80_FR_19007 80 FR 18940 - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Provo River Delta Restoration Project

80 FR 18940 - Office of the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Provo River Delta Restoration Project

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
THE UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)

Page Range18940-18941
FR Document2015-08035

The Department of the Interior, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, as Joint Lead Agencies, have prepared and made available to the public a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that discloses the effects of the Provo River Delta Restoration Project (Project) which is a recovery action within the approved June Sucker Recovery Plan of 1999.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18940-18941]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08035]



[[Page 18940]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[RC0ZCUPCA0, 155R0680R1, RR.17549897.2015101.02]

THE UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science; Notice 
of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Provo River Delta Restoration Project

AGENCY: Central Utah Project Completion Act, Interior; Utah Reclamation 
Mitigation and Conservation Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, Utah Reclamation Mitigation 
and Conservation Commission, and the Central Utah Water Conservancy 
District, as Joint Lead Agencies, have prepared and made available to 
the public a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that discloses 
the effects of the Provo River Delta Restoration Project (Project) 
which is a recovery action within the approved June Sucker Recovery 
Plan of 1999.

DATES: The Joint Lead Agencies will not make a decision on the proposed 
action until at least 30 days after the release of the FEIS. After the 
30-day waiting period, The Department of the Interior and the Utah 
Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission will each complete a 
separate Record of Decision. These documents will state the action that 
will be implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the 
decision.

ADDRESSES: Send written correspondence or requests for copies to Mr. 
Richard Mingo, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 
230 South 500 East Suite 230, Salt Lake City, UT 84102; or by email to 
rmingo@usbr.gov. The FEIS is accessible at the following Web sites: 
www.cupcao.gov, www.provoriverdelta.us, www.mitigationcommission.gov, 
and www.cuwcd.com. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 
locations where copies of the FEIS are available for public review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Mingo, 801-524-3146; or by 
email to rmingo@usbr.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Department of the Interior's Record of Decision for the Diamond 
Fork System Final Supplement to the Diamond Fork Power System Final 
Environmental Impact Statement, signed September 29, 1999, commits the 
Joint Lead Agencies to ``. . . participate in the development of a 
Recovery Implementation Program for June sucker.'' Moreover, ``. . . 
[a]ny future development of the Bonneville Unit of CUP [Central Utah 
Project] will be contingent on the RIP [June Sucker Recovery 
Implementation Program (JSRIP)] making `sufficient progress' towards 
recovery of June sucker.'' The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and 
Conservation Commission signed its own Record of Decision for the 
Diamond Fork System Project on November 19, 1999. The JSRIP was 
established in 2002, and the Joint Lead Agencies are participants. The 
goals of the JSRIP are to recover June sucker so that it no longer 
requires protection under the Endangered Species Act and allow 
continued operation of existing water facilities and future development 
of water resources for human uses within the Utah Lake Basin in Utah.
    The June sucker exists naturally only in Utah Lake and spawns 
primarily in the lower Provo River, a Utah Lake tributary. Monitoring 
indicates young June sucker hatching in the lower Provo River do not 
survive to the adult stage due to habitat inadequacies in the lower 
Provo River and its interface with Utah Lake related to flow, food 
supply, and shelter. A compounding factor is likely predation by 
nonnative fishes. Dredging and channelization for flood control has 
eliminated the shallow, warm, complex wetland habitat at the mouth of 
the Provo River where it enters Utah Lake.

Proposed Federal Action

    The Project would restore the lower Provo River to a more natural 
deltaic ecosystem. The delta and associated habitat would provide 
needed habitat for the recovery of the endangered June sucker. These 
improvements would be accomplished through the implementation of one or 
any combination of the action alternatives and/or options analyzed in 
the FEIS.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Project has been identified as an essential action needed to 
recover the endangered June sucker. It would restore functional habitat 
conditions in the lower Provo River and its interface with Utah Lake 
that are needed for spawning, hatching, larval transport, survival, 
rearing and recruitment of young into the population on a self-
sustaining basis.
    The purposes of the Project are to:
     Implement the specific criteria of the June Sucker 
Recovery Plan to restore a naturally functioning Provo River delta 
ecosystem essential for recruitment of June sucker;
     provide recreational improvements and opportunities 
associated with the Project;
     adopt flow regime targets for the lower Provo River and 
provide delivery of supplemental water to the lower Provo River, 
including additional conserved water.
    The FEIS describes and analyzes the potential effects of three 
action alternatives, a no action alternative, and two options for the 
existing Provo River channel.

No Action Alternative

    This alternative considers the consequences of taking ``no action'' 
with respect to the purpose and need of the Project. Under the No 
Action Alternative, the planned Project would not be implemented, but 
remaining actions in the June Sucker Recovery Plan and JSRIP would 
proceed as planned, subject to National Environmental Policy Act 
compliance as appropriate. Private lands would not be acquired for the 
Project.

Alternative A

    Alternative A would maximize the available rearing and spawning 
habitat for June sucker. The acquisition boundary for this alternative 
encompasses 507.3 acres.

Alternative B--Agency Preferred Alternative

    Alternative B was developed with substantial involvement from study 
area landowners and other stakeholders. It is the agency preferred 
alternative. It would reduce the amount of private land required for 
the Project and preserve the highest-value agricultural land, while 
still meeting June sucker spawning and rearing habitat improvement 
needs. The acquisition boundary for this alternative encompasses 310.3 
acres.

Alternative C

    Alternative C would exclude most of the existing peat wetlands 
located on the east and north sides of the Project area from 
restoration activities but, as a consequence, would be constructed on 
the higher-value agricultural lands. Alternative C would meet June 
sucker spawning and rearing habitat improvement needs for the Project 
by using lands to the south of these wetlands. The acquisition boundary 
for this alternative encompasses 298.3 acres.

[[Page 18941]]

Existing Provo River Channel Options

    Two options were considered for use of the existing Provo River 
Channel. Either of the two options could be paired with any of the 
three action alternatives. Option 1 would leave the existing Provo 
River Channel open to Utah Lake, allowing for fluctuating water levels 
at various times of the year. Option 2 would maintain the existing 
channel at a relatively constant elevation by constructing a small dam 
at the downstream mouth of the channel near Utah Lake State Park. Under 
both options, an aeration system would be installed and operated to 
improve water quality and a minimum flow of 10 cubic feet per second 
would be provided to the existing Provo River channel which would be 
retained and managed for recreational and aesthetic purposes.
    A Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) was published in the Federal Register on February 28, 
2014 (79 FR 11511). The comment period on the DEIS ended on April 29, 
2014. The FEIS contains responses to all comments received and reflects 
comments and any additional information received during the review 
period.
    Copies of the FEIS are available for public review at:
     Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project 
Completion Act Office, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, Utah 84606-7317
     Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 
230 South 500 East Suite 230, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
     Central Utah Water Conservancy District, 355 West 
University Parkway, Orem, Utah 84058-7303

Libraries

     Provo City Public Library, 550 North University Avenue, 
Provo, Utah 84601
     Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt 
Lake City, Utah 84111

    Dated: March 10, 2015.
Reed R. Murray,
Program Director, Central Utah Project Completion Act Office, 
Department of the Interior.
    Dated: March 10, 2015.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-08035 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P

18940 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Diamond Fork Power System Final a naturally functioning Provo River Environmental Impact Statement, delta ecosystem essential for [RC0ZCUPCA0, 155R0680R1, signed September 29, 1999, commits the recruitment of June sucker; RR.17549897.2015101.02] Joint Lead Agencies to ‘‘. . . participate • provide recreational improvements THE UTAH RECLAMATION in the development of a Recovery and opportunities associated with the MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION Implementation Program for June Project; sucker.’’ Moreover, ‘‘. . . [a]ny future COMMISSION • adopt flow regime targets for the development of the Bonneville Unit of lower Provo River and provide delivery Office of the Assistant Secretary for CUP [Central Utah Project] will be of supplemental water to the lower Water and Science; Notice of contingent on the RIP [June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program Provo River, including additional Availability of the Final Environmental conserved water. Impact Statement for the Provo River (JSRIP)] making ‘sufficient progress’ Delta Restoration Project towards recovery of June sucker.’’ The The FEIS describes and analyzes the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and potential effects of three action AGENCY: Central Utah Project Conservation Commission signed its alternatives, a no action alternative, and Completion Act, Interior; Utah own Record of Decision for the two options for the existing Provo River Reclamation Mitigation and Diamond Fork System Project on channel. Conservation Commission. November 19, 1999. The JSRIP was No Action Alternative ACTION: Notice. established in 2002, and the Joint Lead Agencies are participants. The goals of This alternative considers the SUMMARY: The Department of the the JSRIP are to recover June sucker so consequences of taking ‘‘no action’’ with Interior, Utah Reclamation Mitigation that it no longer requires protection respect to the purpose and need of the and Conservation Commission, and the under the Endangered Species Act and Project. Under the No Action Central Utah Water Conservancy allow continued operation of existing Alternative, the planned Project would District, as Joint Lead Agencies, have water facilities and future development not be implemented, but remaining prepared and made available to the of water resources for human uses actions in the June Sucker Recovery public a Final Environmental Impact within the Utah Lake Basin in Utah. Plan and JSRIP would proceed as Statement (FEIS) that discloses the The June sucker exists naturally only planned, subject to National effects of the Provo River Delta in Utah Lake and spawns primarily in Environmental Policy Act compliance Restoration Project (Project) which is a the lower Provo River, a Utah Lake as appropriate. Private lands would not recovery action within the approved tributary. Monitoring indicates young be acquired for the Project. June Sucker Recovery Plan of 1999. June sucker hatching in the lower Provo DATES: The Joint Lead Agencies will not River do not survive to the adult stage Alternative A make a decision on the proposed action due to habitat inadequacies in the lower Alternative A would maximize the until at least 30 days after the release of Provo River and its interface with Utah available rearing and spawning habitat the FEIS. After the 30-day waiting Lake related to flow, food supply, and for June sucker. The acquisition period, The Department of the Interior shelter. A compounding factor is likely boundary for this alternative and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation predation by nonnative fishes. Dredging encompasses 507.3 acres. and Conservation Commission will each and channelization for flood control has complete a separate Record of Decision. eliminated the shallow, warm, complex Alternative B—Agency Preferred These documents will state the action wetland habitat at the mouth of the Alternative that will be implemented and will Provo River where it enters Utah Lake. Alternative B was developed with discuss all factors leading to the Proposed Federal Action substantial involvement from study area decision. landowners and other stakeholders. It is ADDRESSES: Send written The Project would restore the lower the agency preferred alternative. It correspondence or requests for copies to Provo River to a more natural deltaic would reduce the amount of private Mr. Richard Mingo, Utah Reclamation ecosystem. The delta and associated land required for the Project and Mitigation and Conservation habitat would provide needed habitat preserve the highest-value agricultural Commission, 230 South 500 East Suite for the recovery of the endangered June land, while still meeting June sucker 230, Salt Lake City, UT 84102; or by sucker. These improvements would be spawning and rearing habitat email to rmingo@usbr.gov. The FEIS is accomplished through the improvement needs. The acquisition accessible at the following Web sites: implementation of one or any boundary for this alternative www.cupcao.gov, combination of the action alternatives encompasses 310.3 acres. www.provoriverdelta.us, and/or options analyzed in the FEIS. www.mitigationcommission.gov, and Alternative C Purpose and Need for Action www.cuwcd.com. See the The Project has been identified as an Alternative C would exclude most of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for essential action needed to recover the the existing peat wetlands located on locations where copies of the FEIS are endangered June sucker. It would the east and north sides of the Project available for public review. restore functional habitat conditions in area from restoration activities but, as a FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. consequence, would be constructed on asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES the lower Provo River and its interface Richard Mingo, 801–524–3146; or by with Utah Lake that are needed for the higher-value agricultural lands. email to rmingo@usbr.gov. spawning, hatching, larval transport, Alternative C would meet June sucker SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: survival, rearing and recruitment of spawning and rearing habitat young into the population on a self- improvement needs for the Project by Background using lands to the south of these sustaining basis. The Department of the Interior’s The purposes of the Project are to: wetlands. The acquisition boundary for Record of Decision for the Diamond • Implement the specific criteria of this alternative encompasses 298.3 Fork System Final Supplement to the the June Sucker Recovery Plan to restore acres. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Apr 07, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00135 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM 08APN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Notices 18941 Existing Provo River Channel Options A Notice of Availability of the Draft Libraries Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Two options were considered for use was published in the Federal Register • Provo City Public Library, 550 of the existing Provo River Channel. on February 28, 2014 (79 FR 11511). North University Avenue, Provo, Utah Either of the two options could be The comment period on the DEIS ended 84601 paired with any of the three action on April 29, 2014. The FEIS contains • Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 alternatives. Option 1 would leave the responses to all comments received and East 400 South, Salt Lake City, Utah existing Provo River Channel open to reflects comments and any additional 84111 Utah Lake, allowing for fluctuating information received during the review period. Dated: March 10, 2015. water levels at various times of the year. Option 2 would maintain the existing Copies of the FEIS are available for Reed R. Murray, channel at a relatively constant public review at: Program Director, Central Utah Project elevation by constructing a small dam at • Department of the Interior, Central Completion Act Office, Department of the the downstream mouth of the channel Utah Project Completion Act Office, 302 Interior. East 1860 South, Provo, Utah 84606– Dated: March 10, 2015. near Utah Lake State Park. Under both 7317 options, an aeration system would be • Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Michael C. Weland, installed and operated to improve water Conservation Commission, 230 South Executive Director, Utah Reclamation quality and a minimum flow of 10 cubic 500 East Suite 230, Salt Lake City, Utah Mitigation and Conservation Commission. feet per second would be provided to 84102 [FR Doc. 2015–08035 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am] the existing Provo River channel which • Central Utah Water Conservancy BILLING CODE 4332–90–P would be retained and managed for District, 355 West University Parkway, recreational and aesthetic purposes. Orem, Utah 84058–7303 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Apr 07, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00136 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM 08APN1


Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:06:54
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:06:54
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesThe Joint Lead Agencies will not make a decision on the proposed action until at least 30 days after the release of the FEIS. After the 30-day waiting period, The Department of the Interior and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission will each complete a separate Record of Decision. These documents will state the action that will be implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.
ContactMr. Richard Mingo, 801-524-3146; or by email to [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 18940 
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