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<br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " Animas-La Plata <br /> <br />Status of NEP A <br />compliance <br /> <br />Other information <br /> <br />Appropriation <br />ceiling <br /> <br />A project-wide final environmental impact statement was filed with <br />Environmental Protection Agency July 1,1960. In April 1992, the decision <br />was made to supplement this document. The final supplement to the Final <br />Environmental Statement is scheduled to be filed with.the Environmental <br />Protection Agency in 1996. <br /> <br />The Animas-La Plata project as authorized would be developed in two <br />Phases: Phase I provides irrigation service for 42,615 acres, municipal and <br />industrial water service, and some recreation and fish and wildlife features <br />with a total estimated cost of $551,420,000 (October 1996 price levels). <br />Physical features are described later in this section. Phase \I would be <br />financed and constructed by non-Federal entities, including remaining <br />irrigation features, recreation, fish and wildlife facilities, and cultural <br />resources activities. <br /> <br />On October 25,1991, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final biological <br />opinion for the Animas-La Plata Project on Federally listed endangered <br />species. The final biological opinion contains a reasonable and prudent <br />altemative that, in the opinion of the Service, would avoid the likelihood of <br />jeopardy to the Colorado squawfish. The final opinion replaced the draft <br />biological opinion issued on May 7, 1990, which stated that the project was <br />likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Colorado squawfish. Due <br />to updated information regarding the Colorado squawfish and razorback <br />sucker and designation of their critical habitat, on June 2, 1995, <br />Reclamation requested reinitiation of formal consultation for the project. A <br />final biological opinion was issued on February 26, 1996. <br /> <br />Construction of project features in Phase I would be in two stages. Staae A <br />would include Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir, Ridges Basin Inlet <br />Conduit, and Durango Pumping Plant, and would not be initiated before <br />completion of the Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement; <br />a record of decision, and a notice to start construction.' Stace B'as <br />proposed includes Southern Ute Diversion Dam, Red Mesa Pumping Plant, <br />Dry Side Canal, Long Hollow Tunnel, Southern Ute Inlet and Interim <br />Irrigation Canal, and a number of laterals and drains. <br /> <br />Appropriations authorized are $1,446,654,000 (October 1996) for this and <br />other projects authorized under Title V of Public Law 90-537. The projects <br />authorized under this title include, in addition to Animas-La Plata, Dolores, <br />Dallas Creek, San Miguel, and West Divide. The comparable estimated <br />total Federal obligation for these projects is $1,712,635,000 which exceeds <br />the appropriation ceiling by more than the amount of contingencies included <br />in the obligation for the completion of all projects. As there are presently no <br />plans to commit substantial federal funds for the San Miguel and the West <br />Divide projects, current commitments will be held within the existing ceiling. <br /> <br />In response to the Office of the Inspector General's audit recommendations <br />in its review of the Hoover Visitor Facilities Program, the appropriation <br /> <br />Construction - 201 <br /> <br />------------------ <br /> <br />~ , -,. <br />