[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2441-2442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-900]
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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
United States Section; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Rio Grande Rectification Project
El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, Texas
AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that pursuant to section
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as
amended, and dependent on availability of funding, the United States
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) proposes
to gather information necessary to analyze and evaluate the impacts of
a River Management Plan by the USIBWC on the existing Rio Grande
Rectification Project in El Paso and Hudspeth counties, Texas and
prepare an EIS to document those effects. This notice is being provided
as required by the Memorandum of Understanding between the USIBWC and
Southwest Environmental Center, dated March 22, 1999; the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7); and the USIBWC's
Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, published in the Federal Register
September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083-44094) to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues
to be addressed in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments will be accepted for an indefinite period of
time from the date of this notice and continuing until receipt of
appropriation funds necessary for completion of the EIS. Participation
by interested federal, state, and local agencies as well as other
interested organizations and the general public is encouraged during
this indefinite scoping period. Public comments on the scope of the
EIS, reasonable alternatives that should be considered, anticipated
environmental problems, and actions that might be taken to address them
are requested.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments will be accepted following
the date of this notice by Mr. Douglas Echlin, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 North Mesa
Street, C-310, El Paso, Texas 79902. Telephone: 915/832-4741,
Facsimile: 915/832-4167. E-mail: dougechlin@ibwc.state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USIBWC proposes, pending appropriation
of funds, to gather information necessary for the preparation of an EIS
to be used to determine specific options for the maintenance of the Rio
Grande Rectification Project (Rectification Project) that could be
implemented to minimize, consistent with the law and international
agreements, the impact of project maintenance on ecological and
environmental resources in the area and to optimize the safety of
people and property through flood management. The Rectification Project
is located along the Rio Grande in El Paso and Hudspeth counties,
Texas. It is an international project that provides a means of
stabilizing the international boundary line between the United States
and Mexico in the El Paso-Juarez valley and also provides flood
protection to urban, suburban and agricultural lands in this valley. In
1927, the International Boundary Commission (now the International
Boundary and Water Commission or IBWC), formulated plans for the
rectification of the river and stabilization of the international
boundary line in the El Paso-Juarez valley to serve as a basis for a
Convention between the United States and Mexico authorizing the
construction of necessary works. The initial construction on the
Rectification Project was begun in March, 1934, and completed in 1938.
Subsequently, in the period from 1943 through 1950, supplemental work
was done which consisted of raising levees upstream from Riverside
Canal Heading, revetting levees opposite arroyo entrances, revetting
channel banks, and levelling floodways.
The USIBWC as lead agency proposes to collect information necessary
for the preparation of an EIS; to analyze flood protection measures and
alternatives to current management, including watershed-oriented and
non-structural alternatives and collaborative measures with other
agencies and landowners; to determine to what extent project management
can support restoration of native riparian and aquatic habitats, as
well as the restoration of natural fluvial processes such as channel
meanders and overbank flooding. The EIS will consider a range of
alternatives, including the no action alternative, based on issues and
concerns associated with the project.
The EIS will identify, describe, and evaluate the existing
environmental, cultural, sociological and economical, and recreational
resources; explain the existing international flood protection and
boundary stabilization project; and evaluate the impacts associated
with the alternatives under consideration. Significant issues which
have been identified to be addressed in the EIS include but are not
limited to impacts to water resources, water quality, cultural and
biological resources, threatened and endangered species, and
recreation.
The USIBWC seeks funding for river levee improvements along the
international boundary; and pending appropriation of funds, proposed
construction activities that will be studied in this EIS include
rehabilitation of existing levees, channel improvements such as
widening or armoring with riprap, and installation of grade control
structures. Required work consists of evaluating the integrity of the
levee system by conducting a series of geotechnical explorations and
analysis to identify where levee rehabilitation is required. The levee
rehabilitation work involves the replacement of unstable reaches,
reconditioning of the levee side slopes, levee road resurfacing, and
replacement of existing structure gates. The levee system would be
evaluated and arrangements worked with Mexico for levee rehabilitation
in both countries with an equal distribution of costs. The proposed
project also seeks to evaluate best management practices regarding
flood control, boundary river preservation, and flood plain management,
taking into account the project riparian ecosystem. In addition, the
EIS will study the environmental effects of a long-range maintenance
plan that will be developed.
Coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will
ensure compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and
section 7 of the
[[Page 2442]]
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Cultural resources
reconnaissance for the project area will be coordinated with the Texas
State Historic Preservation Officer. Other federal and state agencies,
as required, will also be consulted to ensure compliance with federal
and state laws and regulations.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, CEQ Regulations, other
appropriate federal regulations, and the USIBWC procedures for
compliance with those regulations. When the EIS is completed, copies
will be transmitted to federal and state agencies and other interested
parties for comments. It will be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency in accordance with 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 and USIBWC
procedures. The USIBWC estimates, pending receipt of funds necessary
for completion, the Draft EIS will be completed within three years of
receipt of those funds.
Dated: January 5, 2000.
William A. Wilcox, Jr.,
Legal Advisor.
[FR Doc. 00-900 Filed 1-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-P
