[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71853-71854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26502]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement for Its Flood Control Projects Within 
the Rio Grande and Tijuana River Basins

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact 
statement (PEIS).

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that pursuant to section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 
the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission 
(USIBWC) proposes to gather information necessary to analyze and 
evaluate impacts of management activities for the flood control 
projects maintained by USIWB along the Rio Grande, from Percha Dam in 
Dona Ana County, New Mexico, to the Gulf of Mexico; and in the United 
States portion of the Tijuana River in San Diego County, California. 
The findings of this evaluation will be documented in a PEIS.
    This notice is being provided as required by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) and the USIBWC's 
Operating Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, to obtain suggestions and information 
from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be 
addressed in the PEIS. Public meetings will be held to obtain community 
input to ensure all concerns are identified and addressed in the PEIS.

DATES: The USIBWC will conduct five public meetings at the following 
locations and dates: (1) El Paso, Texas on January 11, 2005, from 6 to 
9 p.m. m.s.t. at the El Paso Marriot, 1600 Airway Blvd., El Paso, Texas 
79925; (2) Las Cruces, New Mexico on January 12, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. 
m.s.t. at the Holiday Inn, 201 E. University, Las Cruces New Mexico 
88005; (3) Presidio, Texas on January 13, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. c.s.t. 
at the Presidio Chamber of Commerce, 202 W. Oreilly Street, Presidio 
Texas 79845; (4) McAllen Texas on January 19, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. 
c.s.t. at the Four Point Sheraton Hotel, 2721 S. 10th Street, McAllen, 
Texas 78503; and (5) City of Imperial Beach (San Diego County), 
California on January 27, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. P.s.t., at the 
Imperial Beach City Hall, 825 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach, 
California 91932.
    Full public participation by interested federal, state, and local 
agencies, as well as other interested organizations and the general 
public is encouraged during the scoping process which will end 60 days 
from the date of this notice. Public comments on the scope of the PEIS, 
reasonable alternatives that should be considered, anticipated 
environmental problems, and actions that might be taken to address them 
are requested.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments will be accepted for 60 days 
following the date of this notice by Daniel Borunda, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, USIBWC, 4171 N. Mesa Street, Suite C-100, El 
Paso, Texas 79902. Phone: (915) 832-4701, FAX: (915) 832-4167, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    The USIBWC maintains the following four flood control projects 
along the Rio Grande, in the United States:
    A. Canalization Project, extending 106 miles from Percha Diversion 
Dam in New Mexico to American Diversion Dam in El Paso County, Texas.
    B. Rectification Project, extending 86 miles from American 
Diversion Dam to Fort Quitman, Texas.
    C. Presidio-Ojinaga Flood Control Project, approximately 15 miles 
in length and located along the Rio Grande within the sister cities of 
Presidio, Texas and Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico,
    D. Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project (LRGFCP), extending 180 
miles between the town of Penitas, Texas, to the Gulf of Mexico.
    These projects were constructed with the objectives of providing 
flood control to urban, suburban, and agricultural areas adjacent to 
the river; stabilizing the International Boundary between the United 
States and Mexico (Rectification Project, Presidio-Ojinaga Project, and 
LRGFCP); and ensuring water deliveries (Canalization Project, Presidio-
Ojinaga

[[Page 71854]]

Project, and LRGFCP). In addition, USIBWC maintains the Tijuana River 
Flood Control Project, located in the United States portion of the 
Tijuana River, extending 2.3 miles from the international boundary. 
This project provides flood protection to areas in the United States.
    The proposed federal action that will be evaluated in the PEIS may 
include activities to ensure adequate flood control and water 
deliveries per international agreements and treaties, while identifying 
opportunities for enhancements to the riparian ecosystem and the 
development of recreational opportunities.

2. Alternatives

    The USIBWC, as the lead agency, proposes to collect information 
necessary for the preparation of a PEIS and to analyze alternatives for 
the management of the flood control projects to ensure compliance with 
the projects' mandates (flood protection, water deliveries and/or 
boundary stabilization) while creating opportunities for habitat 
restoration and recreation. Management activities to be evaluated may 
include: (1) Construction activities, such as raising and setting back 
levees, recreating meanders, and modifying the river channel; (2) 
maintenance activities such as vegetation control, channel dredging, 
and erosion control; and (3) other non-structural activities, such as 
land management and grazing.
    The PEIS will identify, describe, and evaluate the existing 
environmental, cultural, sociological and economical, and recreational 
resources; describe the flood protection projects; and evaluate the 
impacts associated with the alternatives under consideration. 
Significant issues which have been identified to be addressed in the 
PEIS include, but are not limited to impacts to water resources, water 
quality, cultural and biological resources, threatened and endangered 
species, and recreation. Coordination with the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service will ensure compliance with the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act of 1973, as amended. Cultural resources assessments 
for the project areas will be coordinated by the New Mexico State 
Historic Preservation Officer, the Texas State Historic Preservation 
Officer, and the California State Historic Preservation Officer. Other 
federal and state agencies will be consulted, as required, to ensure 
compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.
    The USIBWC has invited several agencies to participate as 
cooperating agencies pursuant 40 CFR 1501.6, to the extent possible. 
Other agencies may be invited to become cooperators as they are 
identified during the scoping process.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, CEQ Regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), other appropriate federal regulations, and the USIBWC 
procedures for compliance with those regulations. Copies of the PEIS 
will be transmitted to federal and state agencies and other interested 
parties for comments and will be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency in accordance with 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and USIBWC 
procedures.
    The USIBWC anticipates the Draft PEIS will be made available to the 
public by November 2005.

    Dated: November 16, 2004.
Susan E. Daniel,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 04-26502 Filed 12-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-P