[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 18625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7981]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


City of Albuquerque Drinking Water Project, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the City of Albuquerque Drinking Water Project.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INT-FES 04-10

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as lead 
federal agency, and the City of Albuquerque (City), as joint lead 
agency, have prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for 
the City of Albuquerque Drinking Water Project. The project is the main 
component of the Albuquerque Water Resources Management Strategy, 
adopted by the City Council, which aims to efficiently use existing 
water resources and develop a safe and sustainable water supply for 
City residents to the year 2060. The proposed alternatives provide a 
means of action through which the City would fully consumptively use 
the City's San Juan-Chama Project water to provide a sustainable water 
supply.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are available from Marsha Carra, Bureau 
of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway, NE., Suite 100, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone (505) 462-3602; facsimile 
(505) 462-3797; e-mail: [email protected]. The FEIS is also available 
on Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/albuq/library/eis/adwp/adwp.html.
    Copies of the document are also available for public review and 
inspection at the following locations:

City of Albuquerque Water Resources Office, Public Works Department, 
Water Resources Department, One Civic Plaza, 5th Floor, Albuquerque, 
New Mexico
Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1147;
Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway, NE., 
Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102;
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Attention: Joanna 
Prukop, Wendell Chino Building, P.O. Box 6429, Santa Fe, New Mexico 
87505; and
Environment Department, Attention: Ron Curry, Harold Runnels Building, 
P.O. Box 26110, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502.

Libraries

Albuquerque Public Library, Reference Desk, Main Library, 501 Copper, 
NW., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102;
North Valley Public Library, Reference Desk, 7704 2nd Street, NW., 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107;
South Broadway Public Library, Reference Library, 1025 Broadway, SE., 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108;
Cherry Hills Public Library, Reference Library, 6901 Barstow, NE., 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111;
Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, New Mexico;
Espa[ntilde]ola Public Library, 921 Paseo del Norte, Espa[ntilde]ola, 
New Mexico; and
Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Carra, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway, NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico 87102; telephone (505) 462-3602; facsimile (505) 462-3797; e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS considers the effects of the City 
of Albuquerque using San Juan-Chama Project water to provide a 
sustainable drinking water supply for its citizens. The four primary 
project elements are (1) Diverting San Juan-Chama Project water after 
it is released to the Rio Grande, (2) transporting the raw water to a 
water treatment plant, (3) treating the raw water to drinking water 
standards, and (4) distributing the treated, potable water to customers 
in the City's water service area. At present, the City water is 
supplied by aquifer pumping. Continued reliance on this source is 
unsustainable and could have other serious environmental consequences 
for the City and its water customers. The San Juan-Chama Project water 
has been contracted for a number of years and will allow the City to 
fully develop its water resources.
    The FEIS evaluates several alternatives, including the no action 
alternative, and describes the existing environmental consequences of 
using the San Juan-Chama water source. The FEIS considers the following 
issues: aesthetics and visual resources, air quality, aquatic life, 
biodiversity, cultural resources, energy, environmental justice, 
floodplains, geology, hazardous materials, human health and safety, 
hydrology (surface and groundwater), Indian trust assets and other 
tribal resources, land use, noise and vibration, recreation, riparian 
areas, socioeconomic conditions, soils, threatened and endangered 
species, traffic and circulation, upland vegetation, water quality, 
wetlands/non-wetland waters, wildlife, and cumulative effects.
    The construction and operation of a low-head diversion dam is the 
preferred alternative. It permits the greatest flexibility for 
diverting the San Juan-Chama water from the Rio Grande, meets the 
project purpose and need, and avoids major impacts to environmental 
resources. With mitigation measures incorporated, there are no 
significant environmental or socioeconomic impacts under the preferred 
alternative.
    Reclamation requested government-to-government consultation with 27 
federally recognized Pueblos and Tribes and contacted the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs to help identify and determine any effects to Indian 
trust assets. Implementation of the preferred alternative will not 
cause adverse effects to Indian trust assets.
    The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued in June 
2002. Responses to comments received from organizations and individuals 
on the DEIS have been addressed in the FEIS. No decision will be made 
on the proposed federal action until 30 days after release of the FEIS. 
After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of 
Decision. The Record of Decision will state the action that will be 
implemented and discuss all factors leading to that decision.

    Dated: March 30, 2004.
Connie L. Rupp,
Assistant Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 04-7981 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P