[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1359-1360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-496]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Proposed Rueter-Hess Reservoir, Parker, Colorado

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the direct, indirect 
and cumulative effects of constructing and operating the proposed 
Rueter-Hess Reservoir. The basic purpose of the proposed action is to 
provide a safe, adequate and sustainable municipal water supply to 
Parker Water and Sanitation District, Parker, CO, which is capable of 
meeting the peak demands for the District's service area for the next 
50 years. The construction of the proposed project would result in 
temporary and permanent impacts to wetlands and other waters of the 
United States, requiring a section 404 permit. To familiarize the 
public and interested organizations with the project and potential 
environmental issues that may be involved, the COE has prepared a 
scoping document for the project. This document includes a project 
description, preliminary list of alternatives and various 
environmental/resource issues that will be addressed in the EIS. Copies 
of the scoping document will be available at the public scoping 
meetings or can be requested by mail. The EIS will be prepared 
according to the COE's procedures for implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C), and consistent with the COE's policy to facilitate public 
understanding and review of agency proposals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the proposed 
action and EIS can be addressed to Rodney Schwartz, EIS Project 
Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 215 North 17th Street, Omaha, NE 
68102-4978 or at 402-221-4143.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Parker Water and Sanitation District 
proposes to construct and operate Rueter-Hess Reservoir and the 
associated water delivery system in order to provide a safe, adequate 
and sustainable municipal water supply, which is capable of meeting the 
peak demands for the District's service area for the next 50 years. The 
proposed reservoir is located in Douglas County, Colorado approximately 
12 miles southeast of Denver and 3 miles southwest of the town of 
Parker. The construction of the 120-foot high, 2,600-foot long dam 
would impound 15,000 acre-feet of water and inundate approximately 385 
acres in and around Newlin Gulch, an intermittent tributary to Cherry 
Creek.
    The water supply system would be designed to be capable of 
capturing, reusing and storing seasonal high flows in nearby Cherry 
Creek and also capable of capturing and reusing Advanced Wastewater 
Treatment (AWT) return flows currently discharged into Cherry Creek. 
The water system would provide

[[Page 1360]]

adequate storage to ensure it has the capability to meet peak seasonal 
demands and help conserve ground water by maximum utilization of 
surface and AWT return flows in Cherry Creek. The current projected 
buildout for the water distribution and supply system is for 23,840 
taps or approximately 85,000 residents within the next 50 years.
    Scoping meetings will be held at two locations:
    1. February 2, 2000 at 7 p.m. at the Parker Mainstreet Center, 
19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker, CO.
    2. February 3, 2000 at 7 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Southeast 
Hotel, 7525 E. Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO.
    These scoping meetings will be held to describe the proposed 
project, preliminary alternatives, the NEPA compliance process and to 
solicit input on the issues and alternatives to be evaluated and other 
related matters. Written comments will also be requested.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-496 Filed 1-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-62-M