[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20359-20360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7749]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Central Utah Project Completion Act

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
Conversion of Central Utah Project water from irrigation to municipal 
and industrial use in Summit and Wasatch counties, Utah.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project Completion Act Office 
will prepare an Environmental Assessment on the conversion of 12,200 
acre-feet of Central Utah Project (CUP) water from irrigation to 
municipal and industrial (M&I) use over a period of up to 25 years. 
Water was originally to be developed exclusively for irrigation use 
under the Bonneville Unit of the CUP in Summit and Wasatch counties, 
Utah. Suburban development in the counties has resulted in agricultural 
land being taken out of production and developed into residential 
areas. Under the authority of Bureau of Reclamation Law, specifically 
Section 9(c)(1) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 Act (43 U.S.C. 
485h), the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 (43 U.S.C. 620 et 
seq.), and Section 205 of the Central Utah Project Completion Act (Pub. 
L. 102-575), the Secretary of the Interior oversees Bonneville Unit 
project planning and therefore has authority to convert CUP water from 
irrigation to M&I use. Such conversions were addressed under the terms 
of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District's 1965 Repayment 
Contract, No. 14-06-400-4286.

DATES: Dates and locations for public scoping will be announced 
locally.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bonneville Unit of the CUP was 
authorized to develop central Utah's water resources. Both the 1987 
Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Municipal and Industrial System, Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project 
(FEIS) and the 2004 Supplement to the 1988 Definite Plan Report for the 
Bonneville Unit (DPR) describe the current allocation of Project water 
for Summit and Wasatch counties--2,400 acre-feet for M&I use and 15,100 
acre-feet for irrigation use. The 1996 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Wasatch County Water Efficiency Project and Daniel 
Replacement Project evaluates the conveyance of the water supply 
described in the 1987 M&I FEIS. Due to residential and commercial 
development of agricultural lands within the counties, there is a need 
to convert CUP water from irrigation to M&I use. An Environmental 
Assessment will be prepared to evaluate the conversion of 12,200 acre-
feet of CUP water from irrigation to M&I use over a period of up to 25 
years. The Environmental Assessment will evaluate the schedule of 
conversion and identify potential effects and the significance of those 
effects. Issues to be analyzed include impacts on wildlife, cultural 
resources, special status plants and animals, and water resources. 
Because the proposed conversion changes the use of water described in 
the DPR, Interior will notify Congress of the proposed conversion 
before it is implemented. Upon completion of the CUP, a final 
allocation of Project water and Project costs will be made.
    Information, Comments, and Inquiries: Additional information on 
matters related to this notice can also be obtained from: Mr. Wayne G. 
Pullan, 302 East 1860 South Provo, Utah 84606, (801) 379-1194, 
[email protected].


[[Page 20360]]


    Dated: April 17, 2007.
Reed R. Murray,
Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. E7-7749 Filed 4-23-07; 8:45 am]
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