[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 140 (Friday, July 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37766-37767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18344]


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[[Page 37767]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Proposed Long-Term Water Service Contract Renewal; Frenchman-
Cambridge and Bostwick Divisions; Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program; 
Nebraska and Kansas

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Announcement of schedule for public information/scoping 
meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) will prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) 
on the proposed renewal of long-term water service contracts for the 
Frenchman-Cambridge, Frenchman Valley, Bostwick Irrigation District in 
Nebraska, and Kansas Bostwick No. 2 irrigation districts in the 
Republican River basin (Basin) in Nebraska and Kansas. Existing water 
service contracts begin to expire in December of 1996.
    Reclamation published a notice of intent to prepare an EIS and a 
schedule for public information/scoping meetings in the Federal 
Register on February 29, 1996. The public information/scoping meetings 
were postponed in a notice published in the Federal Register on March 
13, 1996. This notice reschedules the postponed meetings.
    The purpose of the Federal action is to provide for the continued 
beneficial use of Federally developed water within the Basin. 
Reclamation is proposing to renew long-term water service contracts for 
the four irrigation districts in accordance with current law and policy 
while examining all reasonable alternatives to balance contemporary 
surface water needs within the Basin.
    Reclamation has scheduled a series of public information/scoping 
meetings in connection with the development of the draft EIS. These 
meetings will be held in an open house format and will inform the 
public of the status of contract renewal, allow for public comment on 
the preliminary management scenarios being evaluated in the Resource 
Management Assessment (RMA) process, inform the public of significant 
issues identified to date, identify additional significant issues that 
should be analyzed in the draft EIS, and identify issues related to 
environmental justice or Indian trust assets. A draft EIS is expected 
to be completed and available for review and comment early in 1997. 
Supplementary information regarding this action can be reviewed in the 
February 29, 1996 Federal Register.

DATES: The schedule for the public information/scoping meetings is:

August 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m., McCook, NE, Fairgrounds Community Building
August 20, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Alma, NE, Alma Fire Hall & Community Center
August 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Superior, NE, Vestey Center
August 22, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Belleville, KS, Sacred Heart Center
August 23, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Manhattan, KS, Pottorf Hall in Cico Park.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Anyone interested in additional information 
concerning the environmental compliance or water service contract 
renewal processes, having suggestions regarding significant 
environmental issues, or having input about concerns or issues related 
to environmental justice or Indian trust assets should contact Ms. Judy 
O'Sullivan, Public Involvement Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, Post Office Box 1607, Grand Island, 
Nebraska 68802-1607; Telephone: (308) 389-4553.

    Dated: July 15, 1996.
Robert J. Gyllenborg,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-18344 Filed 7-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P