Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Acreage Limitation and Water Conservation Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Acreage

Limitation and Water Conservation Rules and Regulations

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings on the draft environmental impact

statement; INT-DES-95-13.

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SUMMARY: In response to a September 1993 contract for settlement of a

lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, National

Wildlife Federation, California Natural Resources Federation,

California Association of Family Farmers, California Action Network,

League of Rural Voters Inc., and County of Trinity, California; and

pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended,

the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared a draft

environmental impact statement (DEIS) on proposed acreage limitation

and water conservation rules and regulations for implementing the

Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, as amended, throughout the 17 Western

United States. The DEIS was made available to the public on March 27,

1995, and a notice of availability was published in the Federal

Register (60 FR 16662, Mar. 31, 1995). The DEIS is open to a 60-day

review and comment period, which will close on May 31, 1995.

Public hearings will be held to receive comments from interested

organizations and individuals on the environmental impacts of the

proposed rules. During the week prior to the scheduled hearings there

will be several public forums at various locations throughout the

Western States to provide an opportunity for the public to receive

information and clarification concerning the proposed changes to the

rules and regulations. Information regarding these forums will be

provided to affected parties by mail.

DATES: Public hearings on the DEIS will be held on the following dates

at the locations indicated.

May 8, 1995, at 7:00 p.m.

Red Lion Inn (Yakima Valley), 1507 North First Street,

Yakima Washington.

Sheraton Hotel, 27 North 27th Street, Billings, Montana.

May 9, 1995, at 7:00 p.m.

Red Lion Inn Riverside, 2900 Chinden Blvd., Boise, Idaho.

Sheraton Denver West Hotel, 360 Union Blvd, Lakewood,

Colorado.

May 10, 1995, at 7:00 p.m.

Red Lion Hotel, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento,

California.

Hilton Point at South Mountain, 7777 South Point Parkway,

Phoenix, Arizona.

May 11, 1995, at 7:00 p.m.

Hilton Hotel, 150 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Holiday Inn (Airport), 5090 East Clinton, Fresno,

California.

ADDRESSES: Written comments for inclusion in the official record should

be received at the Bureau of Reclamation by May 31, 1995. Comments

should be addressed to: Mr. Ronald J. Schuster (D-5010), Westwide

Settlement Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, Denver CO

80225.

A dedicated toll-free telephone line has been established at 1-800-

861-5443 through May 31, 1995 to accommodate oral comments from those

not attending a public hearing. Comments will be recorded on tape and

transcribed by a court reporter, and will be part of the official

record. Statements are limited to 10 minutes and must include the

commentor's name in order to be included in the official record.

Address and affiliation are optional.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An identical notice is published in this

Federal Register regarding public hearings on the proposed rules and

regulations implementing the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982.

Ground rules for the hearings are presented below:

--While each hearing is in session, all comments will be recorded by a

court reporter.

--Speakers should identify themselves and any organization that they

represent.

--Statements will be limited to 10 minutes, and speakers will not be

allowed to trade time to obtain longer presentations. The hearings

officer may allow any speaker additional time after all scheduled

speakers have been heard. The hearing officer may also shorten the 10

minute limit if the number of speakers is too large to fit within a

reasonable time frame.

--No one will be recognized to speak other than those parties who are

presenting statements.

--To ensure a complete and accurate record, it will be necessary that

only one person speak at a time.

--Persons presenting views will not be sworn in or otherwise placed

under oath.

--There will be no examination or interrogation of speakers.

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--There will be no response by the hearing officer or other Bureau of

Reclamation staff on speaker comments.

--Due to the shortness of available time, speakers are encouraged to

summarize their comments as much as possible and give the court

reporter a copy of their full statement which will be added to the

official record.

--Speakers will be scheduled according to the order in which they sign

up. Any speaker not present when called will lose his or her turn in

the scheduled order, but will be given an opportunity to speak at the

end of the scheduled presentations.

--After the scheduled speakers have been heard, each individual who

wishes to speak will be afforded that opportunity.

--People are asked to refrain from clapping or other actions that might

interfere with the speakers or hearing.

Dated: April 18, 1995.

Wayne O. Deason,

Assistant Director, Program Analysis Office.

[FR Doc. 95-10010 Filed 4-21-95; 8:45 am]

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