[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 63252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26195]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02600000, 15XR0680A1, RX191242012000000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Extraordinary Operation and 
Maintenance Environmental Impact Statement for the Truckee Canal, 
Lahontan Basin Area Office, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation, Lahontan Basin Area Office, the 
lead Federal agency, intends to prepare an Extraordinary Operation and 
Maintenance (XM) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Truckee 
Canal (Canal). The XM EIS will evaluate opportunities to reduce the 
risk to public safety from a Canal breach. Multiple federal, state, and 
local government agencies, tribal entities, and quasi- or non-
governmental entities will be invited to participate as cooperating 
agencies for the XM EIS.

DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the draft XM EIS by 
November 30, 2015.
    Three public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates 
and times:
     Tuesday, October 27, 2015, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wadsworth, 
Nevada.
     Wednesday, October 28, 2015, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Fallon, 
Nevada.
     Thursday, October 29, 2015, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Fernley, 
Nevada.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the scope of the draft XM EIS to 
Ms. Roberta Tassey, Lahontan Basin Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 
705 N. Plaza Street, Room 320, Carson City, Nevada 89701; or by email 
to [email protected].
    Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations:
     Wadsworth--Wadsworth Community Building, Eighth Street, 
Wadsworth, Nevada.
     Fallon--Churchill County Administrative Complex, 
Commission Chambers Room no. 15, 155 N. Taylor Street, Fallon, Nevada.
     Fernley--Fernley City Council Chambers, 595 Silverlace 
Boulevard, Fernley, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to be 
added to the mailing list, please contact Ms. Roberta Tassey at 
[email protected]. Additional information may be obtained through the 
Truckee Canal XM EIS link on the Lahontan Basin Area Office Web page 
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/lbao/index.html.
    Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Federal Register notice provides the 
public with information regarding the Bureau of Reclamation's 
(Reclamation) intent to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
    Background. Nine Federal agencies, three Nevada state agencies, 13 
local governments, four tribal entities, and seven quasi- or non-
governmental entities will be invited to participate as cooperating 
agencies for the XM EIS. Other entities will be considered as necessary 
during the XM EIS process.
    The Canal is part of the Newlands Project (Project), which was 
constructed in 1903 as one of the Reclamation's first projects. In 
January 2008, a portion of the Canal embankment near the City of 
Fernley, Nevada, breached. The Canal's operations are now limited due 
to safety concerns.
    Portions of the Project were listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places on March 25, 1981. In addition, the Canal and other 
associated structures have been determined eligible for listing on the 
National Register of Historic Places for contributing to the history of 
the Project.
    Scoping meetings will be held in Carson City, Fallon, and Fernley; 
Nevada. Additional information regarding specific dates and times for 
the upcoming meetings and identification of relevant comment periods 
will be provided in a future notice, local news media, and through 
direct contact with interested parties.
    Purpose and Need for Action. The purpose is to improve public 
safety by reducing the risk of a Canal breach. Reclamation needs to 
take action to evaluate alternatives that will enable the Canal 
operator--the Truckee Carson Irrigation District (TCID)--to safely 
operate the Canal and deliver Project water in compliance with 
operating criteria and procedures for the Project. Additional 
restrictions on Canal operations may be necessary without taking 
actions or initiating risk-reducing repairs.
    Proposed Federal Action. Reclamation or TCID are proposing to 
complete structural improvements of the Canal facilities; and/or 
implement a long-term tolerable stage level restriction. This may be 
achieved using a variety of options including, but not limited to the 
following structural improvements to the canal embankment, which could 
include sheet pile walls and improvements to the earthen embankment.

 Lining portions of the Canal
 Installing detention and/or retention ponds
 Installing automated check structures to regulate flow through 
the Canal
 Installing passive overflow and/or wasteway structures
 Reducing the Canal stage-levels with no structural 
improvements

    Public Disclosure. Before including your address, phone number, 
email address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, please be advised that your entire comment-including your 
personal identifying information-may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you may request that we withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Dated: September 8, 2015.

Jason Phillips,

Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.

[FR Doc. 2015-26195 Filed 10-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P