[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 18519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7928]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 68 / Thursday, April 8, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18519]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Availability Mancos Valley Salinity Control Project 
Plan and Environmental Assessment (EA), and Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI)

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has 
prepared a plan and environmental assessment consistent with the 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Funding for salinity 
control projects is available through the Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program which is covered by a programmatic EA. The Mancos 
Valley plan and EA were developed to more specifically evaluate the 
effects associated with this type of water quality activity. Upon 
review of the information in the Mancos Valley EA, the State 
Conservationist, NRCS, Colorado made a Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) and the determination was made that no environmental impact 
statement is required to support the Mancos Valley Plan. Pursuant to 
section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500); and 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR part 
650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not 
being prepared for the Mancos Valley Salinity Control Project, 
Montezuma County, Colorado. Written comments regarding this action may 
be submitted to: USDA/NRCS; Allen Green, State Conservationist, Room 
E200C, 655 Parfet St., Lakewood, Colorado 80215-5517. Comments must 
received no later than 30 days after this notice is published.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allen Green, State Conservationist, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 655 Parfet St., Lakewood, CO 
80215-5517; telephone (720) 544-2802.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental assessment of this 
Federally assisted action documents that the project will not cause 
significant local, regional, state, or national impacts on the human 
environment. The findings of Allen Green, State Conservationist, 
indicate that the preparation and review of an environmental impact 
statement is not needed for this project.
    The project purpose is to reduce salt loading to the Mancos River 
which is a tributary to the Colorado River. Excessive loading is the 
result of seepage from delivery ditch systems and inefficient 
irrigation application methods and procedures. The planned works of 
improvement include on-farm underground irrigation pipelines; on-farm 
concrete irrigation ditches; sprinkler irrigation systems; off-farm 
delivery system pipelines; polyacrylamide treatment of delivery 
ditches; structures for water control; and wildlife habitat 
development. These enduring practices are accompanied by facilitating 
management practices such as Irrigation Water Management, Wildlife 
Habitat Management Wetland, and Wildlife Habitat Management Upland.
    This Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 
forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various, 
Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties. Copies of 
the FONSI and Plan/Environmental Assessment are available by request 
from Allen Green, Colorado State Conservationist. Basic data developed 
during the environmental evaluation are on file and may be reviewed by 
contacting Allen Green, Colorado State Conservationist, or copies of 
the plan and environmental assessment, and FONSI can be obtained from 
Mr. Timothy Oulette, District Conservationist, NRCS, USDA, 628 West 5th 
Street, Cortez, CO 81321-4045; telephone: (970) 565-9045; extension 3. 
or Mr. Frank Riggle, Assistant State Conservationist, Water Resources, 
NRCS, USDA, 655 Parfet St., Room E200C, Lakewood, CO 80215-5517; 
telephone (720) 544-2804.
    No administrative action on implementation of this project will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this notice is published.

(This activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation and 
Environmental Quality Incentive Program 10.912.)
Allen Green,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 04-7928 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-06-P