[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]


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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.

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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