Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
AGENCY:
Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION:
Notice to reopen comment period for draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and announce schedule for public workshop and public meeting.
SUMMARY:
Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), prepared a DEIS for the renewal of long-term water supply contracts for continued delivery of irrigation water from Federal projects in the Republican River basin in Nebraska and Kansas. The DEIS described five alternatives, including no action and a preferred alternative, and evaluated the environmental consequences of renewing the long-term water supply contracts and of modifications to reservoir operations. Public hearings were held in Nebraska and Kansas to receive public comment on the DEIS.
The Corps of Engineers (Corps), along with other Federal, State, and local entities, is a cooperating agency in the water supply contract renewal process. Harlan County Lake in Nebraska is owned by the United States and managed by the Corps. Following completion of the initial 60-day public review and comment period, Reclamation and the Corps continued to receive public comment concerning alternative operations at Harlan County Lake. The magnitude of these comments prompted Reclamation and the Corps to allow additional time for all interested parties to provide comments on the water supply contract renewal process.
DATES:
A 30-day public review and comment period commences with the publication of this notice. Written comments on the DEIS or the Corps' technical report should be submitted by April 21, 2000.
Written comments from interested parties unable to attend the hearing, those not wanting to make oral presentations, or those wishing to supplement their oral presentations at the public hearing should be transmitted to the Nebraska-Kansas Area Office by April 21, 2000, for inclusion in the public record.
A joint Reclamation/Corps public meeting has been scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on April 12, 2000. An informal public workshop has also been scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ADDRESSES:
The meeting and workshop will be held at the Johnson Community Center, 509 Main Street, in Alma, Nebraska.
Written comments on Reclamation's DEIS should be submitted to the Area Manager (Attention: Judy O'Sullivan), Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, P.O. Box 1607, Grand Island NE 68802. Written comments on the Corps' technical report should be submitted to District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, 700 Federal Building, 601 East Twelfth Street, Kansas City MO 64106-2896.
You may request a Summary of the DEIS, the entire DEIS (with appendices) in printed copy or on computer disk, or the Corps' technical report. Copies may be obtained from the above address or by telephone (308) 389-4622 x211. The DEIS and technical report is available for public inspection and review on Reclamation's Internet site at “www.gp.usbr.gov” in the “Current Activities” section under “Environmental Activities.” In addition, the technical report can be viewed at the two Corps' Internet sites “www.nwk.usace.army.mil” and “www.nwk.usace.army.mil/haco/harlan_home.htm”
See Supplementary Information section for additional addresses where the DEIS and/or technical report are available for public inspection and review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Manring, Basin Study Coordinator, Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, P.O. Box 1607, Grand Island NE 68802—telephone (308) 389-4622 x214; or Maria Chastain-Brand, Project Manager-Harlan County Lake Study, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, 700 Federal Building, 601 East Twelfth ( printed page 15352) Street, Kansas City MO 64106-2896—telephone (816) 983-3107.