[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 28406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13665]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Water and Science


Central Utah Project Completion Act

    Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Provo River 
Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement documenting 
the Department of Interior's approval for the Utah Reclamation 
Mitigation and Conservation Commission to proceed with the construction 
of the Proposed Action Alternative.

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science, 
Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Provo River Restoration Project 
Record of Decision.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On April 1, 1998, Patricia J. Beneke, Assistant Secretary--
Water and Science, Department of the Interior, signed the Record of 
Decision (ROD) which documents the selection of the Proposed Action 
Alternative (Riverine Habitat Restoration Alternative) as presented in 
the Provo River Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS), MC FES 97-01, filed December 23, 1997. The ROD 
approves the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission 
(Mitigation Commission) proceeding with construction of the Provo River 
Restoration Project (PRRP) and authorizes Department of the Interior 
agencies to assist the Mitigation Commission with this project. The 
Department of the Interior and the Mitigation Commission served as the 
Joint Lead Agencies in the preparation of the NEPA compliance 
documents.
    The FEIS for the PRRP considered three action alternatives 
(including the Proposed Action), as well as the No Action Alternative, 
for river restoration. The Assistant Secretary determined that the 
Proposed Action Alternative provides the greatest amount of mitigation 
and enhancement benefit among all alternatives considered.
    Construction of the PRRP will restore a more natural steam channel 
along about 10 miles of the Provo River between Jordanelle Dam and Deer 
Creek Reservoir through the Heber Valley in Wasatch County, Utah. The 
project will fulfill Interior's environmental commitments made in the 
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 1987 Final Supplement to the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement, Municipal and Industrial System of the 
Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project (INT FES 87-8). These commitments 
are now binding upon the Mitigation Commission. The selected 
alternative will fulfill the environmental commitments by: acquiring 
lands in public ownership along the Provo River thereby increasing 
public access for angling and other low impact recreation, restoring 
aquatic habitats to increase game fish populations, eliminating fish 
migration barriers and aquatic habitat impacts currently associated 
with operating irrigation diversion facilities, and providing public 
management of newly acquired lands to maximize public recreation 
benefits.
    During preparation of the FEIS, the Mitigation Commission consulted 
formally on listed species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS) under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C.A. 
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. Interior and the 
Mitigation Commission 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 habitat.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information on matters 
related to this Federal Register notice can be obtained at the address 
and telephone number set forth below:

Mr. Ralph G. Swanson, Program Coordinator, CUP Completion Act Office, 
Department of the Interior, 302 East 1860 South, Provo UT 84606-7317, 
Telephone: (801) 379-1254.

    Dated: April 23, 1998.
Ronald Johnston,
Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 98-13665 Filed 5-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-RK-P