81 FR 67381 - Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Continued Implementation of the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project, New Mexico and Texas
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)
Bureau of Reclamation
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)
| Page Range | 67381-67382 | |
| FR Document | 2016-23525 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 67381-67382] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-23525] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR04310000, 16XR0680A1, RX002361010021000] Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Continued Implementation of the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project, New Mexico and Texas AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to analyze the environmental impacts of continuing to implement the 2008 Rio Grande Project Operating Agreement (Operating Agreement) through 2050, and by this Notice is announcing its availability. The Operating Agreement is a written agreement describing how Reclamation allocates, releases from storage, and delivers Rio Grande Project water to the Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) in New Mexico, the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 (EPCWID) in Texas, and to Mexico. In addition, the FEIS evaluates the environmental effects of a proposal to renew a contract to store San Juan-Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir. DATES: Reclamation will not issue a final decision on the proposed action for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of Weekly Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements in the Federal Register. After the 30-day public review period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented and discuss all factors leading to that decision. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection at the following locations:Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102. Bureau of Reclamation, El Paso Field Division, 10737 Gateway West, Suite 350, El Paso, Texas 79935. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 South State Street, Room 8100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138. Libraries New Mexico State University--Branson Library, 1305 Frenger Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003. University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968. Electronic copies of the FEIS are available at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/eis.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jennifer Faler, Area Manager, Albuquerque Area Office, telephone: (505) 462-3600; address: 555 Broadway NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; email: jfaler@usbr.gov. Any persons wishing to be added to a mailing list of interested parties may write or call Ms. Faler at this address or telephone number. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in order to leave a message or question with the above named individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation prepared the FEIS in cooperation with five agencies: United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, Colorado Division of Water Resources, EBID, EPCWID, and Texas Rio Grande Compact Commissioner. The purpose for the proposed Federal action is to meet contractual obligations of Reclamation to EBID and EPCWID, and to comply with applicable law governing water allocation, delivery, and accounting. These obligations are currently fulfilled under the Operating Agreement. The need for the proposed Federal action is to resolve the long and litigious history of the Rio Grande Project, and to enter into mutually agreeable operational criteria that comply with applicable law, court decrees, settlement agreements, and contracts. The purpose and need for similar action is to respond to a request to store San Juan-Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir. The FEIS Analyzes Five Alternatives The FEIS describes and analyzes five alternatives: The Preferred Alternative (Alternative 1) is continuation of the Operating Agreement and the San Juan-Chama storage contract through 2050. [[Page 67382]] Alternative 2 would not store San Juan-Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir. Alternative 3 would not include the carryover accounting provision. Alternative 4 would not include the diversion ratio adjustment. Alternative 5 is the No Action Alternative and it would eliminate both the carryover accounting and diversion ratio adjustment from Rio Grande Project allocation and accounting procedures. The FEIS analyzes the effect of these five alternatives on (1) water resources (total storage, Elephant Butte Reservoir elevations, allocation, releases, net diversion, farm surface water deliveries, farm groundwater deliveries, groundwater elevations, and water quality); (2) biological resources (vegetation communities including wetlands, wildlife, aquatic species, and special status species and critical habitat); (3) cultural resources (historic properties, Indian sacred sites, and resources of tribal concern); and (4) socioeconomic resources (Indian trust assets, recreation, hydropower, regional economic impacts and economic benefits, and environmental justice). On January 15, 2014, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register (79 FR 2691) inviting public scoping comments on the proposed action of continuing to implement the Operating Agreement through 2050. A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2016 (81 FR 14886), and the public was invited to provide comments on the Draft EIS during an 83-day comment period ending on June 8, 2016. Public Disclosure Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, please be advised 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. Dated: September 7, 2016. Brent Rhees, Regional Director, Upper Colorado Region. [FR Doc. 2016-23525 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332-90-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices 67381
Public Meetings: BOEM will also hold DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Libraries
public meetings to solicit comment • New Mexico State University—
regarding the Draft Programmatic Bureau of Reclamation
Branson Library, 1305 Frenger Street,
Environmental Impact Statement. The Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003.
meetings are scheduled as follows: [RR04310000, 16XR0680A1, • University of Texas at El Paso, 500
• New Orleans, Louisiana: RX002361010021000] West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas
Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 79968.
Notice of Availability for the Final Electronic copies of the FEIS are
Wyndham Garden New Orleans Airport,
Environmental Impact Statement for available at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/
6401 Veterans Memorial Boulevard,
the Continued Implementation of the envdocs/eis.html.
Metairie, Louisiana 70003; one meeting 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio
beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and ending Grande Project, New Mexico and Texas FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
at 7:00 p.m. CST; Jennifer Faler, Area Manager,
• Gulfport, Mississippi: Thursday, AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, telephone:
November 10, 2016, Courtyard by Interior. (505) 462–3600; address: 555 Broadway
Marriott, Gulfport Beachfront MS Hotel, ACTION: Notice. NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New
1600 East Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, Mexico 87102; email: jfaler@usbr.gov.
Mississippi 39501; one meeting SUMMARY: In accordance with the Any persons wishing to be added to a
beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and ending National Environmental Policy Act of mailing list of interested parties may
at 7:00 p.m. CST; 1969, as amended, the Bureau of write or call Ms. Faler at this address or
Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared telephone number.
• Fort Walton Beach, Florida: Persons who use a
a Final Environmental Impact Statement
Monday, November 14, 2016, Four telecommunications device for the deaf
(FEIS) to analyze the environmental
Points By Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton may call the Federal Information Relay
impacts of continuing to implement the
Beach, 1325 Miracle Strip Parkway SE., Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
2008 Rio Grande Project Operating
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548; one contact the above individual during
Agreement (Operating Agreement)
meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and normal business hours. The FIRS is
through 2050, and by this Notice is
ending at 7:00 p.m. CST; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
announcing its availability. The
• Mobile, Alabama: Tuesday, Operating Agreement is a written in order to leave a message or question
November 15, 2016, The Admiral Hotel agreement describing how Reclamation with the above named individual. You
Mobile, Curio Collection by Hilton, 251 allocates, releases from storage, and will receive a reply during normal
Government Street, Mobile, Alabama delivers Rio Grande Project water to the business hours.
36602; one meeting beginning at 4:00 Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
p.m. CST and ending at 7:00 p.m. CST; in New Mexico, the El Paso County Reclamation prepared the FEIS in
and Water Improvement District No. 1 cooperation with five agencies:
• Houston, Texas: Thursday, (EPCWID) in Texas, and to Mexico. In • United States Section of the
November 17, 2016, Houston Marriott addition, the FEIS evaluates the International Boundary and Water
North, 255 North Sam Houston Pkwy. environmental effects of a proposal to Commission,
East, Houston, Texas 77060; one renew a contract to store San Juan- • Colorado Division of Water
meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Resources,
ending at 7:00 p.m. CST. Reservoir. • EBID,
DATES: Reclamation will not issue a
• EPCWID, and
Public Disclosure of Names and • Texas Rio Grande Compact
Addresses: Before including your final decision on the proposed action for
a minimum of 30 days after the date that Commissioner.
address, phone number, email address, The purpose for the proposed Federal
or other personal identifying the Environmental Protection Agency
action is to meet contractual obligations
information in your comment, you publishes its Notice of Availability of
of Reclamation to EBID and EPCWID,
should be aware that your entire Weekly Receipt of Environmental
and to comply with applicable law
comment, including your personal Impact Statements in the Federal
governing water allocation, delivery,
identifying information, may be made Register. After the 30-day public review
and accounting. These obligations are
publicly available at any time. While period, Reclamation will complete a
currently fulfilled under the Operating
you can ask us in your comments to Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will
Agreement. The need for the proposed
withhold your personal identifying state the action that will be
Federal action is to resolve the long and
information from public review, we implemented and discuss all factors
litigious history of the Rio Grande
cannot guarantee that we will be able to leading to that decision.
Project, and to enter into mutually
do so. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are agreeable operational criteria that
Authority: This Notice of Availability is available for public inspection at the comply with applicable law, court
published pursuant to the regulations (40 following locations: decrees, settlement agreements, and
CFR part 1503 and 43 CFR part 46) • Bureau of Reclamation, contracts. The purpose and need for
implementing the provisions of the National Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway similar action is to respond to a request
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New to store San Juan-Chama Project water
Mexico 87102.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)). in Elephant Butte Reservoir.
• Bureau of Reclamation, El Paso
Dated: September 22, 2016. The FEIS Analyzes Five Alternatives
Field Division, 10737 Gateway West,
Abigail Ross Hopper, Suite 350, El Paso, Texas 79935. The FEIS describes and analyzes five
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy • Bureau of Reclamation, Upper alternatives: The Preferred Alternative
Management. Colorado Regional Office, 125 South (Alternative 1) is continuation of the
[FR Doc. 2016–23664 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am] State Street, Room 8100, Salt Lake City, Operating Agreement and the San Juan-
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P Utah 84138. Chama storage contract through 2050.
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![67382 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices
Alternative 2 would not store San Juan- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE name, address, etc.) voluntarily
Chama Project water in Elephant Butte submitted by the commenter may be
Reservoir. Alternative 3 would not Department of the Army, U.S. Army publicly accessible. Do not submit
include the carryover accounting Corps of Engineers confidential business information or
provision. Alternative 4 would not otherwise sensitive or protected
include the diversion ratio adjustment. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY information.
Alternative 5 is the No Action
Bonneville Power Administration FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Call
Alternative and it would eliminate both
the carryover accounting and diversion the toll-free telephone 1–(800) 290–5033
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR or email info@crso.info. Additional
ratio adjustment from Rio Grande
Project allocation and accounting information can be found at the project
Bureau of Reclamation Web site: www.crso.info.
procedures.
[RR01041000, 16XR0680G3, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The FEIS analyzes the effect of these RX.16786921.2000100]
five alternatives on (1) water resources Background
(total storage, Elephant Butte Reservoir Notice of Intent To Prepare the
elevations, allocation, releases, net Columbia River System Operations The fourteen Federal multiple
diversion, farm surface water deliveries, Environmental Impact Statement purpose dams and related facilities are
farm groundwater deliveries, operated as a coordinated system within
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
groundwater elevations, and water the interior Columbia River basin in
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD;
quality); (2) biological resources Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and
(vegetation communities including Energy; Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. Washington. A map identifying the
wetlands, wildlife, aquatic species, and locations of these dams can be found on
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
special status species and critical the project Web site at www.crso.info.
environmental impact statement.
habitat); (3) cultural resources (historic The Corps was authorized by Congress
properties, Indian sacred sites, and SUMMARY: In accordance with the to construct, operate and maintain
resources of tribal concern); and (4) National Environmental Policy Act, the twelve of these projects for flood
socioeconomic resources (Indian trust U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), control, power generation, navigation,
assets, recreation, hydropower, regional Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), fish and wildlife, recreation, and
economic impacts and economic and the Bonneville Power municipal and industrial water supply
benefits, and environmental justice). Administration (BPA) (Action Agencies) purposes. The Corps’ projects that will
intend to prepare an environmental be addressed in this EIS include Libby,
On January 15, 2014, a Notice of impact statement (EIS) on the system Albeni Falls, Dworshak, Chief Joseph,
Intent was published in the Federal operation and maintenance of fourteen Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower
Register (79 FR 2691) inviting public Federal multiple purpose dams and Monumental, Ice Harbor, McNary, John
scoping comments on the proposed related facilities located throughout the Day, The Dalles, and Bonneville.
action of continuing to implement the Columbia River basin. The Action Reclamation was authorized to
Operating Agreement through 2050. A Agencies will use this EIS process to construct, operate, and maintain two
Notice of Availability was published in assess and update their approach for projects for purposes of flood control,
the Federal Register on March 18, 2016 long-term system operations and power generation, navigation, and
(81 FR 14886), and the public was configuration through the analysis of irrigation. The Reclamation projects that
invited to provide comments on the alternatives and evaluation of potential will be addressed in this EIS include
Draft EIS during an 83-day comment effects to the human and natural
Hungry Horse and Grand Coulee. BPA is
period ending on June 8, 2016. environments, including effects to
responsible for marketing and
socio-economics and species listed
Public Disclosure transmitting the power generated by
under the Endangered Species Act
these dams. Together, these Action
(ESA). The Action Agencies will serve
Before including your address, phone Agencies are responsible for managing
as joint lead agencies in developing the
number, email address, or other EIS. the system for these various purposes.
personal identifying information in your In the 1990s, the Action Agencies
DATES: Written comments for the Action
comment, please be advised that your Agencies’ consideration are due to the analyzed the socio-economic and
entire comment—including your addresses below no later than January environmental effects of operating the
personal identifying information—may 17, 2017. Comments may also be made system in the Columbia River System
be made publicly available at any time. at public meetings. Information on the Operation Review (SOR) EIS and issued
While you can ask us in your comment public meetings is provided under the respective Records of Decision in 1997
to withhold your personal identifying SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of that adopted a system operation
information from public review, we this notice. strategy, which included operations
cannot guarantee that we will be able to ADDRESSES: Written comments, requests supporting ESA-listed fish while
do so. to be placed on the project mailing list, fulfilling all other congressionally-
Dated: September 7, 2016. and requests for information may be authorized purposes. Since the
mailed by letter to U.S. Army Corps of completion of the SOR EIS, the Action
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Brent Rhees,
Engineers Northwestern Division Attn: Agencies have operated the system
Regional Director, Upper Colorado Region.
CRSO EIS, P.O. Box 2870, Portland, OR consistent with the analyses in the SOR
[FR Doc. 2016–23525 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am] EIS, while some changes to system
97208–2870; or online at comment@
BILLING CODE 4332–90–P crso.info. All comment letters will be operations have been adopted under
available via the project Web site at subsequent ESA consultations and
www.crso.info. All personally project-specific National Environmental
identifiable information (for example, Policy Act documents.
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Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:34:15
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:34:15
| 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 | Reclamation will not issue a final decision on the proposed action for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of Weekly Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements in the Federal Register. After the 30-day public review period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented and discuss all factors leading to that decision. | |
| Contact | Ms. Jennifer Faler, Area Manager, | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 67381 |
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