White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, AZ; Environmental Impact Statement; Notice DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is issuing this notice to

advise the public that it intends to gather information necessary for

the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the

construction of a proposed water development project on the White

Mountain Apache Indian Reservation in Navajo County located in east

central Arizona. The BIA originally published a Notice of Intent in the

November 30, 1987, Federal Register and held public scoping meetings on

December 15, 1987, in Whiteriver, Arizona and December 16, 1987, in

Phoenix, Arizona. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

compliance process has been held in abeyance since that time to allow

for additional planning and information gathering. It is now determined

that it is appropriate to resume that process.

This notice is being furnished as required by the NEPA regulations

(40 CFR 1501.7) to obtain suggestions and information from other

agencies and the public on the scope of the issues to be addressed in

the EIS. Comments and participation in this scooping process are

solicited.

DATES: Written comments should be received by March 30, 1994. Scoping

meetings to identify issues and alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS

will be held on March 30, 1994, at the White Mountain Apache Tribal

Headquarters, Hwy 73, Whiteriver, Arizona at 7 p.m. The second scoping

meeting is scheduled for March 31, 1994, at the Holiday Inn Crown

Plaza, Adams and Central Avenue (downtown), Phoenix, Arizona at 7 p.m.

Oral and written comments along with participation by the public in the

scoping process is encouraged and should be directed to the addresses

provided below.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Walter Mills, Phoenix

Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, Arizona

85001 and/or Mr. Ben Nuvamsa, Superintendent, Bureau of Indian Affairs,

Fort Apache Agency, P.O. Box 560, Whiteriver, Arizona 85941.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy L. Heuslein, Environmental

Protection Officer, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix Area Office,

Environmental Quality Services, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, Arizona 85001,

Telephone (602) 379-6750 or Mr. Dennis Jones, Land Operations Officer,

BIA Fort Apache Agency, P.O. Box 560, Whiteriver, Arizona 85941,

Telephone (602) 338-5378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Indian Affairs in cooperation

with the White Mountain Apache Tribe will prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement on a proposed water development project located on the

Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. The proposed action involves

the construction and operation of the proposed Miner Flat Dam Project

and associated facilities on the White River in the Salt River Drainage

system. Alternative structures and locations will be analyzed. The need

for the proposed project is to expand an irrigation system for

agriculture development, recreational benefits and hydropower

production for residential, community, and industrial purposes on the

reservation.

Significant issues to be addressed during the scoping process

include: Biotic (threatened and endangered species); archeological,

cultural and historical sites; socioeconomic conditions; visual and

land use; resource use patterns; air and water quality. Potential

environmental impacts that may result from the proposal are: Cultural,

biological and water resources.

This notice is published pursuant to Sec. 1501.7 of the Council of

Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) implementing

the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et. seq.) and the Department of the

Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6).

Dated: March 3, 1994.

Ada E. Deer,

Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 94-5484 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]

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