[Federal Register: April 30, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 84)]
[Notices]
[Page 23437-23438]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ap08-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Northern Integrated Supply Project, Larimer and Weld Counties, CO
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Omaha District has
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the
direct, indirect and cumulative effects of the construction of the
Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) involving the Glade Reservoir
and the South Platte Water Conservation Project (SPWCP) involving the
Galeton Reservoir in Larimer and Weld Counties, CO. The Proposed Action
is a regional water supply project intended to provide approximately
40,000 acre-feet (AF) of
[[Page 23438]]
new water for 12 water providers and municipalities in Larimer, Weld,
Morgan and Boulder Counties. Construction of the two reservoirs and
support facilities would result in permanent impacts to approximately
44 acres of wetlands and 7 acres of other waters and temporary impacts
to approximately 10 acres of wetlands and 9 acres of other waters. This
action requires authorization from the Corps under Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act. The Applicant is the Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District (NCWCD).
The Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Corps'
regulations for NEPA implementation (33 Code of Federal Regulations
[CFR] parts 230 and 325, Appendices B and C). The Corps, Omaha
District, Regulatory Branch is the lead federal agency responsible for
the Draft EIS and information contained in the EIS serves as the basis
for a decision regarding issuance of a section 404 permit. It also
provides information for Federal, state and local agencies having
jurisdictional responsibility for affected resources.
DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted on or after
April 30, 2008 until July 29, 2008. Oral and/or written comments may
also be presented at the Public Hearing to be held at 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at the Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree
Drive, Fort Collins, CO and at the Public Hearing to be held at 7 p.m.
on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at the University of Northern Colorado
Student Center, 501 20th Street, Greeley, CO.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments regarding the Proposed Action and
Draft EIS to Chandler J. Peter, NEPA EIS/404b1 Coordinator, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Omaha District--Denver Regulatory Office, 9307
South Wadsworth Boulevard, Littleton, CO 80128 or via e-mail:
chandler.j.peter@usace.army.mil. Requests to be placed on or removed
from the mailing list should also be sent to this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chandler J. Peter, NEPA EIS/404b1
Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 303-979-4120; Fax 303-979-
0602.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Draft EIS is to provide
decision-makers and the public with information pertaining to the
Proposed Action and alternatives, and to disclose environmental impacts
and identify mitigation measures to reduce impacts. NCWCD proposes to
construct Glade Reservoir with a total storage capacity of
approximately 170,000 AF. NCWCD also proposes to construct the SPWCP
which includes Galeton Reservoir with a total storage capacity of
approximately 40,000 AF and support facilities. In addition to Glade
Reservoir, an existing diversion dam and intake structure in the Cache
la Poudre River would be rehabilitated and a forebay, pumping facility
and outlet channel would be constructed. Glade Reservoir would inundate
approximately 7 miles of U.S. Highway 287, requiring a relocation of
the highway east of its current alignment as well as a section of the
Munroe (North Poudre Supply) Canal requiring it to be rerouted.
Construction of a new pipeline from Glade Reservoir to the existing
Horsetooth Reservoir, a part of the Colorado-Big Thompson project, is
also proposed. A new diversion dam and intake in the South Platte
River, pumping facilities, and new pipelines would also be constructed
with Galeton Reservoir for the SPWCP.
The purpose for the project is to provide additional firm annual
yield to the 12 water providers and communities to address anticipated
water demands associated with projected growth. Operations of the
reservoirs involve an exchange of water. The Glade Reservoir would be
filled with water from a new water right as well as agricultural water
normally diverted for irrigation. Agricultural water would be replaced
by the South Platte Water Conservation Project which will divert new
water rights from the South Platte River and pumping it into Galeton
Reservoir.
In addition to the Proposed Action, the Draft EIS analyzes three
primary alternatives and associated sub-alternatives: (1) The Cactus
Hill Reservoir (180,000 AF) and SPWCP (40,000 AF Galeton Reservoir)
Alternative, (2) the Glade Reservoir and reduced SPWCP (20,000 AF
Galeton) with agriculture transfers, and (3) the No Action Alternative.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Department of
Transportation, and Larimer County participated as cooperating agencies
in the formulation of the Draft EIS.
Copies of the Draft EIS will be available for review at:
1. Colorado State University Morgan Library, 501 University Avenue,
Fort Collins, CO 80523.
2. Fort Collins Regional Library District, 201 Peterson St., Fort
Collins, CO 80524.
3. Fort Collins Regional Library District, 4616 S. Shields St.,
Fort Collins, CO 80526.
4. Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th Street, Windsor, CO 80550.
5. Greeley City Manager's Office, 1000 10th Street, Greeley, CO
80631.
6. University of Northern Colorado, James A. Michener Library,
Greeley, CO 80639.
7. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, 220 Water Avenue,
Berthoud, CO 80513.
8. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Denver Regulatory Office, 9307 S.
Wadsworth Boulevard, Littleton, CO 80128.
Electronic copies of the Draft EIS may be obtained from the Denver
Regulatory Office or its Web site at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/
html/od-tl/eis-info.htm.
Chandler J. Peter,
NEPA EIS/404b1 Coordinator, Operations Division, Omaha District.
[FR Doc. E8-9440 Filed 4-29-08; 8:45 am]
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