[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24993]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[FES 96-48]
Southern Nevada Water Authority Treatment and Transmission
Facility, Clark County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability on the final 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) and the
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have prepared a final
environmental impact statement (FEIS) on a new water treatment and
transmission facility proposed by SNWA. The SNWA proposes to construct
and operate a system of regional water supply facilities known as the
Treatment and Transmission Facility (TTF). The new TTF would be used in
conjunction with the existing Southern Nevada Water System to treat
Colorado River water and transmit it to the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are available for public review at the
following locations:
Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Liaison,
1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240, telephone: (202) 208-6269.
Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Director, Lower Colorado
Regional Office, Attn: EIS Lead, LC-2206 Mead Building, P.O. Box 61470,
Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, telephone: (702) 293-8519.
Southern Nevada Water Authority, Attn: EIS Manager, 1850
East Flamingo Road, Suite 234, Las Vegas, NV 89119, telephone: (702)
862-3446.
Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas District, Attn:
Environmental Coordinator, 4765 Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89108,
telephone: (702) 647-5097.
National Park Service, Lake Mead Recreation Area, Attn:
EIS Coordinator, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005, telephone:
(702) 239-8935.
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Attn: EIS
Coordinator, 300 Booth St., Reno, NV 89509, telephone: (702) 784-5304.
Libraries: Copies will also be available for review at
public libraries located in Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, and
North Las Vegas, NV.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Green, LC-2206, Bureau of
Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Office, Environmental Compliance
Group, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, telephone: (702)
293-8519.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS addresses the impacts of a new TTF
to withdraw existing State of Nevada allocation of Colorado River water
from Lake Mead, treat it, and convey it to the Las Vegas Valley,
Nevada. Three critical issues are related to water-facility
infrastructure in the Las Vegas Valley: (1) The Valley is dependent on
a single water treatment and delivery facility, the existing Southern
Nevada Water System (SNWS), for 85 percent of its water supply; (2) the
capacity of the existing facilities which deliver Colorado River water,
including those of the expanded SNWS, will be insufficient to meet
projected peak daily water demands by the year 1999; and (3) the
existing water facility infrastructure cannot provide full access to
SNWA's Colorado River water entitlement and the entitlements of its
purveyor members under the current typical pattern of seasonal water
demand. With these considerations in mind, the SNWA conceived the TTF
as a supplemental facility to treat and transmit Colorado River water
to the Valley.
The proposed TTF would be comprised of three main components: a new
untreated water intake; new transmission facilities including
belowground pipelines, tunnels, and aboveground booster pumping
stations; and a water treatment facility. Six alternatives, including
no action, are analyzed in the FEIS. Five action alternatives analyze
varying combinations of these main components. The preferred
alternative comprises an intake at Saddle Island, use of the existing
River Mountains tunnel, and a treatment facility on the western slope
of the River Mountains. Additional water transmission and storage
facilities would be constructed in Las Vegas Valley. The TTF has been
developed as a reliable and demand-responsive system that will
supplement and function integrally with the existing SNWS. The TTF
would be locally financed, and does not involve any Federal funding for
construction, operation or maintenance. The TTF would follow a
community endorsed phasing plan under which facilities are constructed
only as needed.
Federal actions required for the proposed action would be the
issuance of permits, rights-of-way, and modification of existing water
delivery/service contracts. These actions would allow the SNWA to
construct new facilities on Federal lands adjacent to Lake Mead,
withdraw existing State of Nevada Allocation of Colorado River water
from Lake Mead and convey it to the Las Vegas Valley.
The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued on
November 8, 1995. Responses to comments received from interested
organizations and individuals on the DEIS during the 90-day comment
period are addressed in the FEIS. No decision will be made on the
proposed action until 30 days after release of the FEIS. After the 30-
day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision
(ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented and will
discuss all factors leading to the decision.
Dated: September 20, 1996.
William E. Rinne,
Director, Resource Management and Technical Services.
[FR Doc. 96-24993 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P
