Laserfiche WebLink
<br />r'" <br />r <br /> <br />Water QUalitv standards, toxic effluents. and threatened and <br />endanGered soecies comoliance (230.10(b)) <br /> <br />A project which would result in exceedances of State water <br />quality standards or criteria set under CWA section 307 regarding <br />priority pollutants would not be in compliance with the <br />Guidelines. In the case of the Animas-LaPlata Project which <br />potentially affects the water quality under the jurisdiction of <br />several entities (The Southern Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute <br />Tribe, Colorado, and New Mexico), the SDEIS analyses will need to <br />document the project water quality impacts based on the standards <br />of all entities. Reclamation should seek the assistance of the <br />State and Tribal water quality standard setting agencies and <br />document that project operations (pumping from the Animas and <br />LaPlata, irrigation return flows to the LaPlata and Mancos, <br />stream accretions to the LaPlata, etc.) comply with water quality <br />standards of the various stream reaches. <br /> <br />Demonstration of compliance with the Endangered Species Act <br />is also a requirement of the Guidelines. It appears that the <br />entire Animas-LaPlata Project would have received a jeopardy <br />opinion concerning the Colorado River squawfish (Draf~ Biological <br />Opinion, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. May 7, 1990). While the <br />reasonable and pFooento--a-l.ternat.i vesubsequently developed <br />pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Endangered Species Act would <br />offset jeopardy to the Colorado squawfish, that alternative is <br />limited to Project facilities (Phase I) which result in a net <br />annual depletion of less than 57,100 acre-feet (Final Biological <br />Opinion, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, October 25, 1991). Upon <br />completion of Phase II, full development and operations would <br />result in a net annual depletion on 154,800 acre-feet of water. <br />Further, according to the Final Biological Opinion, approximately <br />7 years of research effort is to be completed before further <br />consultation for the entire project will occur. <br /> <br />SiGnificant DeGradation (230.10(c)) <br /> <br />The analysis necessary to make a determination concerning <br />significant degradation includes information on project <br />construction and operational adverse impacts on: human health <br />and welfare issues (to include but not limited to municipal water <br />supplies, fish, wildlife and special aquatic sites); aquatic life <br />and other wildlife dependant on aquatic ecosystems (in particular <br />the potential for transfer or 'spread of pollutants through <br />biological, physical or chemical processes); aquatic ecosystem <br />diversity, productivity and stability (such as loss of habitat, <br />etc.); and recreational, aesthetic and economic values. The <br />analyses need to present the factual determinations, scope and <br />intensity of the 'project related adverse effects on these <br />resources. The analyses need to consider the significance of <br />adverse impacts from both an individual and cumulative viewpoint. <br /> <br />2 <br />