Reach 11 Recreation Master Plan, Central Arizona Project, Arizona
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: November 7, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 216)]
[Notices]
[Page 56345-56346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07no01-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[Arizona, INT-DES 01-38]
Reach 11 Recreation Master Plan, Central Arizona Project, Arizona
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of and public hearing for a draft
environmental impact statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, the
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), in conjunction with the City of
Phoenix (City), has prepared a draft EIS for a Recreation Master Plan
for the Reach 11 Recreation Area (Reach 11), located in the northeast
portion of the City, Maricopa County, Arizona. The draft EIS describes
the anticipated environmental effects associated with the proposed
approval and implementation of a recreation master plan for a 1,500-
acre area adjacent to the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal, between
Cave Creek and Scottsdale
[[Page 56346]]
roads. The land is owned by Reclamation and is managed for recreational
purposes by the City's Recreation and Library Department (PRLD) under a
1986 land use agreement. The draft EIS describes in detail a proposed
recreation master plan and two action alternative master plans that
could be approved and implemented. A No Action Alternative is also
described, which provides a baseline for comparing the impacts of the
three action alternatives. A public hearing will be held to receive
comments from interested individuals and organizations regarding the
adequacy of the draft EIS in describing the anticipated environmental
impacts from the proposed project.
DATES: A public hearing is scheduled for December 11, 2001, from 6:30
to 9:30 p.m. A 60-day public review and comment period begins with the
filing of the draft EIS with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Written comments must be received no later than January 18, 2002.
ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at Paradise Valley Community
Center, 17402 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
Send written comments to Mr. Bruce Ellis, Chief, Environmental
Resource Management Division, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area
Office (PXAO-1500), PO Box 81169,Phoenix, AZ 85069-1169; fax number
(602) 216-4006.
The draft EIS document is available on the Internet at http://
www.apo.lc.usbr.gov.
A copy of the draft EIS is also available upon
request from Ms. Janice Kjesbo, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area
Office (PXAO-1500), PO Box 81169, Phoenix, AZ 85069-1169, telephone
(602) 216-3864, faxogram (602) 216-4006. A copy of the draft EIS is
also available for public inspection and review at the libraries listed
under Supplementary Information below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the draft EIS
should be directed to Ms. Sandra Eto, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix
Area Office (PXAO-1500), PO Box 81169, Phoenix, AZ 85069-1169,
telephone (602) 216-3857.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is proposing to approve a new
Recreation Master Plan for Reach 11, managed for recreational purposes
by the PRLD. The current master plan was approved in 1987. The City and
Reclamation determined a comprehensive planning effort for a new master
plan should be carried out, due to the major population growth that has
occurred and future growth anticipated for the area. This effort
included conducting a recreation needs assessment to inventory existing
facilities in the vicinity of Reach 11, and evaluating needs based upon
established park standards, existing capacity, and public interest in
or opposition to various recreation uses. The purpose and need for a
new Recreation Master Plan is to optimize recreational use of Reach 11
based upon the needs of the City and community, while ensuring
compatibility with the primary flood control function of Reach 11. A
master plan would accommodate and respect the full range of current and
future recreation demands of this growing area of Phoenix, Arizona. The
draft EIS considers three alternative master plan scenarios. All three
provide a level of development established for a City district park.
Under the Proposed Action, high-demand recreation needs would be
balanced with passive recreation uses and maintenance of quality
habitat areas. Two other alternative action alternatives are
considered: one that would provide less active recreation-oriented
development, and that emphasizes passive recreation-oriented activities
(Alternative 1), and one that would maximize development of active-
recreation oriented recreation facilities (Alternative 2). The No
Action Alternative assumes the existing 1987 master plan, (which does
not meet current PRLD district park standards), would continue to be
implemented. The alternative ultimately selected and implemented is
expected to be developed in phases by PRLD, as funding becomes
available.
Copies of the draft EIS are available for public inspection and
review at the following locations:
Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67,
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225
Arizona Department of Library Archives and Public Records,
1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007
North Central Regional County Library, 17811 N. 32nd St.,
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Phoenix Public Library (Burton Barr Central), 1221 N. Central
Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Government Document Service, Arizona State University, Tempe,
AZ 85287
Arizona State University--West Library, 4701 W. Thunderbird
Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306
Written comments received by Reclamation become part of the public
record associated with this action. Accordingly, Reclamation makes
these comments, including names and home addresses of respondents,
available for public review. Individual respondents may request that we
withhold their home address from public disclosure, which we will honor
to the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in
which we would withhold a respondent's identity from public disclosure,
as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or
address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your
comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses,
and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or
officials of organizations or businesses, available for public
disclosure in their entirety.
Dated: October 24, 2001.
V. LeGrand Neilsen,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 01-27881 Filed 11-6-01; 8:45 am]
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