United States Section; Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Final Finding of No Significant Impact for Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee System, El Paso County, TX, and Sierra and Do, 73355-73356 [E7-25118]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices
canceled or the withdrawal is approved
prior to that date.
During the segregative period, BLM
may, after consulting with the FWS,
allow uses of a temporary nature that
are compatible with the purposes for
which the Refuge was established.
(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3–1)
Dated: November 26, 2007.
Robert M. Doyel,
Chief, Branch of Lands Management (CA–
930).
[FR Doc. E7–25110 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Notice and Agenda for Meeting of the
Royalty Policy Committee
Minerals Management Service
(MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
January 17, 2008, meeting of the Royalty
Policy Committee (RPC). Agenda items
for the meeting of the RPC will include
remarks from the Director, MMS, and
the Associate Director, Minerals
Revenue Management (MRM), as well as
updates from the Subcommittee on
Royalty Management and the Coal and
Indian Oil Valuation Subcommittees.
The RPC membership includes
representation from states, Indian
Tribes, various mineral interests, the
public-at-large (with knowledge and
interest in royalty issues), and other
Federal departments.
DATES: Thursday, January 17, 2008, from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mountain
Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Golden Hotel, 800 11th Street,
Golden, Colorado, telephone number
303–279–0100 or 1–877–424–6423.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Dan, Minerals Revenue Management,
Minerals Management Service; PO Box
25165, MS 300B2, Denver, Colorado
80225–0165; telephone number
(303) 231–3392, fax number (303)
231–3780; e-mail gina.dan@mms.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RPC
provides advice to the Secretary and top
Department officials on minerals policy,
operational issues, and the performance
of discretionary functions under the
laws governing the Department’s
management of Federal and Indian
mineral leases and revenues. The RPC
reviews and comments on revenue
management and other mineral-related
policies and provides a forum to convey
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Dec 26, 2007
Jkt 214001
views representative of mineral lessees,
operators, revenue payors, revenue
recipients, governmental agencies, and
the interested public. The location and
dates of future meetings will be
published in the Federal Register and
posted on our Internet site at https://
www.mms.gov/mmab/
RoyaltyPolicyCommittee/
rpc_homepage.htm. Meetings are open
to the public without advanced
registration on a space-available basis.
The public may make statements during
the meetings, to the extent time permits,
and file written statements with the RPC
for its consideration. Copies of these
written statements should be submitted
to Ms. Dan by January 8, 2008.
Transcripts of this meeting will be
available for public inspection and
copying at our offices in Building 85 on
the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood,
Colorado. The minutes will also be
posted on our Internet site.
These meetings are conducted under
the authority of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 5
U.S.C., Appendix 1) and the Office of
Management and Budget (Circular No.
A–63, revised).
Dated: December 19, 2007.
Lucy Querques Denett,
Associate Director, Minerals Revenue
Management.
[FR Doc. E7–25081 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND
WATER COMMISSION UNITED
STATES AND MEXICO
United States Section; Notice of
Availability of a Final Environmental
Assessment and Final Finding of No
Significant Impact for Flood Control
Improvements to the Rio Grande
Canalization Project Levee System, El
˜
Paso County, TX, and Sierra and Dona
Ana Counties, NM
United States Section,
International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Final Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on
Environmental Quality Final
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through
1508), and the United States Section,
International Boundary and Water
Commission’s (USIBWC) Operational
Procedures for Implementing Section
102 of NEPA, published in the Federal
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73355
Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR
44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice
of availability of the Final
Environmental Assessment and FONSI
for Flood Control Improvements to the
Rio Grande Canalization Project located
within El Paso County, Texas and Sierra
˜
and Dona Ana Counties, New Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Borunda, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Environmental
Management Division, United States
Section, International Boundary and
Water Commission; 4171 N. Mesa, C–
100; El Paso, Texas 79902. Telephone:
(915) 832–4767; e-mail:
danielborunda@ibwc.state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Rio Grande Canalization Project
was authorized by the Act of June 4,
1936, 49 Stat. 1463, Public Law No. 648
to facilitate compliance with the
Convention concluded with Mexico on
May 21, 1906 (TS 455), providing for the
equitable division of waters of the Rio
Grande, and to properly regulate and
control the water supply for use in the
two countries. The Act authorized the
construction, operation, and
maintenance of the project in
accordance with the plan in the
Engineering Report of December 14,
1935.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action would increase
the flood containment capacity of the
Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee
System by raising the elevation of a
number of levee segments for improved
flood protection. Fill material, obtained
from commercial sources would be
added to the existing levee to meet the
3 foot freeboard criterion. Typical height
increases in improvement areas would
range from 1 to 4 feet. Improvements
greater than 2 feet would require
expansion of the existing levee
footprint. In some locations, up to 4 feet
of fill material would be added,
extending the levee footprint up to a
maximum of 24 feet from the current toe
of the levee. This expansion would take
place along the approximately 20-foot
service corridor currently utilized for
levee maintenance, inside the
maintained floodway, and entirely
within the flood control project right-ofway. In some instances, adjustments in
levee slope would be made to eliminate
the need for levee footprint expansion,
when required by engineering
considerations or for protection of
resources.
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
73356
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
A No Action Alternative was
evaluated for the flood control
improvements to the Rio Grande
Canalization Project Levee System. This
alternative would retain the existing
configuration of the system, and the
current level of protection currently
associated with this system. Under
severe storm events, current
containment capacity may be
insufficient to fully control Rio Grande
flooding, with risks to personal safety
and potential property damage.
Summary of Findings
Pursuant to NEPA guidance (40 Code
of Federal Regulations 1500–1508), The
President’s Council on Environmental
Quality issued regulations for NEPA
implementation which included
provisions for both the content and
procedural aspects of the required
Environmental Assessment. The
USIBWC completed an EA of the
potential environmental consequences
of raising segments of the Rio Grande
Canalization Project Levee System to
meet current requirements for flood
control. The EA, which supports the
Finding of No Significant Impact,
evaluated the Proposed Action and No
Action Alternative.
Levee System Evaluation
No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative was
evaluated as the single alternative action
to the Proposed Action. The No Action
Alternative would retain the current
configuration of the Rio Grande
Rectification Project Levee System, with
no impacts to biological and cultural
resources, water resources, land use,
community resources, and
environmental health issues. In terms of
flood protection, however, current
containment capacity under the No
Action Alternative may be insufficient
to fully control Rio Grande flooding
under severe storm events, with
associated risks to personal safety and
property. The USIBWC will not be able
to certify the levee system segments,
that are being targeted for
improvements, as meeting Federal
Emergency Management Act (FEMA)
requirements.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Proposed Action
Biological Resources
Improvements to the levee system
would entail clearing and placement of
fill material on the existing levees.
Vegetation would be impacted along the
levee slopes and at locations where
levee footprint expansion is required
(fill greater than 2 feet). Levee
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:00 Dec 26, 2007
Jkt 214001
expansion, if required, would take place
along the current levee service corridor,
limiting vegetation removal to low
quality invasive plant species along the
levee slopes. Avoidance measures
would be implemented to protect
resources, as needed.
No significant effects are anticipated
on wildlife habitat in the vicinity of the
levee system, including potential habitat
for threatened and endangered species.
In areas requiring levee footprint
expansion, no riparian woodland
communities would be impacted;
impacts on vegetation would be limited
to low quality vegetation along the levee
slopes, of very limited value as wildlife
habitat.
during construction; a temporary
increase in access road use would be
required for equipment mobilization
and material shipments.
Cultural Resources
Improvements to the levee system are
not expected to adversely affect known
archaeological or historical resources.
Typically, placement of fill material
over the existing levee would not
expand the levee footprint; when levee
footprint expansion is needed,
expansion would take place within the
service corridor currently used for levee
maintenance.
When warranted due to engineering
considerations, or for protection of
biological or cultural resources, the
need for levee footprint expansion
would be eliminated by levee slope
adjustment. Best management practices
during construction would include use
of sediment barriers and soil wetting to
minimize erosion and dust. To protect
riparian woody vegetation, avoidance
measures will be implemented. To
protect wildlife, construction activities
would be scheduled to occur, to the
extent possible, outside the March to
August bird migratory season.
Water Resources
Improvements to the levee system
would increase flood containment
capacity to control the design flood
event with a negligible increase in water
surface elevation. Levee footprint
expansion would not affect water
resources.
Land Use
Levee improvements would occur on
existing levee structures. Footprint levee
expansion, where required, would take
place completely within the existing
levee footprint, including the existing
service corridor, and remain within
USIBWC right-of-way (ROW). There is
minimal potential for impacts to urban
or agricultural lands since the majority
of the work will take place on USIBWC
ROW. The majority of the existing river
trails would not be impacted, except for
those segments that have been
constructed on top of the levee and are
within the areas targeted for
improvements.
Community Resources
In terms of socioeconomic resources,
the influx of federal funds into El Paso,
˜
Dona Ana, and Sierra Counties from the
levee improvement project would have
a positive but minor local economic
impact. No adverse impacts to
disproportionately high minority and
low-income populations were identified
for construction activities. Moderate
utilization of public roads is required
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Environmental Health Issues
Improvements to the levee system
would have minimal impact to air
quality through construction activities.
Air emissions during construction
would be limited to heavy equipment
operation during normal working hours.
There would be a moderate increase in
ambient noise levels due to construction
activities. No long-term and regular
exposure is expected above noise
threshold values.
Best Management Practices
Availability
Single hard copies of the Final
Environmental Assessment and Finding
of No Significant Impact may be
obtained by request at the above
address. Electronic copies may also be
obtained from the USIBWC Home Page
at https://www.ibwc.state.gov.
Dated: December 19, 2007.
Susan E. Daniel,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E7–25118 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[OMB Number 1121–NEW]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comments Requested
30-Day Notice of Information
Collection Under Review: Proposed
Collection; National Survey of Youth in
Custody.
ACTION:
The Department of Justice (DOJ),
Bureau of Justice Statistics, has
submitted the following information
collection request to the Office of
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73355-73356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25118]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
United States Section; Notice of Availability of a Final
Environmental Assessment and Final Finding of No Significant Impact for
Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee
System, El Paso County, TX, and Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, NM
AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment (EA)
and Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC)
Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published
in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC
hereby gives notice of availability of the Final Environmental
Assessment and FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande
Canalization Project located within El Paso County, Texas and Sierra
and Dona Ana Counties, New Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Borunda, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, United States
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission; 4171 N. Mesa, C-
100; El Paso, Texas 79902. Telephone: (915) 832-4767; e-mail:
danielborunda@ibwc.state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Rio Grande Canalization Project was authorized by the Act of
June 4, 1936, 49 Stat. 1463, Public Law No. 648 to facilitate
compliance with the Convention concluded with Mexico on May 21, 1906
(TS 455), providing for the equitable division of waters of the Rio
Grande, and to properly regulate and control the water supply for use
in the two countries. The Act authorized the construction, operation,
and maintenance of the project in accordance with the plan in the
Engineering Report of December 14, 1935.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action would increase the flood containment capacity
of the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee System by raising the
elevation of a number of levee segments for improved flood protection.
Fill material, obtained from commercial sources would be added to the
existing levee to meet the 3 foot freeboard criterion. Typical height
increases in improvement areas would range from 1 to 4 feet.
Improvements greater than 2 feet would require expansion of the
existing levee footprint. In some locations, up to 4 feet of fill
material would be added, extending the levee footprint up to a maximum
of 24 feet from the current toe of the levee. This expansion would take
place along the approximately 20-foot service corridor currently
utilized for levee maintenance, inside the maintained floodway, and
entirely within the flood control project right-of-way. In some
instances, adjustments in levee slope would be made to eliminate the
need for levee footprint expansion, when required by engineering
considerations or for protection of resources.
[[Page 73356]]
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
A No Action Alternative was evaluated for the flood control
improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project Levee System. This
alternative would retain the existing configuration of the system, and
the current level of protection currently associated with this system.
Under severe storm events, current containment capacity may be
insufficient to fully control Rio Grande flooding, with risks to
personal safety and potential property damage.
Summary of Findings
Pursuant to NEPA guidance (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-
1508), The President's Council on Environmental Quality issued
regulations for NEPA implementation which included provisions for both
the content and procedural aspects of the required Environmental
Assessment. The USIBWC completed an EA of the potential environmental
consequences of raising segments of the Rio Grande Canalization Project
Levee System to meet current requirements for flood control. The EA,
which supports the Finding of No Significant Impact, evaluated the
Proposed Action and No Action Alternative.
Levee System Evaluation
No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative was evaluated as the single alternative
action to the Proposed Action. The No Action Alternative would retain
the current configuration of the Rio Grande Rectification Project Levee
System, with no impacts to biological and cultural resources, water
resources, land use, community resources, and environmental health
issues. In terms of flood protection, however, current containment
capacity under the No Action Alternative may be insufficient to fully
control Rio Grande flooding under severe storm events, with associated
risks to personal safety and property. The USIBWC will not be able to
certify the levee system segments, that are being targeted for
improvements, as meeting Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA)
requirements.
Proposed Action
Biological Resources
Improvements to the levee system would entail clearing and
placement of fill material on the existing levees. Vegetation would be
impacted along the levee slopes and at locations where levee footprint
expansion is required (fill greater than 2 feet). Levee expansion, if
required, would take place along the current levee service corridor,
limiting vegetation removal to low quality invasive plant species along
the levee slopes. Avoidance measures would be implemented to protect
resources, as needed.
No significant effects are anticipated on wildlife habitat in the
vicinity of the levee system, including potential habitat for
threatened and endangered species. In areas requiring levee footprint
expansion, no riparian woodland communities would be impacted; impacts
on vegetation would be limited to low quality vegetation along the
levee slopes, of very limited value as wildlife habitat.
Cultural Resources
Improvements to the levee system are not expected to adversely
affect known archaeological or historical resources. Typically,
placement of fill material over the existing levee would not expand the
levee footprint; when levee footprint expansion is needed, expansion
would take place within the service corridor currently used for levee
maintenance.
Water Resources
Improvements to the levee system would increase flood containment
capacity to control the design flood event with a negligible increase
in water surface elevation. Levee footprint expansion would not affect
water resources.
Land Use
Levee improvements would occur on existing levee structures.
Footprint levee expansion, where required, would take place completely
within the existing levee footprint, including the existing service
corridor, and remain within USIBWC right-of-way (ROW). There is minimal
potential for impacts to urban or agricultural lands since the majority
of the work will take place on USIBWC ROW. The majority of the existing
river trails would not be impacted, except for those segments that have
been constructed on top of the levee and are within the areas targeted
for improvements.
Community Resources
In terms of socioeconomic resources, the influx of federal funds
into El Paso, Dona Ana, and Sierra Counties from the levee improvement
project would have a positive but minor local economic impact. No
adverse impacts to disproportionately high minority and low-income
populations were identified for construction activities. Moderate
utilization of public roads is required during construction; a
temporary increase in access road use would be required for equipment
mobilization and material shipments.
Environmental Health Issues
Improvements to the levee system would have minimal impact to air
quality through construction activities. Air emissions during
construction would be limited to heavy equipment operation during
normal working hours. There would be a moderate increase in ambient
noise levels due to construction activities. No long-term and regular
exposure is expected above noise threshold values.
Best Management Practices
When warranted due to engineering considerations, or for protection
of biological or cultural resources, the need for levee footprint
expansion would be eliminated by levee slope adjustment. Best
management practices during construction would include use of sediment
barriers and soil wetting to minimize erosion and dust. To protect
riparian woody vegetation, avoidance measures will be implemented. To
protect wildlife, construction activities would be scheduled to occur,
to the extent possible, outside the March to August bird migratory
season.
Availability
Single hard copies of the Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact may be obtained by request at the
above address. Electronic copies may also be obtained from the USIBWC
Home Page at https://www.ibwc.state.gov.
Dated: December 19, 2007.
Susan E. Daniel,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E7-25118 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-P
