[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56345-56346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27881]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[Arizona, INT-DES 01-38]


Reach 11 Recreation Master Plan, Central Arizona Project, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of and public hearing for a draft 
environmental impact statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, the 
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), in conjunction with the City of 
Phoenix (City), has prepared a draft EIS for a Recreation Master Plan 
for the Reach 11 Recreation Area (Reach 11), located in the northeast 
portion of the City, Maricopa County, Arizona. The draft EIS describes 
the anticipated environmental effects associated with the proposed 
approval and implementation of a recreation master plan for a 1,500-
acre area adjacent to the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal, between 
Cave Creek and Scottsdale

[[Page 56346]]

roads. The land is owned by Reclamation and is managed for recreational 
purposes by the City's Recreation and Library Department (PRLD) under a 
1986 land use agreement. The draft EIS describes in detail a proposed 
recreation master plan and two action alternative master plans that 
could be approved and implemented. A No Action Alternative is also 
described, which provides a baseline for comparing the impacts of the 
three action alternatives. A public hearing will be held to receive 
comments from interested individuals and organizations regarding the 
adequacy of the draft EIS in describing the anticipated environmental 
impacts from the proposed project.

DATES: A public hearing is scheduled for December 11, 2001, from 6:30 
to 9:30 p.m. A 60-day public review and comment period begins with the 
filing of the draft EIS with the Environmental Protection Agency. 
Written comments must be received no later than January 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at Paradise Valley Community 
Center, 17402 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
    Send written comments to Mr. Bruce Ellis, Chief, Environmental 
Resource Management Division, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area 
Office (PXAO-1500), PO Box 81169,Phoenix, AZ 85069-1169; fax number 
(602) 216-4006.
    The draft EIS document is available on the Internet at http://www.apo.lc.usbr.gov. A copy of the draft EIS is also available upon 
request from Ms. Janice Kjesbo, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area 
Office (PXAO-1500), PO Box 81169, Phoenix, AZ 85069-1169, telephone 
(602) 216-3864, faxogram (602) 216-4006. A copy of the draft EIS is 
also available for public inspection and review at the libraries listed 
under Supplementary Information below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the draft EIS 
should be directed to Ms. Sandra Eto, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix 
Area Office (PXAO-1500), PO Box 81169, Phoenix, AZ 85069-1169, 
telephone (602) 216-3857.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is proposing to approve a new 
Recreation Master Plan for Reach 11, managed for recreational purposes 
by the PRLD. The current master plan was approved in 1987. The City and 
Reclamation determined a comprehensive planning effort for a new master 
plan should be carried out, due to the major population growth that has 
occurred and future growth anticipated for the area. This effort 
included conducting a recreation needs assessment to inventory existing 
facilities in the vicinity of Reach 11, and evaluating needs based upon 
established park standards, existing capacity, and public interest in 
or opposition to various recreation uses. The purpose and need for a 
new Recreation Master Plan is to optimize recreational use of Reach 11 
based upon the needs of the City and community, while ensuring 
compatibility with the primary flood control function of Reach 11. A 
master plan would accommodate and respect the full range of current and 
future recreation demands of this growing area of Phoenix, Arizona. The 
draft EIS considers three alternative master plan scenarios. All three 
provide a level of development established for a City district park. 
Under the Proposed Action, high-demand recreation needs would be 
balanced with passive recreation uses and maintenance of quality 
habitat areas. Two other alternative action alternatives are 
considered: one that would provide less active recreation-oriented 
development, and that emphasizes passive recreation-oriented activities 
(Alternative 1), and one that would maximize development of active-
recreation oriented recreation facilities (Alternative 2). The No 
Action Alternative assumes the existing 1987 master plan, (which does 
not meet current PRLD district park standards), would continue to be 
implemented. The alternative ultimately selected and implemented is 
expected to be developed in phases by PRLD, as funding becomes 
available.
    Copies of the draft EIS are available for public inspection and 
review at the following locations:

 Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240
 Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225
 Arizona Department of Library Archives and Public Records, 
1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007
 North Central Regional County Library, 17811 N. 32nd St., 
Phoenix, AZ 85032
 Phoenix Public Library (Burton Barr Central), 1221 N. Central 
Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
 Government Document Service, Arizona State University, Tempe, 
AZ 85287
 Arizona State University--West Library, 4701 W. Thunderbird 
Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306

    Written comments received by Reclamation become part of the public 
record associated with this action. Accordingly, Reclamation makes 
these 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.

    Dated: October 24, 2001.
V. LeGrand Neilsen,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 01-27881 Filed 11-6-01; 8:45 am]
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