[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 15272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6551]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Central Utah Project Completion Act

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science, 
Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to negotiate contract(s) and agreement(s) 
among and between the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Moon 
Lake Water Users Association, U.S. Forest Service, and Department of 
the Interior for the proposed development of the Uinta Basin 
Replacement Project, Utah, as authorized in Section 203(a) of the 
Central Utah Project Completion Act.

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SUMMARY: The Uinta Basin Replacement Project is authorized in Section 
203(a) of the Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA). The Lake 
Fork Uinta Basin Replacement Project as described in the Draft 
Environmental Assessment includes: the enlargement of the non-federal 
Big Sand Wash Dam and Reservoir; modification of the outlet works at 
Moon Lake Dam and Reservoir to provide regulation for instream flows; 
construction of a Big Sand Wash Feeder Diversion Dam on the Lake Fork 
River; Construction of a Big Sand Wash Feeder pipeline and a Big Sand 
Wash-Roosevelt distribution pipeline; stabilization of high mountain 
lakes in the High Uintas Wilderness; and providing fish and wildlife 
habitat mitigation and enhancement.
    Section 203(a)(1-4) of CUPCA, authorizes funds to be appropriated 
to construct features of the ``Uinta Basin Replacement Project.'' If 
constructed, the project would develop new water supplies for M&I and 
supplemental irrigation, replacement storage for the high mountain 
lakes irrigation water, enhance wilderness recreation, fish, and 
wildlife values, and provide instream flows for fishery habitat. A 
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Section 203(a), Uintah Basin 
Replacement Project was released for agency and public review on 
February 12, 2001. The document describes the Project and the results 
of the environmental impact analyses for the proposed action and the 
reasonable alternatives.
    Section 203(c) requires that binding contracts be executed for the 
purchase of project water supplies before project funds can be expended 
and Section 203(d) of CUPCA specifies that the Uinta Basin Replacement 
Project be constructed under the guidelines of the Drainage Facilities 
and Minor Construction Act. Also, all project contracts and agreements 
must be negotiated and executed by all parties except the Secretary of 
the Interior by June 1, 2001 to provide adequate time to process final 
NEPA reports and environmental decision documents before the project 
authorization expires. Section 203(b) provides that the authorization 
will terminate 5 years from the date of completion of the feasibility 
study. The initial feasibility study was completed in November 1996 and 
all contracts, agreements, final NEPA report and environmental decision 
document, and the final Feasibility Study must be completed by November 
2001 or the authorization will sunset. Negotiated contract(s) and 
agreement(s) among and between the District, Moon Lake Water Users 
Association, U.S. Forest Service, and DOI will comply with sections 
203(a) thru 203(d) of CUPCA and the terms of the Compliance Agreement.

DATES: Dates for public negotiation sessions for the separate contracts 
or agreements will be announced in local newspapers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Additional information on matters related to 
this Federal Register notice can be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael 
Hansen, Program Coordinator, CUP Completion Act Office, Department of 
the Interior, 302 East 1860 South, Provo UT 84606-6154, Telephone: 
(801) 379-1194, E-Mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: March 12, 2001.
Ronald Johnston,
CUP Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 01-6551 Filed 3-15-01; 8:45 am]
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