[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29534-29535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10255]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-030-5101-ER-F340; N-76800, N-76897]


Notice of Availability for the North Valleys Rights-of-Way 
Projects Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Carson 
City Field Office, Nevada.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the North Valleys Rights-of-Way Projects and 
initiation of a 60-day public comment period.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) and 40 CFR 1500-1508 Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (CEQ), notice is given that the Bureau of Land Management 
Carson City Field Office (BLM) has prepared, with the assistance of a 
third-party consultant, a Draft EIS for the proposed North Valleys 
Rights-of-Way Projects, and has made the document available for public 
and agency review and comment. The proposed Projects include the 
construction and operation of two separate water supply and 
transmission projects located in Washoe County, Nevada. Rights-of-way 
applications were submitted to the BLM from Intermountain Water Supply, 
LTD and Fish Springs Ranch, LLC for production wells, pump stations, 
transmission pipelines, terminal water storage tanks, electrical 
substation, overhead power lines, and access road rights-of-way.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The comment period for the Draft EIS will commence 
with the publication of this notice. The formal comment period will end 
60 days after publication of this notice. Comments on issues and 
concerns should be received on or before the end of the comment period 
at the address listed below. Public meetings will be held throughout 
the comment period and preparation of the Final EIS. At least 15 days 
public notice will be given prior to meetings or activities where the 
public is invited to attend. Meetings and comment deadlines will be 
announced through the local and regional news media and the BLM Web 
site (www.nv.blm.gov/carson).

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to BLM Carson City Field 
Office, Attn: Terri Knutson, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 
89701; Fax (775) 885-6147; or e-mail address [email protected]. A limited number of the Draft EIS may be obtained at the 
above BLM Field Office in Carson City, NV. In addition, the Draft EIS 
is available electronically via the Carson City Field Office Home Page 
at: www.nv.blm.gov/carson. Comments, including names and street 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the 
above address during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.), Monday 
through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of the 
EIS. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
withhold your name or street address from public review or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. However, we will 
not consider anonymous comments. Such requests will be honored to the 
extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
made available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments should be sent to BLM 
Carson City Field Office, Attn: Terri Knutson, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, 
Carson City, NV 89701; Fax (775) 885-6147; e-mail address 
[email protected]. For additional information, write to the 
above address or call Terri Knutson (BLM Environmental Planner) at 
(775) 885-6156 or Ken Nelson (BLM Realty Specialist) at (775) 885-6114.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Carson City Field Office received 
separate rights-of-way applications from the Fish Springs Ranch, LLC 
and Intermountain Water Supply, LTD, two independent water companies, 
proposing to construct and operate water transmission pipelines across 
public lands in Washoe County, Nevada. The BLM determined that due to 
the same timing, geography, and similarity of the types of actions, the 
two proposals would be analyzed in one EIS, together known as the North 
Valleys Rights-of-Way Projects. Each company is proposing to construct 
and operate water supply and transmission projects to meet present and 
future water demands of the Stead/Silver Lake/Lemmon Valley areas 
(North Valleys) in Washoe County. The proposed Projects consist of 
groundwater production wells, pump station(s), transmission 
pipeline(s), electrical substation, overhead power lines, and terminal 
water storage tank(s) to convey water. The Fish Springs Ranch LLC 
proposed pipeline (carrying approximately 8000 acre-feet per year) 
would begin at the Fish Springs Ranch and proceed approximately 33 
miles to the North Valleys. The Intermountain Water Supply, LTD 
proposed pipeline (carrying approximately 3500 acre-feet per year) 
would begin in Dry Valley and proceed east a short distance before 
tying into the same general route south approximately 24 miles to the 
North Valleys.
    The Draft EIS assesses the impacts of the two proposed rights-of-
way actions and the No Action alternatives and

[[Page 29535]]

considers an alternative alignment of the pipelines. The Draft EIS 
addresses issues brought forth through scoping and has been evaluated 
by an interdisciplinary team of specialists. The proposed rights-of-way 
cross several jurisdictions with permitting responsibilities, 
therefore, the following agencies or entities are active participants 
in the EIS process as formal cooperating agencies: U.S. Fish & Wildlife 
Service; U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs; U.S. Geological Survey; Sierra 
Army Depot; Susanville Indian Rancheria; California Department of Water 
Resources; California Department of Fish and Game; Lassen County, CA; 
Washoe County, NV; City of Reno; City of Sparks; Airport Authority of 
Washoe County; and Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the EIS process. A 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on September 15, 2003 and the public comment period was 
initiated. A public open house was held in Reno, NV in October 2003 and 
eight additional presentations were conducted between October 2003 and 
April 2004. A copy of the Draft EIS has been sent to all individuals, 
agencies, and groups who have expressed interest in the project or as 
mandated by regulation or policy. A limited number of copies are 
available upon request from the BLM at the address listed above. In 
addition, the document is available on the Carson City Field Office 
Home Page at the address above.
    To assist the BLM in identifying and considering issues and 
concerns on the proposed action and alternatives, comments on the Draft 
EIS should be as specific as possible. Comments should also refer to 
specific pages or chapters in the document. After the comment period 
ends, all comments will be considered by the BLM in preparing the Final 
EIS.

    Dated: April 8, 2005.
Donald T. Hicks,
Manager, Carson City Field Office.
[FR Doc. 05-10255 Filed 5-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P