[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54799-54801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20518]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[INT-DES-04-40]


Flaming Gorge Dam, Colorado River Storage Project, Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public hearings for the 
operation of Flaming Gorge Dam draft environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the federal agency 
responsible for operation of Flaming Gorge Dam, in cooperation with the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park 
Service, State of Utah Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Utah Associated Municipal Power 
Systems, and Western Area Power Administration, has prepared and made 
available to the public a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) 
pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4332.

DATES: A 60-day public review period commences with the publication of 
this notice. Written comments on the draft EIS are due by November 15, 
2004, and should be submitted to Peter Crookston at the address given 
below. Public hearings will be held during the month of October in Utah 
and Wyoming. The public hearings schedule is as follows:
     Tuesday, October 12, 2004, 6 p.m.--Ramada Inn, 182 South 
Main Street, Moab, Utah.
     Wednesday, October 13, 2004, 6 p.m.--Marriott Hotel, 75 
South West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah.
     Tuesday, October 19, 2004, 6 p.m.--Holiday Inn, 1675 
Sunset Drive, Rock Springs, Wyoming.
     Wednesday, October 20, 2004, 6 p.m.--Dutch John Conference 
Hall, South Blvd., Dutch John, Utah.
     Thursday, October 21, 2004, 6 p.m.--Western Park 
Convention Center, 300 East 200 South, Vernal, Utah.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the draft EIS and requests for copies 
should be addressed to Mr. Peter Crookston, Flaming Gorge EIS Manager, 
PRO-774, Bureau of Reclamation, Provo Area Office, 302 East 1860 South, 
Provo, Utah 84606-7317, email: [email protected]. The draft EIS is also 
available on Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/ (click 
on Environmental Programs and then click on the Flaming Gorge Dam 
Environmental Impact Statement).
    Copies of the draft EIS are available for public review and 
inspection at the following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 
South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Provo Area Office, 302 East 1860 
South, Provo, Utah 84606-7317.
     Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Attention: 
Russell George, Executive Director, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 718, 
Denver, Colorado 80203.
     Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Attention: Eric 
Bergman, 1313

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Sherman Street, Room 521, Denver, Colorado 80203.
     Utah State Clearinghouse, Attention: Carolyn Wright, 
Department of Natural Resources, 1594 West North Temple, Suite 3710, 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114.
     Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, 122 West 25th 
Street, Herschler Building 4th Floor--West, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002.

Libraries

     Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt 
Lake City, Utah 84111.
     Rock Springs Library, 400 C Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming 
82901.
     Sweetwater County Library, 300 North 1st East Street, 
Green River, Wyoming 82935.
     Daggett County Library, 85 North 1st Street West, Manila, 
Utah 84046.
     Ute Indian Tribe Library, P.O. Box 190, Fort Duchesne, 
Utah 84026.
     Green River City Library, 85 South Long, Green River, Utah 
84525.
     Mesa County Public Library, 530 Grand Avenue, Grand 
Junction, Colorado 81501.
     Uintah County Library, 155 East Main Street, Vernal, Utah 
84078.
     Duchesne County Library, 70 West Lagoon Street, Roosevelt, 
Utah 84066.
     Grand County Library, 25 South 100 East, Moab, Utah 84532.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Crookston, Flaming Gorge EIS 
Manager, PRO-774, Bureau of Reclamation, Provo Area Office, 302 East 
1860 South, Provo, Utah 84606-7317; telephone (801) 379-1152; faxogram 
(801) 379-1159; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement describes the effects of modifying the 
operation of Flaming Gorge Dam to assist in the recovery of four 
endangered fish, and their critical habitat, downstream from the dam. 
The purpose of the proposed action is to operate Flaming Gorge Dam to 
protect and assist in recovery of the populations and designated 
critical habitat of four endangered fishes, while maintaining all 
authorized purposes of the Flaming Gorge Unit of the Colorado River 
Storage Project (CRSP), particularly those related to the development 
of water resources in accordance with the Colorado River Compact.
    The draft EIS describes and analyzes the potential effects of two 
alternatives. Under the No Action Alternative, operations under the 
conditions imposed by the 1992 Biological Opinion would continue. Under 
the Action Alternative, operations would be in accordance with the flow 
and temperature regimes specified in the Flow and Temperature 
Recommendations for Endangered Fish in the Green River Downstream of 
Flaming Gorge Dam (2000 Flow and Temperature Recommendations), 
published in September 2000 by the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 
Recovery Program (Recovery Program).

Background

    Flaming Gorge Dam, located on the Green River in northeastern Utah 
about 200 miles east of Salt Lake City, is an authorized storage unit 
of the Colorado River Storage Project. Flaming Gorge Dam was completed 
in 1962, and full operation of the dam and reservoir began in 1967. The 
powerplant, located at the base of the dam, began commercial operation 
in 1963 and was completed in 1964. Reclamation operates the dam and 
powerplant, and the Western Area Power Administration markets the 
power.
    Reclamation proposes to take action to protect and assist in 
recovery of the populations and designated critical habitat of the four 
endangered fishes found in the Green and Colorado River Basins, while 
maintaining all authorized purposes of the Flaming Gorge Unit of the 
CRSP. The four endangered fish species are the humpback chub (Gila 
cypha), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), razorback sucker 
(Xyrauchen texanus), and bonytail (Gila elegans). Reclamation would 
implement the proposed action by modifying the operation of Flaming 
Gorge Dam, to the extent possible, to achieve the flows and 
temperatures recommended by participants of the Recovery Program. 
Reclamation's goal is to implement the Proposed Action and, at the same 
time, maintain and continue all authorized purposes of the CRSP.
    The recommended flows and temperatures are intended to provide 
water releases of sufficient magnitude and, with the proper timing and 
duration, to assist in the recovery of the endangered fishes and their 
designated critical habitat.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to operate Flaming Gorge Dam 
to protect and assist in recovery of the populations and designated 
critical habitat of the four endangered fishes, while maintaining all 
authorized purposes of the Flaming Gorge Unit of the CRSP, particularly 
those related to the development of water resources in accordance with 
the Colorado River Compact. The Proposed Action is needed for the 
following reasons:
     The operation of Flaming Gorge Dam, under its original 
operating criteria, jeopardized the continued existence of the 
endangered fishes in the Green River.
     Reclamation is required to comply with the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) for the operation of CRSP facilities, including 
Flaming Gorge Dam. Within the exercise of its discretionary authority, 
Reclamation must avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of listed 
species and destroying or adversely modifying designated critical 
habitat.
     The Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) to the 1992 
Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam required 
modification of Flaming Gorge releases to benefit the endangered fish, 
a five-year study period to evaluate winter and spring flows, and 
reinitiation of discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
following the study period to further refine the flow recommendations. 
With the results of these studies, as well as other relevant 
information, the Recovery Program developed and approved the 2000 Flow 
and Temperature Recommendations report for the Green River. These 
recommendations are an extension of the 1992 jeopardy Biological 
Opinion RPA. Reclamation committed to assist in meeting flow 
requirements through the refined operation of Flaming Gorge Dam and 
other federal reservoirs in the 1987 agreement that formed the Recovery 
Program.
     Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir is the primary water 
storage and delivery facility on the Green River, upstream from its 
confluence with the Colorado River. The storage capacity and ability to 
control water releases of Flaming Gorge Dam allow Reclamation 
flexibility in providing flow and temperature management to protect and 
assist in the recovery of endangered fish populations and their 
critical habitat within specific reaches of the river. Thus, the 
refined operation of Flaming Gorge Dam is a key element of the Recovery 
Program.
     The refined operation will offset the adverse effects of 
flow depletions from the Green River for certain Reclamation water 
projects in Utah, as defined by existing jeopardy Biological Opinions. 
Modifying the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam will also serve as the 
RPA, as defined by the ESA, to offset jeopardy to endangered fishes and 
their critical habitat that could result from the operation of numerous 
other existing or

[[Page 54801]]

proposed water development projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Proposed Federal Action

    Reclamation proposes to take action to protect and assist in 
recovery of the populations and designated critical habitat of the four 
endangered fishes found in the Green and Colorado River Basins. 
Reclamation would implement the Proposed Action by modifying the 
operations of Flaming Gorge Dam, to the extent possible, to achieve the 
flows and temperatures recommended by participants of the Recovery 
Program. Reclamation's goal is to implement the Proposed Action and, at 
the same time, maintain and continue all authorized purposes of the 
CRSP.
    Hearing Process Information: Oral comments at the hearings will be 
limited to five minutes. The hearing officer may allow any speaker to 
provide additional oral comments after all persons wishing to comment 
have been heard. All comments will be formally recorded. Speakers not 
present when called will lose their privilege in the scheduled order 
and will be recalled at the end of the scheduled speakers. Speakers are 
encouraged to provide written versions of their oral comments, and any 
other additional written materials, for the hearing/administrative 
record.
    Written comments should be received by Reclamation's Provo Area 
Office using the contact information provided above no later than 
November 15, 2004, for inclusion in the hearing/administrative record. 
Under the NEPA process, written and oral comments, received by the due 
date, are given the same consideration.

Public Disclosure

    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Individual 
respondents may request that we withhold their home address from public 
disclosure, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There 
also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent's 
identity from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish us to 
withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at 
the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.

    Dated: August 27, 2004.
Rick L. Gold,
Regional Director--UC Region.
[FR Doc. 04-20518 Filed 9-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P