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<br />CHAPTER 1 <br />PURPOSE AND NEED <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The purpose of this report is to present the environmental <br />impacts that would occur if the alternatives of the AB Lateral <br />Hydropower Facility were constructed and operated. The facility <br />would be funded, built, and operated by the Uncompahgre Valley <br />Water Users Association (UVWUA) and Montrose Partners, referred <br />to as the "Sponsors" in this document. <br /> <br />The Sponsors plan to construct the AB Lateral Hydropower Facility <br />using existing features of the Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation <br />Project (referred to throughout this report as the UVRP), a <br />Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) irrigation project. They are <br />seeking a contract (lease of, power privilege) with Reclamation <br />that would permit using UVRP features for generating <br />hydroelectric power. <br /> <br />In 1987 and 1988, Reclamation prepared an environmental <br />assessment (EA) to address project related impacts. Public <br />scoping meetings were held in November 1987, in Denver and <br />Montrose, Colorado. Approximately 200 copies of the draft EA <br />were distributed to agencies and interested members of the public <br />in Marchand April 1988. Based largely on comments received in <br />response to the EA, Reclamation determined that an environmental <br />impact statement (EIS) for the facility should be prepared. <br />Reclamation prepared this draft EIS using information provided by <br />various agencies, organizations, and consultants. <br /> <br />Location, <br /> <br />The facility, which would be located in west-central Colorado <br />near the city of Montrose, would use the existing Gunnison <br />Diversion Dam, Gunnison Tunnel, part of the South Canal, and an <br />enlarged AB Lateral near Montrose to deliver water to a proposed <br />penstock and powerplant. <br /> <br />Authorization <br /> <br />Hydropower development in association with the UVRP was <br />authorized by the Act of June 22, 1938 (Public Law 76-698, <br />Stat. 941) (the Act). Reclamation published a notice of intent <br />to contract for hydropower development on the UVRP in the <br />December 9, 1985, issue of the Federal Register (50 FR 50238) . <br />Reclamation received one proposal in response to the Federal <br />Register notice, the proposal submitted by the Sponsors. <br />Reclamation and the Sponsors subsequently signed an agreement on <br />