January 9, 2001
Dave Kaumheimer
(509) 575-5848 ext.232

Reclamation Hosts Open House/Public Hearings

The Bureau of Reclamation will host a day of public meetings to provide information and seek citizen input on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement related to the Keechelus Dam safety modifications.

The meetings will consist of informal open house followed by formal public hearings on Thursday, January, 18. The location for the meeting will be at the Ellensburg Inn, 1700 Canyon Road, in Ellensburg, Washington.

• The open house will be held during two time periods:
  12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• The public hearings will also be held during two time periods:
  2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

During the open house, representatives from Reclamation will be on hand to provide information and respond to individual questions. Citizens will be able to view maps, charts, photographs and other documents related to the safety of dams modifications.

The purpose of this proposed action is to correct safety deficiencies identified at Keechelus Dam. The need is to prevent the possibility of loss of life and property associated with potential failure of the dam. During the formal public hearing, citizens will have an opportunity to go on the record with their comments related to the modifications and will have a full five minutes to make their statements known to Reclamation.

Please notify the Bureau of Reclamation if you have special needs for these hearings prior to the event. Contact Dave Kaumheimer at (509) 575-5848 ext. 232, through the Federal Relay Service (800) 877-8339, or via e-mail at dkaumheimer@pn.usbr.gov.

Keechelus Dam was completed in 1917 as part of Reclamation's Yakima Project, storing water for irrigation and flood control.