The Colorado Water Conservation Board, on behalf of15 water users in Colorado, requested that the Army Corps of Engineers consider reallocating space within Chatfield Reservoir for water supply purposes.
The Corps has regulations requiring the preparation of a Feasibility Report (FR) to support the request for reallocation of storage space in one of its reservoirs. In addition, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that federal agencies prepare a detailed study, known as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), prior to undertaking any major project that could potentially impact the environment. Federal projects or actions subject to NEPA include projects occurring on federal lands, requiring federal permits, or receiving federal funds.
The Corps is to: 1) adequately determine if the project is feasible; 2) determine the least-cost alternative; and 3) determin the environmental impacts of the proposed project and alternatives.
An FR/EIS is a full disclosure document required by NEPA that details the process through which a federal project was developed, determines the viability of the option, considers a range of reasonable alternatives, analyzes the potential impacts resulting from each alternative, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable federal environmental laws and executive orders. As part of the FR/EIS process, the Corps undertakes the following:
Notice of Intent and Scoping: A public process to help define the purpose and need for reallocating storage space at Chatfield Reservoir and to identify environmental issues that need to be studied (completed in 2004).
Data Collection: Collecting recreational, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic data.
Analysis of Alternatives: Analysis of a range of water storage alternatives, including “no action” alternatives, the proposed alternative and other potential alternatives for detailed study.
Preparation of a Draft Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft FR/EIS): Developing a report that analyzes the potential impacts and mitigation for each alternative for agency and public review and comment.The Corps will set forth a preferred alternative for water storage.
Preparation of a Final Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final FR/EIS): Developing a final report that provides responses to comments that were made on the DEIS, and details requirements for the preferred alternative.
Record of Decision: A document prepared by the lead federal agency (in this case the Corps is the lead federal agency) that outlines the decision and documents required implementation and mitigation measures needed to complete the project.