[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44751-44752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21390]


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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 Rio Grande Canalization 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

[[Page 44752]]

Water Commission (USIBWC) proposes to gather information necessary to 
analyze and evaluate the impacts of a River Management Plan by the 
USIBWC on the existing Rio Grande Canalization 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 will be 
held to obtain community input to ensure all concerns are identified 
and addressed in the EIS.

DATES: The USIBWC will conduct two public scoping meetings from 6:00 to 
8:00 p.m. MST on Tuesday, October 5, 1999 at the Las Cruces Hilton, 705 
South Telshor Boulevard, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and on Wednesday, 
October 6, 1999 at the EL Paso Airport Hilton, 2027 Airways Boulevard, 
El Paso, Texas. Full public participation by interested federal, state, 
and local agencies as well as other interested organizations and the 
general public is encouraged during the scoping process which will end 
60 days from the date of this notice. Public comments on the scope of 
the EIS, reasonable alternatives that should be considered, anticipated 
environmental problems, and actions that might be taken to address them 
are requested.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments will be accepted for 60 days 
following the date of this notice by Mr. Douglas Echlin, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 
North Mesa Street, C-310, EL Paso, Texas 79902. Telephone: 915/832-
4741, Facsimile: 915/832-4167. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: .

1. Proposed Action

    The Rio Grande Canalization Project (Canalization Project) extends 
for about 106 miles along the Rio Grande from Percha Diversion Dam, 
located downstream from Caballo Dam in Sierra County, New Mexico, to 
the vicinity of American Diversion Dam in El Paso County, Texas. The 
Canalization Project was constructed between 1938 and 1943 in 
compliance with the convention between the United States and Mexico 
concluded May 21, 1906, to provide for the equitable division of the 
waters of the Rio Grande for use in the two countries. The project 
included acquisition of right of way for the river channel and 
adjoining floodways and improvement of the alignment and efficiency of 
the river channel to convey deliveries to Mexico, as well as conveyance 
of deliveries to the United States Bureau of Reclamation Rio Grande 
Project in the El Paso valley of Texas. The Canalization Project also 
controls floods in the river reach which extends through the Rincon and 
Mesilla valleys of New Mexico. Proposed construction activities that 
will be studied in this EIS include but may not be limited to raising 
and strengthening existing levees, channel improvements such as 
widening or armoring with riprap, and installation of grade control 
structures. In addition, the EIS will study the environmental effects 
of a long-range maintenance plan that will be developed.

2. Alternatives

    The USIBWC as lead agency proposes to collect information necessary 
for the preparation of an EIS; to analyze flood protection measures and 
alternatives to current management, including watershed-oriented and 
non-structural alternatives and collaborative measures with other 
agencies and landowners; to determine to what extent project management 
can support restoration of native riparian and aquatic habitats, as 
well as the restoration of natural fluvial processes such as channel 
meanders and overbank flooding. The EIS will consider a range of 
alternatives, including the no action alternative, based on issues and 
concerns associated with the project.
    The EIS will identify, describe, and evaluate the existing 
environmental, cultural, sociological and economical, and recreational 
resources; explain the flood protection project; and evaluate the 
impacts associated with the alternatives under consideration. 
Significant issues which have been identified to be addressed in the 
EIS include but are not limited to impacts to water resources, water 
quality, cultural and biological resources, threatened and endangered 
species, and recreation.
    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.
    The USIBWC has invited several agencies including the United States 
Bureau of Reclamation and United States Fish and Wildlife Service to 
participate as cooperating agencies pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6, to the 
extent possible. Other agencies may be invited to become cooperators as 
they are identified during the scoping process.
    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 2001.

    Dated: August 10, 1999.
William A. Wilcox, Jr.,
Legal Advisor.
[FR Doc. 99-21390 Filed 8-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-M