[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1034-1036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-359]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 7, 1994]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION
UNITED STATES AND MEXICO

 

Rio Grande American Canal Extension Project, El Paso, Texas; 
Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

AGENCY: U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability of final environmental assessment and 
finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the U.S. Section's 
Operational Procedures for Implementing section 102 of NEPA, published 
in the Federal Register September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083-44094); the U.S. 
Section hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Assessment and 
Final Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed action of 
constructing an extenstion to the existing American Canal is available. 
A Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact dated October 21, 1993, 
provided a thirty day review and comment period before making the 
Finding final. The Notice was published in the Federal Register 
November 1, 1993 (58 FR 58377-58379).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Dr. Conrad G. Keyes, Jr., Principal 
Engineer, Planning; U.S. Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico, 4171 North Mesa Street, building 
C-310, El Paso, Texas 79902-1422. Telephone: 915/534-6703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The proposed Rio Grande American Canal Extension (RGACE), with or 
without the immediate participation of Mexico, involves the 
rehabilitation and enlargement of segments of the existing Franklin 
Canal; the construction of a new, reinforced concrete-lined canal; and 
other associated works. The United States Section (U.S. Section) of the 
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico 
(Commission) is authorized under the Rio Grande American Canal 
Extension Act of 1990 (the Act of 1990), Public Law 101-438, dated 
October 15, 1990, to construct, operate, and maintain an extension of 
the existing American Canal in El Paso, Texas. The Act of 1990 also 
allows for the participation of Mexico in the proposed action for the 
purpose of conveying their 1906 Convention waters.
    In the Act of 1990, the United States Congress authorized the 
negotiation of international agreements for use of the proposed RGACE 
to convey Mexican waters. The government of Mexico considers there is 
merit in conveying its 1906 Convention waters in the proposed RGACE in 
view of the conveyance losses and safety issues inherent in Mexico's 
existing canal system. The Act of 1990 makes possible the immediate or 
future participation by Mexico in financing the proposed RGACE capacity 
improvements and other works and measures necessary to convey Mexican 
waters in the canal, including future restoration of the internatonal 
grade control structure located at Riverside Diversion Dam.
    As stated in section 2(6) of the Act of 1990, ``(t)he construction 
and operation of an extension of the American Canal which would lie 
wholly in the United States would provide for a more equitable 
distribution of waters between the United States and Mexico, reduce 
water losses, and minimize many hazards to public safety.'' This would 
hold true for both America and Mexico since both countries currently 
experience unauthorized diversions of water, water losses, and public 
health and safety hazards associated with their respective conveyance 
systems. The canal extension and associated facilities would be located 
adjacent to the Rio Grande Rectification Flood Control Project within 
the City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.
    Water for domestic and irrigation use is diverted into the American 
Canal at the American Dam located on the Rio Grande upstream from 
downtown El Paso. The diversion dam and canal were constructed 
completely within United States territory to divert United States 
waters away from the Rio Grande and to permit the discharge into the 
international reach of the Rio Grande only those waters assigned to the 
Republic of Mexico under the Convention of 1906. This ensured that 
United States waters diverted at the American Dam area completely 
retained within the United States to a point downstream of the location 
where the United States delivers the 1906 Convention waters near 
International Dam. Depending on the schedule submitted by Mexico, up to 
8.5 cubic meters per second (cms) or 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) of 
water is released into the Rio Grande channel downstream from American 
Dam for delivery to the Republic of Mexico in the bed of the river near 
the head works of the Acequia Madre, Mexico's principal canal, 
immediately upstream of International Dam. As provided in the 1906 
Convention, a total of 74.009 thousand cubic meters (60,000 acre-feet) 
of water is delivered to Mexico annually.
    United States Rio Grande Project waters assigned to water districts 
are currently in part conveyed in the international reach of the Rio 
Grande from International Dam to Riverside Diversion Dam. A significant 
amount of these waters (an estimated 39,471 thousand cubic meters or 
32,000 acre-feet annually) is lost through seepage, evaporation, 
transpiration, and by unauthorized diversion or collection as they are 
conveyed in the international reach of the Rio Grande. A significant 
amount of these water losses (an estimated 25,900 to 37,000 thousand 
cubic meters or 21,000 to 30,000 acre-feet annually) could be salvaged 
by conveying them in the proposed concrete-lined canal extension.

Alternatives Considered

    Four alternatives, including the Proposed Action Alternative and 
the No Action Alternative, were considered during the preparation of 
the environmental assessment. The alternatives are summarized here:

1. No Action Alternative

    Under this alternative, there would be no construction of an 
extension to the existing American Canal. United States waters in the 
international reach of the Rio Grande from International Dam to 
Riverside Diversion Dam would continue to be susceptible to 
unauthorized diversion or withdrawal and would continue to be lost 
through seepage, evaporation, and transpiration while flowing in the 
Rio Grande and the unlined canals. There would be no change in existing 
facilities or conditions under this alternative, and existing hazards 
to public health and safety would remain the same.

2. Proposed Action Alternative

    This Alternative contains three distinct options:
    (1) Construction of the proposed RGACE without immediate Mexican 
participation;
    (2) Construction of the proposed RGACE with immediate Mexican 
participation; and
    (3) Construction of the proposed RGACE with a regulating reservoir 
located near the canal terminus to facilitate project operations. Any 
one of the options under this Alternative would ensure the equitable 
distribution of United States and Mexican waters, reduce water losses 
that would otherwise occur within the unlined canals and the river 
channel, and eliminate many hazards to public safety and health.
    The proposed RGACE is composed of both reconstruction and new 
construction of a concrete lined channel. Even though work has not yet 
been authorized for the existing American Canal upstream of 
International Dams, it is possible that some rehabilitation will be 
necessary throughout its 3.2 kilometers (1.98 miles) length to make it 
compatible with the design capacity for the proposed action of 42.5 cms 
(1,500 cfs) and could be accomplished by the construction of parapet 
walls. An existing portion of the Franklin Canal from International Dam 
to the Leon Street Wasteway will be reconstructed throughout its 2.4 
kilometers (1.48 miles) length as a trapezoidal or rectangular concrete 
lined channel to convey the design capacity. The existing Wasteway No. 
1 in this segment will also be upgraded. The deteriorated, unreinforced 
concrete lining in the existing Franklin Canal from the Leon Street 
Wasteway to the Second Street Lateral will be replaced with reinforced 
concrete. This 2.7 kilometers (1.69 miles) segment will be designed to 
convey the design capacity. The new construction segment extends for 
19.4 kilometers (12.1 miles) from the Second Street Lateral to 
Riverside Canal at Riverside Diversion Dam. It will obliterate the 
portion of the Playa Lateral which is located between Loop 375 (Border 
Highway) and the United States Levee of the Rio Grande Rectification 
Project, and incorporate a turnout for the Playa Lateral at the point 
where it deviates from the proposed RGACE alignment. The existing Playa 
Intercepting Drain will be relocated or abandoned. The constructed 
extension will be an open, concrete lined channel designed to convey 
42.5 cms (1,500 cfs).
    Although funds have not been appropriated in sufficient amounts to 
construct the proposed action with a regulating reservoir near the 
terminus of the proposed RGACE, it is possible that it could be 
constructed by an interested entity in the future. The reservoir would 
have a design capacity of 1.233 million cubic meters (1,000 acre-feet) 
at a maximum water depth of 3 meters (10 feet).

3. Extension of Existing Canal to Ascarate Wasteway Alternative

    This alternative would involve a 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) extension 
of the American Canal to Ascarate Wasteway. Water would be delivered to 
the Franklin Canal through the Ascarate Lateral by a pump station or 
other means and excess flows returned to the Rio Grande for subsequent 
diversion at Riverside Diversion Dam. This alternative would not 
accomplish the authorized purpose of keeping United States waters 
totally out of the Rio Grande between International Dam and Riverside 
Diversion Dam. Unauthorized diversion or withdrawal of United States 
waters would continue to occur below Ascarate Lateral. Construction of 
this alternative would not significantly reduce water losses since 
seepage losses would continue to accrue in the Rio Grande below 
Ascarate Lateral. Though the 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) extension would 
be fenced, existing public health and safety hazards would not be 
significantly reduced.

4. Franklin Canal Reconstruction Alternative

    Under this alternative, the existing Franklin Canal would be 
reconstructed to convey 42.5 cms (1,500 cfs) to the heading of the 
Southside Feeder Canal at Ysleta. The feeder canal would transmit water 
to the Riverside Canal at a point downstream from the Riverside 
Diversion Dam. The Southside Feeder Canal would be reconstructed, a 4.8 
kilometers (3 miles) section of the Riverside Canal would require 
excavation, and the Riverside Wasteway No. 1 would be reconstructed to 
accommodate the design capacity of 42.5 cms (1,500 cfs). Even though 
this alternative meets the criteria of the authorizing legislation, 
evaluation has shown that it would greatly exceed the design and 
construction costs of the proposed action. For this reason it is 
considered the least favored alternative to the proposed RGACE.

Availability

    Single copies of the Final Environmental Assessment and Final 
Finding of No Significant Impact may be obtained at the above address.

    Dated: December 29, 1993.
Suzette Zaboroski,
Staff Counsel.
[FR Doc. 94-359 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-M