[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56350-56351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27699]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Southern Nevada Water Authority Treatment and Transmission 
Facility, Clark County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement 
and notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Department of the Interior, Bureau 
of Reclamation, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have 
prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on a new water 
treatment and transmission facility (TTF) proposed by SNWA. The SNWA 
proposes to construct an intake structure, water treatment facility and 
associated transmission pipelines to treat and convey Colorado River 
water from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas Valley. The DEIS describes and 
presents the environmental effects of six alternatives, including no 
action, associated with the construction and operation of the proposed 
TTF. The Federal Actions would be the issuance of permits, rights-of-
way, and modification of existing water delivery contracts.

DATES AND LOCATIONS: There will be five public hearings at the 
following locations:
     Boulder City Hall, City Council Chambers, 401 California 
Avenue, Boulder City, NV.
     Cashman Field Center, Meeting Rooms 101-102, 850 Las Vegas 
Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV.
     Cashman Field Center, Meeting Rooms 101-102, 850 Las Vegas 
Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV.
     North Las Vegas City Library, Community Room, 2300 Civic 
Center Drive, North Las Vegas, NV.
     Henderson Convention Center, 200 South Water Street, 
Henderson, NV.
    Dates and times of the hearings will be announced in the local 
media. A 90-day public review period commences with the publication of 
this notice. Written comments will be accepted by Reclamation at the 
address noted below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas H. Shrader, Manager, 
Environmental Compliance Group, Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: Mr. 
James P. Green LC-2206, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, Nevada 89006-
1470, Telephone: (702) 293-8519; or Mr. David Connally, EIS Manager, 
Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1850 East Flamingo Road, Suite 234, 
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, Telephone: (702) 732-1982. Copies of the DEIS 
are available for inspection at the above addresses and at libraries in 
the project vicinity.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS evaluates the effects of the 
construction and operation of a new water TTF to divert existing State 
of Nevada allocation of Colorado River water from Lake Mead, treat it, 
and convey it to the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. Three issues are related 
to water facility infrastructure in the Las Vegas Valley. First, the 
Valley is dependent on a single water treatment and delivery facility 
for 85 percent of its water. Second, the capacity of the existing 
facility to deliver Colorado River water will be insufficient to meet 
projected water demands by the year 1997, and third, the existing water 
facility infrastructure cannot provide full access to Nevada's Colorado 
River water allocation under the current pattern of seasonal water use. 
With these considerations in mind, the SNWA conceived of the TTF as an 
independent facility for the treatment and transmission of Colorado 
River water to the Valley. The goal of the proposed SNWA-TTF project 
is:

    To develop a reliable and demand-responsive municipal water 
system that will supplement the existing Southern Nevada Water 
System during periods of curtailed production or system failure, and 
provide the State of Nevada full access to its Colorado River water 
allocation.

    Results of supply and demand projections for the SNWA service area 
suggest that summer shortages due to insufficient facility capacity 
could occur as soon as the summer of 1997 unless system improvements 
are made. Current 

[[Page 56351]]
improvements to the existing Southern Nevada Water System may prolong 
the ability of the SNWA purveyors to provide adequate water supplies to 
the year 2000.
    Six alternatives, including no action, are considered in the DEIS. 
Three alternatives propose a new intake structure at Saddle Island, 
with pumping stations, buried pipelines, construction of a new tunnel 
or use of an existing tunnel, a new water treatment facility (WTF), and 
a distribution system in Las Vegas Valley. Two other alternatives 
propose tapping into existing piping in underground chambers in the 
west wall of Black Canyon below Hoover Dam, an underground pumping 
station, tunnels, buried pipelines, a new WTF, and a distribution 
system in the Valley. The two alternative families share common 
elements. The preferred alternative proposes a new intake structure at 
Saddle Island, pumping stations, buried pipelines, use of an existing 
tunnel, a new WTF, and a distribution system in the Las Vegas Valley.
    Environmental consequences that would result from the alternatives, 
but could be mitigated to a level of insignificance by implementation 
of mitigation measures, include: biological resources, cultural 
resources, noise and vibration, recreation, traffic, and water 
resources. Environmental consequences that would remain significant 
after implementation of mitigation measures include: aesthetics, air 
quality, and land use and socio-economics. There would be beneficial 
impacts to land use and socio-economics, associated with provision of 
water to lightly-developed areas, obviating the need for water wells, 
and provision of water supplies for potential economic diversification 
in the project area.
    Those wishing to schedule time, in advance, to make oral comments 
at a particular hearing should contact the Bureau of Reclamation and 
indicate at which session the speaker wishes to appear. Speakers will 
be called in order of their requests. Requests to speak may be made at 
each session and will be called after advance requests. Oral comments 
will be limited to 10 minutes per individual.

    Dated: October 24, 1995.
William E. Rinne,
Director Resource Management and Technical Services.
[FR Doc. 95-27699 Filed 11-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P