WSP11175 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

In June 1970 the Corps of Engineers' project for Safford Valley, Arizona, was stopped by a temporary Injunction Issued at the request of conserva- tion clubs by the U. S. District Court for Arizona, on the grounds that an environmental Impact statement had not been filed. The case was appealed by the Federal Government on the grounds that NEPA did not apply. In December 1972 a stipulated agreement was entered In the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which stated that the United States would with- draw the appeal; that the $20,000 bond posted by the conservation clubs would be returned; that the United States would bear the costs that the conservation clubs incurred on appeal; that within 45 days after the Court entered the order, the Corps would file an environmental impact statement with the Council on Environmental Quality; and that the conser- vation clubs would have 10 days thereafter to take any further action. On March 9, 1973, the environmental impact statement was filed with the Council on Environmental Quality. On April 2, 1973, the appeal was dis- missed and the action returned to the U. S. District Court for Arizona, with the temporary injunction still in force. By letter dated May 4, 1973, the U. S. Attorney requested the Corps to determine If it still wishes to proceed with the project. The Soil ConserVation Service is preparing a national inventory of brush ,encroachment primarily on range land. This Inventory covers only private land. Three classifications will be made: (I) Major problem areas where brush encroachment has resulted In almost a complete change in vegetation cover and requires mechanical treatment to reestablish productive range vegetation; (2) Moderate problem areas where brush species have increased but have not seriously affected range and can be controlled through proper range management; and (3) Areas where no brush problems of consequence occur. The inventory will contain acreages in each state of the three classes of brush problems, a list of brush species involved, and a map delineating the problem areas. The Bureau of Reclamation reported on phreatophyte control projects on the Middle Rio Grande area of New Mexico; the Rio Grande Project In Texas; Pecos River Basin Salvage Project, New Mexico; and reviewed a summary report of operations and results of the Bernardo Evapotranspi~ rometers at Bernardo, New Mexico. On May 18, 1973, the Central New Mexico Audubon Society, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southwest Research and Information Center, New Mexico Citizens for Clean Air and Water, and Messrs. Charles A. Hundert- mark, Jr., Charles A. Hyder, and Don Bertholomey, filed a Civil Action No. 10118 against the Bureau of Reclamation to enjoin salt cedar eradi- cation projects pending environmental impact studies on Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs. A hearing was held on June 11 before Judge Edwin L. Mecham. The judge asked for briefing information and has taken the case under advisement. 20