[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25307-25308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11401]
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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION
United States and Mexico; United States Section; Notice of
Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Continued Implementation of the
River Management Plan for the Rio Grande Canalization Project
AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC).
ACTION: Notice.
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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, and the United States Section, Operational Procedures for
Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register
September 2, 1981, the United States Section hereby gives notice that
the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
for the Continued Implementation of the River Management Plan for the
Rio Grande Canalization Project is available. An Environmental Impact
Statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may
affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30 days from
the date of this Notice.
DATES: Public Comments: USIBWC will consider substantive comments from
the public and stakeholders for 30 days after
[[Page 25308]]
the date of publication of this NOA in the Federal Register.
Please note all written and email comments received during the
comment period will become part of the public record, including any
personal information you may provide. Before including your address,
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their
entirety.
Public Hearings: USIBWC will be conducting two public hearings:
June 18, 2019; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Las Cruces City Hall, 2nd Floor,
Conference Room 2007A, 700 N. Main Street, Las Cruces, NM 88001; and
June 19, 2019; 5-7 p.m., USIBWC American Dam/Carlos Marin Field Office,
2616 W. Paisano Drive, El Paso, TX 79922.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Elizabeth Verdecchia, Natural
Resources Specialist, USIBWC, 4171 N. Mesa, C-100; El Paso, Texas
79902. Telephone: (915) 832-4701, Fax: (915) 493-2428, email:
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Verdecchia, Natural
Resources Specialist, USIBWC, 4171 N. Mesa, C-100; El Paso, Texas
79902. Telephone: (915) 832-4701, Fax: (915) 493-2428, email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: On June 4, 2009, the USIBWC issued a Record of Decision
(ROD) on the long-term management of the Rio Grande Canalization
Project (RGCP) through 2019. The ROD committed the USIBWC to implement
environmental measures, change management practices, and update the
River Management Plan (RMP). The RMP covers levee maintenance;
vegetation management; continued implementation and maintenance of
restoration sites; endangered species management; channel maintenance;
and channel maintenance alternatives (CMAs) within the USIBWC right-of-
way (ROW). The EA will replace the ROD and proposes a timeline to
implement the RMP through 2030. The EA evaluates potential impacts of
seven alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. Under the
Preferred Alternative, USIBWC would continue implementation of the RMP;
designate up to 65 miles through the USIBWC ROW for the New Mexico Rio
Grande Trail and Texas trails; re-evaluate and construct additional
CMAs potentially outside of the ROW; increase efforts to engage
stakeholders through the Sediment Control Initiative Federal Workgroup
and stakeholder groups; and transfer up to 500 acres of restoration
outside of the USIBWC jurisdiction of either No-Mow Zone managed
grasslands or unsuccessful habitat restoration, via partnerships.
Potential impacts on natural, cultural, and other resources were
evaluated. A Finding of No Significant Impact has been prepared for the
Preferred Alternative based on a review of the facts and analyses
contained in the Draft EA.
Availability: The electronic version of the Draft EA is available
from the USIBWC web page: https://www.ibwc.gov/EMD/EIS_EA_Public_Comment.html
Dated: May 24, 2019.
Matt Myers,
Chief Legal Counsel, International Boundary and Water Commission,
United States Section.
[FR Doc. 2019-11401 Filed 5-30-19; 8:45 am]
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