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<br />E~VIRO)l.1EXrAL IHPACT STATINENT <br /> <br />by <br />Ech..ard R. Harris <br />Bureau of Recl&~ation <br /> <br />I believe the first outline for an environmental stateI!lent for the SCPP <br />\...-as dated early 1974. We have learned many new things about atmospheric <br />processes in the Sierra );evada since then and the design of the SCPP has <br />eyolved accordingly. As the physical design for the project evolves, of <br />course, the enviroIla'1lental analysis I1Ust also evolve. 1hat is the intent <br />of the Xational Environmental Policy Act. <br /> <br />Writing an enviroIlagental statement for a research project leads to some <br />interesting considerations in deciding how we differ from traditional <br />construction or developoent environmental statenent processes, because <br />a research project by its very nature is designed to seek answers to <br />questions, not to forecast anSW"ers. ~'fany of the questions can be answered <br />only \..-hen the field \.:ork is completed, the data reduced and the analysis <br />accooplished. Therefore, \ie do not have a definitive collection of <br />opinions and judgments about this. project as one night have about con- <br />structing a certain size da:1l or canal or highwa.y, at a certain location, <br />for use at a certain date. <br /> <br />In spite of the difficulties in judging environmental effects of research <br />efforts, a progra~~tic environmental statement for Project Sky~ater was <br />completed, and the final stateilent has been filed vnth the CDuncil on <br />fnviro:m:lental Q.1ality. The prograrnatic statenent is the foundation for <br />a specific state-llent for the SCPP. <br /> <br />Last year we completed an L~-house draft of major sections of a site- <br />specific impact statement for the SCPP. This effort relied on the pro- <br />ject infonnation available at that tilne. The description of the project <br />section \...as based on the information provided us by the ~'ffi.A. report about <br /> <br />-9- <br />