[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65943-65944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29243]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission


Central Utah Project Completion Act

AGENCY: Department of the Interior. Office of the Assistant Secretary--
Water and Science; and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission (Commission).

ACTION: Notice of availability, Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS), Lower Duchesne river Wetlands Mitigation Project, Duchesne and 
Uintah Counties, Utah.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Central Utah Project Completion Act 
Office, and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission 
(Commission), propose to create, restore, and otherwise enhance 
riparian wetland habitats along the Duchesne River, utah, as partial 
mitigation for the Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project (CUP). This 
project has been planned in conjunction with the Ute Indian Tribe of 
the Uintah and Ouray Agency and is intended to fulfill long-standing 
commitments to mitigate for impacts to Ute Indian tribal and non-tribal 
wetland-wildlife habitats arising from construction and operation of 
the Bonneville Unit, and to provide additional wetland/wildlife 
benefits to the Ute Indian Tribe.
    A Proposed Action and two alternatives are evaluated, along with 
the No Action Alternative, in the DEIS. Under the Proposed Action, 
approximately 7,790 acres of land composed of Ute Indian Tribal trust 
lands, up to 2,154 acres of fee lands to be acquired by the Federal 
Government, and a 1,087-acre parcel of existing Federal land would be 
acquired and/or developed into a cohesive wetlands management unit. A 
portion of the water currently managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
for the uinta Indian Irrigation Project would be utilzed, along with 
water available under rights owned by the Federal Government, and any 
water acquired with fee lands, to improve existing, and restore prior 
existing, wetlands throughout the property. In general, the lands would 
be improved and managed for fish and wildlife habitat and wetland 
resources in a manner that replaces wetland resources, especially Ute 
Indian Tribal resources, lost or adversely impacted by the Bonneville 
Unit, CUP. All project lands would be managed by the Ute Indian Tribe 
under management agreements with the Joint Lead Agencies to achieve the 
prescribed wetlands-associated fish and wildlife benefits, and for 
other wetland/wildlife-related tribal benefits. The alternatives 
included in the DEIS are similar to the Proposed Action, differing only 
in the acreage amounts and locations.
    The public is invited to submit comments on the adequacy of the 
DEIS and the assessment of environmental impacts. Comments received in 
response to this notice will be part of the public record and available 
for public review pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 
552) and may be released to the public upon request. This will normally 
include names, addresses, and any other personal information be 
withheld from such releases by so indicating in their letter of comment 
or by means of separate written communication.

DATES: The DEIS will be available for public review and comment for a 
minimum of forty-five (45) calendar days following the publication of 
this notice. The deadline for submittal of written comments on the DEIS 
will be stated on the cover sheet of the document and noted in the 
transmittal letter to all reviewers.
    Comments on the DEIS may also be presented verbally or in writing 
at the public meetings to be held at the vicinity of the project. 
Public meetings are being held to present the evaluation of 
environmental impacts to the public and provide additional opportunity 
for public comment on the project. The places, dates, and times of 
public

[[Page 65944]]

meetings will be noted in the transmittal letter to all reviewers and 
announced in local newspapers.
    Public meetings will be held at the following locations:
    December 16, 2003: West Junior High School, East Highway 40, Fort 
Duchesne, Utah 84026.
    December 17, 2003: Crossroads Senior Center, 50 East 200 South, 
Roosevelt, Utah 84066.
    December 18, 2003: State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Third 
Floor Conference Room, 324 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 
84138.
    All meetings will begin at 6 pm and conclude at 8 pm.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be addressed to: Mr. Ron Groves, 
Director, Wissiups Wetlands Project, Ute Indian Tribe, PO Box 190, Ft. 
Duchesne, Utah 84026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the Draft EIS and the 
resource technical reports can be obtained by contacting Mr. Ron 
Groves, Director, Wissiups Wetlands Project, Ute Indian Tribe, PO Box 
190, Ft. Duchesne, Utah 84026, Telephone: (435) 722-5867, E-mail 
address: [email protected].
    Copies of the DEIS are also available for inspection at:
    Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 102 West 
500 South, Suite 315, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.
    Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project Completion Act 
Office, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, Utah 84606.
    Department of the Interior, Natural Resource Library, 1849 C 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240.
    Duchesne County Library, 70 East Lagoon, Roosevelt, Utah 84066.
    Headquarters, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Agency, 988 
South 7500 East, Ft. Duchesne, Utah 84026.
    Information on other matters related to this notice may be obtained 
by calling or writing Mr. Ralph G. Swanson, Program Coordinator, CUP 
Completion Act Office, Department of the Interior, 302 East 1860 South, 
Provo UT 84606-6154, Telephone (801) 379-1254, E-mail address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: September 8, 2003.
Ronald Johnston,
CUP Program Director, Department of the Interior.

    Dated: September 8, 2003.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-29243 Filed 11-21-03; 8:45 am]
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