[Federal Register: April 8, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 68)]
[Notices]
[Page 18625]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap04-88]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
City of Albuquerque Drinking Water Project, New Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the City of Albuquerque Drinking Water Project.
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INT-FES 04-10
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as lead
federal agency, and the City of Albuquerque (City), as joint lead
agency, have prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for
the City of Albuquerque Drinking Water Project. The project is the main
component of the Albuquerque Water Resources Management Strategy,
adopted by the City Council, which aims to efficiently use existing
water resources and develop a safe and sustainable water supply for
City residents to the year 2060. The proposed alternatives provide a
means of action through which the City would fully consumptively use
the City's San Juan-Chama Project water to provide a sustainable water
supply.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are available from Marsha Carra, Bureau
of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway, NE., Suite 100,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102; telephone (505) 462-3602; facsimile
(505) 462-3797; e-mail: mcarra@uc.usbr.gov. The FEIS is also available
on Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/albuq/library/eis/adwp/adwp.html
.
Copies of the document are also available for public review and
inspection at the following locations:
City of Albuquerque Water Resources Office, Public Works Department,
Water Resources Department, One Civic Plaza, 5th Floor, Albuquerque,
New Mexico
Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 South State
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1147;
Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway, NE.,
Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102;
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Attention: Joanna
Prukop, Wendell Chino Building, P.O. Box 6429, Santa Fe, New Mexico
87505; and
Environment Department, Attention: Ron Curry, Harold Runnels Building,
P.O. Box 26110, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502.
Libraries
Albuquerque Public Library, Reference Desk, Main Library, 501 Copper,
NW., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102;
North Valley Public Library, Reference Desk, 7704 2nd Street, NW.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107;
South Broadway Public Library, Reference Library, 1025 Broadway, SE.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108;
Cherry Hills Public Library, Reference Library, 6901 Barstow, NE.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111;
Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, New Mexico;
Espa[ntilde]ola Public Library, 921 Paseo del Norte, Espa[ntilde]ola,
New Mexico; and
Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Carra, Bureau of Reclamation,
Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway, NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New
Mexico 87102; telephone (505) 462-3602; facsimile (505) 462-3797; e-
mail: mcarra@uc.usbr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS considers the effects of the City
of Albuquerque using San Juan-Chama Project water to provide a
sustainable drinking water supply for its citizens. The four primary
project elements are (1) Diverting San Juan-Chama Project water after
it is released to the Rio Grande, (2) transporting the raw water to a
water treatment plant, (3) treating the raw water to drinking water
standards, and (4) distributing the treated, potable water to customers
in the City's water service area. At present, the City water is
supplied by aquifer pumping. Continued reliance on this source is
unsustainable and could have other serious environmental consequences
for the City and its water customers. The San Juan-Chama Project water
has been contracted for a number of years and will allow the City to
fully develop its water resources.
The FEIS evaluates several alternatives, including the no action
alternative, and describes the existing environmental consequences of
using the San Juan-Chama water source. The FEIS considers the following
issues: aesthetics and visual resources, air quality, aquatic life,
biodiversity, cultural resources, energy, environmental justice,
floodplains, geology, hazardous materials, human health and safety,
hydrology (surface and groundwater), Indian trust assets and other
tribal resources, land use, noise and vibration, recreation, riparian
areas, socioeconomic conditions, soils, threatened and endangered
species, traffic and circulation, upland vegetation, water quality,
wetlands/non-wetland waters, wildlife, and cumulative effects.
The construction and operation of a low-head diversion dam is the
preferred alternative. It permits the greatest flexibility for
diverting the San Juan-Chama water from the Rio Grande, meets the
project purpose and need, and avoids major impacts to environmental
resources. With mitigation measures incorporated, there are no
significant environmental or socioeconomic impacts under the preferred
alternative.
Reclamation requested government-to-government consultation with 27
federally recognized Pueblos and Tribes and contacted the Bureau of
Indian Affairs to help identify and determine any effects to Indian
trust assets. Implementation of the preferred alternative will not
cause adverse effects to Indian trust assets.
The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued in June
2002. Responses to comments received from organizations and individuals
on the DEIS have been addressed in the FEIS. No decision will be made
on the proposed federal action until 30 days after release of the FEIS.
After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of
Decision. The Record of Decision will state the action that will be
implemented and discuss all factors leading to that decision.
Dated: March 30, 2004.
Connie L. Rupp,
Assistant Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 04-7981 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]