[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19350]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 9, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
All-American Canal Lining Project, Imperial County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Record of Decision.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this action is to provide notice of the
availability of the Record of Decision regarding implementation of the
All-American Canal Lining Project (Project) located in Imperial County,
California. The Project was authorized by Congress in Title II of Pub.
L. 100-675, which provides for non-Federal funding of the Project along
part of the existing unlined All-American Canal which is under Federal
ownership.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should request copies of the Record of
Decision from William E. Rinne, Regional Environmental Officer, Lower
Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City,
Nevada 89006-1470.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Redlinger at 702-293-8592.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Four action alternatives were developed in
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and
documented in the final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR), All-American Canal Lining Project, Imperial
County, California, March 1994 (FEIS Number INT-94-9), which was filed
with the Environmental Protection Agency on April 14, 1994, and noticed
in the Federal Register 59 FR 18573, Apr. 19, 1994.
The four action alternatives, which include mitigation measures to
compensate for potential impacts on fish and wildlife habitat and the
No Action Alternative were evaluated in the April 1994, EIS/EIR. The
alternatives include:
1. The Parallel Canal Alternative which consists of constructing a
new concrete-lined canal parallel to 23 miles of the earthen All-
American Canal, beginning approximately 1.6 miles downstream of Pilot
Knob and ending at Drop 3. The Parallel Canal Alternative is cited as
the preferred alternative in the final EIS/EIR.
2. The Drop 3 Alternative which consists of constructing an in-
place underwater lining from Pilot Knob to Drop 3.
3. The Drop 4 Alternative which consists of constructing an in-
place underwater lining from Pilot Knob to Drop 4.
4. The Well Field Alternative which consists of drilling wells and
pumping water back into the existing canal between Pilot Knob and Drop
2. The Well Field Alternative is the environmentally preferred
alternative.
5. The No Action Alternative which consists of allowing the canal
to remain unlined and the current seepage loss to continue.
The Parallel Canal Alternative was selected from among the canal
lining alternatives because it had the lowest construction cost
estimate, used a well established construction method, and would have
the shortest construction period. This alternative avoids disturbance
of the 1,430 acre wetland complex between Drop 3 and Drop 4, and
disturbance of cultural resources in the Pilot Knob Area of Critical
Environmental Concern. While construction of a parallel canal could
potentially cause significant impacts to the environment, measures that
avoid, minimize, or compensate for such environmental impacts, are
included with this alternative, as described in the EIS/EIR.
The decision is to construct the parallel canal, with associated
mitigation measures. All environmental issues identified in the EIS/EIR
have been addressed.
Execution of the Record of Decision completed the NEPA process. The
final EIS/EIR was prepared in response to the environmental disclosure
regulations of the Federal Government and the State of California.
Dated: August 3, 1994.
Lawrence F. Hancock,
Regional Director, Lower Colorado Region.
[FR Doc. 94-19350 Filed 8-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P
