[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7576-7577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3156]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Gila River Indian Community Agricultural Development Master Plan, 
Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) plans to 
prepare a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) on 
the proposed implementation of an agricultural development master plan 
by the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), located in Maricopa and 
Pinal Counties, Arizona. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and GRIC 
are cooperating agencies on the PEIS.
    Reclamation will hold public meetings to provide an opportunity for 
public input from affected and/or interested agencies, tribes and the 
general public.

Dates: Two public meetings will be held on March 2, 1995:
     1 p.m., Ahwatukee, Arizona.
     7 p.m., Coolidge, Arizona.
Locations: [[Page 7577]] 
     Quality Inn-South Mountain, 5121 E. LaPuente St. 
(Elliot Rd. & I-10), Ahwatukee, Arizona.
     Coolidge High School Auditorium, 800 W. Northern Ave., 
Coolidge, Arizona.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Eto, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office 
(Code: PXAO-150) 23636 N. 7th Street, PO Box 9980, Phoenix, AZ 85068; 
Telephone (602) 870-6771.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 
(CRBPA) authorized the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting 
through Reclamation, to construct the Central Arizona Project (CAP). 
The CRBPA also authorized Reclamation to assist Indian communities 
receiving CAP water allocations with development of their water 
delivery facilities. In 1985, GRIC developed an agriculturally based 
master plan for rehabilitating and improving existing irrigation 
systems and agricultural lands, as well as developing new land and 
water resources. This plan was adopted by the Tribal Council in 
December 1985. Under the plan, an irrigation water delivery system and 
appurtenant facilities would be constructed to serve up to 146,330 
acres of land.
    On October 22, 1992, the Secretary entered into a water service 
contract with GRIC for the delivery of 173,100 acre-feet of CAP water 
annually to GRIC. To obtain the maximum benefit from Reclamation 
resources available through CRBPA, Reclamation and GRIC propose to use 
CAP-authorized funds for the design and construction of a common use 
irrigation delivery system. This common use irrigation delivery system 
would be capable of conveying irrigation water (including existing and 
potential future ground, surface, and CAP water resources) to a maximum 
of 146,330 acres identified in the master plan as having the potential 
for agricultural development. Plans also provide for enhancement of 
certain wildlife habitat within GRIC, and rehabilitation and betterment 
of the San Carlos Indian Irrigation Project (SCIIP) Joint Works, which 
are under BIA's jurisdiction. Reclamation would contribute resources to 
implement the agricultural development master plan in an amount that is 
equivalent to what would have been spent to design and construct a 
single purpose CAP water delivery system.
    The major components of GRIC's agricultural development master plan 
include the following: (1) Development of up to 146,330 acres of land 
for agricultural use and construction of a water delivery system to 
serve those lands; (2) development of riverine and riparian habitat 
areas associated with agricultural development; and (3) rehabilitation 
and betterment of SCIIP Joint Works, which would consist of (a) 
rehabilitation of Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Dam; (b) construction of 
sediment removal basins and designation of a sediment disposal area 
near the headworks of the Florence-Casa Grande Canal; (c) construction 
of a new concrete-lined Florence-Casa Grande Canal and rehabilitation 
and lining of the remaining SCIIP Joint Works distribution system 
canals; and (d) construction of an earth and soil cement-lined 
regulation reservoir. There would be no modification to the existing 
Picacho Reservoir, which would be available for temporary storage of 
drainage and floodflows.
    Because CAP-authorized funds would be used to implement portions of 
the master plan, Reclamation will prepare a draft PEIS to evaluate 
potential overall impacts to the human environment from implementing 
the master plan. Once finalized, the PEIS would assist Reclamation in 
making decisions regarding use of Federal funds to implement portions 
of the master plan. For activities related to the master plan that 
require a Federal action or involve Federal funds, future NEPA 
documentation would be prepared as the specific design- and 
construction-related details are developed. Future NEPA documents would 
be tiered from the PEIS.
    The draft PEIS will describe two proposed alternatives plus a no 
Federal action alternative. Under the preferred alternative, 
Reclamation would support and consider funding portions of all aspects 
of the agricultural development master plan. Under the second 
alternative, Reclamation would support and consider funding of all 
aspects of the agricultural development master plan that fall within 
GRIC's boundaries, and rehabilitation and betterment of the Pima 
Lateral portion of the SCIIP Joint Works.
    Thus far, the following are significant environmental issues that 
will be evaluated in the draft PEIS: Potential loss of desert habitat 
and impacts to plants and wildlife, including threatened or endangered 
species; potential impacts to archaeological sites, and historic and 
traditional cultural properties; potential impacts to, and creation/
enhancement of, wetland and riparian habitat; potential impacts to 
surface and ground water quality and quantity; potential impacts to 
Indian and non-indian land owners, allottees and residents; potential 
impacts to the socio-economic conditions of GRIC at large; potential 
impacts to Indian Trust Assets; and potential opportunities for 
developing passive recreational benefits.
    Extensive scoping has occurred since the mid-1980's within GRIC, 
involving members of GRIC at all levels. This input was taken into 
consideration in identifying significant environmental issues to be 
evaluated in the draft PEIS. Therefore, no additional separate formal 
scoping meetings within GRIC are planned to be held in connection with 
the preparation of the draft PEIS.
    The draft PEIS is expected to be completed and available for review 
and comment by late summer 1995. The authority for approving and filing 
this draft PEIS has been delegated to Reclamation.
    Comments regarding the proposed action are welcome at the public 
meeting. To ensure consideration in the preparation of the draft PEIS, 
written comments should be sent to the address shown above by March 17, 
1995. All public input received by Reclamation as a result of previous 
public involvement will automatically be considered in the preparation 
of the draft PEIS. If you would like to be placed on a mailing list for 
any subsequent information, please write or telephone Ms. Sandra Eto.

    Dated: February 2, 1995.
Lawrence F. Hancock,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-3156 Filed 2-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P