80 FR 38730 - Notice of Availability of the Records of Decision for the Provo River Delta Restoration Project

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 129 (July 7, 2015)

Page Range		38730-38731
FR Document		2015-16600

The Department of the Interior and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission have prepared separate Records of Decision (RODs) that disclose their selection of Alternative B for implementing the restoration of the Provo River Delta as described in the Provo River Delta Restoration Project (PRDRP) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Both agencies have also selected to implement Option 2 for the improvement of the existing Provo River Channel. The size of Alternative B may be increased by acquiring additional land described under Alternative A. However, such additional land acquisition will only be accomplished if the additional land can be acquired on a willing-seller basis. Therefore, a potentially enlarged Alternative B (the Preferred Alternative) and Option 2 are adopted as the Selected Action. The implementation of Alternative B as potentially modified and Option 2 will significantly aid in meeting recovery actions within the approved June Sucker Recovery Plan of 1999.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38730-38731]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16600]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

[RC0ZCUPCA0, 155R0680R1, RR.17549897.2015101.02]


Notice of Availability of the Records of Decision for the Provo 
River Delta Restoration Project

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, 
Interior; Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior and the Utah Reclamation 
Mitigation and Conservation Commission have prepared separate Records 
of Decision (RODs) that disclose their selection of Alternative B for 
implementing the restoration of the Provo River Delta as described in 
the Provo River Delta Restoration Project (PRDRP) Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS). Both agencies have also selected to implement 
Option 2 for the improvement of the existing Provo River Channel. The 
size of Alternative B may be increased by acquiring additional land 
described under Alternative A. However, such additional land 
acquisition will only be accomplished if the additional land can be 
acquired on a willing-seller basis. Therefore, a potentially enlarged 
Alternative B (the Preferred Alternative) and Option 2 are adopted as 
the Selected Action. The implementation of Alternative B as potentially 
modified and Option 2 will significantly aid in meeting recovery 
actions within the approved June Sucker Recovery Plan of 1999.

DATES: The Department of the Interior and the Utah Reclamation 
Mitigation and Conservation Commission signed separate RODs on May 26, 
2015 and subsequently made them available to the public.

ADDRESSES: Send written correspondence or requests for copies to Mr. W. 
Russ Findlay, Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project 
Completion Act Office, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, Utah 846060-7317; or 
Mr. Richard Mingo, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission, 230 South 500 East Suite

[[Page 38731]]

230, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102; or by email to [email protected] or 
[email protected]. The RODs are accessible at the following Web sites: 
www.cupcao.gov, www.provoriverdelta.us, www.mitigationcommission.gov. 
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of 
the RODs are available for public review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. W. Russ Findlay, 801-379-1084, 
[email protected]; or Mr. Richard Mingo, 801-524-3146, [email protected].

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 
Department of the Interior, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and 
Conservation Commission, and the Central Utah Water Conservancy 
District 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 twofold, 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.

The Federal Action

    The PRDRP will restore the lower Provo River to a more natural 
deltaic ecosystem. The delta and associated habitat will provide needed 
habitat for the recovery of the endangered June sucker. These 
improvements will be accomplished through the implementation of 
Alternative B and Option 2 as analyzed in the PRDRP FEIS plus the 
option to increase the size of Alternative B by acquiring additional 
land described under Alternative A only if the additional land can be 
acquired on a willing-seller basis.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The PRDRP has been identified as an essential action needed to 
recover the endangered June sucker. It will 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 June sucker into the population on a 
self-sustaining basis.
    The purposes of the PRDRP 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 PRDRP; and
     adopt flow regime targets for the lower Provo River and 
provide delivery of supplemental water to the lower Provo River, 
including additional conserved water.

Alternative B--Provo River Delta Restoration

    Alternative B was developed with substantial involvement from study 
area landowners and other stakeholders. It is the selected alternative 
for restoring the Provo River Delta. It will reduce the amount of 
private land required for the PRDRP and preserve the highest-value 
agricultural land, while still improving June sucker spawning and 
rearing habitat. The acquisition boundary for this alternative 
encompasses 310.3 acres. As previously described in this NOA, lands in 
addition to the minimum required under Alternative B could be acquired 
on a willing-seller basis, either in conjunction with Alternative B or 
at a later time. Implementing Alternative B as described in the Final 
EIS would result in splitting of three or more contiguous land 
ownerships/agricultural operations. It is possible that landowners may 
request as condition of sale of their property the acquisition of some 
or all of the remaining properties outside the delineated Alternative B 
boundary. Other landowners may also have interest in selling their land 
to the government for the project. Only if these agreements can be 
achieved on a willing-seller basis would they be consummated. Such 
lands could be acquired to enhance the habitat values for June sucker, 
to preserve habitat values for other wildlife or wetlands, or to 
provide additional related recreational opportunities.

Option 2--Provo River Existing Channel Improvement

    Option 2 will be implemented along with Alternative B above. Option 
2 will 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. An aeration system will be installed and operated 
as necessary to improve water quality. A minimum flow of 10 cubic feet 
per second will be provided to the existing Provo River channel which 
will be retained and managed for recreational and aesthetic purposes.
    A Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the PRDRP was published in the Federal Register on 
February 28, 2014 (79 FR 11511). A Notice of Availability of the PRDRP 
FEIS was published in the Federal Register on April 8, 2015 (80 FR 
18940).
    Copies of the RODs 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

    Dated: June 8, 2015.
Reed R. Murray,
Program Director, Central Utah Project Completion Act Office, 
Department of the Interior.
    Dated: June 8, 2015.
Mark Holden,
Executive Director, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation 
Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-16600 Filed 7-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P

38730 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 129 / Tuesday, July 7, 2015 / Notices

at which listing is no longer appropriate Recovery Plan has already been through Dated: June 18, 2015.
under the criteria set out in section peer and public review and because this Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the plan is a valid recovery plan, we seek Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region,
development of recovery plans for listed public comments on only the draft U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
species, unless such a plan would not addendum. We will summarize and [FR Doc. 2015–16595 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am]
promote the conservation of a particular respond to the issues raised by the BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
species. public and post our responses on our
Species History Web site. Substantive comments may or
may not result in changes to the draft DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The Austin blind salamander was
addendum; comments regarding
federally listed as endangered UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION
throughout its range on September 9, recovery plan implementation will be AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION
2013 (78 FR 51277), and detailed forwarded as appropriate to Federal or
other entities so that they can be taken [RC0ZCUPCA0, 155R0680R1,
background information on the RR.17549897.2015101.02]
taxonomy, habitat, range, threats, and into account during the course of
life history attributes of the Austin blind implementing recovery actions. Notice of Availability of the Records of
salamander can be found in the final We invite written comments on the Decision for the Provo River Delta
rule. It has a recovery priority number draft addendum. In particular, we are Restoration Project
of 2C, which is based on a high degree interested in additional information
of threat, high potential for recovery, AGENCY: Office of the Assistant
regarding the appropriateness of the
taxonomic classification as a species, Secretary for Water and Science,
draft recovery criteria and recovery Interior; Utah Reclamation Mitigation
and potential for conflict over resources actions for the Austin blind salamander
(primarily water quality and quantity) and Conservation Commission.
as well as the costs associated with
and economic development. ACTION: Notice.
implementing the recommended
When we developed the Barton recovery actions. SUMMARY: The Department of the
Springs Salamander Recovery Plan, the
Before we approve a final addendum, Interior and the Utah Reclamation
Austin blind salamander was a
we will consider all comments we Mitigation and Conservation
candidate for Federal listing as
receive by the date specified in DATES. Commission have prepared separate
endangered or threatened (67 FR 40657).
Methods of submitting comments are in Records of Decision (RODs) that
We included information on the Austin
the ADDRESSES section. disclose their selection of Alternative B
blind salamander to facilitate adding
for implementing the restoration of the
this species to the Recovery Plan if it
Public Availability of Comments Provo River Delta as described in the
ultimately became listed. The existing
Provo River Delta Restoration Project
recovery plan for the Barton Springs Before including your address, phone (PRDRP) Final Environmental Impact
salamander presents a recovery strategy, number, email address, or other Statement (FEIS). Both agencies have
objective and measurable recovery personal identifying information in your
criteria, and site-specific management also selected to implement Option 2 for
comment, you should be aware that the improvement of the existing Provo
actions to monitor and reduce or remove your entire comment—including your
threats to the Barton Springs River Channel. The size of Alternative B
personal identifying information—may may be increased by acquiring
salamander. The Barton Springs and
be made publicly available at any time. additional land described under
Austin blind salamanders occur in the
While you can ask us in your comment Alternative A. However, such additional
same ecosystem, have similar ecology
to withhold your personal identifying land acquisition will only be
and life history needs, and face similar
information from public review, we accomplished if the additional land can
threats. The Barton Springs Salamander
Recovery Plan was developed to address cannot guarantee that we will be able to be acquired on a willing-seller basis.
the Barton Springs ecosystem as a do so. Therefore, a potentially enlarged
whole, as well as both salamander Comments and materials we receive Alternative B (the Preferred Alternative)
species, which are vulnerable to threats will be available on our Web site and Option 2 are adopted as the
to this ecosystem. Therefore, the http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ Selected Action. The implementation of
recovery strategy for the Barton Springs AustinTexas/, by appointment, for Alternative B as potentially modified
salamander is also applicable to and public inspection during normal and Option 2 will significantly aid in
appropriate for the Austin blind business hours at our office (see meeting recovery actions within the
salamander. For these reasons, we are approved June Sucker Recovery Plan of
ADDRESSES).
proposing an efficient approach to 1999.
recovery planning for the Austin blind References Cited DATES: The Department of the Interior
salamander by supplementing the and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation
A complete list of all references cited and Conservation Commission signed
Barton Springs Salamander Recovery herein is available upon request from
Plan with an addendum to include the separate RODs on May 26, 2015 and
the Austin Ecological Services Field subsequently made them available to
Austin blind salamander. Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION the public.
Request for Public Comments CONTACT section).
ADDRESSES: Send written
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to Authority correspondence or requests for copies to
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

provide public notice and an Mr. W. Russ Findlay, Department of the
opportunity for public review and We developed this recovery plan Interior, Central Utah Project
comment during recovery plan addendum under the authority of Completion Act Office, 302 East 1860
development. We are, therefore, section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). South, Provo, Utah 846060–7317; or Mr.
providing the public the opportunity to We publish this notice under section Richard Mingo, Utah Reclamation
comment on the draft addendum. 4(f) Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Mitigation and Conservation
Because the Barton Springs Salamander amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Commission, 230 South 500 East Suite

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 129 / Tuesday, July 7, 2015 / Notices 38731

230, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102; or by The Federal Action remaining properties outside the
email to wfindlay@usbr.gov or rmingo@ The PRDRP will restore the lower delineated Alternative B boundary.
usbr.gov. The RODs are accessible at the Provo River to a more natural deltaic Other landowners may also have
following Web sites: www.cupcao.gov, ecosystem. The delta and associated interest in selling their land to the
www.provoriverdelta.us, habitat will provide needed habitat for government for the project. Only if these
www.mitigationcommission.gov. See the the recovery of the endangered June agreements can be achieved on a
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for sucker. These improvements will be willing-seller basis would they be
locations where copies of the RODs are accomplished through the consummated. Such lands could be
available for public review. implementation of Alternative B and acquired to enhance the habitat values
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Option 2 as analyzed in the PRDRP FEIS for June sucker, to preserve habitat
W. Russ Findlay, 801–379–1084, plus the option to increase the size of values for other wildlife or wetlands, or
wfindlay@usbr.gov; or Mr. Richard Alternative B by acquiring additional to provide additional related
Mingo, 801–524–3146, rmingo@ land described under Alternative A only recreational opportunities.
usbr.gov. if the additional land can be acquired on
a willing-seller basis. Option 2—Provo River Existing
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Channel Improvement
Purpose and Need for Action
Background Option 2 will be implemented along
The PRDRP has been identified as an
essential action needed to recover the with Alternative B above. Option 2 will
The Department of the Interior’s maintain the existing channel at a
Record of Decision for the Diamond endangered June sucker. It will restore
functional habitat conditions in the relatively constant elevation by
Fork System Final Supplement to the constructing a small dam at the
Diamond Fork Power System Final lower Provo River and its interface with
Utah Lake that are needed for spawning, downstream mouth of the channel near
Environmental Impact Statement, Utah Lake State Park. An aeration
signed September 29, 1999, commits the hatching, larval transport, survival,
rearing and recruitment of young June system will be installed and operated as
Department of the Interior, Utah necessary to improve water quality. A
Reclamation Mitigation and sucker into the population on a self-
sustaining basis. minimum flow of 10 cubic feet per
Conservation Commission, and the
The purposes of the PRDRP are to: second will be provided to the existing
Central Utah Water Conservancy District
• Implement the specific criteria of Provo River channel which will be
to ‘‘. . . participate in the development
the June Sucker Recovery Plan to restore retained and managed for recreational
of a Recovery Implementation Program
a naturally functioning Provo River and aesthetic purposes.
for June sucker.’’ Moreover, ‘‘. . . [a]ny
delta ecosystem essential for A Notice of Availability of the Draft
future development of the Bonneville
recruitment of June sucker; Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
Unit of CUP [Central Utah Project] will
• provide recreational improvements for the PRDRP was published in the
be contingent on the RIP [June Sucker
and opportunities associated with the
Recovery Implementation Program Federal Register on February 28, 2014
PRDRP; and
(JSRIP)] making ‘sufficient progress’ (79 FR 11511). A Notice of Availability
• adopt flow regime targets for the
towards recovery of June sucker.’’ The of the PRDRP FEIS was published in the
lower Provo River and provide delivery
Utah Reclamation Mitigation and of supplemental water to the lower Federal Register on April 8, 2015 (80 FR
Conservation Commission signed its Provo River, including additional 18940).
own Record of Decision for the conserved water. Copies of the RODs are available for
Diamond Fork System Project on public review at:
November 19, 1999. The JSRIP was Alternative B—Provo River Delta
established in 2002, and the Joint Lead Restoration • Department of the Interior, Central
Agencies are participants. The goals of Utah Project Completion Act Office, 302
Alternative B was developed with
the JSRIP are twofold, to recover June East 1860 South, Provo, Utah 84606–
substantial involvement from study area
sucker so that it no longer requires landowners and other stakeholders. It is 7317
protection under the Endangered the selected alternative for restoring the • Utah Reclamation Mitigation and
Species Act and allow continued Provo River Delta. It will reduce the Conservation Commission, 230 South
operation of existing water facilities and amount of private land required for the 500 East Suite 230, Salt Lake City, Utah
future development of water resources PRDRP and preserve the highest-value 84102
for human uses within the Utah Lake agricultural land, while still improving
Basin in Utah. Dated: June 8, 2015.
June sucker spawning and rearing
Reed R. Murray,
The June sucker exists naturally only habitat. The acquisition boundary for
in Utah Lake and spawns primarily in this alternative encompasses 310.3 Program Director, Central Utah Project
the lower Provo River, a Utah Lake acres. As previously described in this Completion Act Office, Department of the
tributary. Monitoring indicates young NOA, lands in addition to the minimum Interior.
June sucker hatching in the lower Provo required under Alternative B could be Dated: June 8, 2015.
River do not survive to the adult stage acquired on a willing-seller basis, either Mark Holden,
due to habitat inadequacies in the lower in conjunction with Alternative B or at Executive Director, Utah Reclamation
Provo River and its interface with Utah a later time. Implementing Alternative B Mitigation and Conservation Commission.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Lake related to flow, food supply, and as described in the Final EIS would [FR Doc. 2015–16600 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am]
shelter. A compounding factor is likely result in splitting of three or more BILLING CODE 4332–90–P
predation by nonnative fishes. Dredging contiguous land ownerships/
and channelization for flood control has agricultural operations. It is possible
eliminated the shallow, warm, complex that landowners may request as
wetland habitat at the mouth of the condition of sale of their property the
Provo River where it enters Utah Lake. acquisition of some or all of the

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:27:22
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:27:22

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		The Department of the Interior and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission signed separate RODs on May 26, 2015 and subsequently made them available to the public.
Contact		Mr. W. Russ Findlay, 801-379-1084, [email protected]; or Mr. Richard Mingo, 801-524-3146, [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 38730

80 FR 38730 - Notice of Availability of the Records of Decision for the Provo River Delta Restoration Project

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORUTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 129 (July 7, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION