Option and Lease Agreement Among the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the United States, and Del Webb Corporation, Maricopa County, AZ

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Option and Lease Agreement Among the Ak-Chin Indian Community,

the United States, and Del Webb Corporation, Maricopa County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to prepare an environmental assessment and notice of

public scoping meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of

1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's

Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, the

Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare a draft

environmental assessment (EA) for approval of the provision of leased

settlement water under an option and lease agreement among the Ak-Chin

Indian Community, the United States, and the Del Webb Corporation.

Reclamation is initiating early scoping for the proposed EA and will be

conducting a scoping meeting. Reclamation intends that this scoping

meeting be used to serve as public scoping for preparation of an

environmental impact statement (EIS), should it be determined that one

is required.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Mr. Bruce D. Ellis, Chief,

Environmental Resource Management Division, Phoenix Area Office, Bureau

of Reclamation, P.O. Box 9980, Phoenix, AZ 85068-0980. The scoping

meeting will be held at New River Elementary School, 48827 North Black

Canyon Highway, New River, AZ.

DATES: The scoping meeting to solicit comments on the contents of the

EA will be November 2, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. To ensure consideration in

the environmental analysis, the comments should be received by Mr.

Ellis no later than November 9, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Eto, Environmental Resource

Management Division, Phoenix Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O.

Box 9980, Phoenix, Arizona 85068-0980; telephone (602) 870-6771.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ak-Chin Indian Community has agreed to

lease between 6,000 and 10,000 acre-feet per year of water to the Del

Webb Corporation (Del Webb). Del Webb plans to construct a 9-mile long

water delivery pipeline from Waddell Canal to Villages at Desert Hills

(Villages) project, a proposed 5,661-acre future master planned

community. The location of Villages is approximately 3 miles north of

Carefree Highway and 7 miles east of Lake Pleasant on Interstate 17 in

Maricopa County, Arizona.

Reclamation approved categorical exclusion No. PXAO-95-9 in

December of 1994 for the Option and Lease Agreement Among the Ak-Chin

Indian Community, the United States, and Del Webb Corporation according

to Exclusion Category 9.4.D.14. The Categorical Exclusion indicated,

however, that ``[t]he environmental impacts which will result from the

Secretary's approval of the option and lease agreement are not clear at

this time since Del Webb has not yet finalized its plans for taking and

using the leased settlement water.'' Del Webb has developed its plans

for taking and using the leased settlement water. Reclamation has

determined an EA should be prepared to determine whether a Finding of

No Significant Impact is appropriate or if an EIS needs to be prepared.

The EA will describe the environmental consequences that would

result from the delivery of leased settlement water. Reclamation plans

to focus on impacts associated with construction of a water delivery

pipeline and treatment plant. The EA will evaluate in detail the

proposed action and will discuss alternative pipeline alignments that

were considered but rejected from detailed consideration. Key issues to

be addressed in the EA will include:

Biological resource effects, including loss of desert

habitat, impacts on plant and wildlife species, and special status

species effects;

Historic and prehistoric cultural resource effects;

Hydrology, water quality and soils effects;

Air quality and noise effects;

Traffic and circulation effects; and

Land use and aesthetic effects.

The EA will also evaluate indirect effects of the proposed action.

In addition, the EA will include a No-Action Alternative. The No-Action

Alternative represents the conditions that are assumed to exist in the

absence of the Federal action, and provides a basis for comparison with

the proposed action. Del Webb has identified alternative water supply

options that could be used in the absence of the leased settlement

water. Based on this information, Reclamation assumes development of

the Villages project will occur in the absence of the proposed action.

Reclamation is circulating this notice for preparation of an EA and

early scoping because of considerable public interest and the need to

ensure that all

[[Page 53757]]

relevant issues are evaluated in the EA. Reclamation will consult with

other Federal, State, and local agencies with specific expertise

regarding environmental impacts related to the project. If you would

like to be placed on a mailing list for any subsequent information,

please write or telephone Ms. Eto.

If an EIS is later required, Reclamation will submit a Notice of

Intent to prepare an EIS and will provide opportunity for the public to

submit written comments suggesting impacts and alternatives that should

be addressed in the EIS.

Dated: October 8, 1996.

Larry D. Morton,

Assistant Area Manager.

[FR Doc. 96-26297 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-94-P