Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the final Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) for water rights acquisition for the Lahontan

Valley Wetlands, Churchill County, Nevada, is available for public

review. Five alternatives are being considered, including the Proposed

Action. This notice is being furnished pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

DATES: A Record of Decision will be issued no sooner than 30 days

following the publication of the Notice of Availability of the final

EIS filed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final EIS may be inspected at the following

locations:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuges and Wildlife,

Eastside Federal Complex, Third Floor, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland,

OR 97232

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, 1000 Auction Road, Fallon, NV

89406

Churchill County Public Library, 553 South Maine St., Fallon, NV 89406

Nevada State Library and Archives, Reference Desk, 1000 Stewart Street,

Carson City, NV 89701

Washoe County Public Library, Reno Branch, 301 S. Center Street, Reno,

NV 89501

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Refuge Manager, Stillwater National

Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 1236, Fallon, NV 89407, (702) 423-5128.

Individuals desiring a copy of the final EIS should contact the

above address. Copies have been sent to all agencies and individuals

who participated in the scoping process and were added to the mailing

list, and to those people that requested to be added to the mailing

list.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act (Public

Law 101-618) directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire enough

water and water rights to sustain, on a long-term average,

approximately 25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat in the Lahontan

Valley. Primary wetland habitat refers to wetland habitat within

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Stillwater Wildlife Management

Area, Carson Lake and Pasture, and Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Indian

Reservation wetlands. It was determined that up to 125,000 acre-feet

(AF) of water will be needed each year to sustain a long-term average

of 25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat. Consequently, the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service (Service) developed and analyzed four

alternatives, including the Proposed Action, for securing up to 125,000

acre-feet (AF) of water for Lahontan Valley wetlands. A No Action

Alternative was also developed and analyzed. The purpose of the final

EIS is to analyze the potential consequences of the five alternatives

being considered.

A draft EIS describing and evaluating the alternatives was released

in July 1995, followed by a 90-day public comment period. The Service

reviewed, carefully considered, and responded to all comments received

on the draft EIS. The document was revised based on comments received

and on necessary factual corrections and editorial changes.

The five alternatives are: (1) No Action Alternative, which

includes the acquisition of 20,000 AF of water rights from within the

Carson Division of the Newlands Project; (2) Proposed Action, which

proposes the purchase of up to 122,000 AF of water rights; (3) Least

Cost Alternative, which would result in the purchase of up to 100,000

AF of water rights; (4) Maximum Acquisition Alternative, which would

result in up to 133,500 AF being purchased; and (5) the Service's

Preferred Alternative, which would result in (a) the acquisition of up

to 75,000 AF of water rights in the Carson Division, (b) leasing of

water, (c) acquisition of water rights from the Middle Carson River

corridor, (d) use of conserved U.S. Navy water as available, and (e)

pumping of groundwater. Alternatives 2-5 each include the acquisition

of 20,000 AF under the No Action Alternative.

Under the Preferred Alternative, the Service would acquire

sufficient water and water rights to provide a total annual average of

125,000 AF of inflow to primary wetland areas to achieve the objective

of sustaining 25,000 acres of primary wetland habitat in the Lahontan

Valley. The amount acquired by the Service would supplement available

drainwater, spills, water being acquired by the Service under earlier

authorizations, and water being acquired by the State of Nevada for

primary wetland areas.

To meet the needed 125,000 AF of annual average wetland inflow, the

Service would, under the Preferred Alternative, acquire up to 75,000 AF

of water rights (including the ongoing 20,000 AF acquisition program).

This would amount to about 40 percent of the water rights in the Carson

Division of the Newlands Irrigation Project (Newlands Project). Because

the Service would exercise a use-rate of 2.99 AF/acre for the

agricultural water rights acquired (which have 3.5 and 4.5 AF/acre/year

entitlements), the wetlands would receive an annual average of about

62,000 AF from this source of water. Under this alternative, it is

expected that about 19,700 AF of agricultural drainflows and about

9,700 AF of Lahontan Reservoir spill-water would reach the primary

wetland areas on average over the long term. A combination of other

methods (e.g., leasing) and other sources would be used, under the

Preferred Alternative, to meet the 125,000 AF/year demand for wetland

protection. These sources would contribute an average of about 33,600

AF/year to the wetland demand.

Purchase of water rights would be from willing sellers only. In

addition to purchase and leasing of water rights, donations and

exchange of water rights would be utilized as opportunities arise.

[[Page 52054]]

The final EIS evaluates the Preferred Alternative and other

alternatives relative to their potential effects on: (1) Newlands

Project operations and infrastructure; (2) water resources; (3)

biological resources; (4) regional agriculture, farmlands, and the

local economy; (5) regional recreation; (6) land use; (7) social

values; (8) Indian trust assets; and (9) cultural resources. Estimated

acquisition costs are also disclosed.

Dated: September 24, 1996.

John H. Doebel,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 96-25166 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M