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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /><, <br /> <br />Clark County, and Henderson treatment plants and either discharge it into Las Vegas Wash <br />or above or below Hoover Dam. Currently, this Effluent Interceptor Study is focusing on <br />the collection of the waste water discharge from the three treatment plants and discharging <br />it near Henderson's present discharge point in order to limit the controversy that could <br />result by moving the discharge point downstream in Las Vegas Wash or in Lake Mead or <br />below Hoover Dam. As a result, the name of the study has been changed to Systems <br />Conveyance and Operation Program (SCOP). The lead agency for the environmental <br />compliance for the SCOP is the Bureau of Reclamation. At the present time, an <br />environmental assessment is being prepared since there appears to be minimal controversy. <br /> <br />As part of the SCOP, four models are being developed. These models include: I) the Las <br />Vegas Wash Wetlands Model, 2) the Water Quality Model ofInner Las Vegas Bay, 3) the <br />Temperature, Quality, and Salinity Model for the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead, and 4) the <br />Mixing Zone Model for the Colorado Riyer. This latter model is being expanded to include <br />modeling the impacts downstream to Lake Mohave. The alternative discharge points <br />outside of Las Vegas Wash being studied, but not included in the SCOP, are: I) at <br />Promontory Point in Lake Mead, 2) in the Nevada penstock tunnel at Lake Mead, and at <br />Gold Strike Canyon below Hoover Dam. <br /> <br />It is expected that the Environmental Assessment for the Effluent Interceptor project will <br />be completed in September of 2002 and the final Environmental Assessment will be <br />completed in November 2002. The final design for the project will be completed in May <br />2003 and the project construction will be completed in June 2005. After completion of the <br />project, preparation of the environmental impact statement for the Phase IV <br />strategies/elements will be initiated. These Phase IV strategies include looking at <br />alternative discharge points. <br /> <br />Because Reclamation and the National Park Service will be required to issue easements for the <br />installation of various pipelines across their lands, and other penn its may be required, they will be acting <br />as joint lead agencies in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. In this capacity, the lead <br />agencies have asked the Colorado River Board, via letter dated July 29, 2002, if it wished to be a <br />"cooperating agency" as described in the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations. <br /> <br />After review of the regulations, I would propose to the Board that it decline Reclamation's offer <br />to participate as a cooperating agency; however, the staff will follow the activities associated with the <br />SCOP and the Clean Water Coalition in order to provide comments on any of the draft environmental <br />documents that are prepared and issued for review. <br /> <br />California's Colorado River Water Use Plan <br /> <br />Waler Use on Yuma Is/and <br /> <br />As you are aware, the Board, in a Special Meeting on July 24, 2002, approved the comment <br />submittal to the Independent Panel which was developed by an ad hoc working group. This document was <br />forwarded via overnight carriers to the Independent Panel Members and Reclamation and via U.S. mail <br /> <br />6 <br />