[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 60266-60267] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-29448] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Westland Irrigation District Boundary Adjustment, Hermiston, OR AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposed boundary adjustment to include additional lands into the Westland Irrigation District. Westland Irrigation District (WID) proposes the addition of 21,100 acres, of which 9,912 acres are currently irrigated, into their boundaries. The NEPA process was initiated in late 1993 and, as a result of comments received then, has been on hold until additional information was obtained. This notice is to inform the public of the resumption of the NEPA process and the preparation of an EIS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Tiedeman, UCA-1607, Upper Columbia Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 1749, Yakima, WA 98907-1749; Telephone (509) 575- 5848 extension 238. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WID is one of several districts in the Umatilla basin either served by federally owned facilities or receiving federally controlled water. A Federal repayment contract with WID requires that changes [[Page 60267]] to district boundaries must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior. During studies undertaken to implement the Umatilla Basin Project Act, it became apparent that WID was providing federally supplied water to lands outside of the district boundaries. In 1993, to address this problem, WID requested that Reclamation allow a change in their boundaries so that they may provide irrigation water to lands outside the current boundaries. In the interim Reclamation entered into a series of annual water service contracts with WID so irrigation of lands outside of the district boundaries with federally supplied water could continue while issues surrounding the boundary expansion were resolved. Reclamation and the National Resources Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) held public meetings on November 4 and December 17, 1993, to gather comments from the public concerning the ``Proposed Boundary Changes for Irrigation Districts in the Umatilla Project, Oregon.'' Key issues identified in the scoping effort included Umatilla River hydrology and passage conditions for anadromous fish, Native American trust resources, and continue viability of irrigated agriculture. Based on the complex and often controversial nature of the issues involved, the high level of public and agency interest, and Reclamation's Native American trust responsibilities, Reclamation concluded that an EIS should be prepared. Since then, a hydrologic model of the Umatilla basin, necessary to complete the assessment of the proposed boundary adjustment, had been developed. Completion of the hydrologic model is anticipated for February 1998. Four alternatives are proposed, including the no action alternative. Under the no action alternative all deliveries of federally supplied water by WID to lands outside of the current district boundaries would cease. Under the action alternatives some, or all, of these deliveries could continue. The draft EIS is expected to be completed in March of 1999. At this time, no additional scoping meetings are planned. A summary of scoping issues identified through previous meetings is available upon request. Anyone interested in more information concerning the proposed action or who has information concerning significant environmental issues, should contact Mr. Tiederman as provided under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Dated: November 3, 1997. John W. Keys, III, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region. [FR Doc. 97-29448 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-M