Laserfiche WebLink
<br />COMMENTS ON THE DEIS NAVAJO RESERVOIR OPERATIONS <br />Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources & Department of Justice <br />Page 14 <br /> <br />for Blocks 1 through 8 did not require reoperation of Navajo Dam: <br />however, that biological opinion was issued after the October 25. <br />1991 bi ologi cal opi ni on for ALP that requi red Navaj 0 Dam to be <br />operated consistent with the flows that would be determined as a <br />result of the seven-year research program as to the flow <br />requirements for the endangered fish. The Service has never opined <br />that reoperation of Navajo Dam is necessary for the development of <br />NIIP through Block 8: however. it is likely that the Service would <br />request that consultation be reinitiated pursuant to 50 CFR S <br />402.16 if Navajo Dam were not operated consi stent wi th the Flow <br />Recommendations. Thus, the DEIs understates the potential adverse <br />impacts on NIIP if the No Action Alternative were implemented. <br /> <br />Comment 36. 111-122. Jicarilla Apache Nation Third-party Contract <br />wi th PNI1 <br /> <br />The IMPLAN model should include the impacts of losing the <br />water supply to the San Juan Generating Station and the mines. It <br />should also include the impacts at TeePee Junction if that area is <br />not able to receive water from the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply <br />Project. <br /> <br />Comment 37. 111-123 Bottom Paragraph through 111-124 <br /> <br />The DEIs assumes a linear correlation between recreation and <br />trout habitat. Given the sensitivity of the results based on this <br />assumption. the DEIs should include greater justification. For <br />instance, much of the habitat loss will only be temporary in nature <br />during periods of low flows. The DEIs's assumed relationship <br />should be modified based on the short duration of the low flows. <br /> <br />Comment 38. 111-125. Second Paragraph <br /> <br />The DEIs's assumption regarding the impacts on recreation and <br />trout habitat manifests itself in the results on Page III-I25. The <br />DEIs does not provide a readily defensible relationship to support <br />the contention that there would be a 10 to 34 percent loss in out- <br />of-state anglers. <br /> <br />Comment 39. 111-127. First Paragraph <br /> <br />Reclamation's IMPLAN model suggests NIIP would employ 921 <br />employees. However, with vertical integration NIIP will generate <br />thousands of jobs. The potato processing complex alone would <br />generate more than 400 jobs. <br /> <br />For San Juan County. the IMPLAN model should also include the <br />economic benefits associated with the economic development <br />associated with the Farmington to shiprock pipeline. <br /> <br />00135'7 <br />