[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24993]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[FES 96-48]


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability on the final environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the 
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have prepared a final 
environmental impact statement (FEIS) on a new water treatment and 
transmission facility proposed by SNWA. The SNWA proposes to construct 
and operate a system of regional water supply facilities known as the 
Treatment and Transmission Facility (TTF). The new TTF would be used in 
conjunction with the existing Southern Nevada Water System to treat 
Colorado River water and transmit it to the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are available for public review at the 
following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Liaison, 
1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240, telephone: (202) 208-6269.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Director, Lower Colorado 
Regional Office, Attn: EIS Lead, LC-2206 Mead Building, P.O. Box 61470, 
Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, telephone: (702) 293-8519.
     Southern Nevada Water Authority, Attn: EIS Manager, 1850 
East Flamingo Road, Suite 234, Las Vegas, NV 89119, telephone: (702) 
862-3446.
     Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas District, Attn: 
Environmental Coordinator, 4765 Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89108, 
telephone: (702) 647-5097.
     National Park Service, Lake Mead Recreation Area, Attn: 
EIS Coordinator, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005, telephone: 
(702) 239-8935.
     Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Attn: EIS 
Coordinator, 300 Booth St., Reno, NV 89509, telephone: (702) 784-5304.
     Libraries: Copies will also be available for review at 
public libraries located in Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, and 
North Las Vegas, NV.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Green, LC-2206, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Office, Environmental Compliance 
Group, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, telephone: (702) 
293-8519.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS addresses the impacts of a new TTF 
to withdraw existing State of Nevada allocation of Colorado River water 
from Lake Mead, treat it, and convey it to the Las Vegas Valley, 
Nevada. Three critical issues are related to water-facility 
infrastructure in the Las Vegas Valley: (1) The Valley is dependent on 
a single water treatment and delivery facility, the existing Southern 
Nevada Water System (SNWS), for 85 percent of its water supply; (2) the 
capacity of the existing facilities which deliver Colorado River water, 
including those of the expanded SNWS, will be insufficient to meet 
projected peak daily water demands by the year 1999; and (3) the 
existing water facility infrastructure cannot provide full access to 
SNWA's Colorado River water entitlement and the entitlements of its 
purveyor members under the current typical pattern of seasonal water 
demand. With these considerations in mind, the SNWA conceived the TTF 
as a supplemental facility to treat and transmit Colorado River water 
to the Valley.
    The proposed TTF would be comprised of three main components: a new 
untreated water intake; new transmission facilities including 
belowground pipelines, tunnels, and aboveground booster pumping 
stations; and a water treatment facility. Six alternatives, including 
no action, are analyzed in the FEIS. Five action alternatives analyze 
varying combinations of these main components. The preferred 
alternative comprises an intake at Saddle Island, use of the existing 
River Mountains tunnel, and a treatment facility on the western slope 
of the River Mountains. Additional water transmission and storage 
facilities would be constructed in Las Vegas Valley. The TTF has been 
developed as a reliable and demand-responsive system that will 
supplement and function integrally with the existing SNWS. The TTF 
would be locally financed, and does not involve any Federal funding for 
construction, operation or maintenance. The TTF would follow a 
community endorsed phasing plan under which facilities are constructed 
only as needed.
    Federal actions required for the proposed action would be the 
issuance of permits, rights-of-way, and modification of existing water 
delivery/service contracts. These actions would allow the SNWA to 
construct new facilities on Federal lands adjacent to Lake Mead, 
withdraw existing State of Nevada Allocation of Colorado River water 
from Lake Mead and convey it to the Las Vegas Valley.
    The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued on 
November 8, 1995. Responses to comments received from interested 
organizations and individuals on the DEIS during the 90-day comment 
period are addressed in the FEIS. No decision will be made on the 
proposed action until 30 days after release of the FEIS. After the 30-
day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision 
(ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented and will 
discuss all factors leading to the decision.

    Dated: September 20, 1996.
William E. Rinne,
Director, Resource Management and Technical Services.
[FR Doc. 96-24993 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P