[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72758-72759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24590]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Red River Valley Water Supply Project, ND

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is notifying the public that 
Reclamation and the State of North Dakota have prepared a Final EIS for 
the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP). The purpose of the 
RRVWSP is to supply water to meet the water needs of the people and 
industries in the Red River Valley through the year 2050. The project's 
needs were established by Congress in the Dakota Water Resources Act of 
2000. The project needs are defined as municipal, rural, and industrial 
supplies; water quality; aquatic environment; and water conservation 
measures. Reclamation published a Draft EIS on December 30, 2005. 
Following public comments on the Draft EIS and the addition of new 
information, Reclamation published a Supplemental Draft EIS on January 
31, 2007. The comment period for the Draft EIS started on December 30, 
2005 and continued through April 25, 2007 with review of the 
Supplemental Draft EIS. Revisions were made to the Final EIS to 
incorporate responses to comments on the Supplemental Draft EIS and new

[[Page 72759]]

information. However, these revisions do not significantly impact the 
analysis or results presented in the Supplemental Draft EIS. The 
primary changes are inclusion of a final biological assessment prepared 
in compliance with the Endangered Species Act, an analysis of 
forecasted depletions and sedimentation on the Missouri River mainstem 
reservoir system, and a literature review of the best available climate 
change information. The Final EIS includes written responses to all 
public comments on both the DEIS and SDEIS. It also identifies the GDU 
Import to Sheyenne River Alternative as Reclamation's and the State of 
North Dakota's preferred alternative.

DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action 
until at least 30 days after the release of the Final EIS. After the 
30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision 
(ROD). The ROD will state the selected action for implementation and 
will discuss factors and rationale used in making the decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Signe Snortland, telephone: (701) 
221-1278, or FAX to (701) 250-4326, or [email protected]. 
Additional information including a complete copy of the Public Notice, 
Executive Summary, Final EIS, and Appendices are available on the Red 
River Valley Water Supply Project Web site at http://www.rrvwsp.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final EIS considers five action 
alternatives and a no action alternative. Three of the action 
alternatives propose to use water from the Missouri River as an 
additional source of project water. The DEIS evaluated two treatment 
methods designed to reduce the risk of invasive species transfer (basic 
method and microfiltration). In response to comments on the DEIS, an 
additional treatment method, dissolved air flotation was evaluated in 
the SDEIS and FEIS. All of these treatment methods would be effective 
in removing or inactivating a broad range of organisms, including all 
of the potentially invasive species evaluated in the EIS. Estimated 
costs for construction, operation and maintenance of the treatment 
plant are provided. The Final EIS is available for public inspection at 
the following locations:

Iowa

 Des Moines Public Library, 100 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA

Kansas

 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Street, 
Topeka, KS

Minnesota

 Breckenridge Public Library, 205 7th Street North, 
Breckenridge, MN
 East Grand Forks Library, 422 4th Street Northwest, East Grand 
Forks, MN
 Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th Street South, Moorhead, MN
 Perham Public Library, 225 2nd Ave. NE, Perham, MN
 Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, PO Box 550, Red Lake, MN
 St. Paul Public Library, 90 West 4th Street, St. Paul, MN
 Warroad City Library, 202 Main Ave. NW, Warroad, MN
 White Earth Reservation, 26246 Crane Road, White Earth, MN

Missouri

 Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, 
MO
 Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams Street, Jefferson 
City, MO

Montana

 Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Regional Office, 316 N. 
26th Street, Billings, MT

Nebraska

 Lincoln City Libraries, 136 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE

North Dakota

 Alfred Dickey Public Library, 105 3rd Street SE, Jamestown, ND
 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Turtle Mountain Agency, PO Box 60, 
Highway 5 West, Belcourt, ND
 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Berthold Agency, 202 Main 
Street, New Town, ND
 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Totten Agency, PO Box 270/Main 
Street, Fort Totten, ND
 Bureau of Reclamation, Dakotas Area Office, 304 E. Broadway 
Ave., Bismarck, ND
 Fargo Public Library, 102 3rd Street North, Fargo, ND
 Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, 401 Highway 281 NE, 
Carrington, ND
 Grand Forks Public Library, 2110 Library Circle, Grand Forks, 
ND
 Leach Public Library, 417 2nd Ave. North, Wahpeton, ND
 North Dakota State Library, 603 East Blvd. Ave., Bismarck, ND
 Standing Rock Administrative Service Center, Bldg. 1, 
North Standing Rock Avenue, Fort Yates, ND
 West Fargo Public Library, 109 3rd Street East, West Fargo, ND

South Dakota

 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sisseton Agency, Veterans Memorial 
D, Agency Village, SD
 South Dakota State Library, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD

Province of Manitoba

 Millennium Library, 251 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 
Canada

Province of Ontario

 Kenora Branch Library, 24 Main Street South, Kenora, Ontario, 
Canada

    Dated: December 10, 2007.
Michael J. Ryan,
Regional Director, Great Plains Region.
[FR Doc. E7-24590 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P