[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52053-52054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25166]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for water rights acquisition for the Lahontan 
Valley Wetlands, Churchill County, Nevada, is available for public 
review. Five alternatives are being considered, including the Proposed 
Action. This notice is being furnished pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

DATES: A Record of Decision will be issued no sooner than 30 days 
following the publication of the Notice of Availability of the final 
EIS filed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final EIS may be inspected at the following 
locations:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuges and Wildlife, 
Eastside Federal Complex, Third Floor, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, 
OR 97232
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, 1000 Auction Road, Fallon, NV 
89406
Churchill County Public Library, 553 South Maine St., Fallon, NV 89406
Nevada State Library and Archives, Reference Desk, 1000 Stewart Street, 
Carson City, NV 89701
Washoe County Public Library, Reno Branch, 301 S. Center Street, Reno, 
NV 89501

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Refuge Manager, Stillwater National 
Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 1236, Fallon, NV 89407, (702) 423-5128.
    Individuals desiring a copy of the final EIS should contact the 
above address. Copies have been sent to all agencies and individuals 
who participated in the scoping process and were added to the mailing 
list, and to those people that requested to be added to the mailing 
list.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act (Public 
Law 101-618) directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire enough 
water and water rights to sustain, on a long-term average, 
approximately 25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat in the Lahontan 
Valley. Primary wetland habitat refers to wetland habitat within 
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Stillwater Wildlife Management 
Area, Carson Lake and Pasture, and Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Indian 
Reservation wetlands. It was determined that up to 125,000 acre-feet 
(AF) of water will be needed each year to sustain a long-term average 
of 25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat. Consequently, the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (Service) developed and analyzed four 
alternatives, including the Proposed Action, for securing up to 125,000 
acre-feet (AF) of water for Lahontan Valley wetlands. A No Action 
Alternative was also developed and analyzed. The purpose of the final 
EIS is to analyze the potential consequences of the five alternatives 
being considered.
    A draft EIS describing and evaluating the alternatives was released 
in July 1995, followed by a 90-day public comment period. The Service 
reviewed, carefully considered, and responded to all comments received 
on the draft EIS. The document was revised based on comments received 
and on necessary factual corrections and editorial changes.
    The five alternatives are: (1) No Action Alternative, which 
includes the acquisition of 20,000 AF of water rights from within the 
Carson Division of the Newlands Project; (2) Proposed Action, which 
proposes the purchase of up to 122,000 AF of water rights; (3) Least 
Cost Alternative, which would result in the purchase of up to 100,000 
AF of water rights; (4) Maximum Acquisition Alternative, which would 
result in up to 133,500 AF being purchased; and (5) the Service's 
Preferred Alternative, which would result in (a) the acquisition of up 
to 75,000 AF of water rights in the Carson Division, (b) leasing of 
water, (c) acquisition of water rights from the Middle Carson River 
corridor, (d) use of conserved U.S. Navy water as available, and (e) 
pumping of groundwater. Alternatives 2-5 each include the acquisition 
of 20,000 AF under the No Action Alternative.
    Under the Preferred Alternative, the Service would acquire 
sufficient water and water rights to provide a total annual average of 
125,000 AF of inflow to primary wetland areas to achieve the objective 
of sustaining 25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat in the Lahontan 
Valley. The amount acquired by the Service would supplement available 
drainwater, spills, water being acquired by the Service under earlier 
authorizations, and water being acquired by the State of Nevada for 
primary wetland areas.
    To meet the needed 125,000 AF of annual average wetland inflow, the 
Service would, under the Preferred Alternative, acquire up to 75,000 AF 
of water rights (including the ongoing 20,000 AF acquisition program). 
This would amount to about 40 percent of the water rights in the Carson 
Division of the Newlands Irrigation Project (Newlands Project). Because 
the Service would exercise a use-rate of 2.99 AF/acre for the 
agricultural water rights acquired (which have 3.5 and 4.5 AF/acre/year 
entitlements), the wetlands would receive an annual average of about 
62,000 AF from this source of water. Under this alternative, it is 
expected that about 19,700 AF of agricultural drainflows and about 
9,700 AF of Lahontan Reservoir spill-water would reach the primary 
wetland areas on average over the long term. A combination of other 
methods (e.g., leasing) and other sources would be used, under the 
Preferred Alternative, to meet the 125,000 AF/year demand for wetland 
protection. These sources would contribute an average of about 33,600 
AF/year to the wetland demand.
    Purchase of water rights would be from willing sellers only. In 
addition to purchase and leasing of water rights, donations and 
exchange of water rights would be utilized as opportunities arise.

[[Page 52054]]

    The final EIS evaluates the Preferred Alternative and other 
alternatives relative to their potential effects on: (1) Newlands 
Project operations and infrastructure; (2) water resources; (3) 
biological resources; (4) regional agriculture, farmlands, and the 
local economy; (5) regional recreation; (6) land use; (7) social 
values; (8) Indian trust assets; and (9) cultural resources. Estimated 
acquisition costs are also disclosed.

    Dated: September 24, 1996.
John H. Doebel,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-25166 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M