[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 61344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30062]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Westland Irrigation District Boundary Adjustment, Hermiston, OR
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposed boundary
adjustment to include additional lands into the Westland Irrigation
District. Westland Irrigation District (WID) proposes the addition of
21,100 acres, of which 9,912 acres are currently irrigated, into their
boundaries.
The NEPA process was initiated in late 1993 and, as a result of
comments received then, has been on hold until additional information
was obtained. This notice is to inform the public of the resumption of
the NEPA process and the preparation of an EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Tiedeman, UCA-1607, Upper
Columbia Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 1749, Yakima WA
98907-1749; Telephone (509) 575-5848 extension 238.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WID is one of several districts in the
Umatilla basin either served by federally owned facilities or receiving
federally controlled water. A Federal repayment contract with WID
requires that changes to district boundaries must be approved by the
Secretary of the Interior. During studies undertaken to implement the
Umatilla Basin Project Act, it became apparent that WID was providing
federally supplied water to lands outside of the district boundaries.
In 1993, to address this problem, WID requested that Reclamation allow
a change in their boundaries so that they may provide irrigation water
to lands outside the current boundaries. In the interim Reclamation
entered into a series of annual water service contracts with WID so
irrigation of lands outside of the district boundaries with federally
supplied water could continue while issues surrounding the boundary
expansion were resolved.
Reclamation and the Natural Resources Department of the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) held
public meetings on November 4 and December 17, 1993, to gather comments
from the public concerning the ``Proposed Boundary Changes for
Irrigation Districts in the Umatilla Project, Oregon.'' Key issues
identified in the scoping effort included Umatilla River hydrology and
passage conditions for anadromous fish, Native American trust
resources, and continued viability of irrigated agriculture. Based on
the complex and often controversial nature of the issues involved, the
high level of public and agency interest, and Reclamation's Native
American trust responsibilities, Reclamation concluded that an EIS
should be prepared. Since then, a hydrologic model of the Umatilla
basin, necessary to complete the assessment of the proposed boundary
adjustment, has been developed. Completion of the hydrologic model is
anticipated for February 1998.
Four alternatives are proposed, including the no action
alternative. Under the no action alternative all deliveries of
federally supplied water by WID to lands outside of the current
district boundaries would cease. Under the action alternatives some, or
all, of these deliveries could continue. The draft EIS is expected to
be completed in March of 1999.
At this time, no additional scoping meetings are planned. A summary
of scoping issues identified through previous meetings is available
upon request. Anyone interested in more information concerning the
proposed action or who has information concerning significant
environmental issues, should contact Mr. Tiedeman as provided under the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Dated: October 17, 1997.
John W. Keys, III,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-30062 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M
