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FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL <br />ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT <br />ANIMAS -LA PLATA PROJECT <br />COLORADO -NEW MEXICO <br />Prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, <br />Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Salt Lake City <br />in Cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, <br />Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Southern Ute Indian Tribe <br />This Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Animas -La Plata Project (ALP <br />Project) has been prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It has <br />been prepared by the Department of the Interior (Interior) through the Bureau of Reclamation <br />(Reclamation) and in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ute <br />Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes (Colorado Ute Tribes). The FSEIS has been prepared <br />under the provisions of Public Law (P.L.) 93 -638, the Indian Self Determination and Education <br />Assistance Act, to evaluate the potential impacts of implementing the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights <br />Settlement Act of 1988 (P.L. 100 -585) (Settlement Act). The Settlement Act provides the Colorado Ute <br />Tribes with an assured long -term water supply in order to satisfy the Colorado Ute Tribes' senior water <br />rights claims. EPA is also a cooperating agency with Reclamation on this FSEIS; however, EPA's <br />participation does not necessarily represent agreement with Reclamation on the issues addressed in this <br />FSEIS. <br />In order to meet these senior water rights claims, a modified ALP Project has been evaluated which <br />would divert flows of the Animas and San Juan Rivers in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New <br />Mexico. Reclamation and Interior now propose to construct a 120,000 acre -foot reservoir in Ridges <br />Basin near Durango and implement a water acquisition fund in order to meet the Settlement Act and <br />other project purposes. The ALP Project would supply municipal and industrial water to the Colorado <br />Ute Tribes and other project beneficiaries (e.g., the Navajo Nation, the Animas -La Plata Water <br />Conservancy District, and the San Juan Water Commission). The development of this proposed action <br />and its alternatives are described in this report. <br />A number of project alternatives, consisting of both structural and non - structural components, are <br />evaluated in this FSEIS. New or updated information is included relative to hydrology, water quality, <br />endangered species, wildlife, geology, soils, wetlands, cultural resources, recreation, socioeconomic <br />issues, Environmental Justice, Indian Trust Assets, and the San Juan River Basin Recovery <br />Implementation Program. <br />This FSEIS supplements previous NEPA documents that have been prepared by Reclamation for the ALP <br />Project: <br />Final Statement No. 1NT -FES 80 -18, dated July 1, 1980 <br />Draft Supplement to the FES No. INT -DES 92-41, dated October 13, 1992 <br />Final Supplement to the FES No. 96 -23, dated April 26, 1996 <br />Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement No. INT - DSEIS 00 -02 <br />Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement No. INT -FES 00 -23 <br />Date filed with EPA: <br />