[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47042-47043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23804]
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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
United States Section; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the El Paso-Las Cruces Regional
Sustainable Water Project Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, New Mexico and
El Paso County, TX
AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that pursuant to section
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended,
the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission
(USIBWC) in conjunction with the El Paso Water Utilities/Public Service
Board (EPWU/PSB) proposes to gather information necessary to analyze
and evaluate the impacts of the proposed El Paso-Las Cruces Regional
Sustainable Water Project in Sierra and Dona Ana counties, New Mexico
and El Paso County, Texas and prepare an EIS to document those effects.
This notice is being provided as required by the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) and the USIBWC's
Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, published in the Federal Register
September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083-44094) to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues
to be addressed in the EIS. Public meetings and workshops will be held
to obtain community input to ensure all concerns are identified and
addressed in the EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas Echlin, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171
North Mesa Street, C-310, El Paso, Texas 79902 or call 915/832-4150
extension 2. E-mail: dougechlin@ibwc.state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action
One of the most important challenges the El Paso-Las Cruces region
faces is the long-term supply of drinking water. Rapid growth within
the region has resulted in greater use of the local aquifers, a major
regional source of drinking water, which are now experiencing net
depletions. The New Mexico-Texas Water Commission (Commission) was
established in 1991 to help meet the region's water resource
challenges, and the El Paso-Las Cruces Regional Sustainable Water
Project was conceived.
The proposed project's primary mission is to provide a sustainable
water supply for the El Paso-Las Cruces region. The overall objectives
established by the Commission are: (1) improve and protect surface and
ground water quality; (2) preserve the Hueco and Mesilla ground water
basins; (3) implement year-round delivery of surface water which will
enhance agricultural and municipal water supplies and the riverine
ecosystem; (4) increase supplies through more efficient delivery, water
conservation, and water treatment means; and (5) continue to meet
treaty, compact, and contract requirements for water deliveries of Rio
Grande Project waters.
The proposed project would provide nearly 230 million gallons per
day (MGD) year-round surface water to communities and other water users
in southern New Mexico and far west Texas. The communities expected to
benefit from the proposed project would include but are not limited to
Hatch, Las Cruces, and Anthony, New Mexico and Anthony, Canutillo, and
El Paso, Texas. Surface deliveries of year-round waters would be
accomplished through acquisition of agricultural water rights and
conversion to municipal and industrial (M&I) uses. A series of
alternative approaches have been developed that would convey the water
through use of the river channel and include construction of new
conveyance facilities and treatment plants, upgrading and using
existing conveyance facilities and treatment plants, or a combination
of these means.
2. Alternatives
The USIBWC as lead agency in conjunction with the EPWU/PSB proposes
to gather information necessary for the preparation of an EIS to
analyze alternatives for the proposed El Paso-Las Cruces Regional
Sustainable Water Project. The EIS will consider a range of
alternatives, including the no action alternative, based on issues and
concerns associated with the project.
[[Page 47043]]
Significant issues which have been identified to be addressed in the
EIS include but are not limited to impacts to water and air quality,
surface and ground water resources, land use, prime and unique
farmlands, public health, cultural and biological resources, threatened
and endangered species, recreation, and environmental justice.
Accordingly, specific purposes were developed to focus water supply
scenarios and to establish criteria to be used by decision-makers in
judging the alternatives during the NEPA process. Project alternatives
considered for the environmental impact studies should protect and
maintain sustainability of the Mesilla aquifer, and extend the
longevity of the Hueco aquifer by limiting ground water depletions and
by implementing aquifer storage.
Project alternatives should provide year-round drinking water
supply from the Rio Grande Project of sufficient quantity and quality
to meet anticipated municipal needs. Alternatives considered in the
NEPA process should meet year 2030 M&I needs of Hatch, Las Cruces,
northern and southern Dona Ana County, Anthony/Canutillo area,
northwest and northeast El Paso, and areas served by the Canal and
expanded Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plants. They should also
attempt to provide raw drinking water supply with total dissolved
solids (TDS) less than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) and sulfates less
than 300 ppm since water with higher quantities cannot be
conventionally treated. Additionally, project alternatives should also
protect and enhance riverine ecosystems, specifically aquatic and
riparian habitats; and should facilitate the efficient conveyance of
agricultural water and water conservation.
Coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will
ensure compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Cultural
resources reconnaissance for the project area will be coordinated with
both the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer and the Texas
State Historic Preservation Officer. Other federal and state agencies,
as required, will also be consulted to ensure compliance with federal
and state laws and regulations.
3. Scoping Process
The USIBWC and EPWU/PSB will conduct scoping meetings and workshops
to obtain information on which to base alternatives to be analyzed in
the NEPA process. The USIBWC is the federal lead agency in the NEPA
process and development of the EIS. The United States Bureau of
Reclamation and United States Fish and Wildlife Service have indicated
that they will participate as cooperating agencies pursuant to 40 CFR
1501.6, to the extent possible. Other federal and state agencies may
also become cooperators as they are identified during the scoping
process.
Three public scoping meetings and workshops for the proposed
project will be conducted from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. MDT on Wednesday,
September 16, 1998 at the Gadsden Middle School Cafeteria, 1325 West
Washington, Anthony, New Mexico; on Wednesday, September 23, 1998 at
the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las
Cruces, New Mexico; and on Thursday, September 24, 1998 at Jefferson
High School Cafeteria, 4700 Alameda, El Paso, Texas. Comments are
encouraged to be sent to the address given in this notice and will be
accepted for 60-days following the date of this notice.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, CEQ Regulations (40 CFR Parts
1500-1508), other appropriate federal regulations, and the USIBWC
procedures for compliance with those regulations. Copies of the EIS
will be transmitted to federal and state agencies and other interested
parties for comments and will be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency in accordance with 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 and USIBWC
procedures.
The USIBWC anticipates the Draft EIS will be made available to the
public by March, 2000.
Dated: August 20, 1998.
William A. Wilcox, Jr.,
Legal Advisor.
[FR Doc. 98-23804 Filed 9-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-P
