Reclamation Bureau April 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Federal agency responsible for operation of the Navajo Unit (Navajo Dam and Reservoir) has prepared and made available to the public a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4332.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is seeking a renewal of the following information collection: Diversions, Return Flow, and Consumptive Use of Colorado River Water in the Lower Colorado River Basin, OMB No. 1006-0015. Before submitting the information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for approval, Reclamation is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection.

This notice is published in accordance with Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-463). Following consultation with the General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior is renewing the charter for the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group (CAG). The purpose of the CAG is to provide recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior and the State of Washington on the structure and implementation of the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program. In consultation with the State, the Yakama Nation, Yakima River basin irrigators, and other interested and related parties, six members and a facilitator are appointed to serve on the CAG. The basin conservation program is structured to provide economic incentives with cooperative Federal, State, and local funding to stimulate the identification and implementation of structural and nonstructural cost-effective water conservation measures in the Yakima River basin. Improvements in the efficiency of water delivery and use will result in improved streamflows for fish and wildlife and improve the reliability of water supplies for irrigation.

The original notice of intent to prepare this EIS was published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2006 (71 FR 43, 11226- 11227). This notice is being published to notify interested parties of the dates, times and locations of the public scoping meetings scheduled to solicit public comments. These public scoping meetings will be conducted in an open-house format with displays and Reclamation representatives who will be available for visitation or to accept a written comment. Reclamation is engaging in this planning and EIS effort to address the relevant issues related to completion and operation of the NAWS Project. We are seeking input from the public on the development of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action and analysis of their environmental effects that will be described in the EIS. Reclamation invites all interested parties to submit verbal or written comments related to the significant issues, potential impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action during the scoping period.