[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58083-58084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28877]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Decision and Notice of Availability of the Record of 
Decision

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of (1) the decision of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) with respect to acquiring water 
rights for the Lahontan Valley wetlands, Churchill County, Nevada; and 
(2) the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the final 
Environmental Impact Statement (final EIS) for water rights acquisition 
for the Lahontan Valley Wetlands. The ROD was prepared in accordance 
with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1505.2) and 
the Service's implementing procedures for the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (40 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) The ROD documents the 
decision of the Service based on the information contained in the final 
EIS, which was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency on 
October 4, 1996. The Service has selected the Preferred Alternative 
(Alternative 5), as described in the final EIS and ROD, for 
implementation. Additional clarification regarding implementation of 
the water rights acquisition strategies of Alternative 5 was added to 
the ROD.

ADDRESS: To obtain a copy of the ROD or for further information, 
contact Dan Walsworth, Refuge Manager, Stillwater National Wildlife 
Refuge, P.O. Box 1236, Fallon, Nevada 89407, telephone (702) 423-5128.
    The Selected Alternative: Based on review of the alternatives and 
their environmental consequences described in the Final EIS, the 
Service has selected Alternative 5, the Preferred Alternative. 
Implementation of Alternative 5 will minimize adverse impacts to the 
farming community while achieving the 25,000-acre wetland habitat 
objective and providing flexibility in the use of several water 
sources.
    Alternatives Considered: The five alternatives considered were: (1) 
No Action Alternative, which includes the acquisition of 20,000 AF of 
water rights form 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 
and would provide an annual average of about 125,000 AF of water for 
wetlands protection.
    Environmentally Preferred Alternative: The Service considers that 
Alternative 4 would best enhance and protect the natural environment 
and natural resources. It would result in the greatest benefit to 
wetland habitat and wetland-dependent wildlife by providing the highest 
quality wetland inflow through the exclusive use of irrigation-quality 
water and the non-use

[[Page 58084]]

of agricultural drainwater. Of the action alternatives, ecological 
integrity and health would be highest under Alternative 4 over the long 
term. Consequently, Alternative 4 has been identified as the 
environmentally preferred alternative.
    Mitigation and Monitoring: Whereas Alternative 2 was put forth in 
the draft EIS as the Service's proposed course of action and would 
provide the wetlands with a more secure supply of higher quality water, 
Alternative 5 was selected for implementation in large part because it 
provides a broader approach by minimizing adverse impacts to farmland, 
the agricultural community, groundwater recharge, and related resources 
in the Carson Division. Adverse impacts will be minimized primarily by 
minimizing the purchase of Carson Division water rights. Of the action 
alternatives, Alternative 5 would have the least impact on these 
resources. By implementing Alternative 5, with the mitigation 
provisions identified in the ROD, all practicable means to avoid or 
minimize environmental harm have been adopted.
    Potential mitigation measures were identified in the final EIS for 
reducing or avoiding adverse impacts to agriculture, groundwater 
recharge, and wildlife habitat. The ROD lists several of these 
mitigation measures that the Service has committed to undertake. The 
Service will implement the specified mitigation measures as part of the 
water rights acquisition program. The ROD also outlines a monitoring 
program to which the Service is committed. The Service will continue 
monitoring the acreage of wetland habitat. Once a long-term average of 
25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat is being sustained and it is 
determined that this long-term average can be sustained, the Service 
will terminate water rights purchases.
    The Decision: The decision of the Service is to implement 
Alternative 5, the Preferred Alternative. Implementation of Alternative 
5, as described in Section 2.5.5 of the final EIS, and the mitigation 
and monitoring identified above, will take effect on December 19, 1996, 
45 days after the signing of the ROD.

    Dated: November 5, 1996.
Richard B. Moore,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-28877 Filed 11-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M