[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 61344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30062]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Westland Irrigation District Boundary Adjustment, Hermiston, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 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) intends to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposed boundary 
adjustment to include additional lands into the Westland Irrigation 
District. Westland Irrigation District (WID) proposes the addition of 
21,100 acres, of which 9,912 acres are currently irrigated, into their 
boundaries.
    The NEPA process was initiated in late 1993 and, as a result of 
comments received then, has been on hold until additional information 
was obtained. This notice is to inform the public of the resumption of 
the NEPA process and the preparation of an EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Tiedeman, UCA-1607, Upper 
Columbia Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 1749, Yakima WA 
98907-1749; Telephone (509) 575-5848 extension 238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WID is one of several districts in the 
Umatilla basin either served by federally owned facilities or receiving 
federally controlled water. A Federal repayment contract with WID 
requires that changes to district boundaries must be approved by the 
Secretary of the Interior. During studies undertaken to implement the 
Umatilla Basin Project Act, it became apparent that WID was providing 
federally supplied water to lands outside of the district boundaries. 
In 1993, to address this problem, WID requested that Reclamation allow 
a change in their boundaries so that they may provide irrigation water 
to lands outside the current boundaries. In the interim Reclamation 
entered into a series of annual water service contracts with WID so 
irrigation of lands outside of the district boundaries with federally 
supplied water could continue while issues surrounding the boundary 
expansion were resolved.
    Reclamation and the Natural Resources Department of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) held 
public meetings on November 4 and December 17, 1993, to gather comments 
from the public concerning the ``Proposed Boundary Changes for 
Irrigation Districts in the Umatilla Project, Oregon.'' Key issues 
identified in the scoping effort included Umatilla River hydrology and 
passage conditions for anadromous fish, Native American trust 
resources, and continued viability of irrigated agriculture. Based on 
the complex and often controversial nature of the issues involved, the 
high level of public and agency interest, and Reclamation's Native 
American trust responsibilities, Reclamation concluded that an EIS 
should be prepared. Since then, a hydrologic model of the Umatilla 
basin, necessary to complete the assessment of the proposed boundary 
adjustment, has been developed. Completion of the hydrologic model is 
anticipated for February 1998.
    Four alternatives are proposed, including the no action 
alternative. Under the no action alternative all deliveries of 
federally supplied water by WID to lands outside of the current 
district boundaries would cease. Under the action alternatives some, or 
all, of these deliveries could continue. The draft EIS is expected to 
be completed in March of 1999.
    At this time, no additional scoping meetings are planned. A summary 
of scoping issues identified through previous meetings is available 
upon request. Anyone interested in more information concerning the 
proposed action or who has information concerning significant 
environmental issues, should contact Mr. Tiedeman as provided under the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

    Dated: October 17, 1997.
John W. Keys, III,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-30062 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M