[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 76 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19959-19960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7034]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[FES 07-05]


Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as 
amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), with and on behalf 
of other joint-lead agencies [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), 
Department of Defense; and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission 
(Commission), State of New Mexico], has prepared and made available to 
the public a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) to assess the 
consequences of proposed changes to water operations in the Rio Grande 
basin above Fort Quitman, Texas. The FEIS is programmatic and is not 
intended to authorize specific projects in the upper Rio Grande system. 
It is anticipated that a plan for water operations at existing 
Reclamation and Corps facilities will be developed.
    The FEIS presents alternatives with respect to water operations and 
evaluates the potential effects of each alternative on environmental, 
hydrologic, cultural, and socioeconomic resources, and Indian Trust 
Assets, including any potential disproportionate effects on minority or 
low income communities (environmental justice). The FEIS also evaluates 
the effects of alternatives on the State of New Mexico's ability to 
meet its obligations associated with the Rio Grande Compact. Some of 
the alternatives considered include changing the channel capacity 
criteria at Albuquerque, storage or non-storage of Rio Grande water in 
authorized San Juan-Chama space in Abiquiu Reservoir, and possible 
future resumption of operations of the currently unfunctional Low Flow 
Conveyance Channel.
    A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was filed with the 
Environmental Protection Agency on January 20, 2006, and a Notice of 
Availability for the DEIS was published in the Federal Register on that 
same date. The original 60-day review and comment period for the DEIS 
was extended an additional 30 days to April 20, 2006, with publication 
of a Notice of Extension in the Federal Register on March 24, 2006. 
During the comment period, one public meeting was held in Colorado, one 
public meeting was held in Texas, and six public meetings were held in 
New Mexico. All comments received on the DEIS were carefully reviewed 
and considered in preparing the FEIS. Where appropriate, revisions were 
made to the document in response to specific comments. The comments and 
responses, together with the FEIS, will be considered in determining 
whether or not to implement the proposed action.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS is electronically available for viewing and copying 
at the Corps' Albuquerque District Web site at: http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/urgwops/default.asp. Alternatively, a compact 
disc or hard copy is available upon written request to Ms. Valda

[[Page 19960]]

Terauds, Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway 
NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102.
    Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection and review 
at the following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 
Broadway NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
     Southern Peaks Public Library, 423 4th Street, Alamosa, 
Colorado 81101
     Taos Public Library, 402 Camino de la Placita, Taos, New 
Mexico 87571
     City of Espa[ntilde]ola Library, 405 Paseo de Onate, 
Espa[ntilde]ola, New Mexico 87532
     Albuquerque Main Library, 501 Copper NW., Albuquerque, New 
Mexico 87102
     Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Street, Santa Fe, 
New Mexico 87501
     El Paso Public Library, Clardy Fox Branch, 5515 Robert 
Alva Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79905
     Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 East Picacho Avenue, 
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001
     Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, New 
Mexico 87801

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Valda Terauds, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway NE., Suite 100, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone 505-462-3584; facsimile 505-
462-3593; e-mail: [email protected].
    Ms. April Sanders, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque 
District, 4101 Jefferson Plaza NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109; 
telephone 505-342-3443; facsimile 505-342-3195; e-mail: 
[email protected].
    Mr. Nabil Shafike, PhD, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, 
121 Tijeras NE, Suite 2000, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone 
505-764-3866; facsimile 505-764-3893; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to various legal authorities, and 
subject to allocation of supplies and priority of water rights under 
state law, Reclamation and the Corps operate dams, reservoirs, and 
other facilities in the upper Rio Grande basin to:
    (1) Store and deliver water for agricultural, domestic, municipal, 
industrial, and environmental uses;
    (2) Assist the Commission in meeting downstream water delivery 
obligations mandated by the Rio Grande Compact;
    (3) Provide flood protection and sediment control; and
    (4) Comply with existing laws, contract obligations, and 
international treaties.
    The Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review (Review) 
provides the basis of, and is integral to, preparation of the FEIS. The 
purpose of the Review and FEIS is to:
    (1) Identify flexibilities in operation of federal reservoirs and 
facilities in the upper Rio Grande basin that are within existing 
authorities of Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission, and in 
compliance with Federal and State laws;
    (2) Develop a better understanding of how these facilities could be 
operated more efficiently and effectively as an integrated system;
    (3) Formulate a plan for future water operations at these 
facilities that is within the existing authorities of Reclamation, the 
Corps, and the Commission; complies with Federal, State, and other 
applicable laws and regulations; and assures continued safe dam 
operations;
    (4) Improve processes for making decisions about water operations 
through better interagency communication and coordination and 
facilitation of public review and input; and
    (5) Support compliance by the Corps, Reclamation, and the 
Commission with applicable laws and regulations, including, but not 
limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered 
Species Act.
    The FEIS addresses water operations at the following facilities 
with the noted exceptions and limitations:
     Flood control operations at Platoro Reservoir (the Review 
and FEIS include only flood control operations at Platoro that are 
under the Corps' authority; water supply operations at Platoro are 
under local control)
     Closed Basin Division-San Luis Valley Project
     Heron Dam and Reservoir
     Abiquiu Dam and Reservoir
     Cochiti Dam and Reservoir
     Low Flow Conveyance Channel
     Flood control operations at Elephant Butte Dam and 
Reservoir (because of current litigation, water supply operations at 
Elephant Butte are not included in the Review or FEIS)
     Flood control operations at Caballo Dam and Reservoir 
(because of current litigation, water supply operations at Caballo are 
not included in the Review or FEIS).

Proposed Federal Action

    Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission identified Alternative 
E-3 as the preferred alternative for water operations in the upper Rio 
Grande basin. This alternative allows for increased native (Rio Grande) 
water conservation and storage in Abiquiu Reservoir, maintains current 
channel capacity below Abiquiu Dam, increases channel capacity below 
Cochiti Dam, and allows a full range of operation for the Low Flow 
Conveyance Channel, with continued communication and coordination for 
flood control operations at Elephant Butte and Caballo Dams.
    No decision will be made on the proposed Federal action until 60 
days after the release of the FEIS. After the 60-day waiting period, 
Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission will complete individual 
agency Records of Decision. The Records of Decision will identify the 
action(s) that will be implemented and discuss all factors leading to 
the decision(s).

    Dated: March 2, 2007.
Rick L. Gold,
Regional Director--Upper Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
 [FR Doc. E7-7034 Filed 4-19-07; 8:45 am]
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