[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 27 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2548]


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UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Utah Lake 
Drainage Basin Water Delivery System, Central Utah Project

AGENCY: Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: On January 27, 2005, Jody L. Williams, Chairman of the Utah 
Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission (Mitigation 
Commission) signed the Record of Decision (ROD) which documents 
selection of the Proposed Action as presented in the 2004 Utah Lake 
Drainage Basin Water Delivery System Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (INT FES 04-41) (2004 ULS FEIS) filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency on September 30, 2004. The Mitigation 
Commission, Central Utah Water Conservancy District and Department of 
the Interior served as joint lead agencies in preparing the 2004 ULS 
FEIS. The Proposed Action, called the Spanish Fork Canyon-Provo 
Reservoir Canal Alternative, one other action alternative called the 
Bonneville Unit Water Alternative, and a No Action alternative are 
described and evaluated in the 2004 ULS FEIS, upon which the ROD is 
based.
    The Spanish Fork Canyon-Provo Reservoir Canal Pipeline Alternative 
will deliver an average annual transbasin diversion of 101,900 acre-
feet from the Colorado River Basin to the Bonneville Basin, which 
consists of a delivery of: 30,000 acre-feet of Municipal and Industrial 
(M&I) water for secondary use to southern Utah County and 30,000 acre-
feet of M&I water to Salt Lake County water treatment plants; 1,590 
acre-feet of M&I water already contracted to southern Utah County 
cities; and 40,310 acre-feet of M&I water to Utah Lake for exchange to 
Jordanelle Reservoir. A portion of the 40,310 acre-feet delivered to 
Utah Lake would be delivered via lower Hobble Creek to provide spawning 
habitat for the endangered June sucker, and via lower Provo River where 
it would help maintain minimum instream flows for June sucker spawning 
and other fishery and aquatic benefits. The 30,000 acre-feet (less the 
water returned to Interior under the Section 207 Program) of M&I water 
utilized in southern Utah County would be used in the cities' secondary 
water systems. Use of this water as a potable supply in the future 
would require additional NEPA compliance. Under the Proposed Action, 
Interior would acquire all of the District's secondary water rights in 
Utah Lake. These rights would amount to a maximum of 57,073 acre-feet. 
The acquired water rights would be used to exchange project water to 
Jordanelle Reservoir. All remaining environmental commitments 
associated with the Bonneville Unit would be completed and previously 
committed in-stream flows within the Bonneville Unit area and 
statutorily mandated in-stream flows would be provided.
    The Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Department of 
the Interior issued a separate ROD for the ULS on December 22, 2004, 
also selecting the Proposed Action for implementation. The Assistant 
Secretary's separate decision is necessitated by the responsibility and 
authority of the Department of the Interior for other aspects of the 
project beyond the scope of the Mitigation Commission to mitigate for 
reclamation projects.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and/or FEIS can be obtained at the Utah 
Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 102 W 500 S, Suite 
315, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101. They may also be viewed on the 
internet via the following Web address: http://www.mitigationcommission.gov/news.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Holden, Projects Manager 
(801) 524-3146.

    Dated: January 31, 2005.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2548 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P