Phase 2 Implementation Plan (P2IP) (DOE/EA-2250)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

On September 21, 2023, the Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville), the Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (co-lead agencies) entered into an agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians to fund implementation of the Phase 2 Implementation Plan (P2IP) projects for reintroducing specific non-Federally protected salmonid stocks above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams in the Upper Columbia River Basin. Under the agreement, Bonneville proposed to provide $200 million over 20 years to advance the Tribally-led P2IP effort. Phase 2 builds on the Upper Columbia United Tribes’ Phase 1 planning and investigation of the feasibility of fish passage and reintroduction into blocked areas. Following this phased approach, a future phase may include construction of permanent fish passage facilities and habitat improvements. 

The co-lead agencies have prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to evaluate the federal support of implementing  P2IP actions. 

Implementing P2IP would involve activities over an approximately 20-year period to test key biological assumptions through salmon research studies, to develop interim hatchery and passage facilities, to establish sources of donor and brood stocks for reintroduction, and to evaluate success. Other activities under consideration for P2IP implementation include  research studies; interim fish passage and fish rearing; reviewing, approving, and issuing permits for data collection; equipment installation and interim facility construction on Federally-managed land or within existing facilities; and providing and handling eggs, juvenile, and adult salmon from existing facilities for research studies.   

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA and the other co-lead agencies have prepared a draft PEA following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The PEA analyzes the P2IP proposal, as well as a no-action alternative in which certain P2IP implementation actions would not occur. The PEA describes anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and identifies mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts. 

The proposed schedule for the environmental review is as follows:

Scoping comment period    February 9, 2024 - March 11, 2024
EA determination February 6, 2024
Draft PEA available for public comment November 14 - December 13, 2024
Final PEA (anticipated) Winter 2025
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) Winter 2025
If decision to approve, project start Spring 2025

CURRENT STATUS:

CONTACT:

For more information, please visit the project website at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/p2ip/index.html

DOCUMENTS:

DRAFT:
Draft PEA November 14, 2024
Public Letter November 14, 2024

SCOPING:
Public Letter: February 9, 2024

EA Determination:
Determination: February 6, 2024