[Federal Register: February 10, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 7142]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe05-108]
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UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Utah Lake
Drainage Basin Water Delivery System, Central Utah Project
AGENCY: Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision (ROD).
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SUMMARY: On January 27, 2005, Jody L. Williams, Chairman of the Utah
Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission (Mitigation
Commission) signed the Record of Decision (ROD) which documents
selection of the Proposed Action as presented in the 2004 Utah Lake
Drainage Basin Water Delivery System Final Environmental Impact
Statement (INT FES 04-41) (2004 ULS FEIS) filed with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on September 30, 2004. The Mitigation
Commission, Central Utah Water Conservancy District and Department of
the Interior served as joint lead agencies in preparing the 2004 ULS
FEIS. The Proposed Action, called the Spanish Fork Canyon-Provo
Reservoir Canal Alternative, one other action alternative called the
Bonneville Unit Water Alternative, and a No Action alternative are
described and evaluated in the 2004 ULS FEIS, upon which the ROD is
based.
The Spanish Fork Canyon-Provo Reservoir Canal Pipeline Alternative
will deliver an average annual transbasin diversion of 101,900 acre-
feet from the Colorado River Basin to the Bonneville Basin, which
consists of a delivery of: 30,000 acre-feet of Municipal and Industrial
(M&I) water for secondary use to southern Utah County and 30,000 acre-
feet of M&I water to Salt Lake County water treatment plants; 1,590
acre-feet of M&I water already contracted to southern Utah County
cities; and 40,310 acre-feet of M&I water to Utah Lake for exchange to
Jordanelle Reservoir. A portion of the 40,310 acre-feet delivered to
Utah Lake would be delivered via lower Hobble Creek to provide spawning
habitat for the endangered June sucker, and via lower Provo River where
it would help maintain minimum instream flows for June sucker spawning
and other fishery and aquatic benefits. The 30,000 acre-feet (less the
water returned to Interior under the Section 207 Program) of M&I water
utilized in southern Utah County would be used in the cities' secondary
water systems. Use of this water as a potable supply in the future
would require additional NEPA compliance. Under the Proposed Action,
Interior would acquire all of the District's secondary water rights in
Utah Lake. These rights would amount to a maximum of 57,073 acre-feet.
The acquired water rights would be used to exchange project water to
Jordanelle Reservoir. All remaining environmental commitments
associated with the Bonneville Unit would be completed and previously
committed in-stream flows within the Bonneville Unit area and
statutorily mandated in-stream flows would be provided.
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Department of
the Interior issued a separate ROD for the ULS on December 22, 2004,
also selecting the Proposed Action for implementation. The Assistant
Secretary's separate decision is necessitated by the responsibility and
authority of the Department of the Interior for other aspects of the
project beyond the scope of the Mitigation Commission to mitigate for
reclamation projects.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and/or FEIS can be obtained at the Utah
Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 102 W 500 S, Suite
315, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101. They may also be viewed on the
internet via the following Web address: http://www.mitigationcommission.gov/news.html
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Holden, Projects Manager
(801) 524-3146.
Dated: January 31, 2005.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2548 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P