[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36975-36976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15576]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and other joint-lead 
agencies--the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Department of 
Interior; and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (Commission), 
State of New Mexico--intend to prepare a Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (PEIS) for the establishment of the Middle Rio Grande 
Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program (Program).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William DeRagon, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, 4101 Jefferson Plaza, NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 
342-3358.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Within the Middle Rio Grande Basin in New 
Mexico the continuing demand on limited water supplies to meet 
irrigation, municipal, industrial, and ecological purposes has strained 
environmental resources. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 
listed the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) and the 
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) as 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1994 and 1995, 
respectively. In February 2003, the USFWS designated critical habitat 
for the silvery minnow along the Rio Grande from Cochiti Dam to the 
headwaters of Elephant Butte Reservoir. Recovery plans for both species 
have been developed.
    In 1999, governmental and non-governmental entities with management 
responsibility for resources in the Middle Rio Grande Basin, or an 
interest therein, formed the Middle Rio Grande ESA Workgroup to address 
ESA issues in a coordinated manner. Beginning in April 2002, 
representatives of the following entities have signed an Interim 
Memorandum of Understanding to work towards establishing the Middle Rio 
Grande ESA Collaborative Program: Reclamation, Corps, Commission, 
USFWS, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service Rocky 
Mountain Research Station, New Mexico Office of the Attorney General, 
New Mexico Lieutenant Governor's Office, New Mexico Department of Game 
and Fish, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Department of 
Agriculture, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, 
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, City of Albuquerque, Alliance 
for the Rio Grande Heritage, Rio Grande Restoration, and the National 
Association of Industrial and Office Properties.
    The objective of establishing and implementing the Program is to 
provide the framework for coordinated actions to enhance habitat, 
increase populations, and contribute to the recovery of the listed 
species within the Rio Grande Basin between the Colorado state line and 
the headwaters (elevation 4,450 feet) of Elephant Butte Reservoir. A 
principal goal of the Program is to implement creative and flexible 
options under the ESA so that existing, ongoing, and future water 
supply and water resource management activities and projects can 
continue to operate and

[[Page 36976]]

receive necessary permits, licenses, funding, and other approvals.
    The PEIS will address the establishment and governance of the 
Program, as well as anticipated activities such as scientific research, 
population monitoring, habitat restoration, fish passage at diversion 
structures, silvery minnow rescue and propagation, and water 
acquisition and management. The PEIS will present alternatives for 
these activities and evaluate their environmental, economic, and social 
effects. The environmental evaluation also will assess the potential 
effects that the proposed alternatives may have on Indian Trust Assets, 
and minority and low-income populations. the PEIS will address these 
actions on a programmatic basis; future activities implemented as a 
result of the Program will require project-specific compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable laws and 
regulations prior to implementation.
    Coordination is ongoing with public, private and tribal entities 
having jurisdiction or an interest in water operations in the Program 
area. In June 2003, the Corps, Reclamation, and the Commission, as lead 
agencies and on behalf of the cooperating entities, signed a Memorandum 
of Agreement to define the scope of the PEIS and to establish their 
roles and responsibilities relating to completing the PEIS in 
accordance with NEPA, ESA, and other laws and regulations. The joint 
lead agencies will seek and encourage public involvement throughout the 
process.
    Public scoping meetings will be held in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and 
Socorro, New Mexico, in July 2003. Specific information regarding 
location and times of these meetings will be published in local 
newspapers. The draft PEIS will be released for public review and 
comment in October 2003. Signing of the Records of Decision by the 
joint-lead agencies is expected in February 2004.

Dana R. Hurst,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-15576 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
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