[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 98 (Monday, May 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 27089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12485]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) 
For the Proposed Rio Grande Floodway, San Acacia to Bosque del Apache, 
Socorro County, New Mexico

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS).

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SUMMARY: 

1. Proposed Action

    The purpose of the study is to reevaluate the plan of flood 
protection authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1948 (Public Law 858) 
for the proposed Rio Grande Floodway, San Acacia to Bosque del Apache, 
Socorro County, New Mexico, in light of newly listed endangered species 
and changes in levee design parameters. The proposed action is to 
provide increased flood protection from San Acacia to Elephant Butte 
Reservoir, New Mexico. The proposed action is to replace the existing 
west bank embankment along the Rio Grande with a structurally competent 
levee capable of containing high volume, short duration flows up to the 
design discharge of 51,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) decreasing to 
39,000 cfs at the downstream project terminus, as well as low volume, 
long duration flows. Coincident objectives are the preservation, 
conservation, and enhancement of biological, recreational, social, 
cultural and aesthetic values.

2. Alternatives Considered

    Alternatives developed and evaluated during previous studies 
consisted of levee reconstruction (50-, 100-, and 200-year flood 
frequency levels and the Standard Project Flood), flood and sediment 
control dams, local levees, watershed land treatment, floodproofing and 
zoning, intermittent levee replacement, and no action.
    This reevaluation involves evaluation of project effects on newly 
listed endangered species and changes in levee design parameters to 
accommodate low volume, long duration floods in addition to the 
previous design for high volume, short duration floods, and possible 
changes in levee alignment.

3. Public Involvement Process

    Coordination is ongoing with both public and private entities 
having jurisdiction or an interest in land and resources in the middle 
Rio Grande valley of New Mexico. These entities include the general 
public, local governments, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 
and the Interstate Stream Commission. A fully coordinated final 
environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing the previous 
recommendation to construct flood and sediment control dams on the Rio 
Puerco and Rio Salado was filed with the Council on Environmental 
Quality in 1977. An early public meeting was held in the city of 
Socorro in 1979. A supplemental EIS evaluating the effects of the 
alternative to rehabilitate the existing levee system was filed with 
the Council on Environmental Quality in 1992. Coordination will 
continue throughout development of the SEIS through scoping letters, 
meetings and field visits, and if requested, scoping meetings. All 
interested parties including Federal, state, and public entities will 
be invited to submit comments on the draft SEIS when it is circulated 
for review.
    The planning effort is being coordinated with the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation (Bureau) as a cooperating agency in the NEPA process. The 
Bureau was authorized to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for 
flood control and water conservation under the Flood Control Acts of 
1948 and 1950. The plan includes river channel maintenance activities 
throughout the middle Rio Grande and construction of the Low Flow 
Conveyance Channel (LFCC) from San Acacia to Elephant Butte Reservoir, 
designed to transmit river flows through a critical water-loss area. 
The proposed levee rehabilitation project parallels the LFCC for most 
of the project area. Close coordination between the Corps and the 
Bureau will be maintained throughout project planning.
    The planning effort is also being coordinated with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service pursuant to the requirements of the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended. Consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation and the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer is 
ongoing pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

4. Significant Issues to be Analyzed

    Significant issues to be analyzed in the development of the SEIS 
include the effect of the recommended plan on endangered species, 
floodplain development, water quality, riparian biological systems, 
wildlife refuge objectives, endangered species, social welfare, human 
safety, cultural resources, and aesthetic qualities. Development and 
implementation of mitigation measures will be undertaken for any 
unavoidable effects

5. Public Review

    The estimated date that the draft Limited Reevaluation Report will 
be completed and the draft SEIS circulated for public review is 
February, 1996.

6. Further Information

    Questions or comments regarding the study and the supplemental EIS 
may be directed to: Denise Smith, USAED, Albuquerque, P.O. Box 1580, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, Phone: (505) 766-6569.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-12485 Filed 5-19-95; 8:45 am]
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