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<br />000614 <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />preparing our final system design. We feel that extensive testing is <br /> <br />necessary to firm up the cost estimates and amount of water to be <br /> <br />salvaged before we initiate construction. <br /> <br />Concurrently with preparation of the definite. plan report we will initiate <br /> <br /> <br />preparation of an environmental impact statement as required by the <br /> <br /> <br />National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This impact statement would <br /> <br /> <br />present a project description and evaluation of the total nonmonetary <br /> <br /> <br />project benefits and cost as related to the environment. A final environ- <br /> <br /> <br />mental impact statement was previously filed with the Council on Environ- <br /> <br /> <br />mental Quality for the Closed Basin Division in 1971. This statement <br /> <br /> <br />was considered adequate under the requirements of the Council on Environ- <br /> <br />mental Quality at that time. However, new guidelines and requirements <br /> <br />dictate that we prepare a new statement now. The National Environmental <br /> <br />Policy Act requires that a statement be filed with the Council on Environ- <br /> <br /> <br />mental Quality before initiation of construction. Preparation of an EIS <br /> <br /> <br />. is a critical and important step. This document must consider the overall <br /> <br /> <br />environment including fish and wildlife, archeology, social effects, etc. <br /> <br />So you can see that much data-gathering and assimilation is required. We <br />have to describe the existing environment and project the future err~iron- <br /> <br />ment, both wich ;and without the proposal. <br /> <br />Then all of this information must be compiled into s stateme~t and <br /> <br /> <br />circulated for review within the Bureau. After receiving comments, we <br /> <br /> <br />revise it as necessary and file it with CEQ as a draft EIS. Then a 90-day <br /> <br /> <br />review period follows during which anyone is invited to comment. We <br /> <br />12 <br />