[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 38113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13696]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7221-2]


Sole Source Aquifer Petition Denial

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of sole source aquifer petition denial.

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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today 
provides notice that it denies a petition to designate the La Cienega 
Valley Area Aquifer a Sole Source Aquifer. The aquifer is not eligible 
for designation because it is not the principal source of drinking 
water for the area covered by the petition.

ADDRESSES: The administrative record underlying today's decision is 
available for inspection and copying in the offices of EPA Region 6, 
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202. Copies of the record or portions 
thereof may also be obtained by mailing a written request to Region 6 
and payment of a reasonable fee for copying. EPA has also posted a fact 
sheet, summary of public comments and responses, and a decision support 
document on its website at http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/swp/index.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clay Chesney, geologist, Source Water 
Protection Branch (6WQ-SG), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 
75202-2733, phone (214) 665-7128, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 1424(e) of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C. 300h-3(e), EPA may designate an 
aquifer a ``sole source aquifer'' if it serves as the sole or principal 
drinking water source for an area and contamination of that aquifer 
would create a significant hazard to public health. EPA may essentially 
``veto'' financial assistance proposed by other Federal agencies for 
projects it finds may contaminate such a designated aquifer. To date, 
EPA has designated 72 sole source aquifers.
    On October 25, 2000, EPA received a petition for sole source 
aquifer designation from the La Cienega Valley Citizens for 
Environmental Safeguards. The petition sought designation for the La 
Cienega Valley Area Aquifer, which covers approximately 320 square 
miles in north-central New Mexico including the City of Santa Fe. To 
show the aquifer was the primary source of drinking water for the area, 
the petitioner relied on documentation of water rights allocated to 
water users by the New Mexico State Engineer.
    EPA published notice of the petition in the Albuquerque Journal and 
the Santa Fe New Mexican and requested comments thereon. It received a 
number of comments and carefully considered them in reaching today's 
decision. EPA also performed an independent review of the hydrology and 
water use in the area covered by the petition. The Agency concludes 
that the State Engineer's water rights allocations do not reflect 
actual usage of drinking water in the area covered by the petition and 
that approximately 61% of such drinking water is derived from sources 
other than the aquifer, i.e., the Santa Fe River and wells outside the 
area proposed for designation. EPA thus denies the petition.

    Dated: May 20, 2002.
Gregg A. Cooke,
Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 02-13696 Filed 5-30-02; 8:45 am]
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