[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 189 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55805-55806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19209]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section: Notice of Availability of a Draft 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Flood 
Control Improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee 
System in El Paso County, Texas and Do[ntilde]a Ana and Sierra 
Counties, NM

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States 
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) 
Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published 
in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC 
hereby gives notice of availability of the Draft Environmental 
Assessment and FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande 
Canalization Project (RGCP) Levee System, located in El Paso County, 
Texas and Do[ntilde]a Ana and Sierra Counties, New Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Borunda, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, United States 
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission; 4171 N. Mesa, C-
100; El Paso, Texas 79902. Telephone: (915) 832-4767; e-mail: 
[email protected].

DATES: Comments on the Draft EA and Draft FONSI will be accepted 
through October 30, 2007. This date has been determined by the expected 
release of the Federal Register Notice on October 1, 2007.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USIBWC is preparing an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for a proposed action to raise approximately 52 miles 
of levee system within the RGCP. The area under consideration includes 
approximately 13 miles within El Paso County, Texas and 38 miles within 
Do[ntilde]a Ana and Sierra Counties in New Mexico. Other flood control 
improvements such as a floodwall may be required in the Canutillo area 
in order to fully contain the 100-year flood flow.
    The RGCP levee system is one of the priority areas identified and 
targeted for flood control improvements. The need for improvements to 
the levee system was identified in the 2004 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, River Management Alternatives for the Rio Grande 
Canalization Project. USIBWC in coordination with the United States 
Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District evaluated the RGCP flood 
containment capacity in 1996 and subsequently in 2005. These studies 
identified a number of potential levee deficiencies along the RGCP on 
the basis of hydraulic modeling of the 100-year storm. The modeling 
indicated that an increase in levee height would be required to meet 
design criteria for flood protection. Levee height increases range from 
1 to 4 feet at various locations for a total of 52 levee miles. 
Increases greater than 2 feet may require expansion of the levee 
footprint by lateral extension of the structure to meet design 
criteria. If required, levee footprint increases may occur within the 
USIBWC right-of-way and extend either on the landside or riverside of 
the levee depending on existing constraints.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certification of RGCP 
levees in El Paso County, Texas and Do[ntilde]a Ana and Sierra 
Counties, New Mexico cannot occur until the existing levees are 
rehabilitated to meet certification standards. Recent preliminary 
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps released by FEMA indicate increased 
newly designated Special Flood Hazard areas along the Rio Grande. The 
proposed action will

[[Page 55806]]

enable the USIBWC to partially certify specific levee segments along 
the RGCP that meet the 3-foot freeboard design criterion for flood 
protection.
    Summary of Findings: Pursuant to NEPA guidance (40 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1500-1508), The President's Council on Environmental 
Quality issued regulations for NEPA implementation which included 
provisions for both the content and procedural aspects of the required 
EA. The EA assesses potential environmental impacts of the Proposed 
Action and the No Action Alternative. A draft FONSI was issued for the 
Proposed Action, based on a review of the facts and analyses contained 
in the EA. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared 
unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought 
to our attention within 30 days from the date of this Notice.
    Availability: Copies of the Draft EA and FONSI may be obtained by 
request from Mr. Daniel Borunda, 4171 North Mesa, Suite C-100, El Paso, 
Texas 79902, e-mail: [email protected]. Electronic copies 
may also be obtained from the USIBWC Home Page at http://www.ibwc.state.gov. Written comments will be accepted for 30 days 
following the date of this Notice.

    Dated: September 24, 2007.
Susan Daniel,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E7-19209 Filed 9-28-07; 8:45 am]
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