[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 45 (Monday, March 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 10763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4681]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION


United States and Mexico, United States Section; Notice of 
Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for Sediment Removal Downstream of Retamal Diversion 
Dam, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, Located in Hidalgo 
County, Texas

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission (USIBWC), United States and Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of availability of final Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the U.S. Section's 
Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published 
in the Federal Register September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083), the U.S. 
Section hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact for Sediment Removal Downstream of 
Retamal Diversion Dam, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, 
located in Hidalgo County, Texas are available. A notice of finding of 
no significant impact dated October 7, 2003, provided a thirty (30) day 
comment period before making the finding final. The notice was 
published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2003 (68 FR 59818).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Borunda, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, United States 
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission, 4171 N. Mesa, C-
100, El Paso, Texas 79902. Telephone: (915) 832-4701, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Action

    The project includes dredging the sediment and beneficially use or 
dispose of all the material on vacant Mexican Federal government land 
adjacent to the river at the dredging location. The size of the project 
area is approximately 4.94 acres, which includes 2.1 acres of wetland. 
The EA analyzes potential impacts from dredging approximately 54,000 
cubic yards of sediment material, either hydraulically (Option 1) or 
mechanically (Option 2), during the non-irrigation season between 
September and February when water levels in the Rio Grande are 
maintained at lower levels. Construction activities include 
transporting dredged materials to dewatering cells on the Mexican 
riverbank. A hydraulic piping system may be set up to transport the 
slurry mix directly to the final disposal area or the materials may be 
transported by trucks provided by Mexico, depending on the disposal 
method. A coffer dam may also be constructed to de-water alternate 
sides of the river during dredging activities. The EA provides details 
of the action, explains the purpose and need for the action, and 
assesses the potential impacts of the proposed action and alternatives.

Alternatives Considered

    The USIBWC proposes to remove the vegetated island and sandbar by 
dredging the sediment, either hydraulically (Option 1) or mechanically 
(Option 2), and beneficially use or dispose of all the material on 
vacant Mexican Federal government land adjacent to the river at the 
dredging location.
    The sandbar and island downstream of the Retamal Diversion Dam will 
not be removed in the no action alternative. The accumulation of 
sediment will likely continue in the channel on the U.S. side of the 
Rio Grande and along the concrete apron beneath the flood gates, thus 
potentially impairing the ability of the gates to operate effectively 
to properly control flood events. The main channel in the river could 
continue shifting toward the Mexican side, thus potentially changing 
the boundary location between the two countries.

Availability

    Single hard copies of the Final Environmental Assessment and Final 
Finding of No Significant Impact may be obtained by request at the 
above address. Electronic copies may also be obtained from the USIBWC 
home page at www.ibwc.state.gov.

    Dated: February 25, 2004.
Susan Daniel,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 04-4681 Filed 3-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-P