<br />. consensus-based management, where possible, to reduce conflict and enhance cooperative problem-
<br />solving;
<br />. adaptive management, as appropriate, to improve the use of science and monitoring;
<br />. improvements in the NEP A process made by drawing from existing analyses, where appropriate
<br />. integration of several simultaneous analyses rather than sequencing them; and,
<br />. building project-specific analysis from existing, broader programmatic analysis.
<br />
<br />The department's policies are posted in its Electronic Library at: http://elips.doi.gov. More information can be
<br />found on the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance's web site at: hUp://vv'\vw.doi.Q"Uv/oepc/nnn.html
<br />
<br />USGS Graphically Illustrates Growth: A new publication from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), "Urban
<br />Growth in American Cities," provides a view of urbanization in 16 metropolitan areas by describing spatial
<br />changes in landscape characteristics. The 52-page booklet features contrasting image pairs from the early 1970's
<br />and 1990' s that illustrate the extent of urban development in the selected metropolitan areas.
<br />
<br />Supporting data were derived from archived satellite images that are available through The National Map
<br />!1t!!'.d{ggl!Q"!E!!n!~!'.:~1H~g?.~g.Q~d.
<br />
<br />The 16 metropolitan areas included in the study were Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas,
<br />Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, Reno-Sparks, Sacramento,
<br />Seattle-Tacoma and Tampa-St.Petersburg.
<br />
<br />For further information on this topic, visit http://gam.usgs.Rov/index.shtml. Copies of "Urban Growth in
<br />American Cities" are available by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS and requesting USGS Circular 1252.
<br />
<br />America's Thirst Remains Stable: Water use has remained fairly stable since 2000, according to a new report
<br />released on Mar.ll by the USGS. The report shows that in 2000, Americans used 408 billion gallons of water
<br />per day, a number that has remained fairly stable since 1985. In the report, "Estimated Use of Water in the
<br />United States in 2000," USGS researchers found that largest water users are power generation, agriculture and
<br />public water supply. The USGS report also finds that the personal use of water is rising.
<br />
<br />Power generators make up 48 percent of the usage. Irrigation is 34 percent of the total and public supply (that
<br />delivers water to homes, businesses, and industries) accounts for 11 percent of daily water usage. Self-supplied
<br />industrial users, livestock, mining, aquaculture and domestic wells, taken together, account for about 7 percent
<br />of the Nation's daily water usage.
<br />
<br />The full report is available online at: http://pubs.water.usQ'-s.Q'-ov/circ1268/. Additional water use information is
<br />available at: http://water.usgsoguv/\vahlse/.
<br />
<br />New Land Survey Web Site: On April 12 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) launched a new web site
<br />that provides data standards for land records information and the Cadastral National Spatial Data Infrastructure
<br />(Cadastral NSDI). The new web site is located at hltp://www.nationalcad.on,.
<br />South Florida WMD v. Miccosukee: The Miccosukee Tribe has filed a Petition for Rehearing with the U.S.
<br />Supreme Court, asking that the Court revise two statements in its Mar. 23 opinion to reflect that the Tribe
<br />argued a permit would be required even if the water is moved within the same water body, and that the Tribe
<br />defended the district and appellate courts' decision that the water bodies are distinct, because were it not for
<br />pumping, the source water would not flow into the receiving water. The Court rejected the South Florida Water
<br />Management District's argument that the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) only
<br />requires a permit if pollutants are added by a point source, and not when pollutants originating elsewhere merely
<br />pass through a "conveyance," such as South Florida's pumping stations.
<br />
<br />However, the Court vacated the lower courts' decisions and remanded the case for further proceedings and
<br />findings of material fact to determine whether the waters involved are in fact two hydrologically
<br />indistinguishable parts of a single water body. The Court also instructed the district court to consider the
<br />government's "unitary waters theory," which is that all navigable waters are deemed to be one water for Clean
<br />Water Act (CW A) purposes. A favorable ruling on either question would negate the need for an NPDES permit.
<br />The changes the Tribe seeks would go directly to these issues. On May 13, the Court will consider the petition.
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