OCR Text |
Show iri this statement as paragraph 14. Originals of the written comments are on file in Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional office in Salt Lake City. Summary of Public Hearing A public hearing was held September 22 and 23, 1972, to receive comments on the Draft Environmental Statement for the Bonneville Unit, Central Utah Project. It was held in the auditorium of the Orem Senior High School at Orem, Utah. The hearing convened at 2: 00 p. m., September 22 and extended until 9: 00 p. m. that evening. The following day the hearing reconvened at 9: 00 a. m. and was adjourned at 3: 00 p. m.. that afternoon.. Robert W. Mesch, Administrative Law Judge from the Department of Interior's Office of Hearings and Appeals in Salt Lake City, Utah, conduted the hearing. A panel of Bureau of Reclamation officials consisting of Regional Director David L. Crandall on Friday, and Assistant to the Director Elwood G. Bywater on Saturday, and Project Manager Palmer B. DeLong on both days received the testimony. An announcement of the public hearing was published in the August 22, 1972 Federal Resiter, providing the required 30- day public notice. A news release to local media was also issued at that time and there was extensive publicity for the hearing, particularly during the week preceding September 22. A draft environmental statement for the Bonneville Unit had been made available and distributed to the public on August 18, 1972, so that more than the legally required 15 days of availability was provided. The total attendance at the hearing was approximately 1,200 persons on Friday and 100 persons on Saturday. Prior requests were received from 127 witnesses to present oral testimony at the hearing. Attachment J to this statement is a list of the 95 actual speakers. Opportunity was given at the hearing for all who desired to present oral testimony. A complete transcript of the hearing was obtained and the transcript ( 353 pages plus exhibits) has been bound separately and is available for public inspection. In addition, it was indicated that written comments would also be accepted until October 5, 1972. These were to be given equal consideration with oral testimony. Approximately 1,450 written comments were received in connection with the hearing. Some had more than one signature on them, so that approximately 1,700 individuals and organizations were represented by written comments. These have been bound in Appendix A together with all other written comments submitted on the statement. 634 |