News Release Archive

Final EA and FONSI Issued on Proposed Boundary Adjustment Within Oregon's Umatilla Project

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, 07/18/2006 16:10
Ron Eggers, reggers@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: July 18, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a proposed boundary adjustment to incorporate a portion of the 1965 flood lands within Stanfield Irrigation District in Stanfield, Ore.

The Final EA presents the analyses of the impacts of including a 3,303-acre adjustment in the irrigation district's federal boundaries. The proposed boundary adjustment alternative will permit the district to send a portion of its Columbia River exchange water to 3,178 acres in exchange for the voluntary restriction by the private landowners to reduce usage of their groundwater wells.

Reclamation has selected this as the alternative for implementation. The decision document for this action concludes that implementation of this alternative would have no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment or the natural resources of the area.

The Final EA and FONSI have been prepared to document environmental review and evaluation in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Final EA and FONSI are available on the Internet at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/stanfield/fonsi-EA65Floodlands.pdf. Printed copies are available for public review at libraries in Hermiston, Pendleton, and Stanfield, Ore., and Reclamation offices in Hermiston and Portland, Ore.; Yakima, Wash.; and Boise, Idaho.

A printed or CD-ROM copy of the Final EA/FONSI may be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Columbia Area Office, Attention LCA-1000, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 750, Portland OR 97232, or by fax to (503) 872-2797. For information, telephone (503) 872-2795.

Five individuals or agencies provided comments from the 30-day public review and comment period for the Draft EA. All comments were reviewed and considered by the Bureau of Reclamation during preparation of the Final EA.

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