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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 /> ki <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. INT-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 />