News Release Archive

Carlsbad Project Environmental Impact Statement Released

Media Contact: Marea Perea Carlson, (505) 462-3576

For Release: May 31, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation and New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission today released the final Environmental Impact Statement on the Carlsbad Project Water Operations and Water Supply Conservation.

Reclamation began the National Environmental Policy Act process in 1997, after five years of research directed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reclamation was joined by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission in 2002 as joint lead agencies. The purpose of the action is to conserve the Pecos bluntnose shiner, a federally-threatened fish species and to conserve the Carlsbad Project water supply.

The Fish and Wildlife Service released a 10-year Biological Opinion on the Carlsbad Project on May 18, 2006.

The EIS, analyzing the effects of water operations on the shiner meets the requirements of a lawsuit filed in 2002 by the Forest Guardians. On September 2, 2004, a Stipulation of Dismissal was filed directing an EIS completion schedule and ending the two-year lawsuit. The Order stipulated that Reclamation would: (1) issue a draft EIS by September 1, 2005, (2) issue a final EIS by June 1, 2006, and (3) issue a Record of Decision by August 1, 2006.

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