[Federal Register: October 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 198)] [Notices] [Page 55746-55747] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr14oc99-91] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation INT-DES-99-39 Bostwick Division, Frenchman-Cambridge Division, and Kanaska Division, Almena Unit AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearing on draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, has prepared a DEIS on the proposed renewal of long- term water supply contracts for irrigation water from Federal projects in the Republican River basin in Nebraska and Kansas. The DEIS describes five alternatives, including no action, and evaluates the environmental consequences of renewing the long-term water supply contracts and of modifications to reservoir operations. Public hearings have been scheduled to provide interested parties an opportunity to provide oral or written comments on the proposed renewal of long-term water supply contracts. DATES: A 60-day public review and comment period commences with the publication of this notice. Written comments on the DEIS should be submitted by December 13, 1999. Written comments from interested parties unable to attend the hearings, 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 December 13, 1999, for inclusion in the public record. Public hearings have been scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the following dates: November 2, 1999, Belleville, Kansas. November 3, 1999, Alma, Nebraska. November 4, 1999, McCook, Nebraska. ADDRESSES: The public hearing locations are: Harvester Room in the Jensik Insurance Building, 1309 Eighteenth Street, Belleville, Kansas. Johnson Community Center, 509 Main Street, Alma, Nebraska. Community Building, West Fifth and O Streets, McCook, Nebraska. Written comments on the DEIS should be submitted to the Area Manager (Attention: Judy O'Sullivan), Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, P.O. Box 1607, Grand Island NE 68802. You may request a Summary of the DEIS or the entire DEIS (with appendices) in printed copy or on computer disk. Copies may be obtained from the above address or by telephone (308) 389-4622 x211. Copies are also available for public inspection and review on the Internet at ``www.gp.usbr.gov'' in the ``Current Activities'' section under ``Environmental Activities.'' See Supplementary Information section for additional addresses where the DEIS is 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEIS Public Inspection and Review Locations Offices Bureau of Reclamation, Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, 203 West Second Street, Grand Island NE 68801--telephone (308) 389-4622 Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Regional Office, 316 North 26th Street, Billings MT 59101--telephone (406) 247-7638 Bureau of Reclamation, Reclamation Service Center Library, Building 67, Room 167, Denver Federal Center, Sixth and Kipling, Denver CO 80225--telephone (303) 445-2072 Bureau of Reclamation, Program Analysis Office, Room 7456, 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240--telephone (202) 208-4662 Bostwick Irrigation District in Nebraska, Red Cloud NE Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District No. 2, Courtland KS Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District, Cambridge NE Frenchman Valley and H&RW Irrigation District, Culbertson NE Almena Irrigation District, Almena KS Libraries Alma Public Library, West Second Street, Alma NE 68920- 3378 [[Page 55747]] Blue Hill Public Library, 317 West Gage Street, Blue Hill NE 68930-2068 Butler Memorial Library, 621 Pennsylvania, Cambridge NE 69022 Franklin Public Library, 1502 P Street, Franklin NE 68939- 1200 Hastings Public Library, 517 West Fourth Street, Hastings NE 68901-7560 Imperial Public Library, 703 Broadway Street, Imperial NE 69033-4017 Kearney Public Library, 2020 First Avenue, Kearney NE 68847-5306 McCook Library, 802 Norris Avenue, McCook NE 69001-3143 Nelson Public Library, 10 West Third Street, Nelson NE 68961-1246 Red Cloud Public Library, 537 North Webster Street, Red Cloud NE 68970-2421 Carnegie Public Library, 449 North Kansas Street, Superior NE 68978-1852 Trenton Village Library, 406 East First Street, Trenton NE 69044 Wauneta City Library, 319 North Tecumseh, Wauneta NE 69045-2011 Almena Public Library, 415 Main, Almena KS 67622 Belleville Public Library, 1327 Nineteenth Street, Belleville KS 66935 Courtland City Library, 403 Main Street, Courtland KS 66939 Northwest Kansas Library System, 2 Washington Square, Norton KS 67654 Hearing Process Information Organizations and individuals wishing to present oral statements are strongly encouraged to contact Judy O'Sullivan, Bureau of Reclamation, Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, at the address above or telephone (308) 389-4622 x211 to announce their intention to participate in the public hearing. Requests to make presentations will also be accepted at the hearings. Written statements may also be submitted at the hearings. Oral statements at the public hearings will be limited to 5 minutes. If time permits, the hearing officer may allow speakers to extend their oral statement after all persons wishing to comment have been heard. Whenever possible, speakers will be scheduled according to the time preference requested in their letter or telephone request. Scheduled speakers not present at the public hearing when called will lose their privilege in the scheduled order and will be recalled at the end of all the scheduled speakers. Those registering at the meetings may choose from the remaining time slots. Please notify Reclamation at least 2 weeks in advance of the scheduled hearing if you require special needs in order to participate in the public hearing. Those having special needs should contact Judy O'Sullivan at (308) 389-4622 x211 or through the Federal Relay System at (800) 877-8339 or via e-mail at ``josullivan@gp.usbr.gov''. Smoking will be prohibited in the hearing room and surrounding area. Dated: September 25, 1999 Fred R.Ore, Area Manager, Nebraska-Kansas Area Office. [FR Doc. 99-26633 Filed 10-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P