[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 3588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1600]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Umatilla Basin Project, Umatilla, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) proposes to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) on implementing Phase III of the Umatilla Basin Project. The 
Phase III study will evaluate the potential for modifying and expanding 
Reclamation's existing Umatilla Basin Project (Project) to provide 
additional flows in the Umatilla River for anadromous fish. In 
addition, the study will evaluate potential measures to improve 
municipal and industrial water supplies in the study area. 
Alternatives, including no action, will be evaluated in the EIS.

ADDRESSES: 
Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 1150 N Curtis 
Road, Suite 100, Boise, ID 83706-1234.
Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, P.O. Box 1749, 
Yakima, WA 98907-1749.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information on the study, contact Robert Hamilton, Activity 
Manager, at (208) 378-5087 or at the above regional office address. For 
information regarding the NEPA process, contact John Tiedeman, 
Environmental Specialist, at (509) 575-5848 ext. 238 or at the above 
area office address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authorization for this study is contained in 
the Feasibility Studies Act of 1966, Public Law 89-561. The study will 
build upon prior activities authorized as part of the Project. These 
activities meet some but not all of the fishery needs of the basin. 
Recent data collected from monitoring of instream flows indicate that 
the restoration of flows resulting from Project activities to date will 
be less than originally estimated.
    This study will evaluate the potential of providing water from the 
Columbia River to the Westland Irrigation District in exchange for 
water normally diverted from the Umatilla River. This would leave 
additional flows for resident and anadromous fish species in the river 
downstream of the Westland Irrigation District diversion. Restoration 
of the fishery would be of major cultural and economic importance to 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation for whom anadromous 
fisheries are Indian Trust Assets. Other opportunities for instream 
enhancement and opportunities for enhancement of municipal and 
industrial water supplies will also be evaluated.
    Reclamation plans to conduct public scoping meetings to identify 
issues and concerns will be used in the development of alternatives. 
The dates, times, and locations of public scoping meetings will be 
noted in newspapers of general circulation in the Pendleton and 
Hermiston, Oregon, areas and surrounding communities.

    Dated: January 15, 1998.
John W. Keys, III,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 98-1600 Filed 1-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M