News Release Archive

Reclamation issues EA and Draft FONSI for proposed Superstition Mountains Recharge Project

Media Contact: Patricia Cox , (623) 773-6214 , 11/04/2009 21:30
Sandy Eto , seto@usbr.gov

For Release: November 04, 2009

Reclamation has issued an Environmental Assessment and a draft Finding of No Significant Impact on the Central Arizona Water Conservation District's proposed Superstition Mountains Recharge Project in Pinal County, Arizona. The proposed project will be constructed on Reclamation-owned land acquired for the Central Arizona Project and State trust lands. It includes eventual use of 157 acres of recharge basin to recharge up to 56,500 acre-feet of CAP water annually.

Initially, two 20-acre recharge basins located on the Reclamation-owned land will allow recharge of 25,000 acre-feet annually. It is not known at this time when the state trust lands will become available for the project; however, the EA and FONSI were prepared for the completed proposed project.

The EA describes the existing affected environment and anticipated environmental impacts. Based upon the EA, Reclamation has made a preliminary determination that Reclamation's approval regarding use of CAP land for the SMRP will not result in significant impacts, that a FONSI is appropriate, and an environmental impact statement does not need to be prepared. The EA and a draft FONSI are available for public review on Reclamation's Phoenix Area Office website, www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix. A hard copy or CD version of the EA also may be obtained by calling the Environmental Resource Management Division at (623) 773-6251, or by e-mailing rkonst@usbr.gov.

Please mail your comments to Ms. Sandra Eto, Environmental Resource Management Division, at the above address, Attention PXAO-1500, or via electronic mail to seto@usbr.gov, or send a faxogram to 623-773-6486, no later than November 30, 2009.

Questions should be directed to Ms. Eto at 623-773-6254.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.