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PROJECTS <br />WISP <br />By Lori Ozzelio <br />ANALYSIS IS 'THE HEART OF NEPA' <br />MAGINE YOU HAVE A SECTION OF AN <br />ELABORATE, PRECIOUS TAPESTRY TO <br />EXAMINE AND PERHAPS ALTER. <br />You're not allowed to just pull a thread out. If you <br />choose one, you have to trace its path as it weaves <br />through the entire pattern. Consider everything it <br />touches, along with any other threads you might <br />consider pulling, and what the combined and individual effects <br />will be. Document the possibilities carefully. <br />While you do that, solve a complicated math problem and <br />discuss several deep philosophical questions. Take careful notes. <br />Type it all up. <br />That should give you a basic idea of what the alternatives <br />analysis process is like. <br />"We go through all of the alternatives identified by the <br />enterprise and any identified by the public, screen those down <br />and carry a reasonable range forward to the (environmental <br />impact statement) document," explained Chandler Peter, U.S. <br />Army Corps of Engineers' regulatory project manager. Based in <br />Cheyenne, Wyo., he's overseeing the analysis for the Northern <br />Integrated Supply Project and a handful of other proposed <br />Western water projects. <br />"The things that pop out of the analysis become bona fide <br />alternatives," said NISP Project Manager Carl Brouwer. <br />The complex government permitting process includes <br />compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act as well <br />as the National Environmental Policy Act, including the <br />alternatives analysis and preparation of an EIS. The menu <br />of items to be considered, studied, screened and verified is <br />colossal. <br />NISP is in the midst of what's expected to be a year of <br />alternatives analysis, what Peter calls "the heart of the NEPA <br />document." A team of consultants working with Peter and <br />adhering to specific criteria, will narrow down the 200 -plus <br />possibilities to four or five. That handful will be included in a <br />draft environmental impact statement, scheduled for release at <br />the end of 2005. Participants anticipate a final EIS a year later. <br />Peter not only considers the alternatives' merits, but also how <br />each interacts with others in Colorado. <br />Peter and his team are "in a review mode, validating and <br />confirming, as well as going out to some sites and conducting <br />technical studies." The 15 NISP participants and the District, <br />he said, did a lot of homework up front, which saved the <br />team a lot of time. Plus, others compiled a wealth of historic <br />information about these sites over the years. <br />"There has been a lot of work on the Front Range on where <br />to get water," Peter said. "We're looking at all these options. We <br />have to go through a very specific process to get to this. <br />"On the other side of the equation, we also have to look <br />at where the water is coming from. Is it drying up land or <br />developing existing rights? It's very complex. We have to <br />Photo by Nicole Selka, <br />formulate screens, look at the screening process. The screens <br />can't be arbitrary. We have specific criteria: costs, logistics, <br />technology, environmental consequences, and defined purpose <br />and need." <br />Vegetation, species of concern, cultural resources, wildlife <br />and wetlands are being specifically examined at NISP <br />participants' preferred alternative sites and at those studied in- <br />depth in the EIS, Peter said. Species of concern include animals <br />listed as threatened or endangered, or of state concern. Cultural <br />resources may include archaeological sites, historic structures, <br />landscapes and objects. <br />► Is a coordinated effort by 15 cities, District, Little Thompson Water <br />towns and water districts; District, Morgan County Quality Water, <br />► Is comprised of Berthoud, Central North Weld County Water District, <br />Weld County Water District, Eaton, Severance and Windsor;' <br />Evans, Erie, Fort Collins- Loveland As participants envision it includes <br />Water District, Fort Lupton, Fort two reservoirs, Glade and Galeton; / <br />Morgan; Lafayette;' Left Hand WAter, with 170,000 and 30,0,90 ajre feet�oi` <br />10 ,' 12QO y` <br />storage, respectively; <br />► Has a firm yield of approximately <br />35,000 ac4- feetof water for its <br />participants; <br />i Carries a $37,0 million pricetag for <br />the reservoirs, pump plants, pipelines <br />and reOuired canal im `ti a gs <br />