BOARD00310

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/2004
• Description: WSP Section - Gunnison Basin Programmatic Biological Opinion ‎(PBO)‎ Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Agenda Item 26
January 27.28, 2()()4 Board MeeTIng
Page 7 of9

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conduct the EIS with the objective of "implementing the flow recommendations or a reasonable
alternative thereto," while meeting the authorized purposes of the Aspinall project, Le"
irrigation, flood control, fish and wildlife, compact administration, hydropower, and
municipaVindustrial use, Reclamation's job is to determine the most reasonable operation of
Aspinall in light of the flow recommendations, Black Canyon settlement, and authorized
purposes,

2. Aspinall EIS

Reclamation will initiate the Aspinall EIS shortly after receiving the final flow recommendations
report from USFWS. This is expected by July 1.

Reclamation outlined a four-year EIS process that will begin in the latter half of 2003 and be
completed in the latter half of 2007.

First year (2003-04) - Activities will include the scoping process and development of the
environmental baseline. The scoping process will probably take place in August and September
2003, It will include public meetings and meetings with key agencies and interests groups, such
as water users, environmentalists, state agencies, other federal agencies, recreation interests,
River District, etc. Reclamation will develop the purpose and needs statement and a description
of the proposed action for the scoping process,

.

Second year (2004-05) - In the second year, Reclamation will define alternatives to the proposed
action and initiate data collection.

Third year (2005-06) - During the third year, Reclamation will develop the public review draft
and conduct public meetings, as well as develop the biological assessment,

Fourth year ( 2006-07) - In the fourth year, Reclamation will complete ESA compliance for
Aspinall and issue the record of decision,

EIS Baseline: Existing projects and depletions will be included in the baseline. The criteria for
including future projects or actions in the baseline are generally as follows, according to
Reclamation: Projects or actions which have completed both NEPA compliance and ESA
compliance will be included in the baseline, These projects will be identified during the scoping
_ process, If parties want to suggest items for inclusion in the baseline, they should do so during
the scoping process.

A question was raised regarding the AB Lateral. Given that it has completed both ESA and
NEP A compliance, it appears that it would be eligible for conclusion in the baseline. Likewise,
with Redlands fish screen and fish ladder operations.

Development of alternatives: There are many possibilities for alternatives, both structural and
non-structural. All alternatives will be identified, In the process, several will be dismissed, i,e"
removal of the dam and other alternatives which are beyond the scope of the purpose and need.
The feasible alternatives that will likely emerge for serious consideration will involve operational