[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 63252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26195]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[RR02600000, 15XR0680A1, RX191242012000000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Extraordinary Operation and
Maintenance Environmental Impact Statement for the Truckee Canal,
Lahontan Basin Area Office, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation, Lahontan Basin Area Office, the
lead Federal agency, intends to prepare an Extraordinary Operation and
Maintenance (XM) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Truckee
Canal (Canal). The XM EIS will evaluate opportunities to reduce the
risk to public safety from a Canal breach. Multiple federal, state, and
local government agencies, tribal entities, and quasi- or non-
governmental entities will be invited to participate as cooperating
agencies for the XM EIS.
DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the draft XM EIS by
November 30, 2015.
Three public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates
and times:
Tuesday, October 27, 2015, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wadsworth,
Nevada.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Fallon,
Nevada.
Thursday, October 29, 2015, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Fernley,
Nevada.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the scope of the draft XM EIS to
Ms. Roberta Tassey, Lahontan Basin Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation,
705 N. Plaza Street, Room 320, Carson City, Nevada 89701; or by email
to [email protected].
Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations:
Wadsworth--Wadsworth Community Building, Eighth Street,
Wadsworth, Nevada.
Fallon--Churchill County Administrative Complex,
Commission Chambers Room no. 15, 155 N. Taylor Street, Fallon, Nevada.
Fernley--Fernley City Council Chambers, 595 Silverlace
Boulevard, Fernley, Nevada.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to be
added to the mailing list, please contact Ms. Roberta Tassey at
[email protected]. Additional information may be obtained through the
Truckee Canal XM EIS link on the Lahontan Basin Area Office Web page
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/lbao/index.html.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to
contact the above individual during normal business hours. FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Federal Register notice provides the
public with information regarding the Bureau of Reclamation's
(Reclamation) intent to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
Background. Nine Federal agencies, three Nevada state agencies, 13
local governments, four tribal entities, and seven quasi- or non-
governmental entities will be invited to participate as cooperating
agencies for the XM EIS. Other entities will be considered as necessary
during the XM EIS process.
The Canal is part of the Newlands Project (Project), which was
constructed in 1903 as one of the Reclamation's first projects. In
January 2008, a portion of the Canal embankment near the City of
Fernley, Nevada, breached. The Canal's operations are now limited due
to safety concerns.
Portions of the Project were listed on the National Register of
Historic Places on March 25, 1981. In addition, the Canal and other
associated structures have been determined eligible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places for contributing to the history of
the Project.
Scoping meetings will be held in Carson City, Fallon, and Fernley;
Nevada. Additional information regarding specific dates and times for
the upcoming meetings and identification of relevant comment periods
will be provided in a future notice, local news media, and through
direct contact with interested parties.
Purpose and Need for Action. The purpose is to improve public
safety by reducing the risk of a Canal breach. Reclamation needs to
take action to evaluate alternatives that will enable the Canal
operator--the Truckee Carson Irrigation District (TCID)--to safely
operate the Canal and deliver Project water in compliance with
operating criteria and procedures for the Project. Additional
restrictions on Canal operations may be necessary without taking
actions or initiating risk-reducing repairs.
Proposed Federal Action. Reclamation or TCID are proposing to
complete structural improvements of the Canal facilities; and/or
implement a long-term tolerable stage level restriction. This may be
achieved using a variety of options including, but not limited to the
following structural improvements to the canal embankment, which could
include sheet pile walls and improvements to the earthen embankment.
Lining portions of the Canal
Installing detention and/or retention ponds
Installing automated check structures to regulate flow through
the Canal
Installing passive overflow and/or wasteway structures
Reducing the Canal stage-levels with no structural
improvements
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 may request that we withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Dated: September 8, 2015.
Jason Phillips,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-26195 Filed 10-16-15; 8:45 am]
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