[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2441-2442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-900]


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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 Rectification Project 
El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, Texas

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 (NEPA), as 
amended, and dependent on availability of funding, the United States 
Section, International Boundary and 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 
Rectification Project in El Paso and Hudspeth counties, Texas and 
prepare an EIS to document those effects. This notice is being provided 
as required by the Memorandum of Understanding between the USIBWC and 
Southwest Environmental Center, dated March 22, 1999; 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.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted for an indefinite period of 
time from the date of this notice and continuing until receipt of 
appropriation funds necessary for completion of the EIS. Participation 
by interested federal, state, and local agencies as well as other 
interested organizations and the general public is encouraged during 
this indefinite scoping period. 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 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: The USIBWC proposes, pending appropriation 
of funds, to gather information necessary for the preparation of an EIS 
to be used to determine specific options for the maintenance of the Rio 
Grande Rectification Project (Rectification Project) that could be 
implemented to minimize, consistent with the law and international 
agreements, the impact of project maintenance on ecological and 
environmental resources in the area and to optimize the safety of 
people and property through flood management. The Rectification Project 
is located along the Rio Grande in El Paso and Hudspeth counties, 
Texas. It is an international project that provides a means of 
stabilizing the international boundary line between the United States 
and Mexico in the El Paso-Juarez valley and also provides flood 
protection to urban, suburban and agricultural lands in this valley. In 
1927, the International Boundary Commission (now the International 
Boundary and Water Commission or IBWC), formulated plans for the 
rectification of the river and stabilization of the international 
boundary line in the El Paso-Juarez valley to serve as a basis for a 
Convention between the United States and Mexico authorizing the 
construction of necessary works. The initial construction on the 
Rectification Project was begun in March, 1934, and completed in 1938. 
Subsequently, in the period from 1943 through 1950, supplemental work 
was done which consisted of raising levees upstream from Riverside 
Canal Heading, revetting levees opposite arroyo entrances, revetting 
channel banks, and levelling floodways.
    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 existing international flood protection and 
boundary stabilization 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.
    The USIBWC seeks funding for river levee improvements along the 
international boundary; and pending appropriation of funds, proposed 
construction activities that will be studied in this EIS include 
rehabilitation of existing levees, channel improvements such as 
widening or armoring with riprap, and installation of grade control 
structures. Required work consists of evaluating the integrity of the 
levee system by conducting a series of geotechnical explorations and 
analysis to identify where levee rehabilitation is required. The levee 
rehabilitation work involves the replacement of unstable reaches, 
reconditioning of the levee side slopes, levee road resurfacing, and 
replacement of existing structure gates. The levee system would be 
evaluated and arrangements worked with Mexico for levee rehabilitation 
in both countries with an equal distribution of costs. The proposed 
project also seeks to evaluate best management practices regarding 
flood control, boundary river preservation, and flood plain management, 
taking into account the project riparian ecosystem. In addition, the 
EIS will study the environmental effects of a long-range maintenance 
plan that will be developed.
    Coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will 
ensure compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and 
section 7 of the

[[Page 2442]]

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Cultural resources 
reconnaissance for the project area will be coordinated with 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 environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, CEQ Regulations, other 
appropriate federal regulations, and the USIBWC procedures for 
compliance with those regulations. When the EIS is completed, copies 
will be transmitted to federal and state agencies and other interested 
parties for comments. It will be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency in accordance with 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 and USIBWC 
procedures. The USIBWC estimates, pending receipt of funds necessary 
for completion, the Draft EIS will be completed within three years of 
receipt of those funds.

    Dated: January 5, 2000.
William A. Wilcox, Jr.,
Legal Advisor.
[FR Doc. 00-900 Filed 1-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-P