[Federal Register: April 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 72)] [Notices] [Page 18441-18442] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15ap98-130] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Tucson Aqueduct System Reliability Investigation, Central Arizona Project, INT-FES 98-12 AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability on the final environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as amended) (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Tucson Aqueduct System Reliability Investigation (TASRI) project, Tucson Division, Central Arizona Project (CAP). The FEIS addresses alternatives that have been studied to incorporate short-term delivery reliability into the CAP system for the Tucson area. This short-term reliability would ensure the delivery of CAP water to Tucson area users during periods of planned maintenance outages of the CAP. Reclamation proposes the construction of a 15,000 acre-foot surface storage reservoir, located southwest of the Tucson metropolitan area, to provide reliability to Tucson area CAP water users. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection and review at the following locations: Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Liaison Office, Room 7624, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240; telephone (202) 208-6269 Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225; telephone (303) 236-6963 Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Director's Office, Nevada Highway and Park Street, Boulder City, NV 89005; telephone (702) 293-8000 Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office, Attn: PXAO-1500, 2222 W. Dunlap Avenue, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85021-2801; telephone (602) 216-3864 [[Page 18442]] Bureau of Reclamation, Tucson Field Office, 4257 W. Ina Road, Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85742; telephone (520) 744-5180 Libraries: Copies of the FEIS are also available for inspection at the following libraries: County Courthouse Law Library, University of Arizona Main Library, City Hall Annex Library, and the City Hall Government Reference Library (9th Floor), in Tucson, AZ; Arizona State University Hayden Library, (Arizona Collection), in Tempe, AZ; and the Phoenix (Burton Barr) Public Library in Phoenix, AZ. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Pryor, TASRI Project Manager, PXAO-2500, or Ms. Sandra Eto, NEPA Compliance Specialist, PXAO-1500, Reclamation, PO Box 81169, Phoenix AZ 85069-1169; telephone (602) 216- 3931, or 216-3857, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CAP, authorized as part of the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968, is a multipurpose water project which develops water for municipal and industrial use, as well as for Indian uses and non-Indian agricultural uses in central and southern Arizona. Because of Tucson's greater exposure to water service interruptions, the TASRI was initiated in 1986 to study alternatives that would provide as ``reasonably reliable'' a supply of CAP water to the Tucson area as is available to Phoenix area cities. The FEIS analyzes the environmental consequences of the construction and operation of a 15,000 acre-foot surface storage reservoir (the Agency proposed action), two additional alternatives, and a no Federal action alternative. The FEIS describes environmental consequences to the following resources: Biological, cultural, geologic, air, water, land, recreational, socio-economic, and Indian trust assets. Construction and operation of a surface storage reservoir would provide opportunities for incorporating recreational facilities. A local sponsor(s) would need to agree to be responsible for at least 50 percent of the capital costs to construct the recreational developments, as well as accept responsibility for recreation-related operating and maintenance costs. Reclamation estimates 214 Pima pineapple cacti would be impacted from the proposed action. The Pima pineapple cactus is a federally endangered plant that occurs on the proposed surface storage reservoir site. Fish and Wildlife Service's Biological Opinion for this project indicates implementation of a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) will avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of the Pima pineapple cactus. One of the RPA actions directs Reclamation to establish a refugium for the Pima pineapple cactus that is of similar acreage, cactus population, and of similar or better habitat of the project area, if this proposed action is implemented. Recreational development within the project area is not precluded by the Opinion. The draft EIS was issued April 18, 1995. Responses to comments received from interested organizations and individuals, both in writing and during two public hearings held in June 1995, are addressed in the FEIS. Reclamation's development and evaluation of the alternatives described in the FEIS, and selection of the proposed action, were based upon the assumption that the great majority of CAP water allocated to the Tucson metropolitan area would be treated at Tucson Water's Hayden- Udall Water Treatment Plant and delivered for direct use through Tucson Water's delivery system. Many changes have occurred, since the draft EIS was issued for public review and comment in April 1995, related to water management in the Tucson area. Consequently, assumptions that were used in developing and sizing the systems considered under the action alternatives discussed in the FEIS may no longer be valid. In light of the uncertainty regarding future use of CAP water in the region, Reclamation does not intend to issue a Record of Decision in the immediate future regarding implementation of the project. However, the fiscal year 1997 Appropriations Act specifically directed Reclamation to finalize the EIS; therefore, this FEIS is being filed with the Environmental Protection Agency. Dated: April 10, 1998. Robert W. Johnson, Regional Director. [FR Doc. 98-9943 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P