[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5754]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Provo
River Restoration Project
AGENCIES: The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission
(Mitigation Commission).
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision (ROD).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On February 23, 1998, Don A. Christiansen, Chairman of the
Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission signed the
Record of Decision (ROD) which documents the selection of the Proposed
Action (the Riverine Habitat Restoration Alternative) as presented in
the Provo River Restoration Project (PRRP) Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS), MC FES 97-01, filed December 23, 1997. The Mitigation
Commission and the Department of the Interior served as joint lead
agencies in the preparation of the PRRP FEIS. The Proposed Action and
three alternatives are described and evaluated in the FEIS upon which
the ROD is based. Implementation of the Proposed Action responds to the
Mitigation Commission's and the Department of the Interior's need to
mitigate for impacts of the Bonneville Unit of the Central Utah Project
and other federal reclamation projects and to restore and improve fish
and riparian habitats in the Provo River. The Proposed Action will
accomplish this by making modifications to the shape, slope and
alignment of the Provo River between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek
Reservoir (Project Area). The objective of the modifications is to
create a more naturally functioning river system, and thereby enhance
biological productivity and diversity of the fish habitat, riparian,
and other environmental resources in the river corridor. Public access
would be provided to the restored and enhanced fishery and natural
area.
The Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Department of the
Interior, will issue a separate ROD for the PRRP. The Assistant
Secretary's separate decision is necessitated by the responsibility and
authority of the Department of the Interior to mitigate for reclamation
projects and because of the use of federal lands and interests in lands
administered by the Bureau of Reclamation within the Project Area for
the PRRP.
The Mitigation Commission selected the Proposed Action because it
most thoroughly and effectively meets the need to restore and improve
fish and riparian habitats in the Provo River as mitigation for the CUP
and the Provo River Project. The Proposed Action meets mitigation
requirements established by the Bureau of Reclamation's 1987 Final
Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement for the Municipal and
Industrial System of the Bonneville Unit (INT FES 87-8); by the 1988
Supplement to the Definite Plan Report for the Bonneville Unit; by the
1988 Aquatic Mitigation Plan for the Strawberry Aqueduct and Collection
System of the Bonneville Unit of CUP; and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's report on the PRRP which identified mitigation needs for the
Provo River Project.
The Proposed Action will accomplish these measures by increasing
the length of the Provo River by 19 percent and improving the quality
of the associated fish, wildlife and riparian habitat by restoring a
meandering channel pattern and floodplain. Trout biomass is expected to
increase by 481 percent over baseline. The Proposed Action would
restore 237 acres of riparian habitats, thereby meeting the need for
riparian habitat mitigation for impacts of the Jordanelle Reservoir
component of the Municipal and Industrial System of the Bonneville Unit
of CUP. Of principal significance, the Proposed Action not only meets
the legal mitigation obligations of the PRRP, but is the alternative
that most thoroughly meets the Mitigation Commission's ecosystem
restoration standard established by the Central Utah Project Completion
Act (Public Law 102-575) in 1992.
During preparation of the FEIS, the Mitigation Commission consulted
formally on listed species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) under Sec. 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. sections
1531 to 1544, as amended). In a letter dated December 10, 1997, the FWS
indicated that the Proposed Action Alternative selected by this ROD is
not likely to adversely affect listed or proposed species or designated
or proposed critical habitats. The Mitigation Commission and the
Department of the Interior will continue to consult with FWS prior to
and during construction to avoid actions that may affect proposed or
listed species or their proposed or designated critical habitats.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Additional information on matters related to
this Federal Register notice can be obtained at the address and
telephone number set forth below:
Mr. Mark Holden, Projects Manager, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and
Conservation Commission, 102 West 500 South, Suite 315, Salt Lake City,
UT 84601, Telephone: (801) 524-3146.
Dated: February 24, 1998.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation
Commission.
[FR Doc. 98-5754 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P
