[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 58339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28807]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers

Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS) for the Proposed Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Project, 
Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico, Belen East and West Units
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: 1. Proposed Action: The Middle Rio Grande Flood Control 
Project was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of the 
Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-662). The 
project entails the replacement of existing embankments along both 
sides of the Rio Grande with structurally competent levees capable of 
containing high volume, short duration flows up to the design discharge 
of 42,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), as well as low volume, long 
duration flows. In the Belen East Unit, levee reconstruction would 
begin near the New Mexico Highway 147 bridge on Isleta Pueblo and 
extend southward approximately 22 miles along the east side of the Rio 
Grande to a point 0.75 miles downstream of the Atchison, Topeka and 
Santa Fe (AT&SF) Railroad bridge, south of Belen. In the Belen West 
Unit, on the west side of the Rio Grande, levee rehabilitation would 
begin south of Isleta Marsh, and extend approximately 19 miles 
southward to a point 2.2 miles downstream of the AT&SF Railroad bridge. 
The average height of the reconstructed levee would increase by 
approximately four feet. Seventy-five acres of wetland creation and 200 
acres of riparian woodland restoration have been authorized to mitigate 
for unavoidable losses of fish and wildlife habitat. An Environmental 
Impact Statement was completed in 1979, and a General Design Memorandum 
was completed in 1986.
    In 1994, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated a Limited 
Reevaluation study for the Belen East and West Units. The purpose of 
the study is to reaffirm the appropriate plan of flood protection and 
re-evaluate economic benefits and costs. Since 1979, population and 
urban development with the project area have increased substantially. 
Additionally, in light of newly listed endangered and threatened 
species, and an increased knowledge of riparian and riverine values and 
functions, potential environmental effects of the proposed project will 
be re-evaluated in a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. 
Coincident objectives are the preservation and conservation biological, 
recreational, social, cultural and aesthetic values.
    2. Alternatives Considered: Alternatives developed and evaluated 
during previous studies consisted of levee construction (2%-, 1%-, 
0.37%-, and 0.16%-chance flood events), flood and sediment control 
dams, local levees, floodproofing and zoning, partial levee 
replacement, and no action.
    3. Public Involvement Process: Coordination is ongoing with both 
public and private entities having jurisdiction or an interest in land 
and resources in the middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. These 
entities include the general public, local governments, the U.S. Bureau 
of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Mexico 
Department of Game and Fish, the Pueblo of Isleta, and the Interstate 
Stream Commission. Coordination will continue throughout development of 
the SEIS through scoping letters, meetings and field visits, and if 
requested, scoping meetings. All interested parties including Federal, 
state, tribal, and public entities will be invited to submit comments 
on the draft SEIS when it is circulated for review.
    The planning effort also is being coordinated with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service pursuant to the requirements of the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended. Consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation and the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer is 
ongoing pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
    4. Significant Issues to be Analyzed: Significant issues to be 
analyzed in the development of the SEIS include the effect of the 
recommended plan on endangered or threatened species and their critical 
habitat; floodplain development; water quality; riparian ecological 
systems; social welfare; human safety; cultural resources; and 
aesthetic qualities. Development of mitigation measures will be 
undertaken for any unavoidable impacts.
    5. Public Review: The estimated date that the draft Limited 
Reevaluation Report will be completed and the draft SEIS circulated for 
public review is December, 1996.
    6. Further Information: Questions or comments regarding the study 
and the SEIS may be directed to: Mr. William DeRagon, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, P.O. Box 1580, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-1580; phone 
(505) 766-3111.
    Dated: November 9, 1995.
Lloyd S. Wagner,
Lieutenant Colonel, EN, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 95-28807 Filed 11-24-95; 8:45 am]
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