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t 1----.-.-------- ,P~ fVA.-7s .~ ~ ~ I,ll,'", "1.\ ..' ~ , \, --' ~IMAS-LA PLATA PROJECT NEWSL~.!J~IJ! tr"'~I~~~ 1- , . RECr:WC, . \ - . =~J. ~- _' r I ,-", ~\ , ,.... i r' J.~ -} I ""'~ ' I t ";.' LV\!'",!..' ' : I i /' "~ ' " "..",, ,::") - 'n Update of Studies for tbe Final Supplement to tbe 1980 Final Environmental Statement Upper Colorado Region Dnrango ProJectsOIJlce Proposed Ridges Basin Dam mid Reservoir, The Bureau of Reclamation is proceeding with studies for completion of the Final Supplement to the 1980 Final Environmental Statement for the Animas..La Plata Project (Project). Reclamation plans to file the Final Supplement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 1995 in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The Draft Supplement was distributed in October 1992, and three public hearings were conducted in Durango, Colorado; Fannington, New Mexico; and Denver, Colorado; during the period of November 30 to December 2, 1992. About 135 people spoke at the hearings representing Indian tribes, States, organizations, water users, cnvironmental interests, and private individuals. Transcripts of the hearings are available foneview. Reclamation's responses to over 600 comment Ielters received on the Draft Supplement will be included in the Final Supplement. As a result of these comments, it was detennined that additional environmental and economic studies would be necessary to address significant issues. An Interdisciplinary Team of resource specialists and representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), EPA, and the Colorado Ute Tribes was organized to conduct additional environmental studies. The team meets monthly to coordinate study activities and monitor progress on completion of the Final Supplement. The completion dates for the enviromnental studies and economic analysis are listed below in chronological order: Projected TimeUne: Water Quality ............................................ May 1994 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act........................................................August 1994 Economic Analysis.......................... September 1994 Indian Trust Assessment .......:......... September 1994 Cultural Resources.......................... September 1994 Recreation and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act...................................... September 1994 Native Fishery................................... December 1994 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................ January 1995 Wetland and Riparian Areas ................ January 1995 404(b)(I) Evaluation ..............................March 1995 Under authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638), Reclamation bas entered into cooperative agreements with the Southern Ute Indian and Ute MOWltain Ute Tribes to conduct some of the environmental studies for the Final Supplement.