[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45825-45826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15988]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Resource Management Plan, Newlands Project, Washoe, Lyon, and 
Churchill Counties, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental document 
(environmental assessment or environmental impact statement) and notice 
of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an 
environmental document for the purpose of evaluating options for 
management of natural resources within the Newlands Project.
    The purpose of the action is to prepare a Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) for the lands managed in association with the Newlands Project. 
The RMP will be used to foster proper stewardship of public lands. The 
goal of Reclamation's RMP is to create a balance of resource 
development, recreation, and protection of natural and cultural 
resources for the lands and waters being managed. The plan will outline 
Reclamation management actions that will be implemented over a 10-year 
planning span.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held to solicit public input on 
identification of resource issues on Newlands Project lands and 
features, and for the development of alternative management strategies 
for those resources. There will be additional opportunities to comment 
on the scope of alternatives and impacts at such time as those 
alternatives and impacts have been further developed through the RMP 
and NEPA process.
    The meetings dates and times are as follows:
     Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 6 to 8 p.m., Reno , NV.
     Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 6 to 8 p.m., Fallon, NV.
    Written comments should be mailed to Reclamation at the address 
below by October 3, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting locations are:
     Reno at the Western Heritage Cultural Center, 6000 Bartley 
Ranch Road.
     Fallon at the Fallon Convention Center, 100 Campus Way .
    Written comments on the scope of this action should be sent to: Ms. 
Terri Edwards, Bureau of Reclamation, 705 N. Plaza Street, Room 320, 
Carson City, NV 89701, via e-mail [email protected], or faxed to 
775-884-8376.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terri Edwards, Reclamation Project 
Manager, at the above address, at 775-884-8353, via fax at 775-884-
8376, or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation's authority to prepare RMPs is 
specifically outlined in the Reclamation Recreation Management Act of 
1992 (Pub.L. 102-575, Title 28). The Act authorized the preparation of 
RMPs to ``provide for the development, use, conservation, protection, 
enhancement, and management of resources of Reclamation lands in a 
manner that is compatible with the authorized purposes of the 
Reclamation Project associated with the Reclamation lands.''
    The Newlands Project is primarily an irrigation project as set 
forth in legislation. The purposes of the Newlands Project were 
expanded in 1990 under Section 209 of Public Law 101-618. In addition 
to the existing irrigation purpose of the Newlands Reclamation Project, 
the Secretary of Interior is authorized to operate and maintain the 
project for the purposes of:
    1. Fish and wildlife, including endangered and threatened species;
    2. Municipal and industrial water supply in Lyon and Churchill 
counties, Nevada, including the Fallon Indian Reservation;
    3. Recreation;
    4. Water quality; and
    5. Any other purposes recognized as beneficial under the law of the 
State of Nevada.
    However, additional uses of the Newlands Project (1) Must have 
valid water rights and follow State law for any water right transfers; 
(2) must not increase diversions of Truckee River water to the Newlands 
Project over those allowed under applicable

[[Page 45826]]

operating criteria and procedures; and (3) must not conflict with 
applicable court decrees.
    Reclamation has a contract with the Truckee-Carson Irrigation 
District to operate and maintain the Newlands Project Works. There is 
no intention to address operation and maintenance of Project Works 
through this RMP process.
    The Newlands Project RMP should achieve the following:
    1. Identify issues and set forth goals and procedures for managing 
and administering resources on public lands.
    2. Establish use levels and types of development that protect 
resources and are compatible with the uses of the public within legal 
and policy constraints; minimize conflicts among users.
    3. Provide a flexible tool for land managers to assist in the 
proper administration, day-to-day operation, development, and 
management of public lands.
    4. Provide a tool to aid in setting funding and staffing levels.
    If special assistance is required at the scoping meetings, please 
contact Terri Edwards at 775-884-8353 or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. Please notify Ms. Edwards as far in advance of 
the meetings as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the needed 
services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be 
notified. A telephone device for the hearing impaired (TDD) is 
available at 916-978-5608.
    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: August 7, 2007.
 Michael Nepstad,
 Acting Regional Environmental Officer, Mid-Pacific Region.
 [FR Doc. E7-15988 Filed 8-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P