[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 36712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17144]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science
[FES 99-25]


Central Utah Project Completion Act; Diamond Fork System, 
Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project

AGENCIES: The Department of the Interior (Department); the Central Utah 
Water Conservancy District (CUWCD); and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation 
and Conservation Commission (Mitigation Commission).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Supplement to the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FS-FEIS).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Department, CUWCD, and the 
Mitigation Commission, have issued a joint Final Supplement to the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FS-FEIS) for the Diamond Fork 
System, Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project. The FS-FEIS addresses 
potential impacts related to construction and operation of the features 
proposed for completing the Diamond Fork System. The FS-FEIS is 
intended to satisfy disclosure requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will serve as the NEPA compliance 
document for contracts, agreements and permits that would be required 
for construction and operation of the Diamond Fork System. The 
Department, CUWCD, and Mitigation Commission will use the FS-FEIS and 
other relevant materials to plan actions and make decisions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Diamond Fork System is one of six systems of the Bonneville 
Unit of the Central Utah Project that would develop central Utah's 
water resources for irrigation, municipal and industrial supply, fish 
and wildlife, and recreation. It was first identified in the Bonneville 
Unit Final EIS in 1973, described in detail in the Diamond Fork Power 
System Final EIS in 1984, and in the Diamond Fork System Final 
Supplement to the Final EIS in 1990. The Diamond Fork System has been 
modified over the years and has been partially constructed. Additional 
modifications to the System were proposed in the Spanish Fork Canyon--
Nephi Irrigation System (SFN) Draft EIS in 1998. A notice was published 
in the Federal Register on October 14, 1998, announcing the Department, 
CUWCD, and Mitigation Commission's intent to discontinue planning of 
the SFN system and to prepare the Diamond Fork FS-FEIS.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action would: (1) Maintain the statutorily mandated 
minimum flows in Diamond Fork Creek and Sixth Water Creek; (2) 
implement the Department's environmental commitments on the Diamond 
Fork Pipeline from the 1995 Record of Decision; (3) meet the CUWCD's 
Municipal and Industrial water contractual commitments to Salt Lake, 
Utah and Wasatch counties; and (4) provide the Mitigation Commission 
the opportunity and flexibility for future restoration of aquatic and 
riparian habitat in Sixth Water and Diamond Fork creeks to protect 
water quality and threatened species in Diamond Fork Creek. The Diamond 
Fork System would be completed by constructing a series of tunnels and 
pipelines to convey water through the mountainous terrain of Diamond 
Fork Canyon and various Diamond Fork drainage tributary canyons in the 
Uinta National Forest. The features would include Tanner Ridge Tunnel, 
Diamond Fork Siphon, Red Mountain Tunnel, Red Hollow Pipeline, Diamond 
Fork Creek Outlet, Spanish Fork River Outlet from Diamond Fork 
Pipeline, modifications to Spanish Fork River diversion dams if 
necessary, and other appurtenant facilities.

No Action Alternative

    Implementation of the No Action Alternative under the FS-FEIS would 
complete the Diamond Fork System if a decision were made not to proceed 
with future development of the Bonneville Unit through the Utah Lake 
Drainage Basin Water Delivery System. The features of the No Action 
Alternative would include Three Forks Dam and Reservoir, Diamond Fork 
Pipeline Extension, and Spanish Fork River Outlet.

Public Involvement

    Participation has occurred throughout the EIS process. There have 
been numerous open houses, public meetings, and mail-outs to solicit 
comments and ideas. Comments received through the process have been 
considered. A Notice of Intent to prepare the FS-FEIS was published 
October 14, 1998, in the Federal Register (98-27483). Publication of 
the Record of Decision will occur no sooner than 30 days from the date 
of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Additional copies of the FS-FEIS or 
information on matters related to this notice can be obtained on 
request from: Ms. Nancy Hardman, Central Utah Water Conservancy 
District, 355 West University Parkway, Orem, Utah 84058, Telephone: 
(801) 226-7187, Fax: (801) 226-7150.
    Copies are also available for inspection at:

Central Utah Water Conservancy District, 355 West University Parkway, 
Orem, Utah 84058
Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 102 West 500 
South, Suite 315, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Department of the Interior, Natural Resource Library, Serials Branch, 
18th and C Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240
Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project Completion Act Office, 
302 East 1860 South, Provo, Utah 84606

    Dated: July 1, 1999.
Ronald Johnston,
CUPCA Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-17144 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
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