Environmental statements; notice of intent: Derby Dam Fish Passage Newlands Project, NV,

[Federal Register: January 5, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 3)]

[Notices]

[Page 504-505]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr05ja00-72]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Derby Dam Fish Passage, Newlands Project, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental document (environmental assessment or environmental impact statement) and notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), proposes to prepare an environmental document for the purpose of evaluating options to provide fish passage at Derby Dam, a facility of the Newlands Project located on the Truckee River approximately 20 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The environmental document will evaluate the effects of the construction and implementation of fish passage at Derby Dam.

At present it is not clear whether the scope of the action and anticipated project impacts will require preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of an environmental assessment (EA). However, to ensure the timely and appropriate level of NEPA compliance and to limit potential future delays to the project schedule, Reclamation is proceeding as if the project impacts would require preparation of an EA. Reclamation will reevaluate the need for an EIS after obtaining written and oral comments on the project scope, alternatives and environmental impacts and after Reclamation's evaluation of potential impacts of the proposed project. Reclamation will publish a notice of change if a decision is made to prepare an EIS rather than an EA. However, the scoping process to be conducted will suffice for either course of action.

There are no known Indian Trust Asset or environmental justice issues associated with the proposed action. The project is designed to benefit fishes of both Pyramid Lake and the lower Truckee River and is anticipated to have a beneficial impact for this Indian Trust Asset.

DATES: Four scoping meetings will be held to solicit comments from interested parties to assist in determining the scope of the environmental analysis and to identify the significant issues related to this proposed action. The meeting dates are:

Monday, February 7, 2000, at 4 p.m., in Fernley, NV Monday, February 7, 2000, at 7 p.m., in Fallon, NV Tuesday, February 8, 2000, at 7 p.m., in Nixon, NV Wednesday, February 9, 2000, at 7 p.m., in Reno, NV

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are as follows:

Fernley: Fernley Town Complex, 595 Silver Lace Blvd., Suite 117, Fernley, NV 89408; telephone: (775) 575-5455 Fallon: Fallon Convention Center, 100 Campus Way, Fallon, NV 89406; telephone: (775) 423-4556 Nixon: Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Council Chambers, 208 Capital Hill (Highway 447) Nixon, NV 89424; telephone: (775) 574-1000 Reno: Bartley Ranch Park Interpretive Center, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road, Reno, NV 89511; telephone: (775) 828-6612

Written comments on the scope of the environmental documents should be submitted by February 29, 2000, to Caryn Huntt, Environmental Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Lahontan Basin Area Office, Attention: LO-450, P.O. Box 640, Carson City, NV 89702.

Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from public disclosure, which we will honor to the extent allowable by

[[Page 505]]

law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent's identity from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caryn Huntt or Steve Alcorn, Deputy Area Manager, telephone and TDD: (775) 882-3436, Lahontan Basin Area Office, Attention: LO-450 or LO-101, P.O. Box 640, Carson City, NV 89702.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Derby Dam was constructed in 1903 through 1905 and is located on the Truckee River approximately 20 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The dam is an integral part of the Newlands Project and diverts Truckee River water into the Truckee Canal. Water from the Truckee Canal is used for irrigation of the Truckee Division lands along the canal and for supplemental storage at Lahontan Reservoir on the Carson River. Water stored at Lahontan Reservoir is used to irrigate land in the Carson Division of the Newlands Project.

Historically, the endangered cui-ui and threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) species inhabited Pyramid Lake and migrated upstream in the Truckee River to spawn. Water diversions, commercial fishing, construction of dams, and other changes in the watershed impacted the ability of both species to spawn in the river. Currently three structures impede fish movements between Pyramid Lake and the lower Truckee River. Fish must negotiate Marble Bluff Dam, immediately upstream of the lake; Numana Dam, 8.3 miles upstream from the lake; and Derby Dam about 34 miles upstream from Pyramid Lake. Marble Bluff Dam and Numana Dam have fish passage facilities. A fish ladder was installed at Derby Dam in 1908, but the ladder is no longer present. Providing fish passage at Derby Dam will allow access for fish species, including LCT and possibly cui-ui, to habitat upstream of Derby Dam.

The purpose of the Derby Dam Fish Passage Project is to provide fish species with access to habitat upstream and downstream of Derby Dam, consistent with existing Derby Dam operations, Pyramid Lake and Newlands Project water rights, and flood control operations at Derby Dam. This project would not alter the operations of Derby Dam during flood or non-flood conditions, or change the 1997 adjusted Newlands Project Operating Criteria and Procedures. The project would enhance the Federal Government's ability to meet Federal trust responsibilities in the Truckee River basin.

Special Services

Persons requiring any special services should contact Caryn Huntt at (775) 882-3436. Please notify Ms. Huntt as far in advance of the particular meeting as possible, but no later than 3 working days prior to the meeting to enable Reclamation to secure the services. If a request cannot be honored, the requester will be notified.

Dated: December 29, 1999. Lester A. Snow, Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 00-132Filed1-4-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-94-P