Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />V nited States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />UPPER COLORADO REGIONAL OFFICE <br />P.O. BOX 11568 <br />SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 8H47 <br /> <br />IN REPLY <br />RIFEl TO: <br /> <br />UC-lSO <br /> <br />December 14, 1982 <br /> <br />mr~~~~::\lifnl <br /> <br />L"l ! ,. <br />.. '__./'r~ <br />GOi.I.1HA[)') I,M'\"-T' <br /> <br />651. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />CO~.~E[~:',.,.~,~~~C:'! :?'~.' f"-.J <br /> <br />To Government Agencies and Interested Organizations and Individuals: <br /> <br />In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, enclosed for <br />your information is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and FONSl <br />(Finding of No Significant Impact) for the powerplant uprating at Glen <br />Canyon Dam. <br /> <br />The comments received on the Environmental Assessment circulated for public <br />review on February 9, 1982, have been evaluated and incorporated into the <br />Environmental Assessment. These comments, in conjunction with the evaluation <br />of impacts, indicate that the preferred plan would not be a major Federal <br />action resulting in significant environmental impacts; thus, a FONSI is <br />appropriate. <br /> <br />I, therefore, have made the decision to proceed with the uprating of the <br />generators at Glen Canyon Dam; however, because of the substantial number <br />of responses to the Environmental Assessment which raised questions con- <br />cerning the impacts of the operation of Glen Canyon Powerplant under present <br />operating criteria, I have requested and received approval from the Office of <br />the Secretary of the Interior (letter of December 6, 1982, attached) to <br />initiate studies to determine the environmental effects of the present and <br />historic operation of Glen Canyon Dam on the resources of the Grand Canyon. <br />While these studies are underway and the work on the uprating of the gen- <br />erators is being done, the releases from Glen Canyon will be restricted to <br />31,500 ft3/s, which is the historic operating maximum. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The studies will also undertake an analysis of potential alternative operating <br />criteria consistent with the Colorado River Storage Project requirements. If <br />any of the alternatives meet these requirements, an Environmental Impact State- <br />ment would be required in preparation for a decision process in determining the <br />appropriate long-term operating criteria for Glen canyon Powerplant, <br /> <br />Sincerely yours, <br /> <br />~~ / <br />.;.~ . bE ' <br />Clifford . Barrett <br />Regional Director <br /> <br />Enclosures <br />