[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18649-18650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9734]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program, Planning Report 
and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Colorado River Salinity 
Control Program, Price-San Rafael River Units, Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: In June 1974, Congress enacted the Colorado River Basin 
Salinity Control Act (Act). This Act directed the Secretary of the 
Interior to develop a program to enhance and

[[Page 18650]]

protect water quality in the Colorado River for use in the United 
States and the Republic of Mexico. Using the criterion set forth in 
this Act and its amendments, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation 
Service (NRCS) (formerly the Soil Conservation Service), as joint lead 
agencies, have prepared a Planning Report and Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (PR/FEIS) for the Price-San Rafael River Units, of the 
Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program and the Colorado River 
Salinity Control Program. The Preferred Alternative for accomplishing 
the goals set forth for the Price-San Rafael River Units is identified 
in a Record of Decision (ROD) signed April 9, 1997. Reclamation and 
NRCS have decided to proceed with the preferred alternative identified 
in the PR/FEIS.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD may be requested from the Bureau of 
Reclamation, Attention: Provo Area Office, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, 
Utah 84606-7317.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dan Fritz at (801) 379-1150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 1974, Congress enacted the Colorado 
River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act), Pub. L. 93-320. The Act directs 
that plans will be made and evaluated for cost effectiveness and 
maximum salinity reduction. In October 1984, Pub. L. 98-569 was enacted 
amending the Salinity Control Act of 1974. It directed the Secretary of 
Agriculture to establish a voluntary on-farm salinity control Program 
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In March 1994, a public 
review of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program was 
initiated. The result was a 1995 amendment (Pub. L. 104-20) to the 
Salinity Control Act. The new Act authorized a basin-wide salinity 
control program that the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
Bureau of Reclamation, shall implement. An additional $75,000,000 was 
authorized to be appropriated to complete the program.
    The preferred alternative identified in the ROD includes both 
Reclamation's component for off-farm irrigation systems and winter 
water improvements and the NRCS's on-farm irrigation systems. The 
preferred alternative includes installation of sprinkler irrigation 
systems, improved surface irrigation and irrigation water management, 
and the elimination of water for open conveyance systems in the project 
area during the winter (or non-irrigation) season. These on- and off-
farm irrigation improvement components are interdependent in terms of 
economic and efficient operation. This alternative would result in the 
removal of 161,000 tons of salt per year from the Colorado River 
System.

    Dated: April 9, 1997.
Rick L. Gold,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-9734 Filed 4-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M