[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 108 (Monday, June 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35664-35665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14006]


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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 public scoping meetings on development of a draft 
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], 
is preparing a draft EIS on water operations in the Rio Grande Basin 
above Fort Quitman, Texas. Preparation of the draft EIS will be 
integral to the Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review. It is 
anticipated that a plan for water operations at existing Reclamation 
and Corps facilities will be developed.
    The public is invited to participate in a series of scoping 
meetings that will be held throughout the upper Rio Grande basin to 
receive comments from interested organizations and individuals on the 
environmental impacts of water operations in the Rio Grande Basin above 
Fort Quitman, Texas. Reclamation invites other federal agencies, 
states, Indian tribes, local governments, and the general public to 
submit written comments and/or suggestions concerning the scope of the 
issues to be addressed in the draft EIS.
    Each scoping meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. There will be a 
presentation, an opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions of 
staff and managers, and an informal open house where various technical 
teams for the Operations Review and EIS will provide information on 
resources as well as receive comments. Comments will be taken and 
recorded in writing at the open house or they may be provided in 
writing by meeting participants. Written comments may also be mailed to 
Reclamation, the Corps, or the Commission at the names and addresses 
provided below. Written comments should be received no later than 
November 20, 2000, to be most effectively considered.
    Those not desiring to submit comments or suggestions at this time, 
but who would like to receive a copy of the draft EIS, should write to 
Mr. Chris Gorbach. When the draft EIS is complete, its availability 
will be announced in the Federal Register, in the local news media, and 
through direct contact with interested parties. Comments will be 
solicited on the document.

DATES AND LOCATIONS: The schedule of open public scoping meetings is as 
follows:

 June 28, 2000, 6-9 p.m., Alamosa Elks Lodge, 406 Hunt, 
Alamosa, Colorado
 June 29, 2000, 6-9 p.m., Kachina Lodge, 413 Paseo del Pueblo 
Norte, Taos, New Mexico
 July 26, 2000, 6-9 p.m., Northern New Mexico Community 
College, 921 Paseo de Onate, Espanola, New Mexico
 August 9, 2000, 6-9 p.m., El Meson Lodge, South Highway 84/64, 
Chama, New Mexico
 August 17, 2000, 6-9 p.m., Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 
12th NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico
 September 20, 2000, 6-9 p.m., Radisson Hotel, 750 N. St. 
Francis, Santa Fe, New Mexico

[[Page 35665]]

 September 27, 2000, 6-9 p.m., El Paso Airport Hilton, 2027 
Airway Blvd., El Paso, Texas
 October 17, 2000, 6-9 p.m., New Mexico State University, 
Corbett Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico
 October 18, 2000, 6-9 p.m., New Mexico Tech., Macy Center, 801 
Leroy Place, Socorro, New Mexico

    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.
    The Bureau of Reclamation ensures meeting accessibility to persons 
with disabilities. If you need sign language interpretation for the 
hearing impaired or have other special needs, please contact Mr. Chris 
Gorbach.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chris Gorbach, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 505 Marquette, N.W., Suite 1313, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-2162; telephone (505) 248-5379; faxogram 
(505) 248-5356; Email: [email protected].
    Ms. Gail Stockton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque 
District, 4101 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109; telephone 
(505) 342-3348; Email: [email protected].
    Mr. Rolf Schmidt-Petersen or Rhea Graham, New Mexico Interstate 
Stream Commission, Springer Square Building, 121 Tijeres Avenue NE, 
Suite 2000, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone (505) 841-9480, 
extension 127; Email: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For supplementary information, please see 
the Federal Register notice of March 7, 2000, 65 FR 12030-12031.

    Dated: May 25, 2000.
Larry P. Walkoviak,
Acting Regional Director, Upper Colorado Region.
[FR Doc. 00-14006 Filed 6-2-00; 8:45 am]
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