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<br />OMW A Selenium Remediation Project-Final Environmental Assessment <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />All construction contracts would have "Stop Work" clauses that would require the contractor to <br />stop construction activities if threatened or endangered species are encountered. If this would <br />occur, construction would be haIted until consultation with the Service was completed. <br /> <br />Water Rii!:hts and Water Uses <br /> <br />The OMW A receives irrigation drainage and tail water from irrigation on Orchard Mesa via the <br />OM 4 Drain. This water is used to replace wildlife habitat associated with the Grand Valley <br />Salinity Control Project. Water rights and water uses will not be affected by the Preferred <br />Alternative and no new water diversions would occur. <br /> <br />Historical and Cultural Resources <br /> <br />Historical and cultural resource surveys were completed when the property was purchased by <br />Reclamation in 1997. No sites were documented, therefore the Preferred Alternative would not <br />affect historical or culture resources. All construction contracts would have "Stop Work Clauses" <br />that would require the contractor to stop construction activities if cultural resources are <br />encountered. If this would occur, construction would be halted until consultation with the State <br />Historical Preservation Officer was completed. <br /> <br />Indian Trust Assets <br /> <br />Indian trust assets are legal interests in property held in trust by the United States for Indian tribes <br />or individuals. Reclamation and other Federal agencies share the responsibility to protect these <br />assets. There have been no trust assets identified in the project area, and therefore no impact on <br />these assets is predicted. <br /> <br />Environmental.Justice <br /> <br />Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice provides that Federal agencies analyze programs <br />to assure that they do not disproportionately adversely affect minority or low income populations <br />or Indian tribes. There are no potentially affected populations in the project area and no adverse <br />affects on environmental justice are predicted. <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 aquatic birds. <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 between August 1 Sl and December 30m to reduce impacts to <br />