OCR Text |
Show of final planning, design, and construction,, The statement is intended to explain and discuss the entire Bonneville Unit to facilitate an overall appraisal of its environmental impact and to allow an objective examination of a reasonable array of alternatives to the proposed plan. In addition, special emphasis is given to the partially completed Strawberry Aqueduct and Collection System, which has a high priority for construction, and to the Jordan Aqueduct, which is also under construction. The Bonneville Unit also includes ( 1) the Starvation Dam and Collection System which is already completed, ( 2) the Diamond Fork Power System, ( 3) the Irrigation and Drainage System, ( 4) the Municipal and Industrial System, and ( 5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs Activity. Detailed environmental statements would be prepared for each of these systems, except the completed Starvation System, before a decision is made to proceed with construction of the system. Most of the features already constructed or under construction are located in the Uinta Basin. The exception is Jordan Aqueduct, located in Salt Lake County, which was started in September 1971 and is about half completed. A draft environmental statement on Jordan Aqueduct was filed with CEQ on April 29, 1971. The data contained in the statement on the Jordan Aqueduct has been included in this statement, rather than further processing the Jordan Aqueduct statement. All comments received pertaining to the Jordan Aqueduct have been included in this statement. Most of the field investigations and planning for the Bonneville Unit were completed prior to enactment of NEPA. The proposed plan is the product of many years of planning which involved State and Federal agencies, civic organizations, environmental groups, and individuals. The Bonneville Unit would be consistent with the various county master plans of the Unit area and would be included in the State Water Plan presently being formulated by the Utah State Division of Water Resources. Many constructive and helpful suggestions for modifying the plan to improve its utility and reduce the adverse environmental impacts have been received from the cooperative planning entities previously mentioned, especially during the review period for the draft environmental statement. These suggestions have been fully considered. Overall, this environmental statement covers the six major systems of the Bonneville Unit which are described in detail in paragraph A6. These systems include features which are already constructed, features under construction, and features proposed for construction. Of necessity, the assessment of the environmental impacts of features still in the planning stage is very general. However, additional environmental statements will be prepared for all major Bonneville Unit systems which are proposed but not yet under construction. The provisions of NEPA would thus be fully complied with prior to any decision to proceed with the remaining systems 2 |