# Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement Project > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-17348 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** July 1, 1997 - **Citation:** 62 FR 35520 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO-070-5101-CO12] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement Project AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement Project. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Grand Junction Resource Area office, Grand Junction District, had an Environmental Impact Statement prepared to address impacts of the Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement project proposed by the Ute Water Conservancy District (Ute Water). The project is a raw water conveyance system proposed on private and public lands in Mesa County, Colorado to replace a deteriorated and under sized pipeline currently approved under BLM ROW grant C 081282. Copies of the EIS and the Technical Memoranda will be available at the Mesa County Public Library in Grand Junction, Colorado, at the Grand Junction Resource Area, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 at the BLM, Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215 and at the Ute Water Conservancy District, 560 25 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado. DATES: Written comments will be accepted until 4:00 PM, MST, on August 29, 1997. A public meeting will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on August 12, 1997, at the Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, Colorado. ADDRESS: Comments should be sent to the Grand Junction Area Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506, ATTN: Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement Project. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stevens, (970) 244-3009. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The existing Plateau Creek Pipeline is an essential part of the Ute Water system which provides water to more than 60,000 Grand Valley residents. The Ute Water service area includes most of the Grand Valley area surrounding the City of Grand Junction, Colorado, and extends from east of the Town of Palisade to within 5 miles of the Colorado-Utah stateline. Ute Water is a political subdivision of the State of Colorado formed under the Water Conservancy Act of 1937, and is considered to be a quasi-municipal entity. In order for Ute Water to meet its commitment of providing a reliable, cost effective, high quality water source, replacement of the pipeline is necessary. Water is conveyed via a 24-inch-diameter pipeline approximately 14 miles along Plateau Creek Canyon and adjacent to Interstate Highway 70 to Ute Water's treatment plant located on Rapid Creek, near the Town of Palisade. As of 1994, the pipeline was no longer able to provide an adequate flow rate to meet the peak day customer demands. The pipeline is presently subject to frequent breaks due to deteriorated pipe condition, and is unreliable due to its location within geologic hazards and stream erosion areas. The Bureau of Land Management and Ute Water had performed scoping to: (1) identify interested stakeholders and agencies, (2) define key issues, and (3) identify initial project alternatives for preparation of an Environmental Assessment. The initial filing of the Notice of Intent was on March 14, 1995. On the basis of subsequent information and comments provided to the BLM it was determined that issues and concerns would best be analyzed in an EIS. During the initial scoping, 16 alternatives were developed. These include seven alternatives along the Plateau Creek corridor, three different alternatives involving use of water from nearby utilities, a Colorado River pump station alternative, two alternatives for supplying water from the Kannah Creek watershed, two alternatives for supplying water from the Whitewater Creek watershed, and a No Action alternative. Groundwater alternatives and conservation actions are also addressed in the EIS. Four of the [[Page 35521]] initially considered alternatives, selected on the basis of screening criteria described in Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. These are: Alternative A--Replacement of the pipeline in a modified alignment parallel to Plateau Creek such that impacts to all resources are minimized. Alternative B--Replacement of the pipeline parallel to Plateau Creek mainly within the existing state highway 65 and 330 rights-of- way. Alternative C--Replacement of the pipeline in either alignment A with a smaller pipeline. This alternative includes provisions for construction of a booster pump station at the mouth of Plateau Canyon to be built at a future date to meet long-term demands. Alternative D--A ``no federal action'' alternative (Denial of the proposed action or reasonable alternatives). Major issues identified during the scoping include: (1) wetlands and riparian areas, (2) threatened and endangered species, (3) Prime and Unique Farmlands, (4) water depletion issues, and (5) impacts to State Highway 65. Mark T. Morse, District Manager [FR Doc. 97-17348 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-17348. Public record. Not legal advice.