[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 208 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 63721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25625]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Central Utah Project Completion Act

AGENCIES: Department of the Interior, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary--Water and Science.

ACTION: Notice of Availability, Record of Decision (ROD) on the Lower 
Duchesne River Wetlands Mitigation Project Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS 08-13) documenting the Department of the Interior's 
decision to adopt the Proposed Action and approval to proceed with 
implementation.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for 
Water and Science has signed the Record of Decision which documents the 
selection of the Proposed Action as presented in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Lower Duchesne River 
Wetlands Mitigation Project (LDWP), Duchesne and Uintah Counties, Utah, 
a mitigation component of the Central Utah Project (CUP). The FEIS was 
prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA) and was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency on 
April 11, 2008. The ROD approves implementation of the project in 
accordance with statutory and contractual obligations.
    The Proposed Action fulfills a Central Utah Project need to 
complete certain environmental mitigation obligations of the Federal 
government to the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Agency, Ft. 
Duchesne, Utah. These mitigation commitments derive from construction 
and operation of the Strawberry Aqueduct and Collection System (SACS) 
of the CUP. The SACS has diverted Ute Indian Tribal water away from the 
Duchesne River and, thereby, depleted water sources which historically 
supported wetlands, riparian habitats and associated fish and wildlife 
resources held in trust by the Federal government for the benefit of 
the Ute Indian Tribe. The LDWP will replace, restore and enhance these 
trust resources consistent with long-standing commitments and promises 
made by the Federal government to the Ute Indian Tribe.
    The Department of the Interior and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation 
and Conservation Commission served as Joint Lead Agencies in compliance 
with NEPA. The Ute Indian Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau 
of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, Duchesne County and Uintah 
County served as Cooperating Agencies. The FEIS and ROD satisfy 
disclosure requirements of NEPA and will serve as NEPA compliance 
documentation for all contracts, agreements and permits that will be 
required for construction and operation of the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to request 
copies of the FEIS, ROD or supporting resource technical reports 
contact Mr. Ralph G. Swanson at (801) 379-1254, or 
[email protected].

Reed R. Murray,
Program Director, Department of the Interior.
 [FR Doc. E8-25625 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
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