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In Phase H, each of the demonstration projects had to prepare a definitive plan for water <br />quality monitoring and quality control procedures for approval prior to construction and <br />recharge operations. On January 26, 1989, EPA issued its groundwater monitoring policy <br />for the High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program in a joint memorandum <br />signed by Marian Mlay, Director of the EPA Office of Groundwater Protection, and <br />Michael B. Cook, Director of the EPA Office of Drinking Water. <br />The "Mlay- Cook" memorandum provided guidance to project sponsors on groundwater <br />protection goals and procedures for determining the project hydrogeologic framework, <br />selecting water quality constituents, collecting baseline data, and determining monitoring <br />frequencies. Technical details of the monitoring strategy are described later in this section <br />under the topic of water quality protection and in the description of project development <br />activities summarized in Section 3. <br />A preliminary environmental review was completed for the 21 demonstration projects in <br />compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A program review and <br />environmental assessment (EA) was completed, resulting in an interim determination of <br />"finding of no significant impact" based on projected duration of the demonstration phase <br />activities and providing the projects were restored to preproject conditions. <br />Several projects underwent additional review in accordance with NEPA provisions to <br />transfer ownership of recharge facilities to the sponsors for continued operations at the <br />end of the program. Further information regarding the demonstration project operations, <br />monitoring, and final project termination is provided in the project summary reports. <br />Interagency Coordination <br />Effective coordination was essential to achieve the overall program objectives, given the <br />different project locations, water management circumstances, and the array of agencies <br />and organizations involved in the program. Interagency coordination was important to <br />promote consistency in project planning and environmental issues, facilitate cooperative <br />participation and budget administration, and compile information needed to summarize <br />project results and address the program evaluation issues. <br />During Phase I, the program coordination activities centered on working with State and <br />Federal agencies to solicit and evaluate proposals for demonstration projects. Proposals <br />were submitted by sponsor organizations through their respective Governor's offices. <br />Reclamation worked cooperatively with various resource management agencies, water <br />districts, sponsors, and consultants on a case -by -case basis to evaluate the demonstration <br />projects and develop detailed implementation plans. During Phase I, the project planning <br />and review activities of Reclamation, EPA, USGS, non - Federal participants, and project <br />sponsors were coordinated as much as possible to develop working relationships, reduce <br />administrative costs, and take advantage of the available information and resources. <br />Program Summary Report Part 1— Overview, Results, and Findings 2.5 <br />