| OCR Text |
Show All of the review comments received by the Bureau of Reclamation either written or oral have been considered in the preparation of this Final Environmental Statement. The Statement has been expanded and modified where appropriate as a result of input received during the review period. Some letters have been referenced in the text and many of the questions raised have been answered by extended discussion and enlargement of appropriate sections of the Statement. The major questions or issues raised, some of which are unresolved or have elusive interpretation, are summarized and responded to in this section. Many of the reviewers raised the same or very similar points which have been responded to collectively, whereas other important environmental issues may have been raised by only one or two different entities and answered separately. To have answered each respondent separately on the same basic issue would have been repetitious or would have required a great amount of cross reference of the comments. No attempt has been made to rank the issues in order of importance either by judgment or by the number of times the issue was raised. Some important aspects are covered by more than one issue. On the succeeding pages, each issue with some sub- issues is stated, along with its sponsors, followed by a response. Elaboration on most of the issues occurs in various places in the statement. Issue 1: The Bonneville Unit was planned without the benefit of adequate baseline and diagnostic ecological studies necessary to properly assess environmental impacts. ( a) Baseline ecological studies are imperative to provide answers to ecological questions and to evaluate the present value and future potential of optimum use before additional environmental changes occur, ( b) Comprehensive and systematic ecological studies should be carried out to provide a framework for the Unit environmental statement. ( c) Ecological studies lag far behind engineering studies. They should be brought abreast and become a part of the planning process. Issue raised by: Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Bureau of Outdoor Recreation Environmental Protection Agency Center for Health and Environmental Studies, BYU Mount Timpanogos Chapter of the Audubon Society Trout Unlimited Rocky Mountain Center on Environment and several individuals 642 |
