Environmental Impact Statements and Records of Decision

Quick Nav, jump to publication year

On this page you will find a chronological listing of Environmental Impact Statements and Records of Decision for Interior Region 7 – Upper Colorado Basin projects and activities.

Federal agencies prepare Environmental Impact Statements if a proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The regulatory requirements for an Environmental Impact Statement are more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an Environmental Assessments.

An agency publishes a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. The Notice of Intent informs the public of the upcoming environmental analysis and describes how the public can become involved in the EIS preparation.

This Notice of Intent starts the scoping process, which is the period in which the federal agency and the public collaborate to define the range of issues and possible alternatives to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement is published for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. Upon close of the comment period, agencies consider all substantive comments and, if necessary, conduct further analyses.

A final Environmental Impact Statement is then published, which provides responses to substantive comments. Publication of the final Environmental Impact Statement begins the minimum 30-day "wait period," in which agencies are generally required to wait 30 days before making a final decision on a proposed action.

The Environmental Protection Agency publishes a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, announcing the availability of both draft and final Environmental Impact Statements to the public.

The Environmental Impact Statement process ends with the issuance of the Record of Decision. The Record of Decision explains the agency's decision, describes the alternatives the agency considered, and discusses the agency's plans for mitigation and monitoring, if necessary.

Note: In accordance with Updated Regulations from the Council on Environmental Quality Link is to a PDF file, effective July 1, 2024 we will be providing additional information regarding proposed actions. For questions, contact Sarah Bucklin, Regional NEPA Coordinator, sbucklin@usbr.gov.

2020
Publication Date Status Document Title
12/2020 Final

Paradox Valley Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program – Final Environmental Impact Statement:
Volume 1 - Final EIS Link is to a PDF file
Volume 2 - Appendices A-D Link is to a PDF file
Volume 3 - Appendices E-J Link is to a PDF file
Volume 4 - Appendices K-M Link is to a PDF file
Volume 5 - Appendices N Link is to a PDF file

Supporting technical documents

Alternative B

Alternative C

Alternative D

06/2020 Draft Lake Powell Pipeline Project – Draft Environmental Impact Statement
2019
Publication Date Status Document Title
09/2019 Final Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System – Record of Decision Link is to a PDF file
2018
Publication Date Status Document Title
01/2018 Final Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System – Final Environmental Impact Statement
Volume I Link is to a PDF file
Volume II: Appendices Link is to a PDF file
Volume III: Draft EIS Comment Summary and Response Report Link is to a PDF file

You may email questions regarding environmental documents to ucrnepa@usbr.gov

Last Updated: 2/3/25