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Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science; Central Utah Project Completion Act; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Conversion of a Portion of Strawberry Valley Project Water From Irrigation to Municipal and Industrial Use

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 [Federal Register: February 7, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 5880]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe00-91]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science; Central
Utah Project Completion Act; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Conversion of a Portion of Strawberry
Valley Project Water From Irrigation to Municipal and Industrial Use

AGENCY:  Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science,
Department of the Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for
the conversion of a portion of Strawberry Valley Project (SVP) water
from irrigation to other beneficial uses including municipal and
industrial (M&I) use.

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
the Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project Completion Act
Office will prepare an Environmental Assessment on the conversion of
SVP water from agricultural to municipal and industrial use.
    The SVP, authorized December 15, 1905, is one of the earliest
Reclamation Projects. The SVP water from the Colorado River Basin is
stored in the enlarged Strawberry Reservoir. The SVP water is then
conveyed through the Diamond Fork System into the Great Basin where it
is delivered through natural stream courses to the Spanish Fork River
diversion structure and into the Strawberry Power Canal. The SVP
service area is located in south Utah County, Utah. The Strawberry
Water Users Association is responsible for the operation and
maintenance of the SVP and contractually uses Central Utah Project
(CUP) facilities to store and convey SVP water.
    Suburban development in the SVP service area has resulted in
agricultural land being taken out of production, annexed into the
cities, and developed into residential areas. Under the authority of
the Water for Miscellaneous Purposes Act of 1920 (43 U.S.C. 521), the
Secretary of the Interior has authority to approve converting a portion
of the SVP water from irrigation to M&I use. This conversion will: (1)
authorize the conversion of SVP water from irrigation to M&I use; (2)
ensure the orderly marketing of CUP and SVP M&I water; (3) provide an
adequate water supply to the cities; (4) generate revenue to fund the
rehabilitation of SVP facilities; and (5) eliminate unauthorized use of
SVP water within the service area. Of the total SVP annual average
water supply of about 71,000 acre-feet, approximately 10,200 acre-feet
has already been converted and an additional 1,800 acre-feet will be
converted from irrigation to M&I use in the foreseeable future with the
opportunity to gradually convert additional amounts as growth continues
in the area.
    The Environmental Assessment will identify potential effects of the
proposed action and determine whether those effects are significant.
Alternatives identified at this time include the proposed action and
the no action alternatives. Issues to be analyzed include impacts on
wildlife, cultural resources, special status plants and animals, and
water resources.

DATES:  Public scoping comments relating to issues and potential
additional alternatives will be accepted for 30 days following the
publication of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  Scoping comments should be sent to: Program
Coordinator, CUP Completion Act Office, Department of the Interior, 302
East 1860 South, Provo UT 84606-6154.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will
be available for public review at the CUP Completion Act Office and
will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA). They may be published as part of the Environmental Assessment
and other related documents.

    Dated: February 1, 2000.
Ronald Johnston,
CUP Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 00-2640 Filed 2-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-RK-U

 
 

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