[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 141 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42583-42584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14580]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Central Utah Project Completion Act

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the execution of a 
lease of power privilege contract and the construction, operation, and 
maintenance of a non-federal hydroelectric generation facility on 
Jordanelle Dam, Wasatch County, Utah, pursuant to the lease.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended; Public Law 102-575, Central Utah 
Project Completion Act (CUPCA), as amended; a July 2, 1999, Federal 
Register notice (FR Doc. 99-16852); and a March 19, 2004, Federal 
Register notice (FR Doc. 04-6175); the Department of the Interior is 
making available a Final EA and FONSI for the execution of a lease of 
power privilege contract and the construction, operation, and 
maintenance of a non-federal hydroelectric generation facility on 
Jordanelle Dam, Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project and associated 
power transmission lines and facilities. Through a competitive 
selection process the joint application of the Central Utah Water 
Conservancy District (District) and Heber Light and Power (HL&P) was 
selected as the potential lessee to develop hydropower at Jordanelle 
Dam. Construction and generation of power will be accomplished by the 
non-federal partnership of the District and HL&P through a lease of 
power privilege with the United States. A lease contract will be 
executed among the District, HL&P, and the Department, which defines 
the development, operation, and maintenance of a hydroelectric 
generation facility at Jordanelle Dam, consistent with the purposes and 
operations of the Bonneville Unit.

[[Page 42584]]

Development of a hydroelectric facility will not change or modify the 
operation of Jordanelle Dam and Reservoir.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information on matters 
related to this Federal Register notice can be obtained from Mr. Reed 
R. Murray, Deputy Program Director, CUP Completion Act Office, 
Department of the Interior, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, UT 84606-6154, 
(801) 379-1237, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Central Utah Project's Bonneville Unit, 
located in northern Utah, was authorized for construction, including 
hydroelectric power, by the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) Act 
of April 11, 1956 (ch. 203, 70 Stat. 105) (CRSPA). The construction and 
operation of a hydroelectric generating facility below Jordanelle Dam 
was contemplated in the 1979 Municipal and Industrial System (M&I) 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The 1987 Final Supplement 
to the M&I Final EIS deferred construction of a powerplant at 
Jordanelle awaiting non-federal participation. The potential to produce 
hydropower was incorporated in the construction of Jordanelle Dam. The 
Final EA and FONSI updates the 1987 Final Supplement to the M&I Final 
EIS regarding construction of a powerplant at Jordanelle Dam. The 
operation of Jordanelle Dam and Reservoir will remain the same as 
described in the 1987 Final Supplement to the Final EIS and the 2004 
Final EIS for the Utah Lake System.
    The Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA), comprised of 
Titles II-VI of the Act of October 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 4600, Public Law 
102-575) authorized the Secretary to request appropriations for the 
construction of other features of the Bonneville Unit. Section 208 of 
the CUPCA provides that power generation facilities associated with the 
CUP be developed and operated in accordance with the CRSPA, which 
explicitly embodies all Reclamation law except as otherwise provided in 
the CRSPA. In accordance with a Federal Register notice published July 
2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 127, Pages 36030-36032), Interior, in 
consultation with the Western Area Power Administration, selected the 
joint proposal of the District/HL&P to develop non-federal 
hydroelectric power at Jordanelle Dam through a lease of power 
privilege. A lease of power privilege is an alternative to Federal 
hydroelectric power development. A lease of power privilege grants a 
non-federal entity the right to utilize, consistent with CUP purposes, 
water power head and storage at and/or operationally in conjunction 
with the CUP, for non-federal electric power generation and sale by the 
entity. The general authority for lease of power privilege under 
Reclamation law includes, among others, the Town Sites and Power 
Development Act of 1906 (43 U.S.C. 522) and the Reclamation Project Act 
of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)) (1939 Act). The intent to hold public 
negotiations for the lease of power privilege contract was announced in 
the Federal Register on October 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 207, Pages 
63879-63880). The lease of power privilege contract was successfully 
negotiated and will be executed by all parties. Power developed by the 
Jordanelle hydroelectric generation facility will be purchased by HL&P 
and sold to their customers.

    Dated: July 15, 2005.
Ronald Johnston,
Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 05-14580 Filed 7-22-05; 8:45 am]
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