the FONSI and Final EA may be obtained by contacting Ashley Persinger, Natural Resource Supervisor, at (70) 221-1282 or at [email protected]. or in writing to:

Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation

304 East Broadway Avenue

Bismarck, North Dakota 58501

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