Notice2023-25784
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Management of Federal Grazing Leases at the Falcon Dam and Reservoir, Starr and Zapata Counties, Texas
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 22, 2023
Issuing agencies
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico
Abstract
The USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Management of Federal Grazing Leases at the Falcon Dam and Reservoir, Starr and Zapata Counties, Texas is available. The EA evaluates land management alternatives to grazing leases that address low grazing lease values and limited access by USIBWC to leased lands. An Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30 days from the date of this Notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 81433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25784]
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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Management of
Federal Grazing Leases at the Falcon Dam and Reservoir, Starr and
Zapata Counties, Texas
AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC).
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
Management of Federal Grazing Leases at the Falcon Dam and Reservoir,
Starr and Zapata Counties, Texas is available. The EA evaluates land
management alternatives to grazing leases that address low grazing
lease values and limited access by USIBWC to leased lands. An
Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared unless additional
information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention
within 30 days from the date of this Notice.
DATES: Comments are due by December 28, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The electronic version of the amended Draft EA is available
at the USIBWC web page: <a href="https://www.ibwc.gov/reports-studies/eis-ea-public-comment/">https://www.ibwc.gov/reports-studies/eis-ea-public-comment/</a>. Physical copies of the Draft EA are available at the
Joe A. Guerra Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd., Laredo, Texas
78041; the Olga V. Figueroa Zapata County Public Library, 901 Kennedy
St., Zapata, Texas 78076; and the Roma Public Library, 1705 N Athens
St., Roma, Texas 78584.
Comments should be sent to: Mark Howe, Cultural Resources
Specialist, USIBWC, 4191 N Mesa; El Paso, Texas 79902. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99f98959a96979a9694949c978d8ab9909b8e9ad79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2b4b3beb1bdbcb1bdbfbfb7bca6a192bbb0a5b1fcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a>. All comments received may be made publicly
available without change, including any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Howe, Cultural Resources
Specialist, Telephone: (915) 832-4767, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5036313c333f3e333f3d3d353e242310393227337e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7016111c131f1e131f1d1d151e040330191207135e171f06">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USIBWC is updating or eliminating active
and inactive grazing leases in use for commercial, residential, or
recreational purposes on federal land in the Falcon Project (i.e.,
Falcon Dam and Reservoir). Rights-of-way for the Falcon Project totaled
63,192 acres on the U.S. side of the Falcon Project as of 2000. This
project will assist USIBWC in determining if grazing leases should be
allowed or discontinued and/or whether land management alternatives
should be established in lieu of grazing.
The grazing lease program has continued for areas along the Falcon
Reservoir that were originally ranches and farms before the land was
acquired by the federal Government pursuant to the Water Treaty of 1944
between the U.S. and Mexico, with construction of the Falcon Project
completed on October 19, 1953. The grazing lease program assured those
areas not under water or flooded and owned by the federal Government
would be economically used as they were in the past by the local
community. Initially leases allowed for agricultural uses in addition
to grazing, but agricultural activities and any clearing of leased
lands were later restricted to reduce potential impacts on cultural
resources in accordance with National Historic Preservation Act
requirements. Active leases currently only allow grazing activities.
Grazing leases, licenses, and permits consist of any written permit
or other legal document for an individual, corporation, etc., to use
and improve land owned by the U.S. Government under the jurisdiction of
the USIBWC at Falcon Reservoir. In the past, 22,270.57 acres of land
were under 159 active grazing leases originally issued in 1956. As of
2020, there were 117 active grazing leases with many that are still
held by the descendants of the original permittees and/or stakeholders.
The purpose for the Proposed Action is to successfully manage
federal land in the Falcon Project. Federal lands associated with the
Falcon Project have been utilized by the public for various activities,
including grazing leases, since the Falcon Project was established.
However, the economic value of these leases and the challenges to
successful land management require a reevaluation of the grazing lease
program. The need is to implement land management alternatives to
grazing leases that address low grazing lease values, limited access by
USIBWC to leased lands, and unauthorized activities on leased lands.
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final
Regulations, and the USIBWC Operational Procedures for Implementing
Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2,
1981, USIBWC developed and analyzed eight alternatives for modifying
the grazing lease program at the Falcon Project, including the No
Action Alternative. Alternative 1, No Action Alternative, is a
requirement of the NEPA process and is included to provide a baseline
against which the other alternatives can be evaluated. The action
alternatives include: Alternative 2--Terminate Leases, Alternative 3--
Change Rental Rates on Active Leases and Implement Improved Program
Management, Alternative 4--Allow Hunting on Existing Grazing Leases,
Alternative 5--Terminate Leases Not Directly Accessible from Public
Rights-of-Way, Alternative 6--Negotiate Access Easements on Private
Property for Existing Leases, Alternative 7--Amend Leases to Allow
Vegetation Management, and Alternative 8--Form a Citizens' Committee to
Provide Lease Management Support. The USIBWC has identified that one or
any combination of the alternatives could be implemented to manage the
grazing lease program at the Falcon Project.
Potential impacts on natural, cultural, and other resources were
evaluated in the Draft EA. The USIBWC prepared a FONSI for the Action
Alternatives, based on a review of the facts and analyses contained in
the Draft EA.
Dated: November 15, 2023.
Rebecca A. Rizzuti,
Deputy Chief Legal Counsel, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States Section.
[FR Doc. 2023-25784 Filed 11-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-P
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