[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69352-69353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22436]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[FES-05-27]


Flaming Gorge Dam, Colorado River Storage Project, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam 
final 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.D.A. Forest Service, Utah Associated Municipal 
Power Systems, and Western Area Power Administration, has prepared and 
made available to the public a final 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.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EIS are available from 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; e-mail: [email protected]. The EIS 
is also available on Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/ 
(click on Environmental Documents and then click on Operation of 
Flaming Gorge Dam Environmental Impact Statement).
    Copies of the 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 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; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Final 
Environmental Impact Statement describes the potential 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 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 described in the Flow and Temperature 
Recommendations for Endangered Fish in the Green River Downstream of

[[Page 69353]]

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 Colorado pikeminnow 
(Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), 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 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.
    The draft environmental impact statement was issued to the public 
in early September 2004 and a Notice of Availability of the draft EIS 
was published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2004. The 60-day 
review and comment period for the draft EIS ended on November 15, 2004. 
During the public comment period, five public hearings were held and 
over 600 public comments were received. All written and oral comments 
received were carefully reviewed and considered in preparing the final 
environmental impact statement. Where appropriate, revisions were made 
to the document in response to specific comments. The comments and 
responses, together with the final environmental impact statement, will 
be considered in determining whether or not to implement the proposed 
action.
    No decision will be made on the proposed federal action until at 
least 30 days after release of the EIS. After the 30-day waiting 
period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision. The Record of 
Decision will state which alternative analyzed in the EIS will be 
implemented and discuss all factors leading to that decision.

    Dated: October 7, 2005.
Rick L. Gold,
Regional Director--UC Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 05-22436 Filed 11-14-05; 8:45 am]
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