Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Announcement of Public Scoping Meetings for Continued Implementation of the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project, New Mexico and Texas, 2691-2692 [2014-00476]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 10 / Wednesday, January 15, 2014 / Notices
education activities, scientific research
projects, boundary marking, and
enforcement of existing regulations.
There would be no manipulation of the
marsh other than emergency, safetyrelated, or limited improvements or
maintenance actions. The destabilized
marsh would continue to erode at an
accelerated rate.
Alternative B: Hydrologic Restoration
and Minimal Wetland Restoration—
Under alternative B, the focus is on the
most essential actions to reestablish
hydrologic conditions that shield the
marsh from erosive currents and protect
the Hog Island Gut channel and channel
wall. A breakwater structure would be
constructed on the south end of the
marsh, in alignment with the
northernmost extent of the historic
promontory, and wetlands would be
restored to strategic areas where the
water is less than 4 feet deep. This
alternative also includes fill of some
deep channel areas near the breakwater.
The final element of this alternative is
the reestablishment of hydrologic
connections to the inland side of the
Haul Road to restore bottomland swamp
forest areas that were cut off when the
Haul Road was constructed.
Approximately 30 acres west of the
Haul Road could be influenced by tidal
flows as a result. These actions would
not necessarily happen in any particular
order, and may be dictated by available
funds. However, it is assumed that the
breakwater would be constructed first.
This alternative would create
approximately 70 acres of various new
wetland habitats and allow the
continued natural accretion of soils and
establishment of wetlands given the
new hydrologic conditions.
Alternative C: Hydrologic Restoration
and Fullest Possible Extent of Wetland
Restoration (NPS Preferred
Alternative)—Under alternative C, the
marsh would be restored in a phased
approach up to the historic boundary of
the marsh and other adjacent areas
within NPS jurisdictional boundaries.
Phased restoration would continue until
a sustainable marsh is achieved and the
overall goals of the project are met. The
historic boundaries lie between the
historic promontory and Dyke Island,
the triangular island off the end of the
Haul Road. The outer edges of the
containment cell structures would be
placed at the park boundary in the river.
The initial phase of this alternative
would first establish a breakwater
structure at the southern alignment of
the historic promontory to provide
immediate protection to Dyke Marsh
from erosion. After the breakwater is
established, the deep channel areas
north of the historic promontory would
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:04 Jan 14, 2014
Jkt 232001
be filled within the NPS boundary, and
the marsh would be restored to the 4foot contour at strategic locations to
further reduce the risk of erosion and
storm surges and promote
sedimentation within the existing
marsh. Afterwards, two cells would be
constructed along the northern edge of
the breakwater, restoring the original
extent of the promontory’s land mass.
All subsequent phases would
establish containment cells out no
further than the historic marsh
boundary. The location of these cells
would be prioritized based on the most
benefits the specific locations could
provide to the existing marsh. The
timing of these subsequent phases and
the size and number of cells built during
these phases would be dependent upon
available funds and materials.
In addition to the construction of
containment cells, tidal guts would be
cut into the restored marsh area that
would be similar to the historical flow
channels of the original marsh.
This alternative, like Alternative B,
would also introduce breaks in the Haul
Road, returning tidal flows to
approximately 30 acres west of the Haul
Road, which would help to re-establish
the historic swamp forest originally
found on the site.
Additional wetland may be restored
south of the new breakwater to fill out
the southernmost historic extent of the
marsh. This area would not be protected
from storms, and would be one of the
last features implemented. In addition,
the marsh restoration would extend
north of Dyke Island, and tidal guts
would be created. This alternative
contains an optional restoration cell in
the area currently serving as a mooring
area for the marina. Such an option
would only be implemented should the
marina concession no longer be
economically viable for the current
concessioner, and then only if no other
concessioner expresses interest in taking
over the business, which would
eliminate the need for the mooring field.
In total, under this alternative,
approximately 245 acres of various
wetland habitats could be created.
Dated: October 21, 2013.
Stephen E. Whitesell,
Regional Director, National Park Service,
National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2014–00633 Filed 1–14–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DL–P
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
2691
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[14XR0680A1, RX.00236101.0021000,
RR04313000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and
Announcement of Public Scoping
Meetings for Continued
Implementation of the 2008 Operating
Agreement for the Rio Grande Project,
New Mexico and Texas
Bureau of Reclamation,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Reclamation is
issuing this notice to advise the public
that an environmental impact statement
(EIS) will be prepared for the proposed
continued implementation of the 2008
Operating Agreement over its entire
remaining term (through 2050) for the
Rio Grande Project in New Mexico and
Texas. The Operating Agreement is a
written detailed description of how
Reclamation allocates, releases from
storage, and delivers Rio Grande Project
water to users within the Elephant Butte
Irrigation District (EBID) in New
Mexico, the El Paso County Water
Improvement District No. 1 (EPCWID) in
Texas, and to users covered by the 1906
international treaty with Mexico. In
addition, this EIS proposes to evaluate
the environmental effects of renewing
San Juan Chama Project storage
contracts under authority of the Act of
December 29, 1981, Pub. L. 97–140, 95
Stat. 1717, providing for storage in
Elephant Butte Reservoir.
DATES: Comments on the scope of the
EIS must be received by February 14,
2014.
Three public scoping meetings will be
held to solicit public input on the scope
of the EIS, potential alternatives, and
issues to be addressed in the EIS. See
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for meeting dates.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
regarding the scope and content of the
EIS should be sent to Ms. Rhea Graham,
Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque
Area Office, 555 Broadway NE., Suite
100, Mail Stop ALB–103, Albuquerque,
New Mexico 87102, or provided via
email at rgraham@usbr.gov.
Those not desiring to submit
comments or suggestions at this time,
but who would like to receive a copy of
the EIS, should contact Ms. Graham
using the information cited above. See
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for locations of public scoping meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Rhea Graham, Bureau of Reclamation;
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM
15JAN1
2692
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 10 / Wednesday, January 15, 2014 / Notices
telephone 505–462–3560; email at
rgraham@usbr.gov. Individuals who use
a telecommunications device for the
deaf may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
to contact Ms. Graham during normal
business hours. The FIRS is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a
message or question with Ms. Graham.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to the National Environmental Policy
Act, Reclamation will serve as the lead
federal agency for preparation of the EIS
on the continued implementation of the
Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande
Project, New Mexico and Texas. The
responsible official for this action is
Reclamation’s Upper Colorado Regional
Director.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
The Rio Grande Project includes
Elephant Butte and Caballo dams and
reservoirs, a power generating plant,
and five diversion dams (Percha,
Leasburg, Mesilla, American, and
International) located on the Rio Grande
in New Mexico and Texas. The Rio
Grande Project was authorized by
Congress under the authority of the
Reclamation Act of 1902 and the Rio
Grande Project Act of February 25, 1905.
The Rio Grande Project Operating
Agreement was signed in 2008 to
allocate Rio Grande Project water,
which includes water stored in Elephant
Butte and Caballo reservoirs and return
flows to the Rio Grande between the
EBID in the Rincon and Mesilla valleys
of New Mexico and the EPCWID in the
Mesilla and El Paso valleys of Texas and
Mexico. The Rio Grande Project also
provides water to Mexico under the
1906 international treaty. Rio Grande
Project water is provided by
Reclamation to irrigate a variety of crops
and for municipal and industrial water
uses.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for action is to
meet contractual obligations to EBID
and EPCWID to implement a written set
of criteria and procedures for allocating,
delivering, and accounting for Rio
Grande Project water to both districts
consistent with their rights under
applicable law each year in compliance
with various court decrees, settlement
agreements, and contracts. These
include the 2008 Compromise and
Settlement Agreement among
Reclamation, EBID, and EPCWID, and
contracts between the United States and
the EBID and EPCWID. The purpose and
need of an ancillary but potentially
similar action is to implement the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:04 Jan 14, 2014
Jkt 232001
provisions of the Act of December 29,
1981, to allow the storage of San JuanChama project water acquired by
contract with the Secretary of the
Interior pursuant to Public Law 87–483
in Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Proposed Action
The proposed federal action is to
continue to implement the 2008
Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande
Project over the remaining term
(through 2050), and a potentially similar
action under 40 CFR 1508.25, to
implement long-term contracts for
storage of San Juan-Chama water in the
Rio Grande Project.
personal identifying information in your
comment, please be advised 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.
Dated: November 5, 2013.
Brent Rhees,
Deputy Regional Director—Upper Colorado
Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 2014–00476 Filed 1–14–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P
Scoping Process
This notice initiates the scoping
process which guides the development
of the EIS. To ensure that the full range
of issues related to this proposed action
are addressed and all significant issues
identified, comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this
proposed action and the EIS should be
directed to Reclamation using the
contact information provided above. To
be most effective, written comments
should be received prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly
articulate the commentor’s concerns.
Dates and Addresses of Public Scoping
Meetings
The scoping meeting dates and
addresses are:
• Thursday, January 30, 2014, 3:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m., Bureau of Reclamation,
Albuquerque Area Office, 555
Broadway NE., Suite 100,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
• Friday, January 31, 2014, 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m., Elephant Butte Irrigation
District, 530 South Melendres Street,
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
• Saturday, February 1, 2014, 9:00 a.m.
to 11:00 a.m., Bureau of Reclamation,
El Paso Field Division, 10737
Gateway West, Suite 350, El Paso,
Texas 79935
Special Assistance for Public Scoping
Meetings
If special assistance is required at the
scoping meetings, please contact Ms.
Graham at 505–462–3560 or email at
rgraham@usbr.gov. Please notify Ms.
Graham at least two weeks in advance
of the meeting to enable Reclamation to
secure the needed services. If a request
cannot be honored, the requestor will be
notified.
Public Disclosure
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 337–TA–904]
Certain Acousto-Magnetic Electronic
Article Surveillance Systems,
Components Thereof, and Products
Containing Same; Institution of
Investigation Pursuant to 19 U.S.C.
1337
U.S. International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that a
complaint was filed with the U.S.
International Trade Commission on
December 11, 2013, under section 337 of
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19
U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Tyco Fire &
Security GmbH of Switzerland;
Sensormatic Electronics, LLC of Boca
Raton, Florida; and Tyco Integrated
Security, LLC of Boca Raton, Florida. A
letter supplementing the complaint was
filed on December 23, 2013. The
complaint alleges violations of section
337 based upon the importation into the
United States, the sale for importation,
and the sale within the United States
after importation of certain acoustomagnetic electronic article surveillance
systems, components thereof, and
products containing same by reason of
infringement of U.S. Patent No.
5,729,200 (‘‘the ‘200 patent’’) and U.S.
Patent No. 6,181,245 (‘‘the ‘245 patent’’).
The complaint further alleges that an
industry in the United States exists as
required by subsection (a)(2) of section
337.
The complainants request that the
Commission institute an investigation
and, after the investigation, issue a
general exclusion order and cease and
desist orders.
ADDRESSES: The complaint, except for
any confidential information contained
therein, is available for inspection
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM
15JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2691-2692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00476]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[14XR0680A1, RX.00236101.0021000, RR04313000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
Announcement of Public Scoping Meetings for Continued Implementation of
the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project, New Mexico and
Texas
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation is issuing this notice to advise the
public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared
for the proposed continued implementation of the 2008 Operating
Agreement over its entire remaining term (through 2050) for the Rio
Grande Project in New Mexico and Texas. The Operating Agreement is a
written detailed description of how Reclamation allocates, releases
from storage, and delivers Rio Grande Project water to users within the
Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) in New Mexico, the El Paso
County Water Improvement District No. 1 (EPCWID) in Texas, and to users
covered by the 1906 international treaty with Mexico. In addition, this
EIS proposes to evaluate the environmental effects of renewing San Juan
Chama Project storage contracts under authority of the Act of December
29, 1981, Pub. L. 97-140, 95 Stat. 1717, providing for storage in
Elephant Butte Reservoir.
DATES: Comments on the scope of the EIS must be received by February
14, 2014.
Three public scoping meetings will be held to solicit public input
on the scope of the EIS, potential alternatives, and issues to be
addressed in the EIS. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
meeting dates.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the scope and content of the EIS
should be sent to Ms. Rhea Graham, Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque
Area Office, 555 Broadway NE., Suite 100, Mail Stop ALB-103,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, or provided via email at
rgraham@usbr.gov.
Those not desiring to submit comments or suggestions at this time,
but who would like to receive a copy of the EIS, should contact Ms.
Graham using the information cited above. See the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for locations of public scoping meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rhea Graham, Bureau of
Reclamation;
[[Page 2692]]
telephone 505-462-3560; email at rgraham@usbr.gov. Individuals who use
a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Ms.
Graham during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Ms. Graham. You
will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act, Reclamation will serve as the lead federal agency for
preparation of the EIS on the continued implementation of the Operating
Agreement for the Rio Grande Project, New Mexico and Texas. The
responsible official for this action is Reclamation's Upper Colorado
Regional Director.
Background
The Rio Grande Project includes Elephant Butte and Caballo dams and
reservoirs, a power generating plant, and five diversion dams (Percha,
Leasburg, Mesilla, American, and International) located on the Rio
Grande in New Mexico and Texas. The Rio Grande Project was authorized
by Congress under the authority of the Reclamation Act of 1902 and the
Rio Grande Project Act of February 25, 1905. The Rio Grande Project
Operating Agreement was signed in 2008 to allocate Rio Grande Project
water, which includes water stored in Elephant Butte and Caballo
reservoirs and return flows to the Rio Grande between the EBID in the
Rincon and Mesilla valleys of New Mexico and the EPCWID in the Mesilla
and El Paso valleys of Texas and Mexico. The Rio Grande Project also
provides water to Mexico under the 1906 international treaty. Rio
Grande Project water is provided by Reclamation to irrigate a variety
of crops and for municipal and industrial water uses.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for action is to meet contractual obligations
to EBID and EPCWID to implement a written set of criteria and
procedures for allocating, delivering, and accounting for Rio Grande
Project water to both districts consistent with their rights under
applicable law each year in compliance with various court decrees,
settlement agreements, and contracts. These include the 2008 Compromise
and Settlement Agreement among Reclamation, EBID, and EPCWID, and
contracts between the United States and the EBID and EPCWID. The
purpose and need of an ancillary but potentially similar action is to
implement the provisions of the Act of December 29, 1981, to allow the
storage of San Juan-Chama project water acquired by contract with the
Secretary of the Interior pursuant to Public Law 87-483 in Elephant
Butte Reservoir.
Proposed Action
The proposed federal action is to continue to implement the 2008
Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project over the remaining term
(through 2050), and a potentially similar action under 40 CFR 1508.25,
to implement long-term contracts for storage of San Juan-Chama water in
the Rio Grande Project.
Scoping Process
This notice initiates the scoping process which guides the
development of the EIS. To ensure that the full range of issues related
to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues
identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the
EIS should be directed to Reclamation using the contact information
provided above. To be most effective, written comments should be
received prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the commentor's concerns.
Dates and Addresses of Public Scoping Meetings
The scoping meeting dates and addresses are:
Thursday, January 30, 2014, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Bureau of
Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway NE., Suite 100,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Friday, January 31, 2014, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Elephant
Butte Irrigation District, 530 South Melendres Street, Las Cruces, New
Mexico 88005
Saturday, February 1, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Bureau of
Reclamation, El Paso Field Division, 10737 Gateway West, Suite 350, El
Paso, Texas 79935
Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings
If special assistance is required at the scoping meetings, please
contact Ms. Graham at 505-462-3560 or email at rgraham@usbr.gov. Please
notify Ms. Graham at least two weeks in advance of the meeting to
enable Reclamation to secure the needed services. If a request cannot
be honored, the requestor will be notified.
Public Disclosure
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be
advised 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.
Dated: November 5, 2013.
Brent Rhees,
Deputy Regional Director--Upper Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 2014-00476 Filed 1-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P
