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Navajo Reservoir Operations EIS Plan of Approach l. INTRODUCTION This Plan of Approach (POA) outlines the process for completing an environmental impact statement (ErS), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEP A), as amended, for operations of the Navajo Unit (Unit) in Colorado and New Mexico, hereafter referred to as Navajo Reservoir Operations EIS or EIS, More specifically, the EIS will describe the effects of operating the Navajo Reservoir to meet the flow recommendations provided for the San Juan River below Farmington provided by the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRBRlP), This POA also includes a proposed time line for major activities, suggests a process for resolution of policy issues (conflict resolution), for agency coordination, and for public input. A separate draft Statement of Work (SOW) has been developed to define the tasks to be completed to prepare the EIS, The POA and the SOW are meant to provide a source of guidance to managers and participants in the NEP A process, and are subject to modification as may be appropriate, The Proposed Federal Action The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to modify release rules for Navajo Reservoir to meet flow recommendations for endangered fish in the San Juan River downstream of Farmington, New Mexico, Purpose and Need The purpose of the proposed action is to provide water releases of sufficient magnitude and with the proper timing and duration considered necessary to assist in the conservation I of endangered fishes and their designated critical habitat. The release rules will need to allow for adaptations to IAs defined in the Endangered Species Act, the temlS "conserve," "conserving," and "conservation" mean 10 use and the use or all methods and procedures which are necessary 10 bring any endangered species or threatened species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant 10 the Act are no longer necessary. Draft May 15,2000 2 Plan of Approach for Navajo Oam Operations ElS ,... . r- r'I ,.... " .)