[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5754]


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UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Provo 
River Restoration Project

AGENCIES: The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission 
(Mitigation Commission).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: On February 23, 1998, Don A. Christiansen, Chairman of the 
Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission signed the 
Record of Decision (ROD) which documents the selection of the Proposed 
Action (the Riverine Habitat Restoration Alternative) as presented in 
the Provo River Restoration Project (PRRP) Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS), MC FES 97-01, filed December 23, 1997. The Mitigation 
Commission and the Department of the Interior served as joint lead 
agencies in the preparation of the PRRP FEIS. The Proposed Action and 
three alternatives are described and evaluated in the FEIS upon which 
the ROD is based. Implementation of the Proposed Action responds to the 
Mitigation Commission's and the Department of the Interior's need to 
mitigate for impacts of the Bonneville Unit of the Central Utah Project 
and other federal reclamation projects and to restore and improve fish 
and riparian habitats in the Provo River. The Proposed Action will 
accomplish this by making modifications to the shape, slope and 
alignment of the Provo River between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek 
Reservoir (Project Area). The objective of the modifications is to 
create a more naturally functioning river system, and thereby enhance 
biological productivity and diversity of the fish habitat, riparian, 
and other environmental resources in the river corridor. Public access 
would be provided to the restored and enhanced fishery and natural 
area.
    The Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Department of the 
Interior, will issue a separate ROD for the PRRP. The Assistant 
Secretary's separate decision is necessitated by the responsibility and 
authority of the Department of the Interior to mitigate for reclamation 
projects and because of the use of federal lands and interests in lands 
administered by the Bureau of Reclamation within the Project Area for 
the PRRP.
    The Mitigation Commission selected the Proposed Action because it 
most thoroughly and effectively meets the need to restore and improve 
fish and riparian habitats in the Provo River as mitigation for the CUP 
and the Provo River Project. The Proposed Action meets mitigation 
requirements established by the Bureau of Reclamation's 1987 Final 
Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement for the Municipal and 
Industrial System of the Bonneville Unit (INT FES 87-8); by the 1988 
Supplement to the Definite Plan Report for the Bonneville Unit; by the 
1988 Aquatic Mitigation Plan for the Strawberry Aqueduct and Collection 
System of the Bonneville Unit of CUP; and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's report on the PRRP which identified mitigation needs for the 
Provo River Project.
    The Proposed Action will accomplish these measures by increasing 
the length of the Provo River by 19 percent and improving the quality 
of the associated fish, wildlife and riparian habitat by restoring a 
meandering channel pattern and floodplain. Trout biomass is expected to 
increase by 481 percent over baseline. The Proposed Action would 
restore 237 acres of riparian habitats, thereby meeting the need for 
riparian habitat mitigation for impacts of the Jordanelle Reservoir 
component of the Municipal and Industrial System of the Bonneville Unit 
of CUP. Of principal significance, the Proposed Action not only meets 
the legal mitigation obligations of the PRRP, but is the alternative 
that most thoroughly meets the Mitigation Commission's ecosystem 
restoration standard established by the Central Utah Project Completion 
Act (Public Law 102-575) in 1992.
    During preparation of the FEIS, the Mitigation Commission consulted 
formally on listed species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS) under Sec. 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. sections 
1531 to 1544, as amended). In a letter dated December 10, 1997, the FWS 
indicated that the Proposed Action Alternative selected by this ROD is 
not likely to adversely affect listed or proposed species or designated 
or proposed critical habitats. The Mitigation Commission and the 
Department of the Interior will continue to consult with FWS prior to 
and during construction to avoid actions that may affect proposed or 
listed species or their proposed or designated critical habitats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Additional information on matters related to 
this Federal Register notice can be obtained at the address and 
telephone number set forth below:
    Mr. Mark Holden, Projects Manager, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and 
Conservation Commission, 102 West 500 South, Suite 315, Salt Lake City, 
UT 84601, Telephone: (801) 524-3146.

    Dated: February 24, 1998.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission.
[FR Doc. 98-5754 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P