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Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: April 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 76)]
[Notices]
[Page 19959-19960]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ap07-103]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[FES 07-05]
Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as
amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), with and on behalf
of other joint-lead agencies [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps),
Department of Defense; and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission
(Commission), State of New Mexico], has prepared and made available to
the public a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) to assess the
consequences of proposed changes to water operations in the Rio Grande
basin above Fort Quitman, Texas. The FEIS is programmatic and is not
intended to authorize specific projects in the upper Rio Grande system.
It is anticipated that a plan for water operations at existing
Reclamation and Corps facilities will be developed.
The FEIS presents alternatives with respect to water operations and
evaluates the potential effects of each alternative on environmental,
hydrologic, cultural, and socioeconomic resources, and Indian Trust
Assets, including any potential disproportionate effects on minority or
low income communities (environmental justice). The FEIS also evaluates
the effects of alternatives on the State of New Mexico's ability to
meet its obligations associated with the Rio Grande Compact. Some of
the alternatives considered include changing the channel capacity
criteria at Albuquerque, storage or non-storage of Rio Grande water in
authorized San Juan-Chama space in Abiquiu Reservoir, and possible
future resumption of operations of the currently unfunctional Low Flow
Conveyance Channel.
A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency on January 20, 2006, and a Notice of
Availability for the DEIS was published in the Federal Register on that
same date. The original 60-day review and comment period for the DEIS
was extended an additional 30 days to April 20, 2006, with publication
of a Notice of Extension in the Federal Register on March 24, 2006.
During the comment period, one public meeting was held in Colorado, one
public meeting was held in Texas, and six public meetings were held in
New Mexico. All comments received on the DEIS were carefully reviewed
and considered in preparing the FEIS. Where appropriate, revisions were
made to the document in response to specific comments. The comments and
responses, together with the FEIS, will be considered in determining
whether or not to implement the proposed action.
ADDRESSES: The FEIS is electronically available for viewing and copying
at the Corps' Albuquerque District Web site at:
http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/urgwops/default.asp. 
Alternatively, a compact disc or hard copy is available upon written
request to Ms. Valda
[[Page 19960]]
Terauds, Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway
NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102.
Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection and review
at the following locations:
? Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555
Broadway NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
? Southern Peaks Public Library, 423 4th Street, Alamosa,
Colorado 81101
? Taos Public Library, 402 Camino de la Placita, Taos, New Mexico 87571
? City of Española Library, 405 Paseo de Onate,
Española, New Mexico 87532
? Albuquerque Main Library, 501 Copper NW., Albuquerque, New
Mexico 87102
? Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Street, Santa Fe,
New Mexico 87501
? El Paso Public Library, Clardy Fox Branch, 5515 Robert
Alva Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79905
? Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 East Picacho Avenue,
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001
? Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, New Mexico 87801
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Valda Terauds, Bureau of
Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway NE., Suite 100,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone 505-462-3584; facsimile 505-
462-3593; e-mail: vterauds@uc.usbr.gov.
Ms. April Sanders, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque
District, 4101 Jefferson Plaza NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109;
telephone 505-342-3443; facsimile 505-342-3195; e-mail:
april.f.sanders@usace.army.mil.
Mr. Nabil Shafike, PhD, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission,
121 Tijeras NE, Suite 2000, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone
505-764-3866; facsimile 505-764-3893; e-mail: nabil.shafike@state.nm.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to various legal authorities, and
subject to allocation of supplies and priority of water rights under
state law, Reclamation and the Corps operate dams, reservoirs, and
other facilities in the upper Rio Grande basin to:
(1) Store and deliver water for agricultural, domestic, municipal,
industrial, and environmental uses;
(2) Assist the Commission in meeting downstream water delivery
obligations mandated by the Rio Grande Compact;
(3) Provide flood protection and sediment control; and
(4) Comply with existing laws, contract obligations, and
international treaties.
The Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review (Review)
provides the basis of, and is integral to, preparation of the FEIS. The
purpose of the Review and FEIS is to:
(1) Identify flexibilities in operation of federal reservoirs and
facilities in the upper Rio Grande basin that are within existing
authorities of Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission, and in
compliance with Federal and State laws;
(2) Develop a better understanding of how these facilities could be
operated more efficiently and effectively as an integrated system;
(3) Formulate a plan for future water operations at these
facilities that is within the existing authorities of Reclamation, the
Corps, and the Commission; complies with Federal, State, and other
applicable laws and regulations; and assures continued safe dam operations;
(4) Improve processes for making decisions about water operations
through better interagency communication and coordination and
facilitation of public review and input; and
(5) Support compliance by the Corps, Reclamation, and the
Commission with applicable laws and regulations, including, but not
limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered
Species Act.
The FEIS addresses water operations at the following facilities
with the noted exceptions and limitations:
? Flood control operations at Platoro Reservoir (the Review
and FEIS include only flood control operations at Platoro that are
under the Corps' authority; water supply operations at Platoro are
under local control)
? Closed Basin Division-San Luis Valley Project
? Heron Dam and Reservoir
? Abiquiu Dam and Reservoir
? Cochiti Dam and Reservoir
? Low Flow Conveyance Channel
? Flood control operations at Elephant Butte Dam and
Reservoir (because of current litigation, water supply operations at
Elephant Butte are not included in the Review or FEIS)
? Flood control operations at Caballo Dam and Reservoir
(because of current litigation, water supply operations at Caballo are
not included in the Review or FEIS).
Proposed Federal Action
Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission identified Alternative
E-3 as the preferred alternative for water operations in the upper Rio
Grande basin. This alternative allows for increased native (Rio Grande)
water conservation and storage in Abiquiu Reservoir, maintains current
channel capacity below Abiquiu Dam, increases channel capacity below
Cochiti Dam, and allows a full range of operation for the Low Flow
Conveyance Channel, with continued communication and coordination for
flood control operations at Elephant Butte and Caballo Dams.
No decision will be made on the proposed Federal action until 60
days after the release of the FEIS. After the 60-day waiting period,
Reclamation, the Corps, and the Commission will complete individual
agency Records of Decision. The Records of Decision will identify the
action(s) that will be implemented and discuss all factors leading to
the decision(s).
Dated: March 2, 2007.
Rick L. Gold,
Regional Director--Upper Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. E7-7034 Filed 4-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P