[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 81433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25784]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Management of 
Federal Grazing Leases at the Falcon Dam and Reservoir, Starr and 
Zapata Counties, Texas

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

ACTION:  Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
Management of Federal Grazing Leases at the Falcon Dam and Reservoir, 
Starr and Zapata Counties, Texas is available. The EA evaluates land 
management alternatives to grazing leases that address low grazing 
lease values and limited access by USIBWC to leased lands. 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: Comments are due by December 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The electronic version of the amended Draft EA is available 
at the USIBWC web page: https://www.ibwc.gov/reports-studies/eis-ea-public-comment/. Physical copies of the Draft EA are available at the 
Joe A. Guerra Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd., Laredo, Texas 
78041; the Olga V. Figueroa Zapata County Public Library, 901 Kennedy 
St., Zapata, Texas 78076; and the Roma Public Library, 1705 N Athens 
St., Roma, Texas 78584.
    Comments should be sent to: Mark Howe, Cultural Resources 
Specialist, USIBWC, 4191 N Mesa; El Paso, Texas 79902. Email: 
[email protected]. All comments received may be made publicly 
available without change, including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Howe, Cultural Resources 
Specialist, Telephone: (915) 832-4767, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USIBWC is updating or eliminating active 
and inactive grazing leases in use for commercial, residential, or 
recreational purposes on federal land in the Falcon Project (i.e., 
Falcon Dam and Reservoir). Rights-of-way for the Falcon Project totaled 
63,192 acres on the U.S. side of the Falcon Project as of 2000. This 
project will assist USIBWC in determining if grazing leases should be 
allowed or discontinued and/or whether land management alternatives 
should be established in lieu of grazing.
    The grazing lease program has continued for areas along the Falcon 
Reservoir that were originally ranches and farms before the land was 
acquired by the federal Government pursuant to the Water Treaty of 1944 
between the U.S. and Mexico, with construction of the Falcon Project 
completed on October 19, 1953. The grazing lease program assured those 
areas not under water or flooded and owned by the federal Government 
would be economically used as they were in the past by the local 
community. Initially leases allowed for agricultural uses in addition 
to grazing, but agricultural activities and any clearing of leased 
lands were later restricted to reduce potential impacts on cultural 
resources in accordance with National Historic Preservation Act 
requirements. Active leases currently only allow grazing activities.
    Grazing leases, licenses, and permits consist of any written permit 
or other legal document for an individual, corporation, etc., to use 
and improve land owned by the U.S. Government under the jurisdiction of 
the USIBWC at Falcon Reservoir. In the past, 22,270.57 acres of land 
were under 159 active grazing leases originally issued in 1956. As of 
2020, there were 117 active grazing leases with many that are still 
held by the descendants of the original permittees and/or stakeholders.
    The purpose for the Proposed Action is to successfully manage 
federal land in the Falcon Project. Federal lands associated with the 
Falcon Project have been utilized by the public for various activities, 
including grazing leases, since the Falcon Project was established. 
However, the economic value of these leases and the challenges to 
successful land management require a reevaluation of the grazing lease 
program. The need is to implement land management alternatives to 
grazing leases that address low grazing lease values, limited access by 
USIBWC to leased lands, and unauthorized activities on leased lands.
    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final 
Regulations, and the USIBWC Operational Procedures for Implementing 
Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 
1981, USIBWC developed and analyzed eight alternatives for modifying 
the grazing lease program at the Falcon Project, including the No 
Action Alternative. Alternative 1, No Action Alternative, is a 
requirement of the NEPA process and is included to provide a baseline 
against which the other alternatives can be evaluated. The action 
alternatives include: Alternative 2--Terminate Leases, Alternative 3--
Change Rental Rates on Active Leases and Implement Improved Program 
Management, Alternative 4--Allow Hunting on Existing Grazing Leases, 
Alternative 5--Terminate Leases Not Directly Accessible from Public 
Rights-of-Way, Alternative 6--Negotiate Access Easements on Private 
Property for Existing Leases, Alternative 7--Amend Leases to Allow 
Vegetation Management, and Alternative 8--Form a Citizens' Committee to 
Provide Lease Management Support. The USIBWC has identified that one or 
any combination of the alternatives could be implemented to manage the 
grazing lease program at the Falcon Project.
    Potential impacts on natural, cultural, and other resources were 
evaluated in the Draft EA. The USIBWC prepared a FONSI for the Action 
Alternatives, based on a review of the facts and analyses contained in 
the Draft EA.

    Dated: November 15, 2023.
Rebecca A. Rizzuti,
Deputy Chief Legal Counsel, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States Section.
[FR Doc. 2023-25784 Filed 11-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-P