[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8062-8063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2534]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Long-Term Experimental Plan for the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam 
and Other Associated Management Activities

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In a Federal Register notice published on November 6, 2006 (71 
FR 64982-64983), and pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and 40 CFR 1508.22, the 
Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation), provided notice of its intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) and conduct public scoping 
meetings for the adoption of a Long-Term Experimental Plan for the 
operation of Glen Canyon Dam and other associated management 
activities. This Federal Register notice provides updated information 
and additional background on the status and development of the Long-
Term Experimental Plan, as well as information regarding shorter term 
proposed flow experiments related to the operation of Glen Canyon Dam.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Dennis Kubly, Bureau of Reclamation, telephone 
(801) 524-3715; faxogram (801) 524-3858; e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Federal Register notice published on 
November 6, 2006 (71 FR 64982-64983),

[[Page 8063]]

and pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended, and 40 CFR 1508.22, the Department of the 
Interior, acting through Reclamation, provided notice of its intent to 
prepare an EIS and conduct public scoping meetings for the adoption of 
a Long-Term Experimental Plan for the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and 
other associated management activities.
    In a Federal Register notice published on December 12, 2006, (71 FR 
74556-74558), Reclamation provided notice of public scoping meetings on 
the adoption of a Long-Term Experimental Plan for the operation of Glen 
Canyon Dam and other associated management activities. Accordingly, 
public scoping meetings were held in December 2006 and January 2007. 
Reclamation published a March 2007 scoping report following the 
conclusion of the scoping process. This report is available on 
Reclamation's internet site at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/gcdltep/scoping/FinalScopingReport.pdf.
    During 2006 and 2007, a significant volume of sediment has been 
carried by storms into the mainstem of the Colorado River below Glen 
Canyon Dam and sediment retention in the Grand Canyon below Glen Canyon 
Dam was higher than anticipated, leading to the largest accumulation of 
sediment in this reach of the Colorado River since 1998.
    During this period, important new information has become available 
regarding the stabilizing and improving status of the endangered 
humpback chub. As a result, in December 2007, Reclamation re-initiated 
Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service on the operation of Glen Canyon Dam. Reclamation's 
December 2007 Biological Assessment filed with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service is available on Reclamation's Internet site at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/ba/gc-ExpFlow/2007BA.pdf.
    The Section 7 consultation is based on a proposed short-term set of 
experimental flow actions to be initiated beginning in March 2008 to, 
in part, capitalize on a unique experimental opportunity that will 
utilize the recent high sediment input to the Grand Canyon. A proposed 
March 2008 high-flow release would build on knowledge gained through 
previous high flow experiments in 1996 and 2004. Beginning in September 
2008, Reclamation proposes to initiate steady flow operations for a 
period of two months (September-October) during each of the next five 
years (2008 through 2012). These proposed steady flow releases would 
build on knowledge gained through previous steady flow experiments in 
2000. These experimental high and steady flows have been designed and 
proposed to assist in--and assess the long term benefits of--the 
conservation of endangered humpback chub and fine sediment along the 
Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam.
    As of the date of this Federal Register notice, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service is preparing a Biological Opinion on the proposed 
short-term experimental flow actions, and Reclamation is preparing an 
Environmental Assessment on the proposed action. A final decision on 
whether to conduct the proposed experimental flow actions is expected 
to be made in February 2008, after appropriate environmental compliance 
activities are complete. After completion of these ongoing 
environmental compliance activities, Reclamation will reassess the 
proposed Long-Term Experimental Plan and any other associated 
environmental compliance activities. The Long-Term Experimental Plan 
approach will then be updated to integrate any decisions that are 
reached regarding Reclamation's proposed short-term experimental flow 
actions.

    Dated: February 4, 2008.
Larry Walkoviak,
Regional Director, UC Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
 [FR Doc. E8-2534 Filed 2-11-08; 8:45 am]
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