NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE ODESSA SUBAREA SPECIAL STUDY PROJECT

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE

ODESSA SUBAREA SPECIAL STUDY PROJECT

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are releasing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Odessa Subarea Special Study on August 31, 2012. Ecology and Reclamation are the join lead agencies for the FEIS, prepared in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the Nation Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Odessa Subarea Special Study project is being undertaken as part of the Columbia River Basin Water Management Program, described in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Columbia River Management Plan issued by Ecology in February 2007.

The Purpose of the Odessa Subarea Special Study is to evaluate alternatives for replacing groundwater currently used for irrigation in the Odessa Ground Water Management Subarea with surface water from Reclamation's Columbia Basin Project. Measurements of groundwater levels in wells in much of the Odessa Subarea have show substantial declines since the 1980s. The declining water levels have prompted public concerns regarding associated economic and environmental effects and have resulted in directives from the U.S. Congress and the Washington State legislature to investigate and identify potential solutions to the problem.

Availability of the FEIS:

The FEIS and other information regarding the Odessa Special Study can be accessed on-line at the following link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ucao_misc/odessa/index.html

The FEIS is available for public inspection at the following locations:

• Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, Washington; telephone: (509) 575-5848

• Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho; telephone: (208) 378-5012

• Bureau of Reclamation, Ephrata Field Office, 32 C Street Northwest, Ephrata, Washington; telephone: (509) 754-0214

• Washington State Department of Ecology, 15 W. Yakima Avenue, Suite 200, Yakima, Washington; telephone: (509) 575-2490

• Washington State Department of Ecology, 4601 North Monroe, Spokane, Washington; telephone: (509) 329-3400

For copies of the FEIS, contact Candace McKinley, Environmental Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, at (509) 575-5848 x603 or by e-mail at odessa@usbr.gov. Please specify hard-

copy or electronic format.

SEPA Responsible Official:

Derek I. Sandison, Director

Office of Columbia River

Washington State Department of Ecology

#08068/2575141

Pub.: August 31, 2012