[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 55137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27483]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science; Central
Utah Project Completion Act; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Final
Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Diamond
Fork System, Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project
AGENCIES: Department of the Interior (Department), Utah Reclamation
Mitigation and Conservation Commission (Mitigation Commission), and
Central Utah Water Conservancy District (District) are the joint-lead
agencies.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Final Supplement to the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Diamond Fork System,
Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Department, Mitigation
Commission, and the District are preparing a Final Supplement to the
Diamond Fork System Final EIS of the Bonneville Unit, Central Utah
Project.
In accordance with NEPA, the Spanish Fork Canyon--Nephi Irrigation
System (SFN) Draft EIS, which also included a ``Diamond Fork Tunnel
Alternative'' as part of the Diamond Fork System, was filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and released for public review on
March 31, 1998. Twenty-six comment letters were received during the
comment period, which ended June 15, 1998; and 58 oral comments were
given during two public hearings. Because of significant issues raised
in the comment letters from the Strawberry Water Users Association, the
State of Utah, and EPA regarding the SFN System (i.e. the purpose and
need for the SFN System and water quality issues in Utah Lake) planning
on the SFN System was discontinued. The joint-lead agencies have
decided to proceed with a final supplement to the Diamond Fork Final
EIS based on the following facts: (1) the serious issues raised during
the SFN NEPA process are directly tied to the SFN System and do not
materially affect the Diamond Fork Tunnel Alternative; (2) the
resolution of these issues appears to be of such a magnitude that a
significant delay in proceeding with a combined NEPA compliance
document (for SFN and Diamond Fork) would be expected; and (3) the
Diamond Fork System is necessary and common to any plan for additional
use of Bonneville Unit water stored in Strawberry Reservoir and
utilized along the Wasatch Front. A Final Supplement to the Diamond
Fork Final EIS will be prepared and is expected to be filed with EPA in
early 1999.
This action complies with the Department Manual (516 DM 4.5B) which
states that ``a bureau and/or the appropriate program Assistant
Secretary will consult with the Office of Environmental Project Review
and the Office of the Solicitor prior to proposing to CEQ to prepare a
final supplement without preparing an intervening draft.'' Meetings
were held with Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, Office of
the Solicitor, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which
resulted in their approval of the preparation of the Final Supplement
to the Diamond Fork System Final EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information on matters
related to this Federal Register notice can be obtained at the address
and telephone number set forth below: Mr. Reed R. Murray, Program
Coordinator, CUP Completion Act Office, Department of the Interior, 302
East 1860 South, Provo, UT 84606-6154, Telephone: (801) 379-1237, E-
Mail address: rmurray@uc.usbr.gov
Dated: October 7, 1998.
Ronald Johnston,
CUP Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 98-27483 Filed 10-13-98; 8:45 am]
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