[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12030-12031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5458]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for upper Rio Grande basin water operations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
with and on behalf of other joint-lead agencies [U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps), Department of Defense; and the New Mexico Interstate 
Stream Commission (Commission), State of New Mexico] intends to prepare 
an EIS on water operations in the Rio Grande Basin above Fort Quitman, 
Texas. The preparation of the EIS will be integral to the Upper Rio 
Grande Basin Water Operations Review (Review). It is anticipated that a 
plan for water operations at existing Reclamation and Corps facilities 
will be developed.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be scheduled at locations 
throughout the upper Rio Grande basin between June 1 and September 30, 
2000. Specific information regarding location and times of these 
meetings will be published in the Federal Register at least 15 days in 
advance of the meetings.
    The estimated date that the EIS will be completed and released for 
public review is February 2004.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments regarding the Review and EIS may be 
directed to Mr. Chris Gorbach, Bureau of Reclamation, 505 Marquette, 
NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-2162. Email: [email protected].
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Individual 
respondents may request that we withhold their home address from public 
disclosure, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There 
also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent's 
identity from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish us to 
withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at 
the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chris Gorbach, Bureau of 
Reclamation, telephone (505) 248-5379. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under various existing legal authorities, 
and subject to allocation of supplies and priority of water rights 
under State law, Reclamation and the Corps operate dams, reservoirs, 
and other facilities in the upper Rio Grande basin to:
    (1) Store and deliver water for agricultural, domestic, municipal, 
industrial, and environmental uses;
    (2) Assist the Commission in meeting downstream water delivery 
obligations mandated by the Rio Grande Compact;
    (3) Provide flood protection and sediment control; and
    (4) Comply with existing law, contract obligations, and 
international treaty.
    The Review will be the basis of, and integral to, preparation of 
the EIS. The purpose of the Review and EIS is to:
    (1) Identify flexibilities in operation of Federal reservoirs and 
facilities in the upper Rio Grande basin that are within existing 
authorities of Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission, and in 
compliance with State and Federal law;
    (2) Develop a better understanding of how these facilities could be 
operated more efficiently and effectively as an integrated system;
    (3) Formulate a plan for future water operations at these 
facilities that is within the existing authorities of Reclamation, the 
Corps, and the Commission; complies with State, Federal, and other 
applicable laws and regulations; and assures continued safe dam 
operations;

[[Page 12031]]

    (4) Improve processes for making decisions about water operations 
through better interagency communications and coordination, and 
facilitation of public review and input; and
    (5) Support compliance of the Corps, Reclamation, and the 
Commission with applicable law and regulations, including, but not 
limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered 
Species Act.
    The EIS will address water operations at the following facilities 
with the noted exceptions and limitations.
     Flood control operations at Platoro Reservoir (the Review 
and EIS will include only flood control operations at Platoro that are 
under Corps authority. Water supply operations at Platoro are under 
local control.)
     Closed Basin Division--San Luis Valley Project.
     Heron Dam and Reservoir.
     Abiquiu Dam and Reservoir.
     Cochiti Dam and Reservoir.
     Jemez Canyon Dam and Reservoir.
     Low Flow Conveyance Channel.
     Flood control operations at Elephant Butte Dam and 
Reservoir (because of current litigation, water supply operations at 
Elephant Butte will not be included in the Review or EIS).
     Flood control operations at Caballo Dam and Reservoir 
(because of current litigation, water supply operations at Caballo will 
not be included in the Review or EIS).
    The EIS will present alternatives for exercise of discretionary 
authority of Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission with respect to 
water operations at these facilities and evaluate the environmental, 
economic, and social effects of these alternatives. Some of the issues 
to be considered include changing channel capacity criteria at 
Albuquerque, maintenance or non-maintenance of a sediment pool at Jemez 
Canyon Dam, storage or non-storage of Rio Grande water in authorized 
San Juan-Chama space in Abiquiu Reservoir, and operation of the low 
flow conveyance channel.
    Coordination is ongoing with both public and private entities 
having jurisdiction or an interest in water operations in the upper Rio 
Grande basin. Fact sheets and briefings were presented at several 
public forums prior to this Notice. In July 1999 pueblos and tribes, 
State, Federal, and local agencies were invited to participate in the 
Review and preparation of the EIS. The Corps, Reclamation, and the 
Commission, as lead agencies, signed in January 2000 a Memorandum of 
Agreement to define the scope of the Review and EIS and to establish 
their roles and responsibilities relating to completing the Review and 
EIS in accordance with NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and other laws 
and regulations. To date, the Pueblo of San Juan, Middle Rio Grande 
Conservancy District, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Colorado 
State Engineer (as Rio Grande Compact Commissioner), New Mexico 
Environment Department, and New Mexico Department of Agriculture have 
responded in writing that they will participate as cooperating 
agencies. Many others have indicated their interest in participating 
through the public involvement process or by participating on technical 
analysis teams. The joint lead agencies will seek and encourage public 
involvement throughout the project. The responsibilities of 
Reclamation, the Corps, and Commission include conducting public 
scoping meetings throughout the basin, EIS comment hearings, and other 
outreach activities.
    The environmental evaluation will assess the potential effects that 
the proposed water operations alternatives may have on Indian Trust 
Assets, and minority and low income populations.

    Dated: February 22, 2000.
Charles A. Calhoun,
Regional Director, Upper Colorado Region.
[FR Doc. 00-5458 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
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