[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47042-47043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23804]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the El Paso-Las Cruces Regional 
Sustainable Water Project Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, New Mexico and 
El Paso County, TX

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico.

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

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that pursuant to section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 
the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission 
(USIBWC) in conjunction with the El Paso Water Utilities/Public Service 
Board (EPWU/PSB) proposes to gather information necessary to analyze 
and evaluate the impacts of the proposed El Paso-Las Cruces Regional 
Sustainable Water Project in Sierra and Dona Ana counties, New Mexico 
and El Paso County, Texas and prepare an EIS to document those effects. 
This notice is being provided as required by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) and the USIBWC's 
Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, published in the Federal Register 
September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083-44094) to obtain suggestions and 
information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues 
to be addressed in the EIS. Public meetings and workshops will be held 
to obtain community input to ensure all concerns are identified and 
addressed in the EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas Echlin, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 
North Mesa Street, C-310, El Paso, Texas 79902 or call 915/832-4150 
extension 2. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    One of the most important challenges the El Paso-Las Cruces region 
faces is the long-term supply of drinking water. Rapid growth within 
the region has resulted in greater use of the local aquifers, a major 
regional source of drinking water, which are now experiencing net 
depletions. The New Mexico-Texas Water Commission (Commission) was 
established in 1991 to help meet the region's water resource 
challenges, and the El Paso-Las Cruces Regional Sustainable Water 
Project was conceived.
    The proposed project's primary mission is to provide a sustainable 
water supply for the El Paso-Las Cruces region. The overall objectives 
established by the Commission are: (1) improve and protect surface and 
ground water quality; (2) preserve the Hueco and Mesilla ground water 
basins; (3) implement year-round delivery of surface water which will 
enhance agricultural and municipal water supplies and the riverine 
ecosystem; (4) increase supplies through more efficient delivery, water 
conservation, and water treatment means; and (5) continue to meet 
treaty, compact, and contract requirements for water deliveries of Rio 
Grande Project waters.
    The proposed project would provide nearly 230 million gallons per 
day (MGD) year-round surface water to communities and other water users 
in southern New Mexico and far west Texas. The communities expected to 
benefit from the proposed project would include but are not limited to 
Hatch, Las Cruces, and Anthony, New Mexico and Anthony, Canutillo, and 
El Paso, Texas. Surface deliveries of year-round waters would be 
accomplished through acquisition of agricultural water rights and 
conversion to municipal and industrial (M&I) uses. A series of 
alternative approaches have been developed that would convey the water 
through use of the river channel and include construction of new 
conveyance facilities and treatment plants, upgrading and using 
existing conveyance facilities and treatment plants, or a combination 
of these means.

2. Alternatives

    The USIBWC as lead agency in conjunction with the EPWU/PSB proposes 
to gather information necessary for the preparation of an EIS to 
analyze alternatives for the proposed El Paso-Las Cruces Regional 
Sustainable Water Project. The EIS will consider a range of 
alternatives, including the no action alternative, based on issues and 
concerns associated with the project.

[[Page 47043]]

Significant issues which have been identified to be addressed in the 
EIS include but are not limited to impacts to water and air quality, 
surface and ground water resources, land use, prime and unique 
farmlands, public health, cultural and biological resources, threatened 
and endangered species, recreation, and environmental justice.
    Accordingly, specific purposes were developed to focus water supply 
scenarios and to establish criteria to be used by decision-makers in 
judging the alternatives during the NEPA process. Project alternatives 
considered for the environmental impact studies should protect and 
maintain sustainability of the Mesilla aquifer, and extend the 
longevity of the Hueco aquifer by limiting ground water depletions and 
by implementing aquifer storage.
    Project alternatives should provide year-round drinking water 
supply from the Rio Grande Project of sufficient quantity and quality 
to meet anticipated municipal needs. Alternatives considered in the 
NEPA process should meet year 2030 M&I needs of Hatch, Las Cruces, 
northern and southern Dona Ana County, Anthony/Canutillo area, 
northwest and northeast El Paso, and areas served by the Canal and 
expanded Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plants. They should also 
attempt to provide raw drinking water supply with total dissolved 
solids (TDS) less than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) and sulfates less 
than 300 ppm since water with higher quantities cannot be 
conventionally treated. Additionally, project alternatives should also 
protect and enhance riverine ecosystems, specifically aquatic and 
riparian habitats; and should facilitate the efficient conveyance of 
agricultural water and water conservation.
    Coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will 
ensure compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Cultural 
resources reconnaissance for the project area will be coordinated with 
both the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer and the Texas 
State Historic Preservation Officer. Other federal and state agencies, 
as required, will also be consulted to ensure compliance with federal 
and state laws and regulations.

3. Scoping Process

    The USIBWC and EPWU/PSB will conduct scoping meetings and workshops 
to obtain information on which to base alternatives to be analyzed in 
the NEPA process. The USIBWC is the federal lead agency in the NEPA 
process and development of the EIS. The United States Bureau of 
Reclamation and United States Fish and Wildlife Service have indicated 
that they will participate as cooperating agencies pursuant to 40 CFR 
1501.6, to the extent possible. Other federal and state agencies may 
also become cooperators as they are identified during the scoping 
process.
    Three public scoping meetings and workshops for the proposed 
project will be conducted from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, 
September 16, 1998 at the Gadsden Middle School Cafeteria, 1325 West 
Washington, Anthony, New Mexico; on Wednesday, September 23, 1998 at 
the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las 
Cruces, New Mexico; and on Thursday, September 24, 1998 at Jefferson 
High School Cafeteria, 4700 Alameda, El Paso, Texas. Comments are 
encouraged to be sent to the address given in this notice and will be 
accepted for 60-days following the date of this notice.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, CEQ Regulations (40 CFR Parts 
1500-1508), other appropriate federal regulations, and the USIBWC 
procedures for compliance with those regulations. Copies of the EIS 
will be transmitted to federal and state agencies and other interested 
parties for comments and will be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency in accordance with 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 and USIBWC 
procedures.
    The USIBWC anticipates the Draft EIS will be made available to the 
public by March, 2000.

    Dated: August 20, 1998.
William A. Wilcox, Jr.,
Legal Advisor.
[FR Doc. 98-23804 Filed 9-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-P