[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 5880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2640]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science; Central 
Utah Project Completion Act; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Conversion of a Portion of Strawberry 
Valley Project Water From Irrigation to Municipal and Industrial Use

AGENCY:  Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science, 
Department of the Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for 
the conversion of a portion of Strawberry Valley Project (SVP) water 
from irrigation to other beneficial uses including municipal and 
industrial (M&I) use.

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
the Department of the Interior, Central Utah Project Completion Act 
Office will prepare an Environmental Assessment on the conversion of 
SVP water from agricultural to municipal and industrial use.
    The SVP, authorized December 15, 1905, is one of the earliest 
Reclamation Projects. The SVP water from the Colorado River Basin is 
stored in the enlarged Strawberry Reservoir. The SVP water is then 
conveyed through the Diamond Fork System into the Great Basin where it 
is delivered through natural stream courses to the Spanish Fork River 
diversion structure and into the Strawberry Power Canal. The SVP 
service area is located in south Utah County, Utah. The Strawberry 
Water Users Association is responsible for the operation and 
maintenance of the SVP and contractually uses Central Utah Project 
(CUP) facilities to store and convey SVP water.
    Suburban development in the SVP service area has resulted in 
agricultural land being taken out of production, annexed into the 
cities, and developed into residential areas. Under the authority of 
the Water for Miscellaneous Purposes Act of 1920 (43 U.S.C. 521), the 
Secretary of the Interior has authority to approve converting a portion 
of the SVP water from irrigation to M&I use. This conversion will: (1) 
authorize the conversion of SVP water from irrigation to M&I use; (2) 
ensure the orderly marketing of CUP and SVP M&I water; (3) provide an 
adequate water supply to the cities; (4) generate revenue to fund the 
rehabilitation of SVP facilities; and (5) eliminate unauthorized use of 
SVP water within the service area. Of the total SVP annual average 
water supply of about 71,000 acre-feet, approximately 10,200 acre-feet 
has already been converted and an additional 1,800 acre-feet will be 
converted from irrigation to M&I use in the foreseeable future with the 
opportunity to gradually convert additional amounts as growth continues 
in the area.
    The Environmental Assessment will identify potential effects of the 
proposed action and determine whether those effects are significant. 
Alternatives identified at this time include the proposed action and 
the no action alternatives. Issues to be analyzed include impacts on 
wildlife, cultural resources, special status plants and animals, and 
water resources.

DATES:  Public scoping comments relating to issues and potential 
additional alternatives will be accepted for 30 days following the 
publication of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  Scoping comments should be sent to: Program 
Coordinator, CUP Completion Act Office, Department of the Interior, 302 
East 1860 South, Provo UT 84606-6154.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will 
be available for public review at the CUP Completion Act Office and 
will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA). They may be published as part of the Environmental Assessment 
and other related documents.

    Dated: February 1, 2000.
Ronald Johnston,
CUP Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 00-2640 Filed 2-4-00; 8:45 am]
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