[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28945-28947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11282]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Notice of Adoption of an Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline for 
Management of the Colorado River

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of adoption of an interim 602(a) storage guideline for 
management of the Colorado River.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a final 
environmental assessment (EA) for adoption of an interim 602(a) storage 
guideline for management of the Colorado River. The Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Bureau of 
Reclamation, proposed the adoption of an interim 602(a) storage 
guideline that would assist the Secretary in making a determination of 
the quantity of water considered necessary as of September 30 of each 
year, as required by article II(1) of the 1970 Criteria for Coordinated 
Long-Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs pursuant to the 
Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968. See 68 FR 56317 
(September 30, 2003).
    We are notifying the public that a Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) on the proposed guideline was approved by Bureau of Reclamation 
Regional Directors Rick L. Gold and

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Robert W. Johnson on March 17 and March 18, 2004, respectively. The 
text of the FONSI is provided below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the final EA and FONSI are 
available from Tom Ryan, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional 
Office, 125 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1147; 
telephone (801) 524-3732; faxogram (801) 524-5499; e-mail: 
[email protected]. The final EA and FONSI are also available on 
Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/library/ (click on 
Environmental Assessment Documents or Finding of No Significant Impact 
Documents).
    Copies of the EA and FONSI are also available for public review and 
inspection at the following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 
South State Street, Room 7239, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1147
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Denver 
Federal Center, Building 67, Room 167, Denver, Colorado 80225-0007
     Bureau of Reclamation, Main Interior Building, Room 7060-
MIB, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240-0001

    Dated: April 16, 2004.
Connie L. Rupp,
Assistant Regional Director--UC Region, Bureau of Reclamation.

Finding of No Significant Impact

Adoption of an Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline

I. Introduction
    The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation), has proposed the adoption of an interim 
602(a) storage guideline that will assist the Secretary of the Interior 
in making a determination of the quantity of water considered necessary 
as of September 30 of each year to assist in implementation of and as 
required by Article II(1) of the 1970 Criteria for Coordinated Long-
Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs (Long-Range Operating 
Criteria) pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 
30, 1968. See 68 FR 56317 (September 30, 2003).
    Section 602(a) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act (codified at 
43 U.S.C. 1552(a)), requires that the Secretary of the Interior make an 
annual determination of the quantity of water considered necessary to 
be in storage in Upper Basin reservoirs to provide protection to the 
Upper Division States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming 
against drought in the Colorado River Basin. This quantity of water is 
commonly referred to as ``602(a) storage.'' In years when projected 
storage in Upper Basin reservoirs is greater than 602(a) storage, and 
Lake Powell storage is greater than storage at Lake Mead, storage 
equalization releases are made. Such storage equalization releases are 
made to maintain, as nearly as practicable, the active storage in Lake 
Mead equal to the active storage in Lake Powell on September 30 of each 
year. In years when projected storage in the Upper Basin is less than 
602(a) storage, such storage equalization releases from Lake Powell are 
not made and the operating objective is to maintain a release of a 
minimum of 8.23 million acre-feet as specified in the Long-Range 
Operating Criteria.
II. Proposed Action
    In July 2000, Reclamation issued a draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS) on the proposed adoption of specific criteria, 
applicable for 15 years, under which surplus water conditions would be 
determined, and accordingly surplus water made available, for use by 
the Lower Division States of Arizona, California, and Nevada. During 
the public comment period for the DEIS, the seven Colorado River Basin 
States submitted information to the Department of the Interior that 
contained a proposal for interim surplus criteria and a number of other 
related issues. This information was published in the Federal Register 
on August 8, 2000 (65 FR 48531-38). One of the related components of 
the seven Colorado River Basin States' proposal not directly related to 
Lower Division surplus determinations is contained in Section V of the 
Basin States submission, ``Determination of 602(a) Storage in Lake 
Powell During the Interim Period,'' and reads as follows:

    During the interim period, 602(a) storage requirements 
determined in accordance with Article II(1) of the Criteria [Long-
Range Operating Criteria] shall utilize a value of not less than 
14.85 million acre-feet (elevation 3,630 feet) for Lake Powell (65 
FR 48537).

    Reclamation did not adopt this aspect of the seven Basin States 
submission based upon Reclamation's finding that this proposal was 
outside the scope of the proposed action for adoption of interim 
surplus guidelines. See 66 FR 7775 (January 25, 2001).
    This proposed action would adopt this aspect of the Basin States' 
recommendation and would limit 602(a) storage equalization releases 
when the storage level in Lake Powell is projected to be below 14.85 
million acre-feet (elevation 3,630 feet) on September 30 as an added 
consideration (guideline) in the annual 602(a) storage determination 
through the year 2016. Under this guideline, water year releases from 
Lake Powell would be limited to the minimum objective release of 8.23 
million acre-feet when Lake Powell is projected to be below 14.85 
million acre-feet (elevation 3,630 feet) on September 30. The proposed 
guideline would remain in effect through calendar year 2016.
    A final environmental assessment (EA), ``Adoption of an Interim 
602(a) Storage Guideline'' (March 2004), has been prepared by 
Reclamation. In this final EA, the effects of the proposed action 
(referred to as the Proposed Action Alternative) are analyzed.
III. Summary of Impacts
    Reclamation's analysis indicates that there will be limited impacts 
resulting from adoption of the proposed guideline. Computer simulation 
modeling of the Colorado River concludes that there is an 88 percent 
probability that the proposed guideline will not result in any change 
to the operation of the Colorado River reservoirs. Under some possible 
future runoff scenarios, there could be some change to storage 
equalization releases made from Lake Powell under the proposed 
guideline. Modeling results showed that there is a 12 percent 
probability that the proposed guideline would modify storage 
equalization releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead to some degree. 
Within this 12 percent probability range, effects were generally 
minimal. Modeling results indicate that the total volume of water 
released from Lake Powell through 2016 will be unaffected by adoption 
of the proposed guideline. The proposed guideline resulted in no long-
term effects and there were no effects observed beyond the year 2016.
    1. Lake Powell--There is a 12 percent probability that there could 
be a temporary increase in the water surface elevation of Lake Powell 
of 0.01 to 6.4 feet, an increase of up to 407,000 acre-feet of storage 
(an increase of 2.8 percent).
    2. Lake Mead--There is a 12 percent probability that there could be 
a temporary decrease in water surface elevation of 0.01 to 4.1 feet, a 
decrease of up to 413,000 acre-feet of storage (a decrease of 2.9 
percent).
    3. River Flows--Changes to river flows below Lake Powell, if they 
occur, are projected to be minor. Releases from Lake Powell, Lake Mead, 
and reservoirs below Lake Mead are projected to

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remain within historical normal operating parameters.
    4. Water Supply--There are no anticipated effects on water supply 
to the Upper Division States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and 
Wyoming. There is a very small probability (about 1 percent) that the 
proposed guideline could reduce surplus deliveries to the Lower 
Division States of Arizona, California, and Nevada in a single year 
through the year 2016. Computer model studies showed that the proposed 
guideline would not increase the frequency or magnitude of future water 
shortages to the Lower Division States.
    5. Water Deliveries to Mexico--The proposed guideline is not 
anticipated to result in any change to the delivery of water to Mexico 
pursuant to the 1944 United States-Mexico Water Treaty.
    6. Water Quality--There could be some minor increases in salinity 
in Lake Mead.
    7. Aquatic Resources--There would be no measurable changes to 
aquatic resources in the area of potential effects.
    8. Special Status Species--There would be no effect to special 
status species caused by the proposed guideline.
    9. Recreation--There are no projected adverse impacts to recreation 
at Lake Powell, Lake Mohave, or Lake Havasu. There would be no 
anticipated impacts to Colorado River recreation. The proposed 
guideline could result in some short-term impacts to recreation 
resources at Lake Mead related to item 2 above.
    10. Hydropower--Changes to hydropower production at Glen Canyon Dam 
and Hoover Dam are projected to be less than 0.01 percent. There could 
be some minor incremental increases to pumping costs for the Southern 
Nevada Water Authority which draws water from Lake Mead.
    11. Air Quality--There are no projected impacts to air quality.
    12. Visual Resources--There are no projected impacts to visual 
resources.
    13. Cultural Resources--There will be no effect to cultural 
resources as a result of this undertaking. Reclamation is in the 
process of compiling data regarding the location of cultural resources 
(and historic properties) within the area of potential effects of the 
proposed guideline and the Colorado River Interim Surplus Guideline.
    14. Indian Trust Assets--There would be no effect to Indian Trust 
Assets. The proposed guideline does not allocate additional Colorado 
River water. There would be no effect on existing or additional tribal 
water rights and/or tribal allocations.
    15. Environmental Justice--There are no environmental justice 
implications from the proposed guideline.
IV. Finding
    Based on the analysis of the environmental impacts as described in 
the final EA and on thorough review of public comments received, 
Reclamation has determined that implementing the proposed guideline 
will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment or the natural resources of the area. A Finding of No 
Significant Impact is justified for the proposed guideline. Therefore, 
an environmental impact statement is not necessary to further analyze 
the environmental effects of the proposed guideline.
V. Decision--Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline
    Reclamation hereby adopts the following interim 602(a) Storage 
Guideline:
    1. Through the year 2016, 602(a) storage requirements determined in 
accordance with Article II(1) of the Long-Range Operating Criteria 
shall utilize a value of not less than 14.85 million acre-feet 
(elevation 3,630 feet) for Lake Powell. Accordingly, when projected 
September 30 Lake Powell storage is less than 14.85 million acre-feet 
(elevation 3,630 feet), the objective will be to maintain a minimum 
annual release of water from Lake Powell of 8.23 million acre-feet, 
consistent with Article II(2) of the Long-Range Operating Criteria.
    2. Under the current area-capacity relationship at Lake Powell, a 
water surface elevation of 3,630 feet corresponds to 14.85 million 
acre-feet of storage. In the event that a sediment survey is performed 
at Lake Powell and a revised area-capacity relationship is determined 
before the year 2016, the revised water storage volume that correlates 
with the water surface elevation of 3,630 feet at Lake Powell shall be 
used in Section V(1) of this Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline.
    3. The Interim 602(a) Storage Guideline shall be utilized in the 
operation of the Colorado River in years 2005 through 2016. This 
guideline will first be implemented in the development of the 2005 
Colorado River Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and for all subsequent AOPs 
through the year 2016.
[FR Doc. 04-11282 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P