[Federal Register: September 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 174)] [Notices] [Page 49024-49025] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09se99-76] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Proposed City of Albuquerque Water Resources Strategy Implementation, Drinking Water Supply Project, Albuquerque, New Mexico AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed City of Albuquerque Water Resources Strategy Implementation, Drinking Water Supply Project, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The City of Albuquerque, Public Works Department (City) will act as a joint lead agency for NEPA compliance for the proposed project. The City proposes to develop infrastructure that will allow it to fully utilize its contracted (Secretary of the Interior) allotment of San Juan/Chama Project surface water for drinking water and other consumptive uses, and to call for releases of its stored San Juan/Chama Project water in a manner consistent with the proposed use. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a sustainable water supply for the City of Albuquerque by utilizing allocated surface water when available, and preserving the local ground water basin as a drought reserve. The proposed project will be implemented in conjunction with ongoing City efforts to implement local water reuse and non-potable supply projects and a water conservation program. DATES: The dates and times of the scoping meetings will be as follows: 1. Thursday, September 23, 1999; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102. 2. Tuesday, September 28, 1999; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Socorro, New Mexico, 87801. 3. Thursday, September 30, 1999; 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Espanola, New Mexico, 87532. The date of release of the draft EIS for public comment, and the public hearings to be conducted to receive comments on the EIS, will be announced in the Federal Register and in the local news media, as these dates are established. ADDRESSES: The locations of the public scoping meetings will be as follows: 1. Albuquerque Convention Center, Cimarron/Dona Ana rooms, 401 Second Street NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102. 2. New Mexico Tech, Macy Center, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, New Mexico, 87801. 3. Northern New Mexico Community College, Joseph Montoya Building, 921 Paseo de Onate, Espanola, New Mexico, 87532. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lori Robertson, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, 505 Marquette Avenue NW, Suite 1313, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102; telephone (505) 248-5326. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Historically, the City and other water users in Bernalillo County have relied solely on a deep aquifer, the Santa Fe Group aquifer system, for their water supply. This resource is part of a regional aquifer called the Albuquerque underground water basin. Aquifer studies conducted during the 1950's and 1960's indicated that the aquifer was extensive, and that flows in the Rio Grande recharged the aquifer sufficiently to allow extensive withdrawals without affecting the aquifer's long-term ability to supply water. However, recent studies by Reclamation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources confirmed that the City's primary water supply aquifer was being depleted at a rate that is twice that of the recharge to the aquifer from the Rio Grande. In 1997, the City adopted the Albuquerque Water Resources Management Strategy (AWRMS). The AWRMS is based on optimizing the City's use of existing water resources and developing new surface water supplies. The strategy is intended to provide a safe and sustainable water supply for the City by minimizing the continued pumping and sole reliance on ground water resources. Current Activities The City is currently planning to implement three water reclamation projects using reclaimed industrial wastewater, untreated surface water, and reclaimed municipal wastewater, for turf irrigation and industrial uses. These water reclamation projects will provide a non- potable water supply for non-drinking uses and reduce demands on the ground water aquifer. The City is also in the early planning stages for the drinking water supply project for which this Notice of Intent is being prepared. The City implemented a broad-based water conservation program approximately 2 years ago. This program emphasizes low-demand landscaping, low-flow water fixtures, and public awareness regarding the scarcity of water and its overall value to the local and regional economy. The program has resulted in a reduction of almost 18 percent in overall City per capita water use. The goal of the program is to achieve a 30 percent per capita reduction in use. Proposed Project Infrastructure developed for the implementation of the drinking water project will include a diversion of surface water from the Rio Grande, a water treatment plant to treat surface water to Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, and transmission pipelines to convey the treated water into the existing water distribution network. The City currently stores its San Juan/Chama Project water in Abiquiu Reservoir, has short-term water sales and lease agreements for interim uses, and calls for the water to be delivered down the Rio Chama and into the Rio Grande as needed. The City will also evaluate implementing an aquifer storage and [[Page 49025]] recovery program that would allow the City to divert and store surface water underground during wet years, and use this stored supply in place of surface water during dry years when surface water is less available. Alternative Measures The City is currently examining potential alternative methods to divert, treat, store, and deliver its San Juan/Chama Project water as the primary source of its drinking water supply. Alternatives are being developed for the location and methods of diversion, method of treatment conveyance options, and storage/operation options. Agency and public scoping processes will be used to present system component options, evaluation criteria, and evaluation approaches for comment regarding environmental and operational issues that should be addressed. Indian Trust Assets The environmental evaluation will assess the potential effects that the proposed project may have on Indian Trust Assets. Environmental Justice The environmental evaluation will assess the potential effects that the proposed project may have on minority and low-income populations. Anyone interested in more information concerning the study, or who has information concerning the study or suggestions as to significant environmental issues and/or Indian Trust Assets, should contact Ms. Robertson as provided above. Dated: September 3, 1999. Charles A. Calhoun, Regional Director, Upper Colorado Region. [FR Doc. 99-23511 Filed 9-7-99; 3:24 pm] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P