OCR Text |
Show ( a) The Draft Environmental Statement is subjective and does not represent a bonafide interdisciplinary approach with an objective view toward a find balancing of environmental values. ( b) An independent study should be made by people not directly associated with the project who have a broad and varied background in geology, water development planning, conservation, engineering, etc. Issue raised by: Utah State Department of Natural Resources League of Women Voters Rocky Mountain Center on Environment Utah Environmental Center and several individuals Response: The final environmental statement has been modified and expanded in an effort to satisfy the above- mentioned requirement of NEPA. The proposed Bonneville Unit plan evolved as a result of a systematic interdisciplinary evaluation procedure. However, it was recognized that all of the information necessary for an adequate environmental statement on all features of the Unit was not readily available. The Bureau of Reclamation is committed to obtaining the required data. Proposed studies include additional environmental statements for Diamond Fork Power System, Utah Lake, and the Municipal and Industrial Water System. The Bureau of Reclamation is confident that the delayed construction schedule ( see Section A, Figure A- l) allows enough time for additional interdisciplinary studies to be carried out and utilized for evaluating the proposed Unit features and completing detailed environmental statements before any final decisions are made. The current finding situation has further extended this schedule. In order to ensure that the quality and quantity of the study program would be satisfactory, the Bureau of Reclamation is in the process of organizating an interagency ecological studies team that would have the responsibility of assessing the study needs and formulating a plan of action to satisfy the needs. When appropriate, it is intended to seek input from concerned public representatives. The first step in establishing an effective environmental studies program will be to assess and evaluate existing data and determine the areas where information is insufficient or lacking. The second step will be to formulate plans and programs designed to obtain the missing information. These plans and programs would include contracting with the qualified independent agencies to carry out short- term and long- term investigations. The purposes of the investigations would be directly correlated with the evaluation of environmental impacts. At present, proposal for' an evaluation of the effects of . 660 |