[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5484]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 10, 1994]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of the Interior
_______________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Indian Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, AZ; Environmental Impact
Statement; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, AZ; Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is issuing this notice to
advise the public that it intends to gather information necessary for
the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
construction of a proposed water development project on the White
Mountain Apache Indian Reservation in Navajo County located in east
central Arizona. The BIA originally published a Notice of Intent in the
November 30, 1987, Federal Register and held public scoping meetings on
December 15, 1987, in Whiteriver, Arizona and December 16, 1987, in
Phoenix, Arizona. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
compliance process has been held in abeyance since that time to allow
for additional planning and information gathering. It is now determined
that it is appropriate to resume that process.
This notice is being furnished as required by the NEPA regulations
(40 CFR 1501.7) to obtain suggestions and information from other
agencies and the public on the scope of the issues to be addressed in
the EIS. Comments and participation in this scooping process are
solicited.
DATES: Written comments should be received by March 30, 1994. Scoping
meetings to identify issues and alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS
will be held on March 30, 1994, at the White Mountain Apache Tribal
Headquarters, Hwy 73, Whiteriver, Arizona at 7 p.m. The second scoping
meeting is scheduled for March 31, 1994, at the Holiday Inn Crown
Plaza, Adams and Central Avenue (downtown), Phoenix, Arizona at 7 p.m.
Oral and written comments along with participation by the public in the
scoping process is encouraged and should be directed to the addresses
provided below.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Walter Mills, Phoenix
Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, Arizona
85001 and/or Mr. Ben Nuvamsa, Superintendent, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Fort Apache Agency, P.O. Box 560, Whiteriver, Arizona 85941.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy L. Heuslein, Environmental
Protection Officer, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix Area Office,
Environmental Quality Services, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, Arizona 85001,
Telephone (602) 379-6750 or Mr. Dennis Jones, Land Operations Officer,
BIA Fort Apache Agency, P.O. Box 560, Whiteriver, Arizona 85941,
Telephone (602) 338-5378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Indian Affairs in cooperation
with the White Mountain Apache Tribe will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement on a proposed water development project located on the
Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. The proposed action involves
the construction and operation of the proposed Miner Flat Dam Project
and associated facilities on the White River in the Salt River Drainage
system. Alternative structures and locations will be analyzed. The need
for the proposed project is to expand an irrigation system for
agriculture development, recreational benefits and hydropower
production for residential, community, and industrial purposes on the
reservation.
Significant issues to be addressed during the scoping process
include: Biotic (threatened and endangered species); archeological,
cultural and historical sites; socioeconomic conditions; visual and
land use; resource use patterns; air and water quality. Potential
environmental impacts that may result from the proposal are: Cultural,
biological and water resources.
This notice is published pursuant to Sec. 1501.7 of the Council of
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) implementing
the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et. seq.) and the Department of the
Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6).
Dated: March 3, 1994.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-5484 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P
