|
Alternatives
for
Meeting
Water
Needs
in
the
Red
River
Valley,
North
Dakota
Bureau
of
Reclamation,
Interior.
Notice
of
intent
to
prepare
an
environmental
impact
statement.
On
December
15,
2000
,
the
106th
Congress
passed
the
Dakota
Water
Resources
Act
of
2000,
which
was
signed
into
law
on
December
21,
2000
(Public
Law
106-554).
Among
other
things,
the
Dakota
Water
Resources
Act
of
2000
(DWRA)
states
that, “the
Secretary
of
the
Interior
shall
conduct
a
comprehensive
study
of
the
water
quality
and
quantity
needs
of
the
Red
River
Valley
in
North
Dakota
and
possible
options
for
meeting
those
needs” (Section
8(b)(1)).
In
addition,
the
DWRA
states
that, “pursuant
to
an
agreement
between
the
Secretary
and
State
of
North
Dakota
as
authorized
under
section
1(g)….
the
Secretary
and
the
State
of
North
Dakota
shall
jointly
prepare
and
complete
a
draft
environmental
impact
statement
concerning
all
feasible
options
to
meet
the
comprehensive
water
quality
and
quantity
needs
of
the
Red
River
Valley
and
the
options
for
meeting
those
needs” (Section
8
(c)(2)(A)).
Pursuant
to
section
102(2)(c)
of
the
National
Environmental
Policy
Act
(NEPA)
of
1969,
as
amended,
the
Bureau
of
Reclamation
(Reclamation)
and
the
State
of
North
Dakota
(ND)
will
jointly
prepare
this
environmental
impact
statement
(EIS).
The
State
of
North
Dakota
(ND)
has
designated
the
Garrison
Diversion
Conservancy
District
(Garrison Diversion)
to
serve
as
the
State
lead
in
preparation
of
the
EIS
for
the
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project.
Reclamation,
acting
under
the
authority
of
the
Secretary
of
the
Interior,
is
the
lead
Federal
agency.
Cooperating
agencies
will
be
identified
at
a
later
date.
Reclamation
and
the
Garrison Diversion
will
use
the
NEPA
compliance
process
to
ensure
that
the
public
has
opportunities
to
review
and
comment
on
long-term
water
supply
and
management
alternatives
for
the
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project.
Public
comments
are
invited
and
encouraged
regarding
both
the
scope
of
environmental
and
socioeconomic
issues
and
alternatives
that
should
be
evaluated
in
the
EIS.
Reclamation
and
the
Garrison Diversion
have
scheduled
six
public
scoping
meetings
in
which
Federal,
State,
local
and
tribal
government
agencies,
non-governmental
organizations,
the
public,
and
the
international
community
are
invited
to
participate
in
the
open
exchange
of
information
and
to
submit
comments
on
the
proposed
scope
of
the
EIS.
Each
meeting
will
be
preceded
by
a
2-hour
open
house
during
which
Reclamation
staff,
Garrison Diversion
staff,
and
other
study
participants
will
provide
information
and
answer
questions.
See
Supplementary
Information
section
for
the
locations,
dates,
and
times
of
the
scoping
meetings.
Written
comments
on
the
scope
of
the
issues
and
alternatives
to
be
evaluated
in
the
EIS
will
be
accepted
and
should
be
postmarked
or
e-mailed
no
later
than
December
16,
2002
,
to
be
most
effective.
Written
comments
should
be
submitted
to:
Bureau
of
Reclamation,
Dakotas
Area
Office,
P.O.
Box
1017,
Bismarck
ND
58502
.
Signe
Snortland,
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project
EIS,
Bureau
of
Reclamation,
Dakotas
Area
Office,
P.O.
Box
1017,
Bismarck
ND
58502;
Telephone:
(701)
250-4242
extension
3619;
or
FAX
to
(701)
250-4326.
You
may
submit
e-mail
to
ssnortland@gp.usbr.gov
or
access
the
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project
website
at
http://www.usbr.gov/gp/dkao/rrvwsp.htm.
In
1944,
the
U.S.
Congress
passed
the
Flood
Control
Act
(the
Missouri-Basin
Pick
Sloan
Act),
which
authorized
the
construction
of
dams
on
the
Missouri
River
and
its
tributaries.
The
Garrison
Diversion
Unit
(GDU)
was
authorized
in
1965,
and
construction
began
in
1967.
The
project
was
designed
to
divert
Missouri
River
water
to
central
and
eastern
ND
for
irrigation;
fish
and
wildlife
enhancement;
municipal,
rural,
and
industrial
(MR&I)
water
supply;
and
recreation
development.
Most
of
the
currently
authorized
principal
supply
works
have
been
completed,
except
for
about
a
20-mile
reach
between
the
end
of
the
McClusky
Canal
and
beginning
of
the
New
Rockford
Canal
.
The
project
was
reformulated
in
1986
to
reduce
the
emphasis
on
irrigation
and
increase
the
emphasis
on
meeting
the
MR&I
water
needs
throughout
ND.
The
1986
Reformulation
Act
authorized
a
Sheyenne
River
water
supply
and
release
feature
and
water
treatment
plant
capable
of
delivering
100
cubic
feet
per
second
of
water
to
eastern
ND.
The
authorization
for
the
GDU
was
amended
again
in
December
2000
by
DWRA.
The
DWRA
requires
that
an
EIS
and
feasibility-level
study
be
prepared
to
aid
decision-making
on
a
preferred
alternative
for
meeting
water
needs
in
the
Red
River
Valley
in
North
Dakota
.
Development
of
a
reliable
water
supply
for
the
Red
River
Valley
has
been
a
subject
of
great
interest
to
local
residents,
along
with
government
agencies
and
entities
concerned
with
water
management
and
development.
Although
rivers
in
eastern
ND
such
as
the
Red
and
Sheyenne
rivers
are
prone
to
flooding
and
excessive
runoff,
they
also
experience
low
flow
and
drought
conditions
such
as
those
that
occurred
in
the
1930's
and
1980's.
In
1994,
Reclamation
initiated
an
appraisal-level
(preliminary)
assessment
of
MR&I
water
needs
in
the
Red
River
Valley
as
an
outcome
of
the
ND
Water
Management
Collaborative
Process.
That
study
was
completed
in
two
phases.
The
first
phase
was
further
subdivided
into
parts
A
and
B.
Phase
IA
compared
the
existing
and
projected
future
MR&I
water
needs
in
the
Red
River
Valley
with
the
surface
water
flows
and
groundwater
resources
available
to
meet
those
needs.
That
report,
completed
in
April
1998,
concluded
that
significant
shortages
could
occur
during
future
droughts
if
no
action
is
taken.
The
Phase
IB
report
provided
an
evaluation
of
seasonal
instream
flow
needs
for
water
quality
and
maintenance
of
aquatic
life
in
the
Sheyenne
and
Red
rivers.
That
report
was
finalized
in
August
1999.
The
Phase
II
report
presented
a
range
of
preliminary
alternatives
to
meet
the
shortages
identified
in
the
Phase
IA
report.
These
alternatives
included
both
in-basin
and
out-of-basin
water
supplies
along
with
water
conservation
and
a
variety
of
management
and
operational
techniques.
The
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project
EIS
will
evaluate
alternative
ways
to
meet
the
comprehensive “water
quality
and
quantity
needs
of
the
Red
River
Valley
in
North
Dakota ” [DWRA
Section
8(b)(1)].
The
needs
are
defined
as
municipal,
rural,
and
industrial
supplies;
water
quality;
aquatic
environment;
recreation;
and
water
conservation
measures
[Section
8(b)(2)].
As
required
by
Council
on
Environmental
Quality
(CEQ)
implementing
regulations
(40
CFR
1502.2[e]),
a
full
range
of
reasonable
alternatives
will
be
evaluated
in
the
EIS.
These
alternatives
will
include
No
Action
and
development
of
in-basin
and
out-of-basin
water
sources.
The
EIS
will
evaluate
potential
environmental
impacts
of
specific
alternatives
together
with
engineering
and
socioeconomic
considerations.
A
preferred
alternative
has
not
been
identified
at
this
time.
Eight
preliminary
alternatives,
including
No
Action,
were
described
in
the
Phase
II
Needs
Assessment.
These
alternatives
were:
- No
Action.
This
alternative
represents
the
reasonably
foreseeable
future
condition
if
a
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project
is
not
constructed.
- Construction
of
a
new
water
supply
reservoir
on
the
Sheyenne
River
near
Kindred.
- Raising
the
height
of
Baldhill
Dam
on
the
Sheyenne
River
near
Valley
City
to
increase
water
storage.
- Development
of
groundwater
resources
including
purchase
of
existing
rights,
new
well
fields,
desalinization,
and
aquifer
storage
and
recovery.
- Importation
of
Missouri
River
water
via
a
pipeline
from
Bismarck
to
Fargo
.
- Importation
of
Missouri
River
water
via
a
pipeline
from
Lake
Oahe
south
of
Bismarck
to
the
vicinity
of
Wahpeton.
- Importation
of
Missouri
River
water
to
the
upper
Sheyenne
River
utilizing
existing
GDU
principal
supply
works.
- Importation
of
Missouri
River
water
via
a
system
of
closed
pipelines
from
the
GDU
principal
supply
works
to
cities,
industries,
and
rural
water
systems.
Other
potential
water
sources
including
Minnesota
sub-basins
and
Devils
Lake
may
be
evaluated
in
detail
in
the
EIS.
Comments
or
suggestions
on
these
alternatives
or
suggestions
of
other
alternatives
that
should
be
considered
are
welcome.
The
following
issues
have
been
tentatively
identified
for
analysis
in
the
EIS.
This
list
is
preliminary
and
is
intended
to
facilitate
public
comment
on
the
scope
of
this
EIS.
It
is
not
intended
to
be
all-inclusive
nor
does
it
imply
any
predetermination
of
potential
impacts.
Reclamation
and
the
Garrison Diversion
invite
comments
on
this
list:
- Impacts
on
streams
and
lakes,
groundwater,
floodplains,
wetlands,
and
on
water
uses
and
quality.
- Impacts
on
aquatic
and
terrestrial
plants
and
animals
and
their
habitats
including
species
that
are
federally
or
State-listed
as
threatened
or
endangered,
proposed,
candidate,
or
of
special
concern
and/or
critical
habitat.
- Potential
impacts
from
the
transfer
of
biota,
including
parasites
and
pathogens,
between
the
Missouri
River
basin
and
the
Hudson
Bay
basin.
- Potential
impacts
to
Canadian
waters
due
to
transfer
of
harmful
biota
or
changes
in
water
quality
or
quantity.
- Potential
cumulative
environmental
impacts
to
the
Missouri
River
from
past,
present,
and
foreseeable
future
withdrawals.
- Potential
cumulative
environmental
impacts
to
the
Sheyenne
and
Red
rivers,
including
effects
of
the
proposed
Devils
Lake
outlet
as
well
as
other
reasonably
foreseeable
discharges
or
withdrawals.
- Impacts
on
cultural
resources
such
as
historic,
archaeological,
architectural,
or
traditional
properties.
- Socioeconomic
impacts
on
affected
communities
related
to
long-term
water
supply
and
management.
- Environmental
justice,
particularly
whether
or
not
water
management
activities
have
a
disproportionately
high
and
adverse
effect
on
minority
and
low-income
populations.
- Compliance
with
all
applicable
Federal,
State,
and
local
statutes
and
regulations
and
with
international
agreements
and
required
Federal
and
State
environmental
permits,
consultations,
and
notifications.
- Compliance
with
all
applicable
Executive
Orders.
Reclamation
and
the
Garrison Diversion
plan
to
issue
the
draft
EIS
by
December
2005.
Reclamation
and
the
U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
will
separately
publish
notices
of
availability
of
the
draft
EIS
in
the
Federal
Register.
Reclamation
and
Garrison Diversion
will
publicize
the
availability
of
the
draft
EIS
in
other
media
and
will
provide
opportunities
for
Federal,
State,
local
and
tribal
government
agencies,
non-governmental
organizations,
the
general
public,
and
the
international
community
to
participate
in
additional
information
forums
and
to
submit
comments.
- · Monday,
October
28,
2002
,
7:00
p.m.
,
Fargo
,
North
Dakota
,
Fargo
Civic
Auditorium,
207
4th
Street
North
,
lower
level,
Room
A
- · Tuesday,
October
29,
2002
,
7:00
p.m.
,
Valley
City
,
North
Dakota
,
AmericInn
Hotel,
330
Wintershow
Road
- · Wednesday,
October
30,
2002
,
7:00
p.m.
,
Grand
Forks
,
North
Dakota
,
Grand
Forks
City
Council
Chambers,
225
North
4th
Street
,
third
floor
- · Wednesday,
November
6,
2002,
7:00
p.m.,
Pembina,
North
Dakota,
Pembina
State
Museum,
Exit
215
off
of
Interstate
29,
805
Highway
59
- · Thursday,
November
7,
2002,
7:00
p.m.,
Wahpeton,
North
Dakota,
Wahpeton
City
Hall,
1900
4th
Street
North,
Community
Room
- · Friday,
November
8,
2002,
1:00
p.m.,
Bismarck,
North
Dakota,
Doublewood
Hotel,
Interstate
94
and
Exit
159.
Issues
raised
at
the
scoping
meetings
will
be
documented
in
the
Scope
of
Statement
(SOS)
for
the
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project
EIS.
The
objectives
of
this
report
are
to
summarize
the
essence
of
the
comments
in
a
clear
and
concise
manner
and
to
accurately
portray
the
scope
of
the
EIS.
The
SOS
will
be
distributed
to
public
libraries
near
the
meeting
locations,
posted
on
Reclamation’s
Red
River
Valley
Water
Supply
Project
EIS
web
page,
and
mailed
upon
request.
Comments
received
in
response
to
this
notice
will
become
part
of
the
administrative
record
for
this
project
and
are
subject
to
public
inspection.
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
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.
Dated:
September
12,
2002
/s/Maryanne
C.
Bach
Maryanne
C.
Bach
Regional
Director
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