[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 54349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25964]
[[Page 54349]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Assistant Secretary Water and Science
Central Utah Project Completion Act; Notice of Availability of
the Record of Decision on the Diamond Fork System Final Supplement to
the Final Environmental Impact Statement Documenting the Department of
Interior's Approval for the Central Utah Water Conservancy District To
Proceed With the Construction of the Proposed Action Alternative
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision on the Diamond
Fork System Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact
Statement.
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SUMMARY: On September 29, 1999, Mark Schaefer, Deputy Assistant
Secretary--Water and Science, Department of the Interior (Interior),
signed the Record of Decision (ROD) which documents the selection of
the Proposed Action Alternative as presented in the Diamond Fork System
Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FS-FEIS),
INT FES 99-25, filed July 1, 1999. The ROD also approves the Central
Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) proceeding with construction of
the Diamond Fork System, in accordance with statutory and contractual
obligations. The following features will be constructed as part of the
Proposed Action: (1) Sixth Water Connection, (2) Tanner Ridge Tunnel,
(3) Diamond Fork Siphon, (4) Red Mountain Tunnel, (5) Red Hollow
Pipeline, (6) Diamond Fork Creek Outlet, (7) Spanish Fork River Outlet,
and (8) possible modifications to Spanish Fork River diversion dams.
The ROD acknowledged that value engineering studies would be conducted
that could result in minor modifications to the physical facilities to
further reduce environmental impacts and reduce construction costs.
The Proposed Action specifically fulfills project needs to: (1)
Maintain the statutorily mandated minimum flows in Sixth Water Creek
and Diamond Fork Creek; (2) implement Interior's environmental
commitments on the Diamond Fork Pipeline from the 1995 ROD, which
includes but is not limited to removing high flows brought over from
Strawberry Reservoir into the Sixth Water and Diamond Fork creek
drainages; (3) meet the CUWCD's M&I water contractual commitments to
Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch Counties, by conveying Bonneville Unit
water to Utah Lake for exchange to Jordanelle Reservoir; and (4)
provide the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission
(Mitigation Commission) the opportunity and flexibility for future
restoration of aquatic and riparian habitat in Sixth Water and Diamond
Fork Creeks to protect water quality and threatened species in Diamond
Fork Creek.
The FS-FEIS for the Diamond Fork System, considered alternatives to
complete the Diamond Fork System as mandated in section 302(a)(6) of
the Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA). Interior, the
Mitigation Commission, and CUWCD served as the Joint Lead Agencies in
the preparation of the NEPA compliance documents.
During preparation of the FEIS, CUWCD consulted formally on listed
species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Sec. 7 of
the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C.A. sections 1531 to 1544, as
amended). A draft Biological Opinion was issued which evaluated project
impacts on the June sucker and Ute ladies' tress. The Opinion concluded
the Proposed Action would not affect the bald eagle or peregrine
falcon. The Biological Opinion also included a list of recommendations
which if agreed to and implemented by the Joint-Lead Agencies, will
result in a non-jeopardy Biological Opinion. The Joint-Lead Agencies
have included these recommendations as environmental commitments in the
ROD. A final Biological Opinion was issued by the USFWS on August 24,
1999.
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 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: rmurray@uc.usbr.gov.
Dated: September 30, 1999.
Ronald Johnston,
Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-25964 Filed 10-5-99; 8:45 am]
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