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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />J <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />0451 <br /> <br />1. PURPOSE AND NEED <br />This chapter establishes the overall goal of the Final Supplemental <br />Environmental Statement (FSES) on the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which is to <br />disclose the environmental consequences of alternative levels of water sales <br />from Ruedi Reservoir. Section 1.1 describes the project background leading up <br />to this FSES and Section 1.2 introduces the proposed Bureau of Reclamation <br />(Reclamation) action within the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. Section 1.3 reviews <br />the purpose and need for action based on the current planning and legislation <br />relevant to the project. Section 1.4 discusses the scope of the public issues <br />to be addressed and section 1.5 reviews the authorizing legislation for the Ruedi <br />Dam and Reservoir. The area of interest for this FSES is shown in Figure 1.1. <br /> <br />1.1 BackQround <br />In 1982, after Reclamation had completed the Ruedi Round I water sales, <br />it was determined that additional proposed water sales from Ruedi Reservoir could <br />have significant environmental impacts because of the magnitude of the sales. <br />Reclamation and its contractors prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) of 11 <br />alternative water sales scenarios to evaluate the projected impacts. <br />The scope of the EA was determi ned through an open coord i nat i on and <br />communication process which included public scoping sessions. Work in several <br />areas was considered necessary to address the issues and concerns. The major <br />topics included ill the EA were hYdrology, aquatic biology, terrestrial biology, <br />threatened and endangered (T&E) species, and recreation. <br />The EA was published in June 1983, distributed to the public, and comments <br />were solicited. Using the evaluations in the EA and the publ ic comments, <br />Reclamation identified a Preferred Alternative. A Draft Supplemental <br />Environmental Statement (DSES 83-69) to the FES 75-43 on the Fryingpan-Arkansas <br />Project was prepared. The DSES 83-69 did not repeat the analyses of all <br />alternatives, but only evaluated the No Action Alternative (which represents <br />current conditions, including the Round I water sales) and the Preferred <br />Alternative. The impact evaluations included in the DSES 83-69 were based on <br />a scenario in which all the projected water available for sale had been sold and <br />was being delivered as potential water users indicated their demand would occur. <br />The DSES 83-69 was published October 3, 1983, distributed to the public, and <br />comments were solicited. <br /> <br />1.1 <br />