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Notice of Public Comment Period Extension for the Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment for Arnold Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project

Notice of Public Comment Period Extension for the Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment for Arnold Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project

The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the extension of the public comment period for the Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA) for the Arnold Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project. Arnold Irrigation District proposes to install 13.2 miles of buried pipe in the District-owned Main Canal to improve water conservation in District owned infrastructure, improve water supply management and delivery reliability for District patrons, and improve public safety. The Deschutes Basin Board of Control is the project sponsor and Arnold Irrigation District is the project co-sponsor. Farmers Conservation Alliance is assisting NRCS in this planning process. The proposed improvements may be partially funded by NRCS through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566).

The proposed project is located in Deschutes County, Oregon. The National Environmental Policy Act and the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations at 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 require evaluations of the potential effects of federally funded projects on human and natural resources. These evaluations include input from the public. NRCS has reviewed the potential impacts of the project and released a Draft Plan-EA for public and agency review.

NRCS is extending the public comment period for the Draft Plan-EA, which was made available for public comment beginning June 8, 2021. The public comment period for the Draft Plan-EA was to complete on July 8, 2021 and has now been extended to close on July 23, 2021. This extension is being made in response to a public request for additional review time.

Comments on the Draft Plan-EA may be submitted during a public comment period through July 23, 2021. You can view the complete Draft Plan-EA and other project information online at oregonwatershedplans.org. A printed copy of the Draft Plan-EA is also available at the Deschutes Public Library (601 N.W. Wall St, Bend, OR 97703).

Comments may be emailed to arnold.id.comments@gmail.com, submitted online at oregonwatershedplans.org, submitted via phone to (541) 716-6085, or mailed to: Farmers Conservation Alliance, 102 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031.