Narrows Project, Utah; Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Narrows Project, Utah; Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public hearings on draft

environmental impact statement DEIS: INT-DES-94-07.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Department of the Interior,

Reclamation, has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)

on the proposed Narrows Project. The DEIS describes and presents the

environmental effects of three alternatives, including no action, for a

multiple-purpose water development project that would provide water for

irrigation and municipal use in north Sanpete County, Utah. A public

hearing will be held, in two sessions, to receive comments from

interested organizations and individuals on the environmental impacts

of the proposal.

DATES: A 60-day public review period commences on February 17, 1994.

The public hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, March 30, 1994, at 7

p.m., in Price, Utah, and Thursday, March 31, 1994, at 7 p.m., in Mt.

Pleasant, Utah.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held at the following locations:

March 30, 1994, at the Carbon County Courthouse, 185 East

Main Street, Price, Utah

March 31, 1994, at the Mt. Pleasant City Office, 115 West

Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, Utah

Addresses for comments, requests to testify, and further

information: Copies of the DEIS may be requested from Reclamation's

Upper Colorado Regional Office at the following address:

Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: UC-

750, 125 South State Street, PO Box 11568, Salt Lake City UT 84147;

telephone: (801) 524-5580

Copies of the DEIS are available for inspection at the address

above and also at the following locations:

Office of the Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation,

Technical Liaison Division, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington DC 20240;

telephone: (202) 208-4054

Denver Office, Bureau of Reclamation, Library, room 167,

Building 67, Denver Federal Center, Denver CO 80225; telephone: (303)

236-6963

Libraries: Copies will also be available for inspection at

libraries in the project vicinity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lee Swenson, Regional Environmental Officer, Upper Colorado Region;

telephone: (801) 524-5580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sanpete Water Conservancy District is

proposing to build a multiple-purpose water development project that

would provide water for irrigation and municipal use. Water from the

project would come from a transmountain diversion from upper Gooseberry

Creek and its tributaries which are located in the Price River

drainage. Irrigation water shortages would be reduced from their

present level of 30 percent to 19 percent.

Three alternatives, including no action, are considered in the

draft statement. The two action alternatives are: (1) Reclamation's

Recommended Plan, and (2) Smaller Reservoir Plan. The Recommended Plan

would provide to north Sanpete County an average annual supply of 4,920

acre-feet of supplemental irrigation water for 15,420 acres of

presently irrigated farmland and 480 acre-feet of water for municipal

use. The service area encompasses about 49,000 acres. The project plan

would include construction of Narrows Dam and Reservoir on Gooseberry

Creek, pipelines to deliver the water to existing water distribution

systems, rehabilitation of the existing Narrows Tunnel, and relocation

of 2.9 miles of State Road 264. The project would also provide

recreation opportunities and fish and wildlife improvements. In

addition to the two action plans and the No Action Plan, the DEIS also

evaluates in less detail the impacts of several nonviable alternatives.

The principal environmental consequences that would result from the

two action plans include: increased crop production, economic stability

and growth, expanded fish and wildlife resources, and recreational

opportunities.

Hearing Process Information

Organizations and individuals wishing to present statements at the

hearing should contact the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado

Region, at the above address, to announce their intention to

participate. Requests for scheduled presentations will be accepted

through 4 p.m. on March 21, 1994.

Oral comments at the hearing will be limited to 10 minutes. The

hearing officer may allow any speaker to provide additional oral

comments after all persons wishing to comment have been heard. Whenever

possible, speakers will be scheduled according to the time preference

mentioned in their letter or telephone requests. Speakers not present

when called will lose their privilege in the scheduled order and will

be recalled at the end of the scheduled speakers.

Written comments from those unable to attend or those wishing to

supplement their oral presentations at the hearing should be received

by Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Office at the above address by

April 11, 1994, for inclusion in the hearing record.

Dated: February 2, 1994.

James O. Malila,

Acting Deputy Commissioner.

[FR Doc. 94-3596 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-94-M