News Release Archive

Reclamation to hold public meetings to assess environmental impacts of the New Mexico Unit

Media Contact: Sean Heath, (623) 773-6250, sheath@usbr.gov
Doug Hendrix, 702-293-8931, dhendrix@usbr.gov

For Release: June 14, 2018

GLENDALE, AZ. - The Bureau of Reclamation and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC), as the joint lead agencies, announced their intent to gather information necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of the construction and operation of a New Mexico Unit of the Central Arizona Project in Catron, Grant, and Hidalgo counties in southwest New Mexico.

The proposed NM Unit would be a water diversion, storage, conveyance and delivery system for agricultural use. The NM Unit would divert water from the Gila River or its tributaries in New Mexico and convey it for storage in off-stream storage sites in the Upper Gila Valley, along the San Francisco River and in the Virden Valley, and deliver it to the target water users.

A Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on June 12, 2018, with comments due by July 20, 2018. Reclamation and the NMISC will conduct eight public open house meetings to provide information and seek public input regarding topics to be addressed in the EIS, at the following locations: • July 2, 2018, at State Bar of New Mexico, Rodey Classroom, 5121 Masthead St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 • July 6, 2018, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85226 • July 7, 2018, at Apache Gold Casino Resort, Convention Center, 777 Geronimo Springs Blvd Cutter Industrial Park, San Carlos, AZ 85550 • July 9, 2018, at Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center, Multipurpose Room, 3031 Highway 180 East, Silver City, NM 88062 • July 10, 2018, at Cliff High School, Old Gymnasium, 622 St Hwy 211, Cliff, NM 88028 • July 11, 2018, at Glenwood Community Center and Library, 14 Menges Ln, Glenwood, NM 88039 • July 12, 2018, at Virden Community Center, 110 Richmond Ave., Virden, NM 88045 • July 13, 2018, at Graham County General Services Building, 921 Thatcher Blvd, Safford, AZ 85546

Each open house meeting will include information about the proposed project and how to comment on the proposed NM Unit. The public will also have the opportunity to provide input on issues, concerns and potential alternatives. Written comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted through close of business July 20, 2018, and should be submitted to: Bureau of Reclamation, (ATTN: NM Unit EIS), 6150 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale, Arizona 85306, or emailed to: NMUnitEIS@empsi.com, or submitted online through: www.nmuniteis.com. # # #

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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.