[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73355-73356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25118]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Notice of Availability of a Final 
Environmental Assessment and Final Finding of No Significant Impact for 
Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee 
System, El Paso County, TX, and Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, NM

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Final 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 Final Environmental 
Assessment and FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande 
Canalization Project located within El Paso County, Texas and Sierra 
and Dona Ana 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Rio Grande Canalization Project was authorized by the Act of 
June 4, 1936, 49 Stat. 1463, Public Law No. 648 to facilitate 
compliance with the Convention concluded with Mexico on May 21, 1906 
(TS 455), providing for the equitable division of waters of the Rio 
Grande, and to properly regulate and control the water supply for use 
in the two countries. The Act authorized the construction, operation, 
and maintenance of the project in accordance with the plan in the 
Engineering Report of December 14, 1935.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action would increase the flood containment capacity 
of the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee System by raising the 
elevation of a number of levee segments for improved flood protection. 
Fill material, obtained from commercial sources would be added to the 
existing levee to meet the 3 foot freeboard criterion. Typical height 
increases in improvement areas would range from 1 to 4 feet. 
Improvements greater than 2 feet would require expansion of the 
existing levee footprint. In some locations, up to 4 feet of fill 
material would be added, extending the levee footprint up to a maximum 
of 24 feet from the current toe of the levee. This expansion would take 
place along the approximately 20-foot service corridor currently 
utilized for levee maintenance, inside the maintained floodway, and 
entirely within the flood control project right-of-way. In some 
instances, adjustments in levee slope would be made to eliminate the 
need for levee footprint expansion, when required by engineering 
considerations or for protection of resources.

[[Page 73356]]

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    A No Action Alternative was evaluated for the flood control 
improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee System. This 
alternative would retain the existing configuration of the system, and 
the current level of protection currently associated with this system. 
Under severe storm events, current containment capacity may be 
insufficient to fully control Rio Grande flooding, with risks to 
personal safety and potential property damage.

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 Environmental 
Assessment. The USIBWC completed an EA of the potential environmental 
consequences of raising segments of the Rio Grande Canalization Project 
Levee System to meet current requirements for flood control. The EA, 
which supports the Finding of No Significant Impact, evaluated the 
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative.

Levee System Evaluation

No Action Alternative

    The No Action Alternative was evaluated as the single alternative 
action to the Proposed Action. The No Action Alternative would retain 
the current configuration of the Rio Grande Rectification Project Levee 
System, with no impacts to biological and cultural resources, water 
resources, land use, community resources, and environmental health 
issues. In terms of flood protection, however, current containment 
capacity under the No Action Alternative may be insufficient to fully 
control Rio Grande flooding under severe storm events, with associated 
risks to personal safety and property. The USIBWC will not be able to 
certify the levee system segments, that are being targeted for 
improvements, as meeting Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) 
requirements.

Proposed Action

Biological Resources
    Improvements to the levee system would entail clearing and 
placement of fill material on the existing levees. Vegetation would be 
impacted along the levee slopes and at locations where levee footprint 
expansion is required (fill greater than 2 feet). Levee expansion, if 
required, would take place along the current levee service corridor, 
limiting vegetation removal to low quality invasive plant species along 
the levee slopes. Avoidance measures would be implemented to protect 
resources, as needed.
    No significant effects are anticipated on wildlife habitat in the 
vicinity of the levee system, including potential habitat for 
threatened and endangered species. In areas requiring levee footprint 
expansion, no riparian woodland communities would be impacted; impacts 
on vegetation would be limited to low quality vegetation along the 
levee slopes, of very limited value as wildlife habitat.
Cultural Resources
    Improvements to the levee system are not expected to adversely 
affect known archaeological or historical resources. Typically, 
placement of fill material over the existing levee would not expand the 
levee footprint; when levee footprint expansion is needed, expansion 
would take place within the service corridor currently used for levee 
maintenance.
Water Resources
    Improvements to the levee system would increase flood containment 
capacity to control the design flood event with a negligible increase 
in water surface elevation. Levee footprint expansion would not affect 
water resources.
Land Use
    Levee improvements would occur on existing levee structures. 
Footprint levee expansion, where required, would take place completely 
within the existing levee footprint, including the existing service 
corridor, and remain within USIBWC right-of-way (ROW). There is minimal 
potential for impacts to urban or agricultural lands since the majority 
of the work will take place on USIBWC ROW. The majority of the existing 
river trails would not be impacted, except for those segments that have 
been constructed on top of the levee and are within the areas targeted 
for improvements.
Community Resources
    In terms of socioeconomic resources, the influx of federal funds 
into El Paso, Dona Ana, and Sierra Counties from the levee improvement 
project would have a positive but minor local economic impact. No 
adverse impacts to disproportionately high minority and low-income 
populations were identified for construction activities. Moderate 
utilization of public roads is required during construction; a 
temporary increase in access road use would be required for equipment 
mobilization and material shipments.
Environmental Health Issues
    Improvements to the levee system would have minimal impact to air 
quality through construction activities. Air emissions during 
construction would be limited to heavy equipment operation during 
normal working hours. There would be a moderate increase in ambient 
noise levels due to construction activities. No long-term and regular 
exposure is expected above noise threshold values.
Best Management Practices
    When warranted due to engineering considerations, or for protection 
of biological or cultural resources, the need for levee footprint 
expansion would be eliminated by levee slope adjustment. Best 
management practices during construction would include use of sediment 
barriers and soil wetting to minimize erosion and dust. To protect 
riparian woody vegetation, avoidance measures will be implemented. To 
protect wildlife, construction activities would be scheduled to occur, 
to the extent possible, outside the March to August bird migratory 
season.
Availability
    Single hard copies of the Final Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact may be obtained by request at the 
above address. Electronic copies may also be obtained from the USIBWC 
Home Page at http://www.ibwc.state.gov.

    Dated: December 19, 2007.
Susan E. Daniel,
General Counsel.
 [FR Doc. E7-25118 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
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