[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 177 (Friday, September 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 53724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23243]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) Regarding the Proposed Leasing of Lands at Fort Bliss, Texas, for 
the Proposed Siting, Construction, and Operation by the City of El Paso 
of a Brackish Water Desalination Plant and Support Facilities

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This announces the intention of the U.S. Army Air Defense 
Artillery Center and Fort Bliss (SUAADACENFB) to prepare an EIS 
regarding the proposed leasing of lands at Fort Bliss, Texas, for the 
proposed siting, construction, and operation of a brackish water 
desalination plant (the ``Project``) by the City of El Paso, Texas. The 
purpose of the EIS is to evaluate the environmental impacts associated 
with the Project.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for information may be 
forwarded to John F. Barrera, Fort Bliss Directorate of Environment, 
ATTN: ATZC-DOE-C, B624 Pleasonton Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Barrera at (915) 568-3908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Project has the potential to result in 
effects to the human environment in and around Fort Bliss and the El 
Paso City and County area. The study area for the environmental 
analysis is the eastern half of El Paso County, which includes Fort 
Bliss and most of El Paso City, as well as southern portions of 
Do[ntilde]a Ana and Otero Counties, New Mexico. The objective of the 
DEIS is to provide a planning and decision-making too, serve as a 
public information service, and a reference fir mitigation tracking.
    Alternatives that will be evaluated include locations for the 
Project and support facilities, desalination methodologies, and 
disposal options for the brine water resulting from the desalination 
process.
    Issue of potential significance: The Hueco Bolson aquifer is a 
major source of water for Fort Bliss and the El Paso Region. This 
extensive underground water resource, located in large part under Fort 
Bliss training lands, contains significant quantities of brackish 
water. Brackish water is water designated by the Environmental 
Protection Agency as containing dissolved solids (salts) above the 
drinking water standards. The Project is proposed for the purpose of 
extending the life of fresh groundwater supplies by desalinating this 
brackish water for use by the City of El Paso and Fort Bliss. The 
Project would help meet existing and projected demands for potable 
water and extend the life of the Hueco Bolson aquifer.
    The EIS will include analyses of environmental impacts from the 
following: (1) Alternative sites for the desalination plant and support 
facilities; (2) construction by the City of El Paso of the desalination 
plant and support facilities on Fort Bliss at one of three proposed 
locations; (3) alternative methodologies for desalination; (4) 
alternate methodologies for brine disposal, including reinjection and 
evaporation; and (5) effects of pumping brackish water out of the Hueco 
Bolson.
    A public meeting in the vicinity of the installation and the 
general proposed location of the desalination plant will be held to 
facilitate input to the EIS process by citizens and organizations. The 
date and time of this meeting will be announced in the general media 
and will be at a time and location convenient to the public. To ensure 
comments are fully considered in the Draft EIS, comments and 
suggestions should be received no later than 15 days following the 
meeting. Comments and questions may also be e-mailed to 
[email protected]. Additional information may also be obtained at 
the following web site: www.bliss.army.mil.

    Dated: September 5, 2003.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-23243 Filed 9-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M