[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56350-56351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27699]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Southern Nevada Water Authority Treatment and Transmission
Facility, Clark County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement
and notice of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Reclamation, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have
prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on a new water
treatment and transmission facility (TTF) proposed by SNWA. The SNWA
proposes to construct an intake structure, water treatment facility and
associated transmission pipelines to treat and convey Colorado River
water from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas Valley. The DEIS describes and
presents the environmental effects of six alternatives, including no
action, associated with the construction and operation of the proposed
TTF. The Federal Actions would be the issuance of permits, rights-of-
way, and modification of existing water delivery contracts.
DATES AND LOCATIONS: There will be five public hearings at the
following locations:
Boulder City Hall, City Council Chambers, 401 California
Avenue, Boulder City, NV.
Cashman Field Center, Meeting Rooms 101-102, 850 Las Vegas
Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV.
Cashman Field Center, Meeting Rooms 101-102, 850 Las Vegas
Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV.
North Las Vegas City Library, Community Room, 2300 Civic
Center Drive, North Las Vegas, NV.
Henderson Convention Center, 200 South Water Street,
Henderson, NV.
Dates and times of the hearings will be announced in the local
media. A 90-day public review period commences with the publication of
this notice. Written comments will be accepted by Reclamation at the
address noted below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas H. Shrader, Manager,
Environmental Compliance Group, Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: Mr.
James P. Green LC-2206, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, Nevada 89006-
1470, Telephone: (702) 293-8519; or Mr. David Connally, EIS Manager,
Southern Nevada Water Authority, 1850 East Flamingo Road, Suite 234,
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, Telephone: (702) 732-1982. Copies of the DEIS
are available for inspection at the above addresses and at libraries in
the project vicinity.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS evaluates the effects of the
construction and operation of a new water TTF to divert existing State
of Nevada allocation of Colorado River water from Lake Mead, treat it,
and convey it to the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. Three issues are related
to water facility infrastructure in the Las Vegas Valley. First, the
Valley is dependent on a single water treatment and delivery facility
for 85 percent of its water. Second, the capacity of the existing
facility to deliver Colorado River water will be insufficient to meet
projected water demands by the year 1997, and third, the existing water
facility infrastructure cannot provide full access to Nevada's Colorado
River water allocation under the current pattern of seasonal water use.
With these considerations in mind, the SNWA conceived of the TTF as an
independent facility for the treatment and transmission of Colorado
River water to the Valley. The goal of the proposed SNWA-TTF project
is:
To develop a reliable and demand-responsive municipal water
system that will supplement the existing Southern Nevada Water
System during periods of curtailed production or system failure, and
provide the State of Nevada full access to its Colorado River water
allocation.
Results of supply and demand projections for the SNWA service area
suggest that summer shortages due to insufficient facility capacity
could occur as soon as the summer of 1997 unless system improvements
are made. Current
[[Page 56351]]
improvements to the existing Southern Nevada Water System may prolong
the ability of the SNWA purveyors to provide adequate water supplies to
the year 2000.
Six alternatives, including no action, are considered in the DEIS.
Three alternatives propose a new intake structure at Saddle Island,
with pumping stations, buried pipelines, construction of a new tunnel
or use of an existing tunnel, a new water treatment facility (WTF), and
a distribution system in Las Vegas Valley. Two other alternatives
propose tapping into existing piping in underground chambers in the
west wall of Black Canyon below Hoover Dam, an underground pumping
station, tunnels, buried pipelines, a new WTF, and a distribution
system in the Valley. The two alternative families share common
elements. The preferred alternative proposes a new intake structure at
Saddle Island, pumping stations, buried pipelines, use of an existing
tunnel, a new WTF, and a distribution system in the Las Vegas Valley.
Environmental consequences that would result from the alternatives,
but could be mitigated to a level of insignificance by implementation
of mitigation measures, include: biological resources, cultural
resources, noise and vibration, recreation, traffic, and water
resources. Environmental consequences that would remain significant
after implementation of mitigation measures include: aesthetics, air
quality, and land use and socio-economics. There would be beneficial
impacts to land use and socio-economics, associated with provision of
water to lightly-developed areas, obviating the need for water wells,
and provision of water supplies for potential economic diversification
in the project area.
Those wishing to schedule time, in advance, to make oral comments
at a particular hearing should contact the Bureau of Reclamation and
indicate at which session the speaker wishes to appear. Speakers will
be called in order of their requests. Requests to speak may be made at
each session and will be called after advance requests. Oral comments
will be limited to 10 minutes per individual.
Dated: October 24, 1995.
William E. Rinne,
Director Resource Management and Technical Services.
[FR Doc. 95-27699 Filed 11-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P