80 FR 35322 - Availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Northern Integrated Supply Project, Larimer and Weld Counties, Colorado

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 118 (June 19, 2015)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Omaha District has prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of a water supply project called the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP or Project) in Larimer County and Weld County, CO. The purpose of the project is to provide the project participants with approximately 40,000 acre-feet (AF) of new, reliable municipal water supply annually through a regional project coordinated by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (District). The participants in NISP requested new firm yield to meet a portion of their projected demand through 2060. The requests for new firm yield are based on the participants' analyses of their projected needs, the potential future demands as modeled by the District and verified by the Corps. NISP would result in direct impacts to jurisdictional waters of the United States (U.S.), including wetlands. The placement of fill material in these waters of the U.S. for the construction of water storage and distribution facilities associated with developing additional water supplies requires authorization from the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The District is the Permittee and Applicant, acting on behalf of the project participants. The Supplemental Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Corps' regulations for NEPA implementation (33 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 230 and 325, Appendices B and C). The Corps, Omaha District, Denver Regulatory Office is the lead federal agency responsible for the Supplemental Draft EIS. Information contained in the EIS serves as the basis for a decision regarding issuance of a Section 404 Permit. It also provides information for local and state agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for affected resources.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35322-35323]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15055]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Northern Integrated Supply Project, Larimer and Weld 
Counties, Colorado

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Omaha District has 
prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of a water supply 
project called the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP or Project) 
in Larimer County and Weld County, CO. The purpose of the project is to 
provide the project participants with approximately 40,000 acre-feet 
(AF) of new, reliable municipal water supply annually through a 
regional project coordinated by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy 
District (District). The participants in NISP requested new firm yield 
to meet a portion of their projected demand through 2060. The requests 
for new firm yield are based on the participants' analyses of their 
projected needs, the potential future demands as modeled by the 
District and verified by the Corps. NISP would result in direct impacts 
to jurisdictional waters of the United States (U.S.), including 
wetlands. The placement of fill material in these waters of the U.S. 
for the construction of water storage and distribution facilities 
associated with developing additional water supplies requires 
authorization from the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. 
The District is the Permittee and Applicant, acting on behalf of the 
project participants.
    The Supplemental Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the 
Corps' regulations for NEPA implementation (33 Code of Federal 
Regulations [CFR] Parts 230 and 325, Appendices B and C). The Corps, 
Omaha District, Denver Regulatory Office is the lead federal agency 
responsible for the Supplemental Draft EIS. Information contained in 
the EIS serves as the basis for a decision regarding issuance of a 
Section 404 Permit. It also provides information for local and state 
agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for affected resources.

DATES: Written comments on the Supplemental Draft EIS will be accepted 
on or before August 4, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments regarding the Proposed Action and 
Supplemental Draft EIS to John Urbanic, NISP EIS Project Manager, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Denver Regulatory Office, 9307 
South Wadsworth Boulevard, Littleton, CO 80128, or via email to 
[email protected]. Requests to be placed on or be removed from 
the NISP mailing list should also be sent to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Urbanic, NISP EIS Project 
Manager, via phone at 303-979-4120, fax at 303-979-0602, or email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps released a Draft EIS for NISP on 
April 30, 2008. After receiving comments on the Draft EIS during the 
public notice period and during the public hearings, the Corps 
determined that substantial additional analysis was needed and that the 
preparation of a Supplemental Draft EIS was required. The purpose of 
the Supplemental Draft EIS is to provide decision-makers and the public 
with information pertaining to the Proposed Action and alternatives, 
and to disclose environmental impacts and identify mitigation measures 
to reduce impacts. The District proposes to construct Glade Reservoir 
with a total storage capacity of approximately 170,000 AF. The District 
also proposes to construct the South Platte Water Conservation Project 
(SPWCP) which includes Galeton Reservoir with a total storage capacity 
of approximately 45,624 AF and support facilities. The Proposed Action 
would also involve rehabilitating an existing diversion dam and intake 
structure in the Cache la Poudre River and constructing a new forebay, 
pumping facility, and outlet channel. Glade Reservoir would inundate 
approximately 7 miles of U.S. Highway 287 and a section of the Munroe 
(North Poudre Supply) Canal, requiring a relocation of the highway and 
the canal east of their current alignments. Construction of a new 
pipeline from Glade Reservoir to the existing Horsetooth Reservoir, a 
part of the Colorado-Big Thompson project, is also proposed. 
Additionally, the SPWCP includes the construction of a new diversion 
dam and intake structure in the South Platte River, pumping facilities, 
and new pipelines for Galeton Reservoir.
    The purpose for the project is to provide additional firm annual 
yield to the 15 water providers and communities to address anticipated 
water demands associated with projected growth. Operations of the 
reservoirs involve an exchange of water that includes a diversion from 
the Poudre River at the Poudre Valley Canal for the District's Grey 
Mountain water right, SPWCP exchanges with Larimer-Weld Canal and New 
Cache Canal, and reservoir exchanges with Terry Lake, Big Windsor 
Reservoir, and Timnath Reservoir.
    In addition to the Proposed Action, the Supplemental Draft EIS 
analyzes three primary alternatives: (1) The No Action Alternative; (2) 
the Cactus Hill Reservoir (190,000 AF), SPWCP (45,624 AF Galeton 
Reservoir), and Poudre Valley Canal Diversion Alternative ; and (3) the 
Cactus Hill Reservoir (190,000 AF), SPWCP (45,624 AF Galeton

[[Page 35323]]

Reservoir), and Multiple Diversion Locations Alternative.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Department of 
Transportation, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado 
Department of Public Health and Environment, and Larimer County 
participated as cooperating agencies in the formulation of the 
Supplemental Draft EIS.
    Public Open Houses and Hearings for oral/written comments will be 
held on:
    July 22, 2015 at the Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Road, 
Fort Collins, and July 23, 2015 at the Weld County Administration 
Building, 1152 O Street, Greeley. The Open House will be from 5 p.m. to 
6 p.m. The Hearings will begin at 6 p.m. Copies of the Supplemental 
Draft EIS will be available for review at:
    1. Colorado State University Morgan Library, 501 University Avenue, 
Fort Collins, CO 80523.
    2. Poudre River Public Library District-Old Town Library, 201 
Peterson Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
    3. Poudre River Public Library-Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields 
Street, Fort Collins, CO 80526.
    4. University of Northern Colorado, James A. Michener Library, 
Greeley, CO 80639.
    5. Fort Morgan Public Library, 414 Main Street, Fort Morgan, CO 
80701.
    6. Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th Street, Windsor, CO 80550.
    7. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, 220 Water Avenue, 
Berthoud, CO 80513.
    8. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Denver Regulatory Office, 9307 S. 
Wadsworth Boulevard, Littleton, CO 80128.
    Electronic copies of the Supplemental Draft EIS and its supporting 
documents may be obtained from the Denver Regulatory Office or its Web 
site at: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryProgram/Colorado/EISNISP

Kiel Downing,
 State Regulatory Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 
District, Denver Regulatory Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-15055 Filed 6-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P