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<br />Scoping - Continued from Page 2 <br /> <br />Comments from scoping are being used to: <br /> <br />. Identify issues associated with the proposed action and <br />its purpose and need <br /> <br />. Identify other significant resources that may be affected <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Identify the interested party or parties affected by the <br />proposed action <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Assist with the development of reasonable alternatives <br />consistent with the intent of the flow recommendations <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Identify and de-emphasize insignificant issues <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Assist with determining a reasonable geographic scope <br />of the EIS (how far upstream/downstream from the dam <br />impacts can be meaningfully evaluated) <br /> <br />I: ,- \...:~ - j i' , <br /> <br />Following conclusion of the formal public scoping period, <br />Reclamation evaluated the cards. letters. e-mails. and <br />comments submitted at the public scoping meetings. Over <br />2,000 written responses were received, and nearly 200 people <br />participated in the five public meetings held in mid-July in <br />Salt Lake City, Vernal. Fort Duchesne, Rock Springs, and <br />Grand Junction. Many of those who commented at the <br />scoping meetings also sent in written comments. <br /> <br />Based on the scoping results and existing laws and <br />regulations, the EIS will contain an analysis of the following <br />issues and resources of concern: <br /> <br />. Aquatic resources <br /> <br />. Biodiversity <br /> <br />. Cultural resources <br /> <br />Disease vectors (mosquitoes) <br /> <br />. EIS process (proposed action. purpose and need. scope, <br />alternati ves) <br /> <br />. Environmental justice <br /> <br />. Facilities (dam and powerplant operations and <br />maintenance. dam safety) <br /> <br />. Indian trust assets <br /> <br />. Recreational user fees <br /> <br />Riparian/wetlands <br /> <br />. Fish and wildlife (other than endangered species! <br /> <br />. Land use (agriculture. national parks) <br /> <br />Power generation and marketing <br /> <br />Reservoir limnology <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />River and reservoir fisheries <br /> <br />River and reservoir recreation <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Setting (geology. climate) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Socio-economics (tourism-related jobs. income) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Threatened and endangered species <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Water (conservation, drought. flood control, river flows. <br />water quality, water rights. water safety. water supply, <br />water temperature. and water use) <br /> <br />The Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam EIS will also include <br />a discussion of the following topics: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Direct and indirect impacts <br /> <br />Cumulative impacts <br /> <br />. Unavoidable adverse impacts <br /> <br />. Impacts on other Federal and non-Federal projects and <br />plans <br /> <br />. Alternatives to the proposed action <br /> <br />. Alternatives considered but eliminated from further <br />study <br /> <br />. Mitigation measures/environmental commitments <br /> <br />. <br />. Relationship between short-term uses and long-term <br />productivity <br /> <br />Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources <br /> <br />. Adaptive management <br /> <br />The form letters and e-mail messages primarily supported <br />implementation of the flow recommendations for endangered <br />fish in the Green River. with many calling for an evaluation <br />of decommissioning the dam. The signed petitions supported <br />the existing reservoir and river recreation uses, including the <br />trout fishery. The comment letters reflected the spectrum of <br />both of these concerns. but in more detail. <br /> <br />See Scopillg, Palie 7 <br /> <br />POlie 3 <br />