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<br />What is the Glen Canyon Dam EIS all about? <br /> <br />The Glen Canyon Dam <br />Environmental Impact <br />Statement (GCD-EIS) will be <br />prepared according to the <br />provisions of the National <br />Environmental Policy Act and <br />implementing regulations. <br />Ba.qicalJy, that means the effects <br />uf the dam on Grand Canyon <br />will be evaluated with changes <br />in operations considered. In <br />addition to possible operational <br />changes, the EIS will consider <br />structural and non structural <br />alternatives as potential actions. <br /> <br />TIle focus of study area for the <br />GCD-EIS will be from Glen <br />Canyon Dam downstream to <br />Separation Rapids near the <br />upper end of Lake Mead; <br />however, impacts will be traced <br />wherever they may be located. <br /> <br />TIle decision to prepare the ms <br />was made on July 27, 1989, by <br />Secretary of the Interior Manuel <br />Lu jan. A Federal Registernotice <br />announcing the intent to <br />prepare the document was <br />published October 27,1989. <br /> <br />Actually, research work aimed <br />at determining the extent of <br />operational impacts began in <br /> <br />1982. The initial field studies <br />led to 30 technical reports and a <br />summary report to the <br />Department of the Interior in <br />spring of 1988. The report <br />concluded that high flows and <br />floods had impacts on Grand <br />Canyon. However, it also <br />recognized that the studies were <br />done during record high <br />flooding (1983-1986) and that <br />little was yet known about the <br />effects of low flows and <br />fluctuating flows. The <br />Department directed that <br />additional studies be done to fill <br />those gaps. Also, direction was <br />given to include economic <br />impact analysis on power <br />generation, as that was not <br />included in the original GCES. <br /> <br />In 1989, Secretary Lujan, in <br />essence, moved the schedule <br />forward by detprmining an EIS <br />was appropriate and needed. <br /> <br />In order to meet the needq of an <br />ms, the GCES Phase II has been <br />concentrated within the next <br />one and one half years. <br />Intensive research activities are <br />now underway. This work <br />includes potential impacts on <br /> <br />fish and wildlife resources <br />recreation resources, cultural <br />resources, and other significant <br />resources in the Grand Canyon. <br /> <br />The GCES was and continues to <br />be a multi-agency Federal and <br />State effort. <br /> <br />We have now completed the <br />scoping process in which the <br />public has shared with us the <br />issues, concerns, and potential <br />alternatives they want included <br />in tlle EIS. TIlat is the first major <br />stepinElSpreparation. The next <br />major step will be the <br />formulation of alternatives <br />which will be shared with the <br />public later this year. A draft EIS <br />will be written and published. <br />This draft EIS will be provided <br />to the public for review and <br />comment prior to the issuance <br />of a final document. <br /> <br />The EIS will be one of the <br />principal information sources <br />the Secretary of the Interior will <br />use in deciding what c1U1llges <br />will take place at Glen Canyon <br />Dam. <br /> <br /> <br />4 <br />