WSP11307 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I A FEIS (FES-96-48) was completed in September 1996 for the Southern Nevada Water Authority Treatment and Transmission Facility (SNW A- TTF). A Record of Decision for the SNWA-TTF was approved on November 11,1996, Reclamation initiated informal consultation for the SNW A- TTF with a BA on May 4, 1995. In a memorandum dated June 5, 1995, the Service concurred with Reclamation's determination that construction of the SNWA-TTF (1) Will not affect boneytail chub, southwestern willow flycatcher, California brown pelican, or California least tern; (2) is not likely to adversely affect bald eagle, peregrine falcon, or razorback sucker; and (3) is likely to affect desert tortoise. Five different intake, tunnel locations, and pipeline alignments were being considered at the time, and the Service advised Reclamation the Formal consultation of the effects of the proposed action on the desert tortoise would be initiated upon notification of selection of a preferred alternative. Reclamation requested formal consultation for the desert tortoise for the preferred alternative SI- lC on August 15, 1995. Reclamation received a non-jeopardy BO for desert tortoise and critical habitat for the proposed SNW A- TTF on September 1996, Reclamation and SNW A are implementing the Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPM) with their implementing terms and conditions to minimize incidental take of desert tortoise. The Service incorporated by reference 54 mitigation measures from Reclamation's Description of the Proposed Action into the BO, The BO incorporated provisions of the Clark County Desert Conservation Plan-1995. Reclamation and SNW A's mitigation measures, RPM's, and terms and conditions are included in Reclamation's Environmental Commitment Plan approved as part of the ROD, . Lower Colorado River On the lower Colorado River, Reclamation has consulted formally and informally with the Service on over 37 projects (BCOTable 15), In February 1995 Reclamation began the informal consultation process with the Service to discuss the development of a Biological Assessment (BA) for operations and maintenance of the lower Colorado River affecting parts of Arizona, California and Nevada. The target for the final BA was November 1995, In August of 1995 accelerated efforts of the Lower Colorado Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), and a strategy to unite the section 7 consultation process and the section 10 processes of the ESA into one plan for the entire area, caused a slowing of the informal consultation process, Due to public uncertainty about the MSCP process, Reclamation continued preparation of the BA and published a public review draft in March 1996, the same month that the two agencies executed a consultation agreement. A final biological assessment titled Description And Assessment Of Operations, Maintenance, And Sensitive Species Of The Lower Colorado River was completed in August 1996 for the Service and the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. On August 9, 1996, Reclamation initiated formal consultation and conference with the Service which was received on August 15, 1996 and further acknowledged on October 4, 1996. The Service issued a Final Biological and Conference Opinion (BCO) on Lower Colorado River Operations and Maintenance-Lake Mead to Southerly International Boundary on April 30, 1997. LC Region DEAl! 3 12/97