[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53756-53757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26297]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Option and Lease Agreement Among the Ak-Chin Indian Community, 
the United States, and Del Webb Corporation, Maricopa County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to prepare an environmental assessment and notice of 
public scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, the 
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare a draft 
environmental assessment (EA) for approval of the provision of leased 
settlement water under an option and lease agreement among the Ak-Chin 
Indian Community, the United States, and the Del Webb Corporation. 
Reclamation is initiating early scoping for the proposed EA and will be 
conducting a scoping meeting. Reclamation intends that this scoping 
meeting be used to serve as public scoping for preparation of an 
environmental impact statement (EIS), should it be determined that one 
is required.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Mr. Bruce D. Ellis, Chief, 
Environmental Resource Management Division, Phoenix Area Office, Bureau 
of Reclamation, P.O. Box 9980, Phoenix, AZ 85068-0980. The scoping 
meeting will be held at New River Elementary School, 48827 North Black 
Canyon Highway, New River, AZ.

DATES: The scoping meeting to solicit comments on the contents of the 
EA will be November 2, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. To ensure consideration in 
the environmental analysis, the comments should be received by Mr. 
Ellis no later than November 9, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Eto, Environmental Resource 
Management Division, Phoenix Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. 
Box 9980, Phoenix, Arizona 85068-0980; telephone (602) 870-6771.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ak-Chin Indian Community has agreed to 
lease between 6,000 and 10,000 acre-feet per year of water to the Del 
Webb Corporation (Del Webb). Del Webb plans to construct a 9-mile long 
water delivery pipeline from Waddell Canal to Villages at Desert Hills 
(Villages) project, a proposed 5,661-acre future master planned 
community. The location of Villages is approximately 3 miles north of 
Carefree Highway and 7 miles east of Lake Pleasant on Interstate 17 in 
Maricopa County, Arizona.
    Reclamation approved categorical exclusion No. PXAO-95-9 in 
December of 1994 for the Option and Lease Agreement Among the Ak-Chin 
Indian Community, the United States, and Del Webb Corporation according 
to Exclusion Category 9.4.D.14. The Categorical Exclusion indicated, 
however, that ``[t]he environmental impacts which will result from the 
Secretary's approval of the option and lease agreement are not clear at 
this time since Del Webb has not yet finalized its plans for taking and 
using the leased settlement water.'' Del Webb has developed its plans 
for taking and using the leased settlement water. Reclamation has 
determined an EA should be prepared to determine whether a Finding of 
No Significant Impact is appropriate or if an EIS needs to be prepared.
    The EA will describe the environmental consequences that would 
result from the delivery of leased settlement water. Reclamation plans 
to focus on impacts associated with construction of a water delivery 
pipeline and treatment plant. The EA will evaluate in detail the 
proposed action and will discuss alternative pipeline alignments that 
were considered but rejected from detailed consideration. Key issues to 
be addressed in the EA will include:
     Biological resource effects, including loss of desert 
habitat, impacts on plant and wildlife species, and special status 
species effects;
     Historic and prehistoric cultural resource effects;
     Hydrology, water quality and soils effects;
     Air quality and noise effects;
     Traffic and circulation effects; and
     Land use and aesthetic effects.
    The EA will also evaluate indirect effects of the proposed action. 
In addition, the EA will include a No-Action Alternative. The No-Action 
Alternative represents the conditions that are assumed to exist in the 
absence of the Federal action, and provides a basis for comparison with 
the proposed action. Del Webb has identified alternative water supply 
options that could be used in the absence of the leased settlement 
water. Based on this information, Reclamation assumes development of 
the Villages project will occur in the absence of the proposed action.
    Reclamation is circulating this notice for preparation of an EA and 
early scoping because of considerable public interest and the need to 
ensure that all

[[Page 53757]]

relevant issues are evaluated in the EA. Reclamation will consult with 
other Federal, State, and local agencies with specific expertise 
regarding environmental impacts related to the project. If you would 
like to be placed on a mailing list for any subsequent information, 
please write or telephone Ms. Eto.
    If an EIS is later required, Reclamation will submit a Notice of 
Intent to prepare an EIS and will provide opportunity for the public to 
submit written comments suggesting impacts and alternatives that should 
be addressed in the EIS.

    Dated: October 8, 1996.
Larry D. Morton,
Assistant Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-26297 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P