[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 11677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3999]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION; UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Long-Term Improvements to the USIBWC Rio Grande Flood 
Control Projects Along the Texas-Mexico Border

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission (USIBWC).

ACTION: Notice of availability for the record of decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), and USIBWC procedures for implementing NEPA. The USIBWC 
anticipates the need to improve functionality of three flood control 
projects located in the Rio Grande along the Texas-Mexico border. 
Potential improvement measures are mainly associated with the project 
core mission of flood protection, boundary stabilization, and water 
delivery. Additional measures under consideration are intended to 
improve water use, quality, and conservation, as well as measures 
supporting local or regional initiatives for multipurpose use of the 
projects for wildlife habitat development, and improved environmental 
conditions.
    A Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) was prepared 
to evaluate potential consequences of three action alternatives under 
consideration for long-term improvement of the flood control projects. 
The USIBWC will apply the programmatic evaluation as an overall 
guidance for future evaluations of individual projects, including both 
those currently envisioned at a conceptual level and those whose 
implementation is not currently anticipated but would be possible 
within a 20-year timeframe.
    The Multipurpose Project Management Alternative was adopted among 
the three action alternatives as the preferred option for long-term 
improvements to the Rio Grande flood control projects. In implementing 
the preferred alternative, the USIBWC will continue to improve 
functionality of the flood control projects to meet its mandate for 
flood control, water delivery, and boundary stabilization, while 
supporting initiatives for improvement of environmental conditions and 
water resources utilization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Borunda, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 
North Mesa Street, C-100, El Paso, Texas 79902 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USIBWC anticipates the need to improve 
capabilities or functionality of three flood control projects (FCP) 
located in the Rio Grande along the Texas-Mexico border: The 
Rectification FCP, extending 84.4 miles along the Rio Grande, 
downstream from American Diversion Dam in El Paso to Fort Quitman, 
Texas; the Presidio-Ojinaga FCP extending over 13.1 river miles of the 
Rio Grande near Presidio, Texas; and the Lower Rio Grande FCP that 
extends 186 river miles on the Rio Grande, from Pe[ntilde]itas, Texas 
to the Gulf of Mexico, and includes 120 miles of interior floodways. 
These projects were constructed to provide flood protection in urban, 
suburban, and agricultural areas in the United States and Mexico, 
facilitate water delivery, and stabilize the international river 
boundary.
    Measures identified for potential implementation were organized 
into three action alternatives focusing on improvements in operation 
and maintenance (O&M) practices and project functionality; improvements 
in water quality and water utilization; and additional measures for 
multipurpose use of the projects beyond their core mission of flood 
control, water delivery and boundary preservation. Multipurpose use 
would include regional initiatives for improvement of habitat and 
environmental conditions proposed by federal agencies, local 
governments, and other organizations.
    The USIBWC prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, 
in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Army Corps of 
Engineers, to analyze potential effects of three action alternatives 
for improvement of the three Rio Grande FCPs. The programmatic 
evaluation will be used as an overall guidance for evaluation of future 
improvement projects, both those already identified at a conceptual 
level or those whose implementation is possible within a 20-year 
timeframe. Once an improvement project is developed for implementation, 
site-specific environmental documentation will be prepared on the basis 
of PEIS findings and project specifications.
    A Draft PEIS was released for a 45-day public review period on 
August 10, 2007. Nineteen responses were received during the review 
period, ten from regulatory agencies, six from various organizations, 
and three from individual reviewers. Oral comments were also received 
from 12 presenters during public hearings held in the Cities of El 
Paso, Presidio, and McAllen, Texas on August 21, 22 and 28, 2007, 
respectively. The Notice of Availability of the Final PEIS was 
published in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection 
Agency on January 4, 2008.
    Finding: Because of its potential to improve flood control and 
water resources management, as well as a greater potential for 
improvement of biological resources and environmental conditions, the 
MPM Alternative was identified as the preferred option for long-term 
improvements to the Rectification FCP, Presidio FCP, and Lower Rio 
Grande FCP. In implementing this alternative, the USIBWC will continue 
to improve functionality and maintenance of the three Rio Grande flood 
control projects while supporting initiatives for improvements in 
environmental conditions and utilization of water resources.
    Availability: Single hard copies of the Record of Decision 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: February 25, 2008.
Susan Daniel,
General Counsel.
 [FR Doc. E8-3999 Filed 3-3-08; 8:45 am]
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