# Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-31681

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Notice
- **Published:** December 7, 1999
- **Citation:** 64 FR 68373

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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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
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (``Reclamation''),
proposes to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (``EIS'') for
development of interim implementing criteria pursuant to Article III
(3) of the Long-Range Operating Criteria that will be used by the
Secretary of the Interior (``Secretary'') to determine surplus
conditions for management of the Colorado River.
Reclamation previously published Federal Register notices on
Tuesday, May 18, 1999 (64 FR 27008) and Friday May 28, 1999 (64 FR
29068) announcing its intention to consider the development of specific
criteria that will identify those circumstances under which the
Secretary may make Colorado River water available for delivery to the
States of Arizona, California, and Nevada (Lower Division States or
Lower Basin) in excess of the 7,500,000 acre-foot Lower Basin
apportionment. Those notices announced four public scoping meetings and
requested oral and written comments on the need for such criteria, the
format for the criteria, the scope of specific surplus criteria, and
the issues and alternatives that should be analyzed.
The public comment period ran from May 18, 1999 until June 30,
1999. In addition to oral comments submitted at four public scoping
meetings, we received 32 letters during the comment period. The
respondents included one irrigation district, three water districts,
two individuals, three environmental organizations, nine state
agencies, two federal organizations, three tribes, two cities, three
water users associations, one corporation, one water resource
organization, one conservation district and one public utility.
Based on the public comments received, Reclamation has made the
decision to prepare an EIS that evaluates the potential impacts of
alternative implementing interim criteria that will be used by the
Secretary to determine surplus conditions for management of the
Colorado River.
Supplementary information is provided in the aforementioned May 18,
1999 Federal Register notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jayne Harkins, telephone (702) 293-
8190; faxogram (702) 293-8042; E-mail at: [email protected] or Tom
Ryan, telephone (801) 524-3732, faxogram (801) 524-3858; E-mail at:
[email protected].

Dated: December 1, 1999.
David J. Hayes,
Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-31681 Filed 12-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-31681. Public record. Not legal advice.