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<br />11 <br /> <br />Summary and Environmental Commitments <br /> <br />The primary effect of the Preferred Alternative would reduce the concentration of selenium within <br />the East and West backwater on the Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area. This would in turn reduce the <br />likelihood of bio-accumulation in endangered fishes and waterfowl. <br /> <br />Wildlife would be impacted by increased noise and activity during construction and by the loss of <br />wetlands associated with the construction of the pipeline. The impacts would be mitigated by <br />restricting the construction activity to the fall to reduce impacts to nesting and winter wildlife. <br />Mitigation for impacts to wetlands would be approved by the Service and the Army Corps of <br />Engineers. <br /> <br />CHAPTER IV - CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION <br /> <br />General <br /> <br />During the development of the alternatives for selenium remediation for the Orchard Mesa <br />Wildlife Area, public scoping was conducted. A pre-stamped comment card was provided with the <br />74 copies of the newsletter that were distributed. Five responses were received. Following the <br />development of a final array alternatives, the newsletter concept was again used to distribute the <br />information and obtain input. The local irrigation district manager and others agreed this would be <br />appropriate based on the level of stakeholder interest. <br /> <br />The comment cards returned by the stakeholders showed Alternative 2 as the most favored but no <br />, action was a close second. There was also a consensus that we should not do any harm to the <br />OMW A. The comments were generally taken to be an encouragement to do the minimum <br />necessary to remove the hazard and make sure we do not create any new hazards or spend too <br />many dollars on something that the river will reclaim. This all fit with the ID Team's objectives. <br /> <br />Following the NIWQP's decision on whether to implement the Preferred Alternative, the <br />stakeholders would be informed of the decision and the plan for implementation, again by <br />newsletter. Throughout the process, stakeholder input has been vital in helping the team make <br />appropriate decisions. <br /> <br />Interagency consultation included Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, Service, Army Corp of <br />Engineers, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and Mesa Land Trust. <br />