Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Henrys Fork Salinity Control Project Plan, Sweetwater and Uinta Counties, WY; Daggett and Summit Counties, UT, 50171 [2011-20589]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices
Lyman, Wyoming 82937–0370, E-mail:
jeff.lewis@wy.usda.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Henrys Fork Salinity Control
Project Plan, Sweetwater and Uinta
Counties, WY; Daggett and Summit
Counties, UT
Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Department of
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4370d (NEPA), as
implemented by the Council of
Environmental Quality regulations (40
CFR parts 1500–1508), the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
announces their intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Henrys Fork Salinity Control
Project Plan (SCPP). The NRCS will be
the lead agency. A public and agency
scoping meeting to discuss issues,
actions, alternatives and impacts as well
as to solicit input verbally and in
writing will be conducted. The lead and
cooperating agencies invite and
encourage agencies and the public to
provide written comments on the
proposed SCPP throughout the scoping
process to ensure that all relevant
environmental issues are considered.
DATES: Meeting Date: A public and
agency scoping meeting will be held at
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 30, 2011.
Comment Date: Persons or organizations
wishing to submit scoping comments
should do so no later than September
30, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Address: The
public and agency scoping meeting will
be held at McKinnon Elementary
School, 10 Old Highway 414 # 10A,
McKinnon, Wyoming.
Comment submissions: Written
comments on the scope of the EIS for
the Henrys Fork SCPP may be submitted
using any of the following methods:
Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for sending comments
electronically.
Mail: Attention: Rachel Bundschuh,
Natural Resources Conservation Service,
508 North Broadway Avenue, Riverton,
Wyoming 82501–3458.
E-mail:
rachel.bundschuh@wy.usda.gov.
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SUMMARY:
Jeff
Lewis of the NRCS at (307) 787–3211,
100 East Sage Street, P.O. Box 370,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:37 Aug 11, 2011
Jkt 223001
Proposed Action: The ‘‘Irrigation
System Improvements’’ alternative
assumes a salinity control project will
be implemented. Existing financial and
technical assistance programs will
continue to operate as they have in the
past. However, the ‘‘Irrigation System
Improvements’’ alternative will increase
the available Federal funds for
assistance. It is assumed that on-farm
irrigation water management will
improve due to an increase in technical
assistance provided by the NRCS field
office.
Through implementation of a SCPP,
on-farm irrigation application system
improvements will occur at an
accelerated rate as producers voluntarily
sign up for improved irrigation systems.
It is estimated that through this
alternative 74 percent of the irrigated
acres in the project area will have
improved irrigation systems. Most of the
surface irrigation systems will be
converted to side roll, center pivot, and
pod sprinkler systems. The remaining
26 percent of irrigated acres will
continue as unimproved irrigation
systems.
A limited amount of on-farm delivery
ditches that transport irrigation water
from the canal to the field will be
improved by converting from dirt ditch
to buried pipe. This will reduce seepage
and salt loading from these delivery
ditches by 99 percent. Canal
modifications (i.e. conversion to
pipeline or canal lining) are not
included in this SCPP.
Currently, approximately 70,790 acrefoot of water are used for irrigation in
the project area. This includes water
directly diverted from streams and
water stored in reservoirs. The irrigation
system improvements outlined in this
plan will provide more efficient use of
this water. Deep percolation from the
14,800 acres is expected to be treated
though the project action, reducing it by
approximately 58 percent. The Colorado
River salt loading attributed to this
project area will be reduced by the
reduction of excess deep percolation
passing below the plant root zone. Deep
percolation of irrigation water results in
concentrating and transporting salt in
groundwater to the surface and
eventually depositing in the Colorado
River.
This proposal is not intended to bring
new land under irrigation or to provide
water to fields that have been
infrequently or marginally irrigated.
Any project measure proposed on lands
without an adequate irrigation history
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50171
will not be considered for funding
without prior approval by the
appropriate state water authority.
Alternatives: The other alternative
presently considered is the ‘‘No-Action’’
Alternative. Under this alternative
accelerated improvements to the onfarm irrigation systems will not be
implemented. Environmental
conditions, including salt loading into
associated tributaries will continue
unhindered.
Scoping: The lead and cooperating
agencies will conduct an open scoping
and public involvement process during
the development of the EIS. The scoping
process is the key to preparing a concise
EIS to receive public input on the
alternatives to the proposed action and
the range of issues to be addressed in
the EIS. The purpose of the scoping
meetings is to assist the lead and
cooperating agencies in defining the
issues that will be evaluated in the EIS.
A public meeting was held in
McKinnon on December 9, 2009 where
input on the project was obtained. A
second public and agency scoping
meeting will be held as indicated above
(see DATES and ADDRESSES sections
above). Further information will be
published in local newspapers in
advance of the meeting. Any necessary
changes will be announced in the local
media. Written scoping comments will
be considered in the preparation of the
draft EIS (see DATES and ADDRESSES
sections above). Comments postmarked
or received by e-mail after specified date
will be considered to the extent
practicable. Questions about the EIS/
SCPP, requests for inclusion on the EIS/
SCPP mailing list, and requests for
copies of any documents associated
with the draft EIS/SCPP should be
directed to Rachel Bundschuh, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, 508
North Broadway Avenue, Riverton,
Wyoming 82501–3458; E-mail:
rachel.bundschuh@wy.usda.gov; Phone:
(307) 856–7524, ext. 121.
Dated: August 9, 2011.
J. Xavier Montoya,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 2011–20589 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Notice of Proposed Change to Section
IV of the Virginia State Technical Guide
Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM
12AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 50171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20589]
[[Page 50171]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Henrys Fork Salinity Control Project Plan, Sweetwater and Uinta
Counties, WY; Daggett and Summit Counties, UT
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370d (NEPA), as implemented by the Council
of Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces their intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Henrys Fork
Salinity Control Project Plan (SCPP). The NRCS will be the lead agency.
A public and agency scoping meeting to discuss issues, actions,
alternatives and impacts as well as to solicit input verbally and in
writing will be conducted. The lead and cooperating agencies invite and
encourage agencies and the public to provide written comments on the
proposed SCPP throughout the scoping process to ensure that all
relevant environmental issues are considered.
DATES: Meeting Date: A public and agency scoping meeting will be held
at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 30, 2011. Comment Date: Persons or
organizations wishing to submit scoping comments should do so no later
than September 30, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Address: The public and agency scoping meeting will
be held at McKinnon Elementary School, 10 Old Highway 414
10A, McKinnon, Wyoming.
Comment submissions: Written comments on the scope of the EIS for
the Henrys Fork SCPP may be submitted using any of the following
methods:
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for sending comments electronically.
Mail: Attention: Rachel Bundschuh, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, 508 North Broadway Avenue, Riverton, Wyoming 82501-3458.
E-mail: rachel.bundschuh@wy.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Lewis of the NRCS at (307) 787-
3211, 100 East Sage Street, P.O. Box 370, Lyman, Wyoming 82937-0370, E-
mail: jeff.lewis@wy.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action: The ``Irrigation System Improvements'' alternative
assumes a salinity control project will be implemented. Existing
financial and technical assistance programs will continue to operate as
they have in the past. However, the ``Irrigation System Improvements''
alternative will increase the available Federal funds for assistance.
It is assumed that on-farm irrigation water management will improve due
to an increase in technical assistance provided by the NRCS field
office.
Through implementation of a SCPP, on-farm irrigation application
system improvements will occur at an accelerated rate as producers
voluntarily sign up for improved irrigation systems. It is estimated
that through this alternative 74 percent of the irrigated acres in the
project area will have improved irrigation systems. Most of the surface
irrigation systems will be converted to side roll, center pivot, and
pod sprinkler systems. The remaining 26 percent of irrigated acres will
continue as unimproved irrigation systems.
A limited amount of on-farm delivery ditches that transport
irrigation water from the canal to the field will be improved by
converting from dirt ditch to buried pipe. This will reduce seepage and
salt loading from these delivery ditches by 99 percent. Canal
modifications (i.e. conversion to pipeline or canal lining) are not
included in this SCPP.
Currently, approximately 70,790 acre-foot of water are used for
irrigation in the project area. This includes water directly diverted
from streams and water stored in reservoirs. The irrigation system
improvements outlined in this plan will provide more efficient use of
this water. Deep percolation from the 14,800 acres is expected to be
treated though the project action, reducing it by approximately 58
percent. The Colorado River salt loading attributed to this project
area will be reduced by the reduction of excess deep percolation
passing below the plant root zone. Deep percolation of irrigation water
results in concentrating and transporting salt in groundwater to the
surface and eventually depositing in the Colorado River.
This proposal is not intended to bring new land under irrigation or
to provide water to fields that have been infrequently or marginally
irrigated. Any project measure proposed on lands without an adequate
irrigation history will not be considered for funding without prior
approval by the appropriate state water authority.
Alternatives: The other alternative presently considered is the
``No-Action'' Alternative. Under this alternative accelerated
improvements to the on-farm irrigation systems will not be implemented.
Environmental conditions, including salt loading into associated
tributaries will continue unhindered.
Scoping: The lead and cooperating agencies will conduct an open
scoping and public involvement process during the development of the
EIS. The scoping process is the key to preparing a concise EIS to
receive public input on the alternatives to the proposed action and the
range of issues to be addressed in the EIS. The purpose of the scoping
meetings is to assist the lead and cooperating agencies in defining the
issues that will be evaluated in the EIS. A public meeting was held in
McKinnon on December 9, 2009 where input on the project was obtained. A
second public and agency scoping meeting will be held as indicated
above (see DATES and ADDRESSES sections above). Further information
will be published in local newspapers in advance of the meeting. Any
necessary changes will be announced in the local media. Written scoping
comments will be considered in the preparation of the draft EIS (see
DATES and ADDRESSES sections above). Comments postmarked or received by
e-mail after specified date will be considered to the extent
practicable. Questions about the EIS/SCPP, requests for inclusion on
the EIS/SCPP mailing list, and requests for copies of any documents
associated with the draft EIS/SCPP should be directed to Rachel
Bundschuh, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 508 North Broadway
Avenue, Riverton, Wyoming 82501-3458; E-mail:
rachel.bundschuh@wy.usda.gov; Phone: (307) 856-7524, ext. 121.
Dated: August 9, 2011.
J. Xavier Montoya,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 2011-20589 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P