Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project, New Mexico, 51477-51478 [2010-20564]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 161 / Friday, August 20, 2010 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUT030000–10–L16100000–PH–241A] Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Monument Advisory Committee: Call for Nominations Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Call for Nominations AGENCY: The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for 15 members of the Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument, Monument Advisory Committee (GSENM–MAC). The GSENM–MAC provides advice and recommendations to the GSENM on science issues and the achievement of the GSENM Management Plan objectives. GSENM will accept public nominations for 30 days from the date this notice is posted. DATES: A completed nomination form and accompanying nomination letters must be received at the address listed below no later than September 20, 2010. ADDRESSES: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Headquarters Office, 190 East Center, Kanab, Utah 84741. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Crutchfield, Public Affairs Officer, GSENM Headquarters Office, 190 East Center, Kanab, Utah 84741; phone (435) 644–4310, or e-mail larry_crutchfield@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of the Interior established the GSENM–MAC pursuant to section 309 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1739) and in conformity with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). The 15 appointed members of the GSENM–MAC perform several primary tasks: (1) Review evaluation reports produced by the Management Science Team and make recommendations on protocols and projects to meet overall objectives; (2) Review appropriate research proposals and make recommendations on project necessity and validity; (3) Make recommendations regarding allocation of research funds through review of research and project proposals as well as needs identified through the evaluation process above; and (4) Make recommendations on issues such as protocols for specific projects. The Secretary appoints persons to the GSENM–MAC who are representatives of the various major citizen interests pertaining to land use planning and sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:19 Aug 19, 2010 Jkt 220001 management of the lands under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the GSENM. Each GSENM–MAC member will be a person who, as a result of training and experience, has knowledge or special expertise which qualifies him or her to provide advice from among the categories of interest listed below. The Obama Administration prohibits individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists to serve on all FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils. As appropriate, certain committee members may be appointed as Special Government Employees. Special Government Employees serve on the committee without compensation, but will be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses at current rates for government employees, and are subject to financial disclosure requirements in the Ethics in Government Act and 5 CFR 2634. Travel reimbursement is available to all committee members. This notice, published pursuant to 43 CFR 1784.4–1 and in accordance with the approved management plan for GSENM (February 2000), requests the public to submit nominations to fill 15 vacant positions on the committee. Any individual or organization may nominate one or more persons to serve on the GSENM–MAC. Individuals may nominate themselves for GSENM–MAC membership. Nomination forms may be obtained from the GSENM Headquarters Office, (see ADDRESSES section above). To make a nomination, submit to the GSENM Headquarters Office a letter of nomination, a completed nomination form, letters of reference from the represented interests or organizations associated with the interest represented by the candidate, and any other information that speaks to the candidate’s qualifications. Eight members will be appointed as follows, one from each of the categories listed below: • An elected official from Garfield County to represent the interests of county residents; • An elected official from Kane County to represent the interests of county residents; • A representative of state government; • A representative of tribal government; • An educator to represent the educational community; • A representative of the environmental community; • An outfitter and guide operating within the Monument to represent commercial users; and PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51477 • A livestock grazing permittee operating within the Monument representing grazing permittees. Seven members will be appointed as Special Government Employees, one for each of the following areas of expertise: • Archaeology; • Botany; • Geology; • Paleontology; • Social science; • Systems ecology; and • Wildlife biology. The specific category the nominee would be representing should be identified in the letter of nomination and in the nomination form. The BLM Utah State Director and Monument Manager will review the nomination forms and letters of reference. The BLM consults with Utah’s governor before forwarding its recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior for final decision. Members will serve without monetary compensation, but will be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses at current rates for Government employees. The Committee will meet at least twice a year. Additional meetings may be called by the Designated Federal Officer. Juan Palma, State Director. [FR Doc. 2010–20672 Filed 8–19–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNML03100 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG0460000; NMNM–115773] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project, New Mexico Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project Draft EIS within 60 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1 sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES 51478 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 161 / Friday, August 20, 2010 / Notices publishes this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project by any of the following methods: • E-mail: nmlcdo_comments@blm.gov. • Fax: 575–525–4412. • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project, Attention: Lorraine Salas, Project Manager, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Copies of the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project Draft EIS are available in the BLM Las Cruces District Office at the above address; the BLM New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM; the City of Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue, Alamogordo, NM; the Village of Tularosa Public Library, 515 Fresno Street, Tularosa, NM. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Salas, Project Manager; telephone 575–525–4388; address 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005; e-mail: nmlcdo_comments@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The City of Alamogordo (the City) has submitted to the BLM an application for a right-ofway (ROW) for the construction and use of up to 10 groundwater wells in order to produce approximately 4,000 acrefeet per year of water with supporting infrastructure on BLM-managed public land. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and supported by NEPA analysis, the BLM will decide whether to grant the ROW or grant the ROW with modifications, and, if so, under what terms and conditions. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for this EIS. Cooperating agencies include the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and Otero County. In 1983, a study concluded that the City’s long-term water supply is inadequate and that critical water shortages could occur should the region experience a prolonged drought. The study concluded that the City’s projected water demand is 10,842 acrefeet per year (afy) through the year 2045. In response to the study, the City obtained water rights through the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (State Engineer) and has approached the BLM for a ROW to withdraw water on BLM-managed public land with supporting infrastructure. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:19 Aug 19, 2010 Jkt 220001 The City seeks to address the water demand through the desalination of brackish groundwater located in the Tularosa Underground Water Basin. The proposed wells would be drilled on BLM-managed public land located 26 miles north of the City. The BOR will decide whether to seek and approve funding for a portion of the project costs through BOR’s budget under Title XVI, Public Law 102–575, as amended—the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Facilities Act; 43 U.S.C. § 39h, provides authority for the BOR water recyling and reuse program. The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of two alternatives. The proposed action (Alternative B) by the City includes obtaining unappropriated brackish groundwater from the Snake Tank Well Field, constructing and operating 10 groundwater wells at Snake Tank Well Field, installing water transmission lines to Alamogordo, and constructing a desalination facility and a booster pump station in Alamogordo to treat the brackish groundwater to drinking water standards. This alternative has been developed to incorporate the State Engineer ruling, which was affirmed by the New Mexico State District Court to allow 4,000 afy of brackish groundwater (approximately 3,200 afy of potable water) from the Snake Tank Well Field and up to 5,000 acre-feet in any one year so long as withdrawals do not exceed 20,000 acrefeet in any 5-year period. The remaining future water supply (198 afy) would have to come from other sources, all of which are undetermined, and are not part of the Draft EIS. Alternative A is the ‘‘No Action’’ Alternative, as required by NEPA. The No Action Alternative describes conditions expected to occur if there would be no new well field development or additional water supply beyond the City’s current water supply. The No Action Alternative assumes the City would continue to enforce water conservation measures and use existing infrastructure. Since the publication of the Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal Register on August 26, 2004, scoping meetings and mailings have been conducted to solicit public comment and identify key issues. Tribal governments with interest in this project were also contacted. Approximately 216 scoping comments were received during the development of the Draft EIS. Key issues identified by individuals, groups, and governmental entities include: Balancing growth with water use in the Alamogordo/Tularosa region; groundwater draw-down in existing PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 residential wells and mitigation measures for any impacts to those wells; potential social and economic impacts on ranching and agriculture in the region; and potential impacts on Indian trust land, community acequias, and surface water. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Bill Childress, District Manager, Las Cruces. [FR Doc. 2010–20564 Filed 8–19–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–VC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVB00000 L71220000.EX0000 LVTFF0986020 241A.00; MO #4500014477; 10–08807; TAS: 14X8069] Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Cortez Hills Expansion Project, Lander County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Battle Mountain District, Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cortez Hills Expansion Project in Lander County, Nevada. The project was authorized in a Record of Decision and Plan of Operations Amendment Approval in November 2008 and by this notice the BLM is announcing the opening of the comment period for the Draft Supplemental EIS. DATES: The Cortez Hills Expansion Project Draft Supplemental EIS is available for public comment for 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. To provide the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51477-51478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20564]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNML03100 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG0460000; NMNM-115773]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project and by this notice is 
announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project Draft 
EIS within 60 days following the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency

[[Page 51478]]

publishes this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM 
will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public 
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Alamogordo Regional 
Water Supply Project by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: nmlcdo_comments@blm.gov.
     Fax: 575-525-4412.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Alamogordo Regional Water 
Supply Project, Attention: Lorraine Salas, Project Manager, 1800 
Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
    Copies of the Alamogordo Regional Water Supply Project Draft EIS 
are available in the BLM Las Cruces District Office at the above 
address; the BLM New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, 
NM; the City of Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue, 
Alamogordo, NM; the Village of Tularosa Public Library, 515 Fresno 
Street, Tularosa, NM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Salas, Project Manager; 
telephone 575-525-4388; address 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 
88005; e-mail: nmlcdo_comments@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The City of Alamogordo (the City) has 
submitted to the BLM an application for a right-of-way (ROW) for the 
construction and use of up to 10 groundwater wells in order to produce 
approximately 4,000 acre-feet per year of water with supporting 
infrastructure on BLM-managed public land. Under the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and supported by NEPA 
analysis, the BLM will decide whether to grant the ROW or grant the ROW 
with modifications, and, if so, under what terms and conditions. The 
BLM is the lead Federal agency for this EIS. Cooperating agencies 
include the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and Otero County.
    In 1983, a study concluded that the City's long-term water supply 
is inadequate and that critical water shortages could occur should the 
region experience a prolonged drought. The study concluded that the 
City's projected water demand is 10,842 acre-feet per year (afy) 
through the year 2045. In response to the study, the City obtained 
water rights through the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (State 
Engineer) and has approached the BLM for a ROW to withdraw water on 
BLM-managed public land with supporting infrastructure.
    The City seeks to address the water demand through the desalination 
of brackish groundwater located in the Tularosa Underground Water 
Basin. The proposed wells would be drilled on BLM-managed public land 
located 26 miles north of the City. The BOR will decide whether to seek 
and approve funding for a portion of the project costs through BOR's 
budget under Title XVI, Public Law 102-575, as amended--the Reclamation 
Wastewater and Groundwater Facilities Act; 43 U.S.C. Sec.  39h, 
provides authority for the BOR water recyling and reuse program.
    The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental impacts of two alternatives. The proposed action 
(Alternative B) by the City includes obtaining unappropriated brackish 
groundwater from the Snake Tank Well Field, constructing and operating 
10 groundwater wells at Snake Tank Well Field, installing water 
transmission lines to Alamogordo, and constructing a desalination 
facility and a booster pump station in Alamogordo to treat the brackish 
groundwater to drinking water standards. This alternative has been 
developed to incorporate the State Engineer ruling, which was affirmed 
by the New Mexico State District Court to allow 4,000 afy of brackish 
groundwater (approximately 3,200 afy of potable water) from the Snake 
Tank Well Field and up to 5,000 acre-feet in any one year so long as 
withdrawals do not exceed 20,000 acre-feet in any 5-year period. The 
remaining future water supply (198 afy) would have to come from other 
sources, all of which are undetermined, and are not part of the Draft 
EIS.
    Alternative A is the ``No Action'' Alternative, as required by 
NEPA. The No Action Alternative describes conditions expected to occur 
if there would be no new well field development or additional water 
supply beyond the City's current water supply. The No Action 
Alternative assumes the City would continue to enforce water 
conservation measures and use existing infrastructure. Since the 
publication of the Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal 
Register on August 26, 2004, scoping meetings and mailings have been 
conducted to solicit public comment and identify key issues. Tribal 
governments with interest in this project were also contacted.
    Approximately 216 scoping comments were received during the 
development of the Draft EIS. Key issues identified by individuals, 
groups, and governmental entities include: Balancing growth with water 
use in the Alamogordo/Tularosa region; groundwater draw-down in 
existing residential wells and mitigation measures for any impacts to 
those wells; potential social and economic impacts on ranching and 
agriculture in the region; and potential impacts on Indian trust land, 
community acequias, and surface water.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Bill Childress,
District Manager, Las Cruces.
[FR Doc. 2010-20564 Filed 8-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P
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