Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Book 1 of 2 Tooele County White Pine County Millard County Bea7?P ^County Iron County Nye County Lincoln County C'aliente N e v a d a S t a t Lincoln County e Clark County O f f i Moapa c e Bureau of Land Management August 2012 FES 12-33 Cooperating Agencies Army Corps of Engineers Juab County, UT Nevada Department of Wildlife Bureau of Indian Affairs Lincoln County, NV State of Utah Bureau of Reclamation Millard County, UT Tooele County, UT Central Nevada Regional National Park Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Water Authority Nellis Air Force Base U.S. Forest Service Clark County, NV White Pine County Mission Statement The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. BLM Library Denver Federal Bldg. 50, 00521 p.O. Box 25047 Denver, CO 80225 BLM/N V/N V/ES/11-17+1793 United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Nevada State Office 1340 Financial Boulevard Reno, Nevada 89502-7147 http://www.blm.gov/nv In Reply Refer To: 2800 (NV910) N-78803 August 2012 Dear Reader: Enclosed is the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS). The full text ol the Final EIS including responses to comments on the Draft EIS is contained within the disk found inside the back cover of Book 2. Yon may also download the Final EIS from www.blm.gov/5w5c. The Bureau ol Land Management (BLM) has prepared this Final EIS in response to a right-of-way (ROW) application submitted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) for construction and operation of a pipeline system and associated infrastructure to support the proposed future conveyance of groundwater to Las Vegas Valley from five hydrologic basins in east-central Nevada. Sixteen Cooperating Agencies have assisted the BLM in developing this Final EIS: U.S. Forest Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Clark County, NV Nellis Air Force Base National Park Service Lincoln County, NV Army Corps of Engineers State Of Utah White Pine County, NV Bureau of Indian Affairs Nevada Department of Wildlife Juab County, UT Bureau of Reclamation Central Nevada Regional Millard County, UT Water Authority Tooele County, UT Some of the above Cooperating Agencies will be using the Final EIS in their decision-making process for other permits and licenses associated with the proposed project. The BLM completed a Draft EIS that analyzed a conceptual plan of development submitted to BLM by SNWA, which included information about the proposed project. The Draft EIS was released to the public on June 10, 2011, with publication of a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The NOA initiated a 90-day public comment period (extended for an additional 30 days) ending on October 11, 2011. Public meetings were held August 2, 2011 through August 18, 2011. The BLM received comments on the Draft EIS through more than 460 letters and emails (plus over 20,000 email action alert submissions). The BLM reviewed the comments and provided written responses in this Final EIS (included within Appendix H). Some comments resulted in modifications to text in the EIS. Substantive changes in the Final EIS are marked with a text bar in the margin. The Final EIS is a ‘Tull text” document that contains the entire EIS and supersedes the Draft EIS. BLM Library Denver Federal Cente Bldg. 50, OC-521 p O Box 25047 rn RD225 n /O r This Final EIS considers the expected environmental effects associated with granting the ROW across public land and subsequent construction and operation of SNWA’s proposal. In addition to SNWA’s proposal, seven alternatives including the No Action alternative also are presented and analyzed in the Final EIS. One additional alternative was prepared and analyzed specifically for this Final EIS. Specifics of associated future water development currently are unknown and, therefore, are treated programmatically and conceptually in the EIS. As part of the EIS process for this project, a comprehensive groundwater model was prepared. The model report was updated for the additional alternative and is included on a separate disk included with the Final EIS. Although water rights, pumping rates, volume of water proposed for transport to the Las Vegas Valley, and the point of use of water proposed for transport across public land all are outside the jurisdiction of the BLM, these issues have been included in the analysis in this document. Water rights and pumping rates are under the purview of the Nevada State Engineer. Water distribution and use associated with the importation of water in the Las Vegas Valley have been addressed by local and regional planning agencies in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes. The purpose of this Final EIS is to document and disclose the expected environmental effects associated with the proposed project and seven alternatives. The BLM will use the Final EIS to render a decision on whether to grant a ROW or under what conditions the ROW should be granted. This Final EIS is not a decision document; however, BLM has selected a preferred alternative, which, at this time, would best accomplish the purpose and need of the proposed action while fulfilling BLM's statutory mission and responsibilities. The Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Final Environmental Impact Statement will be available for 30 days. A description of new or missed information within this Final EIS may be submitted within the thirty day availability period to: Penny Woods, Project Manager Bureau of Land Management Nevada Groundwater Projects Office Nevada State Office (NV-910.2) 1340 Financial Blvd Reno, NV 89502 FAX: 775.861.6689 Email: [email protected] The BLM will issue one or more records of decision (ROD) based on this Final EIS. The ROD(s) will not be issued until other agency permits and approvals have been finalized and their conditions of approval will be incorporated into the ROD(s). For more information. Please contact Penny Woods at 775.861.6466. TO $ H (*\ O'! ~ Environmental Impact Statement For the Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Right-of-Way ( ) Draft (X) Final Lead Agency: United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Cooperating Agencies: White Pine County, Nevada Lincoln County, Nevada Clark County, Nevada Juab County, Utah Tooele County, Utah Millard County, Utah Central Nevada Regional Water Authority Nevada Department of Wildlife State of Utah United States Air Force - Nellis Air Force Base United States Army Corps of Engineers United States Bureau of Indian Affairs United States Bureau of Reclamation United States Fish and Wildlife Service United State Forest Service National Park Service Counties Directly Affected: Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties, Nevada Environmental Impact Statement Contact: Penny Woods, Nevada Groundwater Projects Manager Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office 1340 Financial Blvd Reno NV 89502 775.861.6466 Date Filed with the Environmental Protection Agency: August 3, 2012 The Nevada State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared this Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to a right-of-way (ROW) application filed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA or applicant), a subdivision of the State of Nevada, to construct and operate the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project (proposed action), a system of groundwater conveyance facilities including main and lateral pipelines, power lines, pumping stations, substation, pressure reduction stations, an underground water reservoir, a water treatment plant and associated ancillary facilities. The project would be located in northern Clark County, Lincoln County, and southeastern White Pine County, primarily within the 2,640-foot wide corridor established by the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act (LCCRDA) under public law 108-424. Enacted on November 30, 2004, the LCCRDA designated utility corridors to be used for ROWs for roads, wells, pipelines, and other infrastructure needed for construction and operation of water conveyance systems in Lincoln and Clark Counties. The requested ROW extends beyond the northern boundary of the designated corridor into White Pine County in Spring and Snake valleys. For engineering feasibility reasons and/or to minimize environmental impacts, the requested ROW deviates from the corridor in a few locations in Clark and Lincoln Counties. The ROW would be processed in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant ROWs across public lands administered by the BLM. In addition, the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 also directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue ROWs in Clark County to units of local or regional government for pipelines and systems needed for the impoundment, storage, treatment, transportation, and distribution of water. This Final EIS considers the expected environmental effects of granting of a ROW across public lands and subsequent construction and operation of the proposed action, no action, and six action alternatives. The BLM will use the EIS when rendering a decision on whether to grant the requested ROW. The BLM action is to either grant or deny the request for ROWs through public land administered by the BLM. This Final EIS satisfies the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates that federal agencies analyze the environmental consequences of major federal actions. This Final EIS also includes a programmatic agreement (PA) prepared under the provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The PA has been executed by the BLM, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer, and the SNWA to guide roles of the involved agencies and provide procedures on inventorying for historic properties and mitigation of adversely-affected historic properties. The PA was developed with the involvement of Indian Tribes and other consulting parties as well as the public. Official responsible for the environmental impact statement: August 3, 2012 Amy Lueders, State Director Date Acronyms and Abbreviations °c Degrees Celsius °F Degrees Fahrenheit (ig/m3 micrograms per cubic meter pS/cm microSiemens per centimeter 3M Plan Monitoring, Mitigation, Management Plan AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic AAQS Ambient Air Quality Standard AC alternating current ACEC Area of Critical Environmental Concern ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ACM Applicant-committed Protection Measure AFB Air Force Base afy acre-feet per year AG I American Geological Institute AIRFA American Indian Religious Freedom Act AML appropriate management level amsl above mean sea level APE area of potential effects APLIC Avian Power Line Interaction Committee ARPA Archaeological Resources Protection Act ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers BARCAS Basin and Range Carbonate-Rock Aquifer System BCS Bird Conservation Strategy BGEPA Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs BLM Bureau of Land Management BMP Best Management Practices BO Biological Opinion BRT Biological Resource Team CAA Clean Air Act CAP Conservation Action Plan CASTNet Clean Air and Trends Network CBER Center for Business and Economic Research CCRP Central Carbonate-Rock Province Page AA-1 Acronyms and Abbreviations CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CFR Code of Federal Register cfs cubic feet per second CO carbon monoxide co2 carbon dioxide COM Plan Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Monitoring, Management, and Mitigation Plan CRWC Colorado River Water Consultants CWA Clean Water Act dB decibels dBA decibels A-weighted scale DCNR Department of Conservation and Natural Resources DOI Department of the Interior DRI Desert Research Institute EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EMS Emergency Medical Services ENWU Eastern Nevada-Western Utah EO Executive Order ESA Endangered Species Act ET evapotranspiration FBO full build out FEMA , Federal Emergency Management Agency FLAG Federal Land Managers Air Quality Related Values Workgroup FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact FRCC Fire Regime Condition Class GBBO Great Basin Bird Observatory GBCAAS Great Basin carbonate and alluvial aquifer system GBNP Great Basin National Park G1D General Improvement District GIS Geographic Information System GPCD gallons per capita per day gpm gallons per minute GPS Global Positioning System GWD Project SNWA’s Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Page AA-2 Acronyms and Abbreviations HA hydrogeologic area HFB hydraulic flow barrier HGU hydrogeologic units HMA herd management area IM Instruction Memorandum IMPROVE Iinteragency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ISA Instant Study Area ITA Indian Trust Assets KEA key reclamation potential KOP key observation points kV kilovolts LCCRDA Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act LCWD Lincoln County Water District LDS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints LMVW Lower Meadow Valley Wash LRP low reclamation potential LUTAQ Land Use Transportation and Air Quality LVCVA Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority LVVWD Las Vegas Valley Water District LWC Lands with Wilderness Characteristics MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act MCL Maximum Contaminant Level mg/m3 milligrams per cubic meter MLRA Major Land Resource Areas Mm'1 inverse megameters MOA Memorandum of Agreement MOU Memorandum of Understanding mph mile per hour MW megawatt NAC Nevada Administrative Code NAGPRA Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 NBMG Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology NCAI National Congress of American Indians NDEP Nevada Division of Environmental Protection NDOT Nevada Department of Transportation Page AA-3 Acronyms and Abbreviations NDOW Nevada Department of Wildlife NDWR Nevada Department of Water Resources NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NGO Non-governmental Organization NGSCT Nevada Governor’s Sage-Grouse Conservation Team NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NI none identified NMD no measureable discharge NNHP Nevada Natural Heritage Program no2 nitrogen dioxide NOA Notice of Availability NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration NOI Notice of Intent NOx nitrogen oxides NPCA National Parks Conservation Association NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPS National Park Service NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service NRG Natural Resources Group NRHP National Register of Historic Places NRS Nevada Revised Statute NSE Nevada State Engineer NWR National Wildlife Refuge OHV off-highway vehicle ON One Nevada PA Programmatic Agreement PGH Preliminary General Habitat PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration PILT Payment in Lieu of Taxes PM particulate matter PM,0 particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns or less pm25 particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or less PMU Population Management Unit POD Plan of Development PPA past and present actions PPH Preliminary Priority Habitat Page AA-4 Acronyms and Abbreviations